I have 3 sets of tires now, but after today's ride I'm wondering if I should order one more rear tire. Did a lot more off pavement and find I am riding like myself again. Apparently I no longer feel it's pointless to powerslide...I guess that was only my assessment on a more or less straight street tire. I did not bother to turn off the traction control today like I always did on the Tenere, but I suspect that will be my next move.
Weather and road conditions are about to turn to crap here, but today's unusually warm weather allowed me to end the 2020 riding season with a phenomenal 300 mile crescendo. It was a spectacular trifecta of clean roads, dry conditions, and no body in your way. The only limitations were my own riding skills, and I was having one of those rare days that happen every few years when you hit every mark, see everything 3 steps ahead, and ride as perfectly as you can humanly achieve for your skills and experience. Combine that with the extraordinary performance of the SAS, along with selecting the very best of the best roads in this area, and it's hard to picture a more perfect ride day.
Introduced the bike to Doll Sodds, where the wind is so strong the trees only grow on one side.
While it was close to 60 degrees off the mountains, it was cold enough up to the bike wanted me to be aware of the risks.
I didn't hit any ice, but I was cautious of the wet looking mud...good opportunity for it to be frozen. In fact not sure if it was the mud or possibly frozen mud, but there were a couple of loss of traction moments that reminded me I'm only on 10% off road tires. Still, the bike did an awesome job off pavement today.
While 2020 has sucked in so many ways for everyone, I do have to say the discovery of this bike has been a bright spot for me. I had to get over my distaste of chain drive, and my nervousness of getting a non-Japanese bike. I forced myself out of that comfort zone and have been massively rewarded.
So as I close out 2020, and my 20th week with the bike, I find myself with about 6,200 miles on the odometer. Not a lot, but enough to feel like I have a pretty good understanding of this bike and where it fits in my inventory, past and present. Bikes come and go. Only a few make a lasting impression. My V-Strom 1000 changed my life and turned me into a long distance rider. My Teneres comfortably and reliably showed me the world...or at least North America from as far east to as far west as you can ride. The SAS reaches deep into your core and gives you a visceral reminder of why you love riding a motorcycle. I find it hard to put into words, but when it's right, it's right. 20 weeks may be too short a time to say this bike will leave a lasting impression, but I feel safe in saying it already has.
For the locals - when I say I did the best of the best around here..this is some of what I rode today
Zepp mountain
Lower Cove
Howard Lick
Greenland Gap
Up and down Mt Storm
Dolly Sodds
Smoke Hole Road