Waiting for delivery in Northern Virginia

[Dirt_Dad]

Placed my order for a blue Super Ténéré 10 days ago, and I'm looking forward to Yamaha filling that order in the next 220 to 250 days. I should probably stop counting so it doesn't drive me insane.

I started trail riding on dirt bikes about 35 years ago. Always loved playing in the dirt. Last 10 years has seen bikes come and go, including a KTM 520 EXC, Honda CRF450X, KLR650, DL650, and the best street bike I've ever owned, the DL1000 (Vee). The Vee changed me into a long distance, twisty road rider. I've gone from an average of 1,000 road miles per year to 12,000 recreational road miles per year. The Vee honestly changed my recreational life. It's an obsession.

The Super Ténéré is being purchased to replace the Vee. A very high bar has been set for the Yamaha to beat. I love the idea of ABS, multi mode fuel injection, traction control and shaft drive. But the Vee has been the perfect match for my riding style and will put up a fight to maintain its place in my garage. Other bikes have tried to dethrone the Vee and have failed. I owned a FJR for a month last year, it couldn't hold a candle to the Vee. I'm encouraged by everything I've read about the Super Ténéré, and I'm really looking forward to giving it a shot to become my new main ride.

May the best bike win.

 

[nankoweap]

welcome! i used to have a dl1k. great bike, but the main shaft seal failed catastrophically and the engine was toast after that. long story, but i got the engine rebuilt and a friend is still riding it. i was going to purchase another dl1k, but i *really* wanted abs. when abs came out for the dl650 it was encouraging, but suzuki has yet to make it an option on the dl1k.

no worries. i believe the s10 will fit the bill. i mean, it all sounds good on paper and in pictures. like you, i'm hoping for the best and am trying to be patient.

jason

 

[Dirt_Dad]

welcome! i used to have a dl1k. great bike, but the main shaft seal failed catastrophically and the engine was toast after that.

Interesting, I've never heard of that happening to anyone else...and I hang out at stromtrooper a lot. Do you have the story posted over there? I'd be very interested to read it.

 

[nankoweap]

Interesting, I've never heard of that happening to anyone else...and I hang out at stromtrooper a lot. Do you have the story posted over there? I'd be very interested to read it.

no, but here's a looooooooooong post on the MTF...

http://forums.delphiforums.com/MCTourer/messages?msg=22556.1

in the end, suzuki said i was running the chain too tight and i take full responsibility for the failure even though i know the chain was properly adjusted. hey. i had fun on the bike for ~45k.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Wow, that is easily the worst failure I've ever read about on a Strom. I saw you were just a couple of weeks out of warranty. What was your mileage when it happened? That was such an expensive fix did you consider parting out the good stuff? Seems like that may have worked better financially. Of course that's my 10 minute judgment, I'm sure you spent hours or more likely days considering your options.

I have 37K on mines so far. Averaged 1000 miles a month, every month since purchase. So far my only repair has been replacing the water pump impeller because I would get a couple of drops of coolant on the ground every so often.

 

[nankoweap]

the strom had ~44k on it when that happened. i had the clutch basket replaced under warranty and it wasn't that bad at all. the dealer just decided to make it happen.

i thought about parting, chucking and fixing the bike. in the end, i wanted the bike rolling down the road. i searched for engines and considered one from an sv1k. the dealer (commonwealth in louisville) suggested the rebuild and they did an excellent job. really dig those folks. anyway, i probably could've saved 1-2k, but when i sold the bike i felt like i came out even.

i almost bought another strom and i'm glad i didn't. it's good that yammy is bringing the s10 to the states. i hope its success prompts other manufacturers to the same. i wonder if honda is listening?

 

[Dirt_Dad]

You rode 44K miles in a year of ownership? Was that new or used. When I saw you were a couple of weeks out of warranty after a year I was guessing that meant you bought a new 2005. Now I'm thinking used and you don't know how the PO maintained the bike?

 

[nankoweap]

i bought it new in july of 05 and it blew chunks in august of 06. i spent a few months on the road over the summer. took the bike up to alaska - just the southern tip in hyder - and stayed out west wandering around.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Wow, that's a lot of miles. I would love to have the time to rack up those kind of numbers. I'm relegated to weekends (never commute) and occasional week long trips. Don't see that getting better until retirement.

 

[nankoweap]

i hear ya. i'm a consultant so i try to take a little time off between gigs and get some riding in. the way this economy is going, though, i'm comfortable making hay while the sun's still shining. i've been on this gig for almost 6 years. the client's cool, though. i got some time off back in 06 and took a month off this summer too. still, it's not enough.

at some point, the south america trip will happen. ideally, i'd like to take 6 months off and spend most of that time in SA wandering around. probably not going to happen this year. i'll have the tenere all sorted out and ready for world travel by the end of 2011. that's the next target.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Nice. I have also been a consultant all my professional life (PeopleSoft). But with one in college now the idea of taking time off never seems to workout. I've ridden Baja on dirt bikes, and briefly crossed into Canada with the Strom, but that's about all the world bike travel I've had to this point. Guess I'll live vicariously through your escapades.

 

[HoebSTer]

Dirt Dad,

Hello, I finally registered for service here on the forum. We are converts from the STromtrooper list!!!

 

[Dirt_Dad]

I prefer to think of it as expanding our horizons. Stromtrooper is a great site and even if I don't have a strom I'll still continue to be on the site. Made some great friends over there, just don't see walking away.

 

[HoebSTer]

Dirt Dad,

Same here!!! StromTroopers in Seattle area are great people. I hang with them more then my years on the Honda ST Owners Group Forum.