Super Tenere vs. '12 Wee-Strom Adv: Why?

[Gundy]

Originally Posted by MariusD

Gundy: why did you settle on the tenere over the wee?

Well, ironically I have my S10 for sale in the Flea Market already....simply put, I would not think of selling it if I had any legit plans to do longer trips, but I mostly just commute around town in stop and go traffic, and would like something thats a little more off-road oriented too. That, and my buddies all seem to be more off-road focused nowadays. If I had the cash, I would just plan on keeping it and add a singletrack bike to the stable.

That said, its a bit heavy and powerful for my specific use. Not that it doesn't do just fine, but more that I sacrifice too much offroad ability for some features I don't need.


What attracted me to it over the DL650 was:
-two-up riding - I think most would agree the S10 wins there. The DL is very good there too, but just not as good as the S10. On other bikes my wife was whining after 100 miles. Not so on the S10.

-better suspension and supposedly better offroad performance
-I only have ridden mine once around the edge of a cornfield, and it did feel very planted. it felt better balanced than my KLR.... Only test rode the DL on the street, so its hard to compare.

-torque. I like torque. The S10 has more. I comfortable cruise at 65-70 around 4k rpms in 5th gear. This bike has 6 gears, meaning that it will cruise long distance faster than I care to.

-looks. Neither one will win a beauty pageant, but the Tenere appeals to me more.

-Yamaha - its my third and I like how they make things. I had a DRZ400s, which was a decent bike, but Yamaha (as a brand) gets the edge in terms of well thought out features, ease of maintenance, tool access etc.

-throwing another idea out there - take a close look at the Tiger 800 (or XC if you want the 21" wheel)....the ergos are a little tight for taller folks and pillions (the main reason I didn't buy one), but for solo travelers, it is a fantastic bike. Loved the triple on the 955i I owned and it was even better on the new 800s.

-Somebody already mentioned it, but the shaft drive does not allow for gearing changes. The S10 has all the power it needs to pull the gearing, BUT I do find myself feathering the clutch in stop and go traffic more than I would have expected. I wouldn't mind lower gearing overall.

Since you are riding solo on the street, I think your search will boil down to this: the S10 is a better bike, but the DL is a better value. So just ask yourself what your budget is. For the way I actually have been using the bike, the DL would be great and I'd still have a decent chunk of money to buy that singletrack bike I've been wanting.

[Domromer]

Also used wees are an insane bargains. I bought mine loaded, with 8k on the clock and three years old. I paid less than 5k. The S10 hasn't been out long enough for those kinds of deals. After owning 2 different DL650 I'd never buy a new one. They are bomb proof and easy to find in excellent condition.

[MariusD]

Appreciate everyone's comments. This is very helpful and rather surprising.

So what I'm hearing is, yes, tenere would be marginally better for my intended use, with some drawbacks living with it day to day (in traffic), but really none of the qualities it has over the strom are a MUST for what I'm doing.

I guess I was expecting for someone to pound the table that the tenere is worth every penny of the difference for the x,y, and z improvements. It seems the differences are nothing to lose sleep over. And if that's the case, I really have a hard time justifying the price difference.

So if you were to take a 1000 mile trip tomorrow, 1 up, through a lot of highways, cities and backroads (no off-road at all), for what reasons specifically would you chose the tenere instead of the strom, besides more power?! And would for any of you having to go on the strom be a deal breaker for doing the trip in the first place?

[ph0rk]

Originally Posted by MariusD

So if you were to take a 1000 mile trip tomorrow, 1 up, through a lot of highways and backroads (no off-road at all), for what reasons specifically would you chose the tenere instead of the strom, besides more power?! And would for any of you having to go on the strom be a deal breaker for doing the trip in the first place?

Chain maintenance, but a can of dupont lube and a couple shop towels take very little space, and the wee has better fuel range/economy, by as much as 5 gallons for a 1000 mile day.


Don't forget that for 1000 mile days you're going to want to change seats, windscreens, possibly bar heights, add heated grips, etc. for either bike.

It is hard to imagine either bike being bad for that sort of task. Maybe if your single rider was very heavy, but that is hardly the bike's fault :)

[MariusD]

Also… I know all too well about big engines, tall gears, heavy bikes and how uncomfortable they are navigating through daily traffic. That’s my Hammer. This bike is great on open roads or the highway, but you get stuck in traffic or have to navigate small busy city streets, it suddenly becomes such a tiring chore to have to man-handle this bike. I wouldn’t take a bike like this on a trip involving anything other than highway. I just don’t want/need another like that…


So if the tenere has “Hammer” like tendencies, then its marginally better qualities will certainly not out weigh the short comings and I really need to pass on it. Not doing that again…

[MariusD]

Originally Posted by ph0rk

Chain maintenance, but a can of dupont lube and a couple shop towels take very little space, and the wee has better fuel range/economy, by as much as 5 gallons for a 1000 mile day.


Don't forget that for 1000 mile days you're going to want to change seats, windscreens, possibly bar heights, add heated grips, etc. for either bike.

It is hard to imagine either bike being bad for that sort of task. Maybe if your single rider was very heavy, but that is hardly the bike's fault :)

Thanks.

And this is my point: I'm 180lbs, so weight is a non issue. Chain maintainance? If this is the best reason you can come up with to go with a tenere, that's just not enough reason to justify it, at least in my mind.

[ph0rk]

Originally Posted by MariusD

Thanks.

And this is my point: I'm 180lbs, so weight is a non issue. Chain maintainance? If this is the best reason you can come up with to go with a tenere, that's just not enough reason to justify it, at least in my mind.

Some others might bring up crosswinds, but I've been in some terribly windy weather (30mph with gusts over 15 mph) and while I didn't enjoy it, my old model strom was okay. I can't imagine even a really heavy bike making you forget the wind is there. Both bikes have a long wheelbase so they're both stable at speed (I think 75 is as fast as I've taken an s10, I've had my k9 wee over 95mph by my GPS's reckoning and it was stable).

A tenere in sport mode is quite the kick in the pants, but in day to day commuting I rarely if ever get a chance to open the throttle fully for more than a split second, so power would be wasted.

Creeping along in 1st by just letting out the clutch is nice in stop and go traffic.

Again, if I got to have one for free and had no current bike, I think I might go for the tenere, but a used low-miles dl650 for 5-7k is tough to beat. There are even a few used 2012s, if you get lucky.

[Gundy]

Originally Posted by MariusD

Also… I know all too well about big engines, tall gears, heavy bikes and how uncomfortable they are navigating through daily traffic. That’s my Hammer. This bike is great on open roads or the highway, but you get stuck in traffic or have to navigate small busy city streets, it suddenly becomes such a tiring chore to have to man-handle this bike. I wouldn’t take a bike like this on a trip involving anything other than highway. I just don’t want/need another like that…


So if the tenere has “Hammer” like tendencies, then its marginally better qualities will certainly not out weigh the short comings and I really need to pass on it. Not doing that again…

I'll go ahead an give you the nudge....for the specific purpose you describe, your money would be best spent on the V-Strom. I'd only change that recommendation if:

1. money was no object
2. you were bringing a passenger
3. you were spending lots of time on unpaved roads
4. you were intent on traveling at higher speeds
5. and especially any combination of the above

[Reposado1800]

Originally Posted by ph0rk

Chain maintenance, but a can of dupont lube and a couple shop towels take very little space, and the wee has better fuel range/economy, by as much as 5 gallons for a 1000 mile day.


Don't forget that for 1000 mile days you're going to want to change seats, windscreens, possibly bar heights, add heated grips, etc. for either bike.

It is hard to imagine either bike being bad for that sort of task. Maybe if your single rider was very heavy, but that is hardly the bike's fault :)

A thousand mile day is medieval torture. The most I have riddin is 16 hours in one day across Mexico and it was a ball breaker. Just wanted to sleep in my own bed.

[MariusD]

Originally Posted by Gundy

I'll go ahead an give you the nudge....for the specific purpose you describe, your money would be best spent on the V-Strom. I'd only change that recommendation if:

1. money was no object (money is not a concern, I just don't like wasting it on stuff I don't really need)
2. you were bringing a passenger No passengers
3. you were spending lots of time on unpaved roads No, never
4. you were intent on traveling at higher speeds 80mph tops, I foresee extended cruising in the 70-75 range
5. and especially any combination of the above

So what's the answer?!

I'm thinking the strom as well....

[MariusD]

Originally Posted by Reposado1800

A thousand mile day is medieval torture. The most I have riddin is 16 hours in one day across Mexico and it was a ball breaker. Just wanted to sleep in my own bed.

I meant to say a 1000 mile trip over several days, I'd never attempt that in oneday, that would be pure torture.

[Rob Dirt]

If you prove your going to buy a bike & the dealer still will not let you test ride (for a few miles), then I wouldn't give them my money. I bought my Tiger at a dealer 180 miles away because I didn't like any of the closer options.

The best thing about a chain drive is you can change out sprockets for intended purpose. You can go up one tooth on the front sprocket for your upcoming trip & put the stock on back on for everyday riding.
With a shaft your stuck with whatever the factory gives you.

IMHO, if money is not a motivating factor, then you should check out a Tiger 800.

[pluric]

As an ex Strom owner and a current Tenere owner I would say buy the Strom.
Then next year you can start threads about what you are looking to replace it with.

You get what you pay for pretty much anymore. Want a little less? Then spend less.
Perhaps your riding needs don't include needing more size and weight. Fine.

Kind of an odd comparison from the beginning, mid size bike to a full size.

[eakins]

I had an 04 dl650 and toured 500+ mile days easily on it plus it does light dirt all day long just fine. some of that was 2 up in the mtns w/ camping gear. plenty of power from that motor! for the $ nothing can touch it. add a madstad http://www.madstad.com/s.nl/sc.7/category.5132/.f
and seat concepts seat http://www.seatconcepts.com/products...58&id=16891444 and this skidplate & hiway bars http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=653304 you'll be into approx 11K and take all the extra $ save from buy a s10 and go on a long trip.

of course if you have the $ then the S10 is a better bike, but after mods and luggage i'd say your into 15K++

you've instantly got $4k for a killer trip with the strom.

[eakins]

Originally Posted by straightrod

Keep in mind that some people have wind buffeting issues with the DL650. Not to sure how well the 2012 model addressed that issue. Lots of riders purchased multiple screens in an attempt to resolve buffeting as well as many riders have no issues with wind at all. So, while testing a bike may be a pain it is advisable as a sizable investment is at stake.

many have also had those same problems with the s10 shield.
in either case madstad has been the solution as it's fully adjustable (angle & height) and gets some wind up the backside (ie laminar flow/naca dusct flow)