Eric,
How many miles have you ridden your new Super Tenere?
I might need a new bike for the IBR. Please compare the ST to the FJR. Is it a replacement bike? As comfortable? other stuff?
Howard
I've posted in other places about this a bit. The following is my opinion only. I have just under 10k on the Super Tenere, (ST for the remainder of this post).
Compared to the FJR;
Cons:
The ST lacks weather protection, has no factory adjustable screen, more vibes, less consistent fuel range, significantly shorter fuel range and tires are offered in fewer options that will last ~10k and has no included luggage, but costs $14,500 to the FJR's $15,590 (MSRP to MSRP for 2012 models). You can't buy a set of bags & mounting racks for that $1090 difference from Yamaha, or most aftermarket sources.
Pros:
The ST has 4.5" more ground clearance, a more upright seating position, much greater seat to pegs distance and a better ability to go off pavement.
Fixable issues:
Both bikes often need new screens, bar risers, better lights, a custom seat, heat management items (grips, H-T for jacket/vest/gloves per rider preference), a voltmeter, extra power ports, highway pegs, a fuel cell, side stand foot, etc.
The ST also needs better guarding (skid plate, crash bars, headlight guard, etc), luggage (no factory included bags), a manual adjuster bracket for the screen, etc.
The speedo on the ST is off 8.5-9%. The FJR's was off about the same. The GPS can be used as the speedo or a speedo healer can be added to solve this issue for LD work.
The ST will do the job, but for most LD riding, the FJR is going to be more comfortable. That said, I have 162k on the FJR and 10k on the ST and the ST still needs a lot of farkling to be more comfortable for me.
So far, I've spent ~$5k on the ST. That does include a set of tires.
Touratech bags w/mounts
AltRider side stand plate, heal master cylinder guard/u-joint guard (these are at the heals, replacing the oem guards that can catch your pant leg due to open top design)
Twisted Throttle - New tank bag w/power, map case, GPS mount, fender extender
Speedo-healer w/gear indicator
larger wind screen (CalSci Med), Yamaha factory side wind deflectors
H-T for grips and Sympatex grip heater kit
Misc electrical stuff, power ports, plugs, aux power fuse block, switches, wiring kits, etc.
SS braided brake lines to replace the front fender cross over line
I still need/want:
custom seat, LED aux lights, fuel cell, skid plate/crash bars, fender raising kit (I'm working on that myself), highway pegs (will attach some to the crash bars), volt meter and who knows what else. Like a better hydration system. Some stuff I will make or build into/add onto other items.
I didn't buy the ST to be a rally bike, but an adventure touring bike. Had I realized I was going to put in for the IBR, I would have kept the FJR as it was in full rally trim, and spent the money on the IBR. At this point I am still trying to sell the FJR, but it's not possible to put it back to rally trim as nearly all of the things needed have been sold. The ST needs more farkling and more funds to get it to rally trim. Some of those things I would not need for touring, some I would, but it's harder to do it slow like I did with the FJR and budget is always a concern. I lack the wherewithal to just spend that much cash at one time or pay someone else to do the work.
Sorry for the long winded response. I like some fit issues on the ST better. Swapping bikes to ride the FJR the other day reminded me that I really like the foot peg position of the ST, and that the FJR's turbine like, smoooth power will be missed on the ST's parallel twin motor. The ST has plenty of power, it's just not as smooth or as much as the FJR. I can be comfortable on either bike, but hugely miss the power windscreen on the FJR when I'm riding the ST. You could just tweak it any time you needed to with the push of a button. I do like the more upright body position on the ST, but I was comfortable in the "Sport-Touring Slouch" on the FJR too.
)
