Ride Reports: Yamaha Tenere and BMW K1200GT

[SlowOldGuy]

I finally get a chance to ride my friends Tenere. 

Main conclusion:  I won't be selling an FJ anytime soon.

Not a bad bike, riding position is too upright for me.  Power pulses from the parallel twin are harsh, kind of like the Monster 1100 I rode last year.  I bought my FZ1 from this guy many years ago and let him take it around the block.  He had a big grin on his face when he got back and mentioned the smoothness of the 4 cylinder.

The Tenere is awkward and clunky and the performance was underwhelming.  Kind of like a stripper in bright lights, my fantasy of it was much better than reality.

BMW K1200GT, my brother's bike that he's been raving about.

Main impression: This is 25 years of "progress?"  Definitely not selling an FJ for one of these!

Where to start?  The transmission is the worst I have ever experienced.  EVERY gear clunks like a neutral to first shift, doesn't matter if I'm upshifting or down shifting, sounds like a hammer blow everytime I move my left foot.  And the clutch was horrible.  Progressive on first gear starts, but a light switch in all the other gears when moving.  The only way I could be smooth was to either shift without the clutch or be very deliberate and slow with the clutch after every shift.  More experience would probably help, but it shouldn't be that hard.

Windscreen was annoying.  Couldn't get the upper edge out of my line of sight.  Felt like the wind was constantly pushing me forward.  Awkward upright seating position, felt like I was sliding forward on the seat.

The bike had new tires, but the front end wanted to flop into the turns.  I hate having to counter-countersteer in a turn, very unnatural feeling.

The engine made a lot of mechanical noise in the still air behind the screen, much worse sounding than the FJ.

Worst part was the suspension!  Felt totally disconnected from the road.  It was like riding on Jello, the thing just seemed to squirm around like it had flat tires.  Again, more experience would probably help, but I didn't feel confident at all on the bike.  The ESA is nice, but I couldn't tell much difference between the settings.

Power was also lacking.  Smooth, but nothing urgent happened no matter how much I twisted the throttle.  In comparison to the FJ, I would call it "Klunkaloo" considering the transmission and all.

I parked the BWM and immediately got on my '93 FJ.  WOW!  What a difference, if the BWM is "progress" I don't want any of it.  The FJ transmission and engine were silky smooth, acceleration was Kookaloo strong, and I felt in direct contact with the road.  Where I seemed to fight with the BWM, I was one with the FJ.  Man, I love my FJs!

The only thing that stirred any emotions was stopping by the Honda dealer and seeing that they have marked down the VFR1200 (granted, a 2010 model) to $11,800 from $15,999.  I was there in full riding garb and they had a demo unit on their used lot, but I couldn't find anyone paying enough attention to offer me a test ride.  Some kind of Goldwing Trike happening going on.  Fuck 'em, I think that bike is going to be dropped from lack of sales anyway.  I went and bought my FJ a new front tire for a trip to Arkansas in a few weeks.  I even splurged and got the Pilot Power this time.

DavidR.

[racerman_27410]

NIce report David......i was wondering about that Tenere. It definitely looks the part on paper.

I too love my FJ... everything out there has been nich -fied to the point where a good honest do it all new motorcycle is pretty dang hard to find.

Kookaloo! ( get plenty of it in Arkansaw) 

[The General]

I finally get a chance to ride my friends Tenere. 

Main conclusion:  I won't be selling an FJ anytime soon.

BMW K1200GT, my brother's bike that he's been raving about..............

Main impression: This is 25 years of "progress?"  Definitely not selling an FJ for one of these!


I parked the BWM and immediately got on my '93 FJ.  WOW!  What a difference, if the BWM is "progress" I don't want any of it.  The FJ transmission and engine were silky smooth, acceleration was Kookaloo strong, and I felt in direct contact with the road.  Where I seemed to fight with the BWM, I was one with the FJ.  Man, I love my FJs!

DavidR.

+1. I thought the Tenere was mid category of nowhere, wrong front wheel size, too heavy etc. I found most BMW were full of Klunkaloo except for top gear cruising.
Took FJ1 for a spin today (with different mirrors to eliminate the rattles) First run since the Aussie Rally. Lifted the front wheel in second,(just) silky smooth gearbox (i think they`re better with long kilometers) and ergonomics developed from 1985 to 1993 that are yet to be matched. IMHO. Really enjoyed your report with plenty of head nodding agreement throughout. Doug

[Pat Conlon]

David, do you have any lingering after effects from the test ride that you would like to share?

Man sues BMW for 20-month erection after bike ride

By Fred Meier, USA TODAY
Updated 2012-04-30 10:12 AM

A California man has sued BMW North America and a motorcycle-seat maker claiming that a four-hour round-trip ride on his 1993 BMW bike with a "ridge-like" seat gave him "a severe case of priapism (a persistent, lasting erection)" that's lasted 20 months and counting.

While there have been concerns about narrow "banana" bike seats causing loss of feeling in that area -- for men and women -- this is the first report we've seen of way too much.

The product liability lawsuit against BMW and well-known aftermarket seatmaker Corbin-Pacific (reported first by Courthouse News Service in California) was filed in California Superior Court in San Francisco last Thursday by Henry Wolf and his lawyer, Vernon Bradley of Sausalito.

The Wolf v. BMW lawsuit alleges that Wolf has continued to suffer the erection problem since the September 2010 ride -- and, as we know from Viagra ads, anything past four hours is a problem.

The lawsuit for emotional distress says Wolf is "now is unable to engage in sexual activity, which is causing him substantial emotional and mental anguish."

According to the lawsuit, Wolf wants compensation from BMW and Corbin for lost wages, medical expenses, emotional distress and "general damage."

[The General]

Man sues BMW for 20-month erection after bike ride

Updated 2012-04-30 10:12 AM

The lawsuit for emotional distress says Wolf is "now is unable to engage in sexual activity, which is causing him substantial emotional and mental anguish."

How Come?     Is he a Lone Wolf?      If he Huffed & Puffed would he blow the house down?     I don`t get it.

[ApriliaBill]

I have to tell you, you guys are spot on, I've yet to ride a BMW that was comfortable for me. I rode the Tenre and found it horrible even next to my beater 900 Seca and I still have dreams of adding a big FJ to the stable...