Mike's Tenere & Motorcycle Blog

2015 Moto Guzzi Norge 1200GT 8V (used) Ride Review: The Norge visually looks & feels compact & taught, with its 23 litre fuel tank rising in front of you & decent tolerances on the bodywork with the add-on front fender extender just touching the extended lower cowling behind the wheel…the bags, which require a specific procedure to open & remove/install  (not intuitive, had to look it up), integrate well into the body work minimizing the lard ass look a little of some tourers from the back….they are single walled & the lids flex/flop about a little when opened to the restraining straps….elasticized X straps help secure loads in the inner clamshell…but do feature a 2nd latch at the back that should assist with water tightness. The center stand is missing…a replacement is approx $180-$200 us on ebay. Some of the cable routing may need minor rerouting/zip ties to prevent rubbing/chafing…the left grip cable/wiring harness drops into the narrow space between the bar...

2019 Moto Guzzi V85 TT Ride Review Moto Guzzi has a sales hit on their hands with this new bike…in essence becoming the brands savior while attracting both renewed & new interest….it is out selling the entire Guzzi model lineup 3 to 1 or more in most places. The Italians know how to make good looking bikes, but also seem content to build bikes not for the masses, with Moto Guzzi in particular, steadfastly remaining loyal to their heritage. The Mandello del Lario engineers have managed to infuse just enough modern tech/refinement in the V85 TT to remain competitive & relevant while utilizing a completely new Euro 4 compliant air cooled motor that continues to pay homage to the past & ooze the Guzzi charm…albeit with some welcomed refinement. Like many things in life, Guzzis are an acquired taste meant for those that like their drinks neither stirred nor shaken…Guzzistis seem to revel in the satisfaction that tech laden Starbucks Beemerphiles, Ready to Race KTM’rs, the Bre...

Yamaha Tracer 900 GT & Niken GT Demo Ride Reviews: Because both bikes utilize the same 847 cc cross plane triple (113 hp, 64 ft lbs motor, the Niken GT has 18% more flywheel mass) I will combine the Tracer 900 GT, a mid-sized tourer (474 lbs wet sans bags, w/18L fuel) & the new Niken GT, a tourer featuring a new design four fork, dual tired front end with a unique linkage system linking the tires/steering together, allowing individual suspension function with a maximum of 45* lean angle capability (589 lb wet sans bags, w/18L fuel).  Imho each of these bikes should have had larger fuel capacity being targeted at touring, particularly the Niken which weighs slightly more than a Super Tenere w/23 L of fuel.   I was able to demo ride the Tracer 900 GT 1st , then the Niken GT.   Both bikes offer similar accoutrements like quick shifter, cruise control, multiple ride/traction control modes, TFT electronic dashes, adjustable suspension, etc but differ in execution &...

2019 BMW R1250R Demo Ride I would have preferred a R1250RT, GS, GSA but the only sampling available for the Demo Ride of the new 1250 Shift Cam motor was a naked R1250R…which harkens me back to my 2003 R1150R…but that is where the similarities end! This is a mature naked bike with sophistication up its ying yang with semi-active suspension, enough technology/electronics to put a “SEG” on a NASA engineer, 6.5” colour TFT display with so much info on the “bike display screen” that you might get a Distracted Driving charge if you get caught staring at it too long, cornering ABS + Brembos with 1 finger power, quick shifter, 45mm forks (no telelever here), Dynamic ESA, cruise control…but the German exclamation mark is BMW’s new 1250 shift cam boxer motor (136 hp, 106 ft lbs) which is a marvel of precise fueling & torque EVERYWHERE in the powerband….all the while instilled with the unique boxer character, but now flexing Swarzenegger brawn and a steroidal wet fart exhaust that becomes so...

KTM 1090 Adventure R (demo Ride) Dirt bike DNA is prevalent with this tall 507 lb wet weight bike that had me on tip toes (6’ 1”, low seat position), seated closer to the tank/instruments on a comfy mildly stepped seat & narrower bars than the S10 + shod with TKC 80s on 21”/18” tire/wheel combo that added a cushioning & confident feel on the road surface. The shape of the low slung 23 litre fuel cell aiding mass centralization & side body panels provide good wind coverage of your mid torso down to below the knees. The oem sound & feel begs for an aftermarket exhaust to shrug off the epa sanitized aura which is dominated by induction noise until the rpms climb to the midrange & beyond. Once you become accustomed to living in the deliciously rewarding mid range of the LC8 75 degree v-twin (the gearing lands you above 3k rpm at most road speeds anyways + the motor is smooth & refined), it all comes into focus & is well balanced without the brute over achiever p...

KTM 790 Duke (aka The Scalpel) Demo Ride The motivation for riding this bike is similar to why I demo rode the MT-07 on Saturday, because the 790 Duke has a motor that will be utilized, with a slightly revised power band for better low/mid performance, in the upcoming 790 Adventure & R later this year. The 790 Duke is another small bike, albeit slightly more accommodating to my 6’ 1” frame than the MT-07, that features a new design parallel twin, sophisticated electronics suite w/multiple ride modes, quick shifter, slipper clutch, cornering ABS & traction control, etc One look at the flat, firm, thinly padded seat & ergos that load my wrists, put my head over the dash (mandating looking down to see it) & view of the front tire meeting the road suggest that this bike’s mission is not hours in the saddle! The optional low hung bar mirrors were all but useless & forced removing your focus from the road then having to refocus to use…not safe! The left was already broken...

2019 Yamaha MT-07 (demo ride) My reason for the demo ride was to learn what the motor is like because a version of it will grace the upcoming (2020) T700 Adventure bike, supposedly tuned for power lower in the power band...but will weigh approx 50 lbs more at 450 lbs wet….here is what Yamaha says about their MT-07 engine…all of which seems accurate…it IS an impressive mid displacement motor…but how will it compare to the already available KTM slightly larger 790 Adventure with approx 20 more hp? Advanced Twin-Cylinder Engine:  The MT-07 features a compact 689cc liquid-cooled, inline twin cylinder, DOHC engine with fuel injection. This engine provides a unique power character, with outstanding low to mid-range torque and very linear throttle response, combined with strong high-rpm pulling power. This motor develops 50 foot pounds of torque and is designed to maximize riding excitement in the real world. Crossplane Crankshaft Concept: T he 2-cylinder engine features Yamaha’s “Crosspl...

2014 Motus MST Test Ride @ Noble Rush, Redmond, Wa Well, it finally happened…we actually got to ride a Motus MST (there is also a high performance MST-R model w/180 hp & full Ohlins Suspension) & it turned out to be the same blue bike that cos' Pat 1st saw 2 yrs ago at Hinshaw’s in Auburn with a puddle of oil unceremoniously under it on the showroom floor & the same bike we went to ride last year at Hinshaw’s, but had a dead battery & then the owner changed his mind about us doing a test ride. We did convince them to get it running so we could at least hear it & had to be satisfied with watching a mechanic ride it in the prkg lot…it had that loud Ducati-like clutch basket metallic rattle at idle that would force you to explain to everyone that your $30k+ US bike was not broken! We had learnt that the bike had been sent back to the factory to repair the oil leak & also that Hinshaw’s had just been bought by the owner of the Ducati/BMW/Triumph dealer in Redmon...

2017 Ducati Multistrada 1200 Enduro w/Travel Pack Ergos: You sit IN this bike on a non adjustable std 35” high (optional 33.5 - 34.25” low seats available) firm, thin looking u shaped seat that limits fore/back movement dramatically…the back half of the seat curves up adding pressure points to my seat bones that had me taking notice before the end of the 40 min demo ride…almost immediately you become aware of a little heat transfer from the rear cylinder that had me questioning if it had a heated seat set on low (had same observation with the KTM 1290 Adventure, so perhaps a v-twin trait) The 50mm higher bars are a short reach & of decent height/width with a comfortable bend but still require bar risers for my 6’ 1” frame for standing & would need to be more forward for standing ….the cockpit feels intimate & closer vs the S10 & GS Knee bend is more than the Super Tenere’s with its seat in low position & despite the visual presence that the seat should be low becaus...