Congratulations on your new bike! I'm picking up my new Tenere on 1 July. Can't wait... I went for the multibike scenario, being a Guzzi-head with a Quota for the 2-up touring, a sidecar rig when bringing the kids and a Husaberg for the real dirt stuff. And now the Tenere for solo gravel "adventures".

Life is gooood, isn't it? :-)

Hi Hans, thanks. Since you are from Oslo, just want to let you know that the first trip I will take with the Tenere will be likely to Nordkapp from Frankfurt.

Wow, that's what I call "breaking in tour de force"! When are you leaving and how much time do you plan to spend?

Hi Joseph, are those the yamaha panniers? What's the quality like? Have fun on your new ten. :mchappy:

Thanks for the link Hans. I plan to start end of July early August, and take about three weeks. I am taking a 'break' from working, so the duration is not exactly an issue. Some friends suggest me to go up via Sweden, then return via Norway. Do you reckon it's a good way to go?

Hi Flyingdoctor, yes they are yamaha panniers, and I like them because they are slim, light, and well-built which fit the profile of the Tenere. The inside is made of hard plastic and the outside is of some alu-alike material, very similar to how the BMW GS variocases are made. Check out the pic which shows how the cases are not wider than the handlebars (Moto Revue) Touratech people claim they are not waterproof like the zega cases, I suspect it would only be true if you submerse the cases entirely under the water. They are not one-key system like BMW.

Well, the Swedish route is boooooring, but takes you up north fast. Take the E4 to make use of the higher speeds in Sweden. Then you can spend more days on the interesting stuff, meaning the coastal route from Nordkapp and south. In that sense your friends' suggestion is sound.

Fortunate bastard
 

Indu,

Yep, life is good: Sounds like that is getting close to a perfect garage for you.
I am still searching.
Maybe a couple of twins and a couple of singles; there again - life is full of choices!!

i hope you a save and enjoable tousands of kilometers with your new bike.. yamaha is good!!

Many thanks ozhanu.

You will have to keep us posted on your trip North. I wanted a Tenere but Uk availability has messed things up so now inspired by Tims 650 gs I am looking at the BMW. I cant afford the luxury of lots of bikes so it needs to be able to mix it up from motorway to mountain and everything else in between. I dont know about Sweden but the bits of Norway Ive seen put it top of my list of destinations. Its like NZ but little more than an hour away.

Thanks Hans. So is there a route in Norway I can take to go north that is much more interesting than the boring Swedish route, yet without double backing the same route when I come back?

Hi, sorry for my late response. Been away, you see, on my new Tenere 8-)

Anyway: Use the E6 north and any coastal road, e.g. RV17, down south. Use your map to plan the southbound excursion, and be prepared for LOTS of small ferry trips. Nice breaks from all that riding, though.

I Love my new Tenere
 

I ditched a Varadero for a Tenere - fell in lust with it as soon as I saw it in the dealer, done a swap and I've clocked up 660 miles already (in for it's first service on Tuesday).

Yep , it's single, and it's got nowhere near the power of the big Honda, but it's a whole lot more fun.

It's fine on the dirt too, I've had mine on Green lanes up here in the Lakes (UK) at it behaves perfectly. A bit skity on the slimy stuff but it's only got Metz Tourances on it so what would you expect?

The weight is no problem, it doesn't feel like a big bike at all, in fact it feel as light and nimble as feather in a breeze. This is maybe due to having a 1/4 tonne monster previously.

I love my Tenere, nearly as much as my TTR.....:D

Gas Up intersting take, if the Tenere is like a grown up TTR then I think I will have to be patient and wait till next year. It wont be a bad wait with my TTR to keep me busy.