First proper ride out on the Tenere

[Scott_rider]

I've had the Tenere for a week and today I got out on the dirt for the first time on the Berskshire Downs following a familiar route to get used to the big 'Ten'...

Ready for the off, all nice and shiney



The first chalky trail



I stopped for a breather after a few hundred metres



The weight of the Tenere compared to my 450 took a bit of getting used to...



But I decided to carry on as I would normally do so it wasn't long before I was in the dirt properly...



That's no way to treat a week old (to me) bike is it?... :laugh:



Anyway, I got out of that and headed up towards Blewbury



By now I was starting to feel a bit more comfortable on it



So I headed up to the highest point on the Downs



Before going down the other side towards the Fair Mile



I stopped for another breather near an outcrop of trees in the middle of the Downs



The big {for me) 660 was now starting to feel not much of a handful at all so I rode a few faster tracks



And rode them again...



And then again... :laugh:



I then headed over towards East Ilsley and the chalk starts to change to flint over that way



Someone left a boot...and a foot on the trail... hmy:



Feeling a lot more confident by now, I headed for the Rat Run...a favourite twisting and turning trail of mine





The petrol station at Great Shefford was calling so I did a bit of B road work to get over there and then got back on the dirt



The countryside looks lovely at this time of year



I rode a few trails that I hadn't ridden for ages. This is my kind of sign :laugh:



And stopped for another breather... hmy:



Even though we've lost a lot of Byways recently it was good to see that this old favourite singletrack has now got an official Byway sign on it B)



It looks like a footpath doesn't it but it's actually a great singletrack Byway that descends off the Downs...



Then I headed for home...stopping at a corner shop for some essential refuelling for me



And home...



:laugh: ...I wish!

So, all in all I covered 110 miles in about 5 hours with about 75% off road. The Tenere really surprised me about how capable it is on the dirt. It's heavier than what I'm used to of course but it's plush, pokey, and comfortable. It never got me into any trouble and I have to say it handled all the stuff that I usually ride on my KTM, just a bit slower. It kind of reminded me of a DRZ-E if that makes sense?

I can't wait to get out on it again, it's a top bike B) .

[benlochlann]

Nice one, luv'n the bike.

[Browndog]

Somebody has had a great day indeed!!

Fantastic.

Thanks for posting.

[Gary117]

Great pics.

Looks like your enjoying the new bike.

[Sykesy]

Awesome matey!!

[Loggy]

I know exactly where you are as I live 10 minutes away from those trails. The first part leads up to the Ridgeway which as I understand it is banned to motorised vehicles, so did you stay on legal Byways?

I've been down there lots of times!! Both on 4 wheels, two wheels and on foot.

[redbikejohn]

you can legally cross over at the top of the hill and the section heading south east isn't closed perminantly - unlike as its a byway there, unlike the loooong part going westward which is now closed as it was a RUPP not a byway. it become a byway again once you hit wiltshire.

hey SR - get some dirt tyres on the bike ............ feels even better then

[Scott_rider]

I know exactly where you are as I live 10 minutes away from those trails. The first part leads up to the Ridgeway which as I understand it is banned to motorised vehicles, so did you stay on legal Byways?

I've been down there lots of times!! Both on 4 wheels, two wheels and on foot.

Yes,it's now closed in most parts to Motors. I've been riding the area for a number of years (with redbikejohn) and always stay on legal byways. We used to ride on the Ridgeway from Chinnor, Oxon, all the way down to Swindon, Wilts but sadly that's no longer possible.However you can still do a good selection of neighbouring Byways that criss-cross the Ridgeway and which are still open, it just needs a bit of navigation.