VOLUME ISSUE APRIL , P99
that). Changing the ABS
settings is more difficult
than the previous-gener
-
ation Tenere's, which had
a simple button on the
dash. The Transalp has
the upside of more engine
modes and adjustability,
but there is a learning
process, and more button
pushes to make those
changes. Just turning
off the ABS and Traction
Control (Honda calls it
Torque Control) for the dirt
is far more difficult on the
Transalp. If you like having
the options and don't mind
fiddling with the dash set
-
tings, you will prefer the
Transalp, but if you prefer
simplicity, the Tenere is
the favored choice.
The Tenere has a huge
advantage in terms of
suspension performance.
The Transalp does not
include damping adjust
-
ability on the front or
rear, and that would not
be such a bad thing if
the standard settings
provided decent perfor-
mance. Unfortunately,
the forks and shock blow
through the travel with
little damping resistance
in either direction. The
Tenere has less than half
an inch more travel, but
more importantly, it has
good damping resistance
that allows you to hit
This is a good time to dig deeper
into the electronic aids on the two
bikes. Both the Tenere and Transalp
reactivate the ABS and/or Trac
-
tion Control whenever the key or
kill switch is turned off. The 2024
Tenere has a new ABS system that
has three different settings: ABS
front and rear on, rear-wheel ABS
off/front on, and both front and
rear ABS off. The new dash op-
tions and ABS are controlled by a
new right-side thumb scroll wheel
switch. There is also an "ABS ON"
button next to the TFT dash that
allows you to quickly turn the ABS
back on when you hit a highway
section (you must stop to activate
The Honda sells for
approximately $800 less
than the Yamaha; that
savings can be felt when it
comes to suspension.
