MonstrDude64
Active Member
I've been a long time lurker and bought the S10 from LA-Motor last August over here: http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=9098.msg151198#msg151198
I got the welcome but I forgot that I never introduced myself. I have been using the Search feature to find what I needed, so I thought I'd share how my S10 experience has been coming along. Since my purchase, I have added a Seat Concepts seat, Race Tech full suspension (front linear heavy springs/rear shock), Rigid light bar, Dyno-Tune, K60s, Oxford grips, and Cal-Sci screen.
My first bike was a used 2003 Ducati Multistrada 1000DS. I was told by a buddy of similar size that starting out with a great handling bike is like going straight to broadband internet and not knowing what Dial up is.
I farkled it of course and added a full custom suspension.
I used to live in the valley at that time and I have been fortunate that my commute to work involved 10 miles of a twisty canyons. I had two canyons to choose each work day so I was able to really take advantage what the bike was capable of. Unfortunately, I found out the hard way that I bought a first year model bike and suffered each of those first year problems such as valve guides replacement that required a top end rebuild. It is true when they say Ducati makes mechanics out of riders : I even learned how to do the valve adjustments.
I got into an accident one night after a 17 hour workday. It was midnight and I was so tired that I didn't realize how wide I was taking a turn and low sided hard. The bike only had cosmetic damage to fairings and gauge was hanging off. Well, I was still able to ride it home. Something to be said about simple designs and less electronics. I ended up converting it to a streetfighter and rode some more.
I eventually moved and my canyon commute turned into 30+ miles of freeway traffic on the 405. It was time to upgrade my stripped Multi to something with more power and good for two-up. I put many miles on that bike and it was hard to let it go since it was my first and only bike. It was the start of last year, I ended up buying the 2013 LC 1200GS. It had only a two month old manufacturing date when it was delivered and my BMW dealership experience was actually great. I was very reluctant to put that much money down on a first year model but I never bought a new vehicle before. It was always used.
I rode the GS for 3,500mi and ready for my first service until a van cut in front of me onto my lane. It hit my shoulder and I fell off, sliding to the rear tires of a car stuck in traffic. I actually came out ok but the GS front end (Beak and gauges) was smashed. The engine guards saved the rest of the bike... so I thought. After talking with PD, it looked like the bike was capable of taking me home but no chance. I could not turn it on, so I needed a tow.
One thing I was going to mention about my GS was that there were a couple of times I braked hard at a light and the bike would turn off. I wouldn't notice it until the light was green and I wasn't going anywhere. The gauge was blank and my clutch was still pulled in. I had to switch the key a couple of times. I don't know if there was a recall on that as well. I didn't get a chance to ask since I didn't make it to the 2nd service. All I know is that my Ducati MTS had similar damage and it still took me home with a broken gauge. I am just throwing it out there that the extra electronics (digital gauges, electronic suspension) may not be a good thing. My GS was fully loaded.
I was shocked to find out the GS was a total loss. The estimated repairs quote was nearly the cost of the bike. Since parts weren't in stock yet, it took some time to find a quote. Now, I had a second opportunity of a new GS. I got my money back from the insurance but after my experience from 3000 miles, I hesitated and wanted to read more on what was out there.
Another website comparing the GS to the S10 led me to reading the forums and I liked what I heard about this bike. I saw that LA-Motor was selling his S10 and joined this site just to contact him and buy it at almost half the price I paid for the GS. I will say that the GS was a very nice bike and grabbed attention from even non riders but I don't think for the price that it is twice as good as the S10. Even though I wanted to, I couldn't picture myself taking it off road. It was like a Porsche Cayenne. The S10 is like a Hummer and I'm just dying to take it off road somewhere. I've gotten a taste of riding a Triumph Explorer on a work trip in the Amazon but it was with the stock tires in the mud so it was an unsettling experience... I had fun but wished it was with the S10.
Sorry for the long story here. I thought I owe something back after lurking for so long and having the answers that many members provided in the Search. I don't think there was a person who came here from the new LC GS and I'm here to tell you that I don't miss it. I think the best mod was the suspension. The drive wasn't that far from RaceTech headquarters so I was able to have it done there and got a military discount. I made my choice based on local support and having them do the setup. The bike already had the ECU 2 flash with Bazzazz and headers but the dyno showed it still had an issue with fueling at cruising speed so the tuning sorted that out.
I hope I can get this right to attach pics
I got the welcome but I forgot that I never introduced myself. I have been using the Search feature to find what I needed, so I thought I'd share how my S10 experience has been coming along. Since my purchase, I have added a Seat Concepts seat, Race Tech full suspension (front linear heavy springs/rear shock), Rigid light bar, Dyno-Tune, K60s, Oxford grips, and Cal-Sci screen.
My first bike was a used 2003 Ducati Multistrada 1000DS. I was told by a buddy of similar size that starting out with a great handling bike is like going straight to broadband internet and not knowing what Dial up is.
I farkled it of course and added a full custom suspension. I used to live in the valley at that time and I have been fortunate that my commute to work involved 10 miles of a twisty canyons. I had two canyons to choose each work day so I was able to really take advantage what the bike was capable of. Unfortunately, I found out the hard way that I bought a first year model bike and suffered each of those first year problems such as valve guides replacement that required a top end rebuild. It is true when they say Ducati makes mechanics out of riders :
I even learned how to do the valve adjustments. I got into an accident one night after a 17 hour workday. It was midnight and I was so tired that I didn't realize how wide I was taking a turn and low sided hard. The bike only had cosmetic damage to fairings and gauge was hanging off. Well, I was still able to ride it home. Something to be said about simple designs and less electronics. I ended up converting it to a streetfighter and rode some more.
I eventually moved and my canyon commute turned into 30+ miles of freeway traffic on the 405. It was time to upgrade my stripped Multi to something with more power and good for two-up. I put many miles on that bike and it was hard to let it go since it was my first and only bike. It was the start of last year, I ended up buying the 2013 LC 1200GS. It had only a two month old manufacturing date when it was delivered and my BMW dealership experience was actually great. I was very reluctant to put that much money down on a first year model but I never bought a new vehicle before. It was always used.
I rode the GS for 3,500mi and ready for my first service until a van cut in front of me onto my lane. It hit my shoulder and I fell off, sliding to the rear tires of a car stuck in traffic. I actually came out ok but the GS front end (Beak and gauges) was smashed. The engine guards saved the rest of the bike... so I thought. After talking with PD, it looked like the bike was capable of taking me home but no chance. I could not turn it on, so I needed a tow.
One thing I was going to mention about my GS was that there were a couple of times I braked hard at a light and the bike would turn off. I wouldn't notice it until the light was green and I wasn't going anywhere. The gauge was blank and my clutch was still pulled in. I had to switch the key a couple of times. I don't know if there was a recall on that as well. I didn't get a chance to ask since I didn't make it to the 2nd service. All I know is that my Ducati MTS had similar damage and it still took me home with a broken gauge. I am just throwing it out there that the extra electronics (digital gauges, electronic suspension) may not be a good thing. My GS was fully loaded.
I was shocked to find out the GS was a total loss. The estimated repairs quote was nearly the cost of the bike. Since parts weren't in stock yet, it took some time to find a quote. Now, I had a second opportunity of a new GS. I got my money back from the insurance but after my experience from 3000 miles, I hesitated and wanted to read more on what was out there.
Another website comparing the GS to the S10 led me to reading the forums and I liked what I heard about this bike. I saw that LA-Motor was selling his S10 and joined this site just to contact him and buy it at almost half the price I paid for the GS.
I will say that the GS was a very nice bike and grabbed attention from even non riders but I don't think for the price that it is twice as good as the S10. Even though I wanted to, I couldn't picture myself taking it off road. It was like a Porsche Cayenne. The S10 is like a Hummer and I'm just dying to take it off road somewhere. I've gotten a taste of riding a Triumph Explorer on a work trip in the Amazon but it was with the stock tires in the mud so it was an unsettling experience... I had fun but wished it was with the S10. Sorry for the long story here. I thought I owe something back after lurking for so long and having the answers that many members provided in the Search. I don't think there was a person who came here from the new LC GS and I'm here to tell you that I don't miss it. I think the best mod was the suspension. The drive wasn't that far from RaceTech headquarters so I was able to have it done there and got a military discount. I made my choice based on local support and having them do the setup. The bike already had the ECU 2 flash with Bazzazz and headers but the dyno showed it still had an issue with fueling at cruising speed so the tuning sorted that out.
I hope I can get this right to attach pics
