MCN new S10 write up

[cakeboy]

i think you hit the nail on the head "old git ray" and i think if anyone should know the S10 it would be you ...anyway when are you two off again ive got nothing to read ...

 

[Old Git Ray]

Here is a more balanced LONG TERM view from an MCN guy.

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/mcn/news/newsresults/videos/2011/december/dec0811-video-yamaha-xtz1200-super-tenere-long-term-review/yamaha/xt1200z-super-tenere/_/R-EPI-134237

 

[Mr. Jones]

Just a different slant on the write up from MCN.

I struggle to understand why it's caused so much irritation? Did you need the nod or thumbs up from MCN prior to purchase? Will a brilliant write up make your bike any better, will you enjoy it more? If they write a top notch road test on the S10 will we/you be happy, or do you/we accept the positives but not the negatives.

Some of my biker mates like my bike, some don't. Some think their bikes are better, some don't, that's just how life is.

I buy my bikes for me, for my needs and after my own research from current owners. I seek no one elses approval prior to purchase, I don't need it after. My bikes remains the same regardless of how great or cr@p someone else says/thinks it is.

Happy riding ::008::

Like you, I can't understand the need for others approval or endorsement of my purchases either. Should I feel bad if my brand of tv doesn't get the highest ranking in a review or if my truck didn't win truck of the year in a magazine? But the worst part of this type of thinking is the idea that there is a conspiracy out there that the European manufacturers are controlling the press. Do you really believe the magazines don't want Yamaha's, Suzuki's and Kawasaki's advertising dollars and only want the European manufacturers dollars?

The Super Tenere has not been at the top of many magazine multi bike reviews regardless of which country it's published in. If I like the Super Tenere when I ride it, I will buy it and not join the conspiracy theorists, nor will I believe everybody who didn't buy one is a fool. I'm just going to enjoy riding it and spend my time on the real problems that comes with living.

Sid

 

[Old Git Ray]

Like you, I can't understand the need for others approval or endorsement of my purchases either. Should I feel bad if my brand of tv doesn't get the highest ranking in a review or if my truck didn't win truck of the year in a magazine? But the worst part of this type of thinking is the idea that there is a conspiracy out there that the European manufacturers are controlling the press. Do you really believe the magazines don't want Yamaha's, Suzuki's and Kawasaki's advertising dollars and only want the European manufacturers dollars?

The Super Tenere has not been at the top of many magazine multi bike reviews regardless of which country it's published in. If I like the Super Tenere when I ride it, I will buy it and not join the conspiracy theorists, nor will I believe everybody who didn't buy one is a fool. I'm just going to enjoy riding it and spend my time on the real problems that comes with living.

Sid

So what did you think of the article ?

 

[Rasher]

I don't give a toss about others views either, just it is a shame a lot of people who the bike maybe ideally suited for are put-off from even testing by these press f***wits, and yes they are often he same the world over....

... and probably like in the UK, often younger folk - and when I was younger with the opportunity to ride a bike not belonging to me guess what :question:

Yes, I thrashed the f*** out of it, for a while in my teens I worked for a Honda dealer and would get to "run in" demo bikes, I soon discovered the front wheel could easily have been an optional extra on a VFR750 as I rarely let it touch tarmac, a CBR600 may as well of ticked over at 8,000 rpm as I do not recall ever letting the tacho drop below this figure and a CD200 Benley could have been sold as a cure for depression as riding it on the rev limiter at all times was f'ing hilarious.

Even worse are "comparison tests", these force Journo's to find differences that probably do not really exist in the real world, or vastly exaggerate those they can detect.

My guess is any short test makes it hard to really evaluate a bike, but you have to be a knobhead to test a 250+kg Adventure bike and not realise the type of people looking to buy such a beast is unlikely to give a toss about how it performs beyond a ton, thinking back to my test rides I wanted to find out:

* How comfy is the riding position, do my knees cramp up, is the reach to the bars how I like it.

* Do I enjoy riding it on a variety of roads, from fast A-Roads to narrow bumpy back lanes

* What is the low-mid range pull, is overtaking an effortless breeze without dancing on the gear lever, how does it feel at various cruising speeds

* How is the handling on slow / medium and quite fast bends (not bothered about anything over 100mph)

* How does it ride bumps and what is the ride quality on various road surfaces

* How do the brakes feel & perform

* What does it go like when thrashed....

.... Of course I tested it when being thrashed, just this was about the lowest priority on my list.

Luckily MCN only has about 15 readers these days, and it seems this one review has alienated five of them.

 

[Big Blu]

All true.
But it would be nice to see one major publication actually discover the virtues of the Super Tenere, and then go on record with it. It would even be ok to include the complaints, as long as it isn't the stupid stereotype ones.
(It's too heavy and you can't disable ABS)

It's like it's our word against the experts. Only need ONE respected expert to keep it real and we might get over the whole thing. lol

Value is in the eye of the beholder. Most owner think what they ride is top dog, same goes for the Tenere crown.

Both KTM and BMW make great Adventure Tourer. Which is best, again, it's in the eye of the beholder.

But this wouldn't be a bike owners thread without the whining... ::021::

Paul

 

[Duckhead]

Having owned most of the so called "competition", I believe that the ST10 is the KLR of the big bike class. It does everything well , but mostly it far exceeds the competition in Price and durability. An adventure bike is only as good as its dependability and your confidence as a rider to take that bike to "nowhere" and not having to worry about riding it out. There are very few posts and threads on this forum where the ST has left a rider stranded......very few.
There will always be something better, newer, more advanced. If you are always looking around worrying about what your bike doesn't have I am afraid you have missed the point......some people are better shoppers than they are riders.
ST is one damn fine motorcycle....period...it works totally for me. ::018::

 

[snakebitten]

I get the KLR analogy.
I have a KLR.
I even like the KLR.
But my Tenere ain't the KLR of anything.

It's a great rode bike amongst Big Pig ADV bikes.
It's a great commuter bike amongst Big Pig ADV bikes.
It's a Fantastic Dirt Bike amongst Big Pig ADV bikes.
And it's by far the most bike for the $ amongst the Big Pig ADV bikes. (ok, this one attribute is very KLRish)

Still, I get your point. Lol

 

[GrahamD]

But my Tenere ain't the KLR of anything.

It's a Super KLR ::001:: ::002:: ::024:: ::018::

 

[Big Blu]

Having owned most of the so called "competition", I believe that the ST10 is the KLR of the big bike class. It does everything well , but mostly it far exceeds the competition in Price and durability. An adventure bike is only as good as its dependability and your confidence as a rider to take that bike to "nowhere" and not having to worry about riding it out. There are very few posts and threads on this forum where the ST has left a rider stranded......very few.
There will always be something better, newer, more advanced. If you are always looking around worrying about what your bike doesn't have I am afraid you have missed the point......some people are better shoppers than they are riders.
ST is one damn fine motorcycle....period...it works totally for me. ::018::

Yea yea I know we all LOVE our Tenere's. ::015::


Back on topic... magazine reviews rarely, if ever, take into account reliability, customer support, and cost of ownership. For me these are important factors and area's in which Yamaha seems to excel. As has been said, there are lot's of great bikes available in todays market.

It appears some issues are starting to crop up as the Tenere fleet ages. There's the head light harness, some instrument cluster issues, and reports of final drives weeping. Let's hope these issues do not become common place.

Paul

 

[longride]

I just read a 'long term' test in Motorcyclist on the Ducati Multistrada. They just gush over it and rode it a whole 5000 miles and the 'Skyhook' suspension took a crap to the point where it had to be repaired. Now I wonder how much that would set someone back if they had to pay out of their pocket for that? It didn't seem to bother them one bit. Hardly a blip on the radar.

 

[Z750jay]

Trouble is most motocycle rider rarely ride anything more than 2000 miles a year. I got wierd looks at the local bike meet when I asked what milage BT020 were giving as I was chewing mine up every 4000 miles and at that rate I was looking at 5 pairs a year, to which the reply was about 2 years a tyre. MCN and most of the industry cater for this crowd

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

 

[Terranno]

MCN did the same thing with the the varadero xlv 1000 said that it was hard to fuel honda updated it in 2003 with 6 gears & fuel injection I rode one a 2006 Model for 7 years and always returned 45-50 mpg but it was still dammed with MCN right up to now for bad mpg,
The tenere is still going to be out with them because of power , KTM has a good bike but it has chain drive a thing that a lot of other bikes got bad reviews for but it has 150bhp so with them that's ok, if 110 bhp isn't enough for an adv bike I sure don't know.

 

[creggur]

Cycle world did a long-term test of the Tenere, and the results were quite favorable. They complained about the same nit-picky stuff we complain about: fueling, buffeting, etc. and fitted aftermarket accessories to suit the bike to them.

Actually they said it was one of their favorite long-term test bikes in years...

http://touch.cycleworld.com/cycleworld/#!/entry/yamaha-super-tenere-longterm-wrapup,52435bd4aa4ed386626de94d/1

 

[snakebitten]

Thanks creggur for reminding me. I should shut up because I DID get what I was essentially asking for; a major published source going on record with an opinion based on a thorough understanding of what the Tenere really is like to live with. And they got as close as anybody.

Big Blu, I'll still risk ruffling some feathers by making light of the issues that are now in the forefront of an aging Tenere fleet.
Headlight harness? Even without the apparently well run recall routine, it is a very minor issue. Never did cost even $100 to put behind you.
The recent instrument button? Still reported by only a handful. And if it does reveal itself to be more common in the future, some clever fella around here is gonna come up with the fix.
And finally, the rear seal leaking. That truly never will rate as a shock. It's a seal. Cheap. Simple enough to fix. Inexpensive. And does not lead to a dramatic event even if you are on the road. It does, however, scare the crap out of some folks that have had previous dramatic experiences with "seals".

 

[Big Blu]

Thanks creggur for reminding me. I should shut up because I DID get what I was essentially asking for; a major published source going on record with an opinion based on a thorough understanding of what the Tenere really is like to live with. And they got as close as anybody.

Big Blu, I'll still risk ruffling some feathers by making light of the issues that are now in the forefront of an aging Tenere fleet.
Headlight harness? Even without the apparently well run recall routine, it is a very minor issue. Never did cost even $100 to put behind you.
The recent instrument button? Still reported by only a handful. And if it does reveal itself to be more common in the future, some clever fella around here is gonna come up with the fix.
And finally, the rear seal leaking. That truly never will rate as a shock. It's a seal. Cheap. Simple enough to fix. Inexpensive. And does not lead to a dramatic event even if you are on the road. It does, however, scare the crap out of some folks that have had previous dramatic experiences with "seals".

Just say'n ...... it ain't perfect. As stated earlier, most riders don't put 2,000 mile/yr. on their bikes and miles have a way of shining light on the weak points, and because it's a cheap simple fix doesn't make it right, just easy to over look.

As for the headlight harness is only a minor issue IF it doesn't fail at night...... The NHSTA seems to think it's important enough to require a recall, with our safety in mind.

I chuckle when folks want to overlook the issues with a product they own but are quick to point to weaknesses of other brands. Kinda like a parent who thinks their child can do no wrong....... ::025::

Paul

 

[snakebitten]

Not overlooking, I promise. But so far, they are all "minor". Nobody getting stranded.

And my kids are the WORST.
I still love em though.

 

[creggur]

Just say'n ...... it ain't perfect. As stated earlier, most riders don't put 2,000 mile/yr. on their bikes and miles have a way of shining light on the weak points, and because it's a cheap simple fix doesn't make it right, just easy to over look.

As for the headlight harness is only a minor issue IF it doesn't fail at night...... The NHSTA seems to think it's important enough to require a recall, with our safety in mind.

I chuckle when folks want to overlook the issues with a product they own but are quick to point to weaknesses of other brands. Kinda like a parent who thinks their child can do no wrong....... ::025::

Paul

"Perfect" doesn't exist, and never will in this sense, no matter the manufacturer. And I'll take cheap and simple fixes over major, stranding failures any day. Seems to me Yamaha got it pretty darn right in this sense.

A small correction on the headlamp harness, the NHTSA didn't force Yamaha into a recall, as a matter-of-fact there were only two complaints from owners to the NHTSA about the problem. Two complaints a forced recall doesn't make, and never will. Yamaha initiated a voluntary recall in accordance with the NHTSA rules on safety recalls - they weren't forced - anytime a SAFETY recall is initiated the manufacturer has to involve the NHTSA.

They could have simply initiated a campaign to replace the harness, which means any time a bike comes in for service or repair the work is done without an official pre-notification to the customer. Yamaha thought it serious enough to initiate a Safety Recall and notify their customers of the situation. I'm not silly enough to think it was pure benevolence on their part, but I've seen manufacturers pull the "look the other way" routine with problems more serious than this. I say kudos to Yammi for doing it right...

And let's not forget, this is a worldwide recall - Yamaha saw the issue and addressed it. Re-engineering parts takes time, testing takes time, etc. this isn't a garage-jockey fix like we all pull off, they had to make sure the fix is a real fix, not just a Band-Aid.

I don't think anyone overlooked any problems, it's just that the problems are pretty minor in a relative sense, and a lot chose to just fix it themselves. Don't know if you've noticed but this group has a pretty solid DIY sense about them.

 

[Big Blu]

"A small correction on the headlamp harness, the NHTSA didn't force Yamaha into a recall, as a matter-of-fact there were only two complaints from owners to the NHTSA about the problem. Two complaints a forced recall doesn't make, and never will. Yamaha initiated a voluntary recall in accordance with the NHTSA rules on safety recalls - they weren't forced - anytime a SAFETY recall is initiated the manufacturer has to involve the NHTSA."

I've been wondering about that, exactly what I would expect from Yamaha! ::008::

A few months ago I called Yamaha customer support and they agreed to pay for an inspection of the harness on my bike then replaced it when it was found to have " high resistance". At the time it appeared to me they had accepted liability and were stepping up to the issue.
Good on them!

Paul

 

[Z750jay]

My DL1000 suffered from a similar issue with its headlight harness but no product recall. Most of them didn't suffer from it but there were a few owners who did mention the issue on the forum but, hey it's a Suzuki, it's Great Britain - the bikes going to rust away anyway!