Motorcycle.com adventure touring bike comparison (youtube video)
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Cdutch
Member
I did read the article and they gave us low marks.
Talltourer
Member
They make interesting points, a few I will not agree with... Obviously since I ride a S10 and I just bought one and I did go over all those bikes in there.
I'll also note that all their testers are midgets(sorry for the short guys here) with nobody looking like they are over 5'10" and that will factor alot in how you will feel and can handle a bike.
And their pricing of off the rockers when comparing bikes, well for Canada anyway.
I dont care how good a GS is, a loaded GS like shown there is 33k in Canada. A Tenere ES can be had for 18k. I paid 15k Canadian for a new 2017. Ducatis, 20k+, Triumph, around 30k Canadian. Only the Honda is about the same price and is the only true comparable along with the Vstrom(slightly cheaper in Canada).
A couple other things worth woth saying... BMW, Ducati and Triumph, fuggetaboutit in Canada. You have a handful of dealer per province, all near big cities. Those are adventure bikes. While we all hope they are reliable, knowing there are some dealers in most medium to large cities or around it is good in case shit hits the fan.
Yamaha and Suzuki are everywhere, so is Honda, those 3 bikes were on my short list, this was one reason on top of the list.
It's all fine and dandy but that sounded a lil too much like a BMW sponsonship to me. They make great bikes, dont get me wrong, but from a "getting your moneys worth"... Well, if you can afford one, I'm happy for you, I did not see the 15k "more" in how it rode when I test drove one.
I'll also note that all their testers are midgets(sorry for the short guys here) with nobody looking like they are over 5'10" and that will factor alot in how you will feel and can handle a bike.
And their pricing of off the rockers when comparing bikes, well for Canada anyway.
I dont care how good a GS is, a loaded GS like shown there is 33k in Canada. A Tenere ES can be had for 18k. I paid 15k Canadian for a new 2017. Ducatis, 20k+, Triumph, around 30k Canadian. Only the Honda is about the same price and is the only true comparable along with the Vstrom(slightly cheaper in Canada).
A couple other things worth woth saying... BMW, Ducati and Triumph, fuggetaboutit in Canada. You have a handful of dealer per province, all near big cities. Those are adventure bikes. While we all hope they are reliable, knowing there are some dealers in most medium to large cities or around it is good in case shit hits the fan.
Yamaha and Suzuki are everywhere, so is Honda, those 3 bikes were on my short list, this was one reason on top of the list.
It's all fine and dandy but that sounded a lil too much like a BMW sponsonship to me. They make great bikes, dont get me wrong, but from a "getting your moneys worth"... Well, if you can afford one, I'm happy for you, I did not see the 15k "more" in how it rode when I test drove one.
bnschroder
2014 Super Tenere ES
I really couldn't care less what motorcycle testers say. They don't own the bikes, don't pay for the maintenance, only ride around a few scenic roads, and return them when they treat them a little roughly. Their perspective is too different from real ownership and use to be relevant.
Jeff Milleman
Active Member
I road with a GS in N.C and Tenn. ,he was fast and handle the roads but I was with him like stink on sh--... Its all about handling your machine if it and you are capable and the S10 IS. If I was rich I may have one of each and could tell you what I liked but thet New Chevrolet 2.8 duramax I got is darn nice also !!
Got a chance to watch the video, I think they did a good job without any real surprises.
You are correct in that the reviewers (all reviews really) are prioritizing what is the best bike, with minimal consideration for the other stuff of actual ownership. This is fair as everyone has different priorities. A desmo service that costs a couple grand that is due every 18k miles doesn't matter much to most people that do 3-5k miles a year.
The Tenere is a decent bike that suits my needs best, but it definitely is not the best bike out there.
In theory, you can buy a base GSA for $23k. I say theory, cause no one in the world has ever bought one, and the dealer would probably look at you cockeyed if you asked. A base GSA would have similar features to the S10 in a much nicer package for ~$5k more.
Saying that, when I was shopping for what ended up being the Tenere, I kept my eye on GS/GSA's. Every single one I saw listed was loaded with every option package, and priced in the low $20k's for a 3-4 year old bike.
bnschroder
2014 Super Tenere ES
Watched the video and I was just amazed by some of the comments, which made me really wonder how they do the test, but also highlighted how subjective the test it.
For one, they comment that the Tenere feels heavy, but say it's the third lightest in the test. Wow - all other tests and reviews I have seen say exactly the opposite. And I don't even want to know what scale they used.
And that the Tenere is "bulbous" and wide? I know it's subjective but how can you say that with a straight face when you have a GSA and a Tiger in the same test.
On the other hand someone commented that the Tenere had smooth throttle response in Sport in lower gears. What bike were you riding? Definitely not a stock S10.
Some other comments were pretty fair: The engine does indeed sound like crap when you sit on it and are not hard on the throttle.
And where were the comments that the 112 hp engine was "anemic"? I guess having an AT and a V-Strom in the mix helped.
For one, they comment that the Tenere feels heavy, but say it's the third lightest in the test. Wow - all other tests and reviews I have seen say exactly the opposite. And I don't even want to know what scale they used.
And that the Tenere is "bulbous" and wide? I know it's subjective but how can you say that with a straight face when you have a GSA and a Tiger in the same test.
On the other hand someone commented that the Tenere had smooth throttle response in Sport in lower gears. What bike were you riding? Definitely not a stock S10.
Some other comments were pretty fair: The engine does indeed sound like crap when you sit on it and are not hard on the throttle.
And where were the comments that the 112 hp engine was "anemic"? I guess having an AT and a V-Strom in the mix helped.
mrpete64
Member
I, too, watched the video. I have owned a lot of BMW's. Nice bikes but very pricy to maintain. I have about 23,000 miles on my Tenere and all I have done is...tires...oil changes....and air filters. ALL of these bikes are too big to take off road. As I have commented before, on this site, if this bike had 135+ hp they would all be "loving" it. I, personally, think it has adequate power and is VERY dependable. Try getting your GS fixed in the middle of Wyoming...or.....Ecuador. It will be interesting to see how it does with dirt tires.
Mr. Pete-------->
aging hippie
Mr. Pete-------->
aging hippie
To each their own/different strokes for different folks. I rode a Beemer RT for seven years and 60K+ miles. Two drive shafts and three clutches. Every time a drive shaft goes, the clutch goes with it. Put the clutch in even a fraction of an inch off, and you loose another clutch. In it's defense, it was driven hard and put away wet. But the ST1300 that replaced it was driven exactly the same with ZERO failures. We're all biased, and look at our favorites with rose colored glasses, but DAMN...."bulbous"....wide?! there was a picture, on this web site, that showed a Tenere beside a GS. It made the Tenere look like a KLR. I don't care what her weight is, she feel light to ME. I don't mind, I even love, the "S" throttle response, but it is not smooth. I'm smooth, the throttle is not. And you're right, maintenance cost, reliability, and dealer network is NEVER mentioned in any review. I feel that the "product vs cost" was fair on my Tenere; I've never felt that Beemer "product vs cost" has ever been fair. I will never pay for an image.
worncog
Live a life worth living.
Tests ARE very subjective. Hell, they could have borrowed my flashed 14 and I'm sure the opinions would have been different.
I picked mine up for 10K, dropped 3K on farkles and upgrades, and have only had to deal with a 'fiddly' clutch switch, a weeping FD seal, and a loose triple tree on the Denali Hwy. One fixed with a pen spring and the other with a Seal Mate. Maintenance aside, that's it for 30K+ of riding. I bought the S10 because I could fix it myself, either in my shop or in the middle of the Yukon. Oh, and the parts don't cost a fortune.
Yes the BMW is the best at just about everything, I just can't afford everything.
I picked mine up for 10K, dropped 3K on farkles and upgrades, and have only had to deal with a 'fiddly' clutch switch, a weeping FD seal, and a loose triple tree on the Denali Hwy. One fixed with a pen spring and the other with a Seal Mate. Maintenance aside, that's it for 30K+ of riding. I bought the S10 because I could fix it myself, either in my shop or in the middle of the Yukon. Oh, and the parts don't cost a fortune.
Yes the BMW is the best at just about everything, I just can't afford everything.
Yes the BMW is the best at just about everything, I just can't afford everything.
Seeeee....Even that statement is subjective. Best for ME, may not be the best for YOU. And vice versa. And that comparison was anything but objective. When the tester advised that the SOUND of the Tenere soured him, and he loved ANYTHING with a boxer engine, I was done watching. With that much bias, what's the point.
mechanon84
New Member
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It's such common knowledge these days how deep they are in BMWs pockets, I'm shocked they've been able to cling to any kind of relevancy (have they even?) for as long as they have. I mean it's almost a joke at this point. You could make a drinking game of taking a shot every time they compare something unfavorably to the shining example that is the GS, or say how heavy the GS but that it just "carries its weight so much better." These guys are a bunch of BJs riding out their BMW sponsored career / lifestyle until that wave crashes. And I can't wait for that day.
jimmy z
Member
It comes as no suprise to me that the talking heads picked the 2nd from worst most unreliable bike on the planet.Consumer reports.
Xclimation
Well-Known Member
I don't get it....You watch/read one review or comparison and they tear apart the BMW. You watch another...and the opposite. This is one of the first reviews where the reviewers were not complaining about the BMW weight distribution? I will say this is the first review/comparison that gave compliments to the Vstrom and didn't gush over the KTM....Most reviews/comparisons don't even include the Vstrom. I just don't understand the fascination with the way the exhaust sounds on bikes? One of the easiest things to change and the thing that EVERY bike owner will change out due to weight. Funny how they described the Tenere as "bulbous!" especially in light of the boxer engine sticking out! No mention of the shaft drive? As someone pointed out...pretty sure none of these riders were over 69 inches....Weird how they said the Tenere was the second lightest? If one goes to each manufacturers websites the Tenere is one of the heaviest. (Not that I believe what the manufacturers put out) Would love to see a review / comparison where the bikes are weighed and dyno'd and not go by manufacturers numbers...
tallpaul
Well-Known Member
I thought the inclusion of the Vstrom and Africa Twin was a bit out of order. To my mind those bikes are not in the same category as the others. Honda should have been judged against the VFR1200X Crosstourer. Ok, Suzuki don't have an equivalent but that may explain why they gave the Suzuki some praise. They know deep down (not sure how "deep" these guys are though!) that the people looking at XT1200, R1200GS etc will not consider the Strom as being in that category and not on their radar. That allowed them to overlook the lack of cruise control, the lack of electronic suspension etc and just enjoy the bike for what it was.
At the end of the day we all know what we like about the Super Tenere and we don't lose sleep over the Muppet journalists that have a vested interest in bigging up other brands. I just feel sorry that some people looking at this type of bike will ignore the super tenere because some height disadvantaged individual doing a review doesn't like the sound of the exhaust...
At the end of the day we all know what we like about the Super Tenere and we don't lose sleep over the Muppet journalists that have a vested interest in bigging up other brands. I just feel sorry that some people looking at this type of bike will ignore the super tenere because some height disadvantaged individual doing a review doesn't like the sound of the exhaust...
Edbo1960
Member
I will be buying an S10 soon. My top 3 "must haves" are cruise control and shaft which narrows it down to the S10 and BMW and the 3rd (wait for it!), reliability = S10.
I need the confidence to go out for a 500 mile day and know I'll be back for dinner = S10.
Dealer network = S10.
And the winner is - S10!!
I need the confidence to go out for a 500 mile day and know I'll be back for dinner = S10.
Dealer network = S10.
And the winner is - S10!!
worncog
Live a life worth living.
My S10 is in Seattle and I'm getting ready to ride it back to Florida via the IDBDR and the NVBDR, solo. I parked it after fresh oil and tires upon returning from Alaska. I'll clean the windshield, load my clothes, and roll out. My point is that I am confident in the machine, and its reliability to ride solo thru the wilderness of Idaho and across the deserts of Nevada, and then home. Flashed and farkled '14 non-ES. Money well spent.