Question from a potential owner

[colorider]

Well, this is quite a case of perfect timing. Mission Cycles in Daly City just (literally minutes ago) announced a demo day for this Saturday, and they'll have a Super Tenere available. I'm already down for a 10:30 spot. ::012::

Well, I'd say it will soon be over for you. Your next post (after the demo ride) will be announcing that you bought one!!

::022::

 

[FuzzyRider]

I do not have an S10 yet but I have read many of the reviews. Someone said that many of the reviews damn the S10 with faint praise. One in particular stands out - "the motor is boring etc" but when the 0-60 mph times were posted in a side panel it beat the other three competitors handily. I believe the time was something like 3.21 seconds which is seriously fast. I have taken a test ride and was surprised that even at interstate speed the bike just did not feel like it was going fast. Don't know just how Yamaha accompolished this, but there should be some kind of a switch to turn it off so people could realize that the motor in this machine is serious.

 

[GrahamD]

I do not have an S10 yet but I have read many of the reviews. Someone said that many of the reviews damn the S10 with faint praise. One in particular stands out - "the motor is boring etc" but when the 0-60 mph times were posted in a side panel it beat the other three competitors handily. I believe the time was something like 3.21 seconds which is seriously fast. I have taken a test ride and was surprised that even at interstate speed the bike just did not feel like it was going fast. Don't know just how Yamaha accompolished this, but there should be some kind of a switch to turn it off so people could realize that the motor in this machine is serious.

That is exactly what happened to me on my first test ride. I was lucky enough to do a YAMAHA ride day and try out a few bikes back to back.

It wasn't until I was riding a 600cc UJM WITH the S10 that I realized how hard I was working to keep up. When I was riding the S10 I was muttering things about how slow this bunch were. It then dawned on me just how easy this bike is to ride at a decent clip. At that point I got to thinking just how easy it would be to cover distance. Everything is just easy. Except dragging its ass out of a mud hole.

 

[Tall Paul]

For those of us that are familiar with Motorcycle Consumer News magazine, when they reviewed the Super Tenere it received the highest overall rating of five colored circles (I call it a 5 star rating). Two months later in their magazine, they listed the ratings of the 450 motorcyles that they had reviewed. Only 22 out of the 450 had received the highest overall rating and our Super Ten was one of those 22. I think that is an awesome endorsement.
Paul

 

[keeponriding]

The bike is so well balanced and easy to ride, you really have to work at getting stuck in the mud hole to begin with.

 

[protondecay123]

Well, I'd say it will soon be over for you. Your next post (after the demo ride) will be announcing that you bought one!!

::022::

::026::

You throw the leg over the saddle and it's almost certainly over from there. ::018::

 

[korie]

it is funny reading this whole post. i was wondering the same things as i was reading the reviews and came to the conclusion: if a motorcycle breaks and has problems that it equates to "character". i will have to photo or scan one of the last paragraphs about the Tenere where the reviewers says something along the lines of how the BMW has it's flaws and all of that, but this is part of the "character" of a BMW 1200gs and makes it great.

so basically what i concluded from reading all of the things comparing the Tenere to the competition is that the Tenere makes the journalists and reviewers believe that the Yammy is "boring" due to reliability, smooth engine, and how well it does everything in a worry-free manner. what a coincidence for me then. i am/was looking for that exact bike. one that will not leave me stranded and will basically do everything i may ask of it. basically a bike that does what it is intended for: riding in almost all conditions and be very comfortable.

i pick her up Tuesday (if the sale of my Triumph goes through today as planned). i already have the TechSpecs Snakeskins in hand and some other things in the mail...

 

[spasm]

it is funny reading this whole post. i was wondering the same things as i was reading the reviews and came to the conclusion: if a motorcycle breaks and has problems that it equates to "character". i will have to photo or scan one of the last paragraphs about the Tenere where the reviewers says something along the lines of how the BMW has it's flaws and all of that, but this is part of the "character" of a BMW 1200gs and makes it great.

so basically what i concluded from reading all of the things comparing the Tenere to the competition is that the Tenere makes the journalists and reviewers believe that the Yammy is "boring" due to reliability, smooth engine, and how well it does everything in a worry-free manner. what a coincidence for me then. i am/was looking for that exact bike. one that will not leave me stranded and will basically do everything i may ask of it. basically a bike that does what it is intended for: riding in almost all conditions and be very comfortable.

i pick her up Tuesday (if the sale of my Triumph goes through today as planned). i already have the TechSpecs Snakeskins in hand and some other things in the mail...

::008:: ::022::

 

[houndman]

San Jaun Capistrano has one, a demo with the panniers and skidplate for 12900. This bike grows on me more and more everyday. A fun bike to ride and fun to put the farkles on.

 

[GrahamD]

I guess us Tenere owners just don't 'get it'....and hopefully never will.

A few Triumph owners these days seem to be getting a bit sensitive I have found. I don't know why, they are a good bike with their own take on things and they seem to be building bikes that their home market likes. May not suit me to a tee but I don't live over there. I think maybe they are just a bit flavour of the month ATM though.

 

[korie]

i loved my Triumph, but i have not seen too many Daytona's make it past 20k on the odometer. i only put 3k on her in the year i had her, but i will match that within no time on the S10.

the Triumph really is a nice bike for what it is, but it turns out it just is not for me.

 

[creggur]

That is the EXACT list of bikes I was considering, with the exception of the 1200 GS ADV (I was considering the standard model).

BMW - sparse dealer network, expensive everything, final drive issues, no local shop,

Triumph Explorer - On paper it appeared to be the perfect bike for me. No plans for serious off-roading so didn't care about limited capability. Brand new and untested engine, bad experience with local shop (Honda dealer I've dealt with in the past), sparse dealer network, at $15,700 a good value but still $2,000 more than the Tenere, limited availability.

Ducati MS1200 - Beautiful, comfortable, stupid fast, but - chain drive, sparse dealer network, same local dealer as Triumph, more expensive everything than the BMW, a stupid keyless start that can strand you with no manual override, a lot of electronic wizardry (suspension, 4 modes, etc) to go tits up on you, legendary Ducati reliability on a bike I want to take to the middle of nowhere? Ummm...no.

Super Tenere - I rode it, next weekend I bought it, five weeks later couldn't be happier with my decision... Plus I've got major coin I saved over the other bikes to farkle the nuts off of it and make it perfect for me. Simple. Now I try and find time to ::021::

 

[protondecay123]

Ducati MS1200 - legendary Ducati reliability on a bike I want to take to the middle of nowhere? Ummm...no.

My kind of Moto-journalist! ROTFLMAO

 

[roadlizard]

Obviously you are looking for a Tribeamaprillaktmducenhama. There is only one of these in existence and it's not for sale. ::025::

Next best option is the Yami Super Tenere.

OK, tonight's tipple is....................................................?

 

[Jerry]

I have had about 20 bikes over the years and the s10 is a great blend of several. My only disappointment was the highway speed vibes my bike had. The Arrow Header, Akropovic can, Power Commander & Auto Tune have taken this bike to a whole new level. It is simply incredible and will chew up forest service roads all day long. I went through the same process you are and ended up with the s10. Good Luck,

 

[Twisties]

Hmmm..... I think Saturday has come and gone..... ?????????

::017::

 

[JPK]

Hmmm..... I think Saturday has come and gone..... ?????????

::017::

I thought I'd post a quick follow-up. I did get a chance to test ride the Super Tenere last Saturday. It's a wonderful bike, and it's better than the V-Strom in just about every area I expected it to be. It's a very capable bike, but I didn't fall in love with it. Given that I already have a very capable bike that meets all my needs (though it might not be as good as the Super Tenere), I'm going to keep searching for "the" bike that speaks to me. Thanks for everyone's inputs here. I really appreciate it.

All the best,
John

 

[coastie]

I thought I'd post a quick follow-up. I did get a chance to test ride the Super Tenere last Saturday. It's a wonderful bike, and it's better than the V-Strom in just about every area I expected it to be. It's a very capable bike, but I didn't fall in love with it. Given that I already have a very capable bike that meets all my needs (though it might not be as good as the Super Tenere), I'm going to keep searching for "the" bike that speaks to me. Thanks for everyone's inputs here. I really appreciate it.

All the best,
John

Very understandable! I had a 2007 Honda VFR and liked the motorcycle but did not love it. I had GREAT rides on it but always felt like I wanted something else. I was not sure what it was until I had two different experiences. The first one is when I rode an RC51 over cherohala skyway and fell in love with the way the motor delivered the power, but that motorcycle was NOT comfortable at all as soon as you left the twisties. The next time was when I rode my buddies R1200GS during my trip home for Christmas. I was in love but did not want to have to worry about breaking down. So after reading all about the S10 and lurking here for a while I took the plunge. This motorcycle was exactly what I was looking for. Good luck in your search. There are new models coming on line every year. You will find something you love in no time at all.

 

[MurphCO]

I'm in a similar spot as the thread starter, but up until about two weeks ago I was dead set on the BMW, I was just down to deciding between the GS or GSA


Then.....I sat on the Yamaha.....


To me it feels like its in between the GS and GSA in size and girth, which I like.....also the price point got me re-evaluating the BMW



I have not owned an adventure bike, I'm coming from a Victory Hammer (1634cc/100CI muscle bike) but a couple of buddies have ADV bikes and I am ready for the plunge. One guy has a BMW 650 too small, another has the larger VStrom and another had a Ducati Multistrada.....sorta hitting the spectrum


So, you guys that came to the ST from a BMW, what do you miss about the BMW or do you? I had myself convinced that the telelever system was the way to go, but honestly coming from a bike like I have, I doubt I would notice the difference.....


Thanks for the input

 

[RED CAT]

MurphCO. Living in Colorado I can't understand having ANYTHING but an Adv Bike! I still have my 08 GS1200 for sale and also just bought a new S10. The Beamer is a lot lighter and is a better bike. More sporty for sure. Also very expensive to own unless you can do your own wrenching. Also much more expensive to buy. If I had nothing but money, I'd buy another GS but the S10 is 90% as good for a lot less beans, and probably a lot more reliable. They both have their pros and cons but believe it or not I like riding the S10 more. I ride quite a few gravel roads and the thing I miss most about my GS on the S10 is the option of shifting out of Traction Control on the fly.Got to stop to that on the S10. A real pain. Rarely turn off ABS so that is not a concern. The GS has more info available on the computer but unless you are really into High Tech, it's not a big deal. The weight is the biggest factor for me but only if you have to pick it up which I had to do last week when the front wheel clogged and locked up with wet clay. The S10 sure sounds like a real motorcycle compared to the GS though. Won't go wrong with either. Both fantastic fun! ::001::