Re a Possible Change of S10

[fjrden]

Ladies and Gents and others lol. I left my 2014 XT1200ZE in for the 6000 miles service and took out a MT09 TRACER as they are here in the UK. A stonker of a bike if I was in my20s 30s but in the above 50s the bike scared me. It is so fast( throttle can be knuckled back) and possibly unstable (steering damper could cure) suspension not bad but would need tweaking. My only real issue would be screen which at 5'8" I found hopeless (aftermarket) handguards all but useless(change take off) Now I asked the sales for a pricing which would include heated grips, side luggage and rear rack for topbox. I was shocked in a nice way re the switchover and I must admit am thinking of changing. Would or have any UK especially looked at the MT09 and if so what would be opinion. When I got back on Tenere at approx. 9 stone heavier I realised why I like Tenere but I am tempted.

 

[shrekonwheels]

Hooligan bike or touring bike, that is the question.

 

[bmac]

Ladies and Gents and others lol. I left my 2014 XT1200ZE in for the 6000 miles service and took out a MT09 TRACER as they are here in the UK. A stonker of a bike if I was in my20s 30s but in the above 50s the bike scared me. It is so fast( throttle can be knuckled back) and possibly unstable (steering damper could cure) suspension not bad but would need tweaking. My only real issue would be screen which at 5'8" I found hopeless (aftermarket) handguards all but useless(change take off) Now I asked the sales for a pricing which would include heated grips, side luggage and rear rack for topbox. I was shocked in a nice way re the switchover and I must admit am thinking of changing. Would or have any UK especially looked at the MT09 and if so what would be opinion. When I got back on Tenere at approx. 9 stone heavier I realised why I like Tenere but I am tempted.

I have both a 2014 Super Tenere ES and a 2015 FJ-09. I have a little over 3000 miles on the S10 and 2400 on the FJ. I had only the FJ to ride for several weeks so I was unable to compare them directly. I have since ridden them back to back on several days and determined that the S10 is a vastly superior ride and my choice for most days. When I feel like a hooligan I take the Tuono. All other days the S10 is the best choice. The FJ is now for sale.

 

[Rasher]

I plan to test one, a mate of mine rode one (normally rides a 1200 Tiger) and agreed with Op's comments.

He said it felt like a lot less bike than his larger Triumph, as well as looking like it was built to a tighter budget - although at the price this can be forgiven. He also thought it was really a sports-bike with a comfy position, although he said it was far more cramped than his Triumph with lot less leg room.

I too feel if I was in my 20's or 30's this would be my choice, I think it is too compromised by being based on the MT-09, a bit like the Honda X-Runner is, I think to make a great bike Yamaha needed to junk the Mt-09 Frame and make a larger one more suited to a sports tourer / "Road focussed Adventure Bike", The MT-09 was designed to be tiny and compact, sticking a fairing over the top is not enough IMO.

On the plus side they are cheap and will get lots of UK folk buying them which is good for motorcycling, and it may be a great upgrade for the Mrs to replace her TDM which I see as a bike in a similar (albeit dated) mould.

Now if they were to make it a bit taller to allow for more leg room, a bit longer for more passenger room and add a shaft drive it could be pretty much all things to all people ::008::

 

[Vanderwho]

You say you're thinking of changing, so I assume you're a one-bike kinda guy. So am I; I don't want the expense or potential hassles of owning more than one bike.

Are you married (or in a serious relationship)? If so, have you ever been tempted by someone ...racier? Did you think about what you'd get vs. what you'd be giving up? Sometimes, familiarity breeds a lack of appreciation for what one has (like shaft drive, and cruise control, for example).

Just sayin'... ::013::

 

[scott123007]

You say you're thinking of changing, so I assume you're a one-bike kinda guy. So am I; I don't want the expense or potential hassles of owning more than one bike.

Are you married (or in a serious relationship)? If so, have you ever been tempted by someone ...racier? Did you think about what you'd get vs. what you'd be giving up? Sometimes, familiarity breeds a lack of appreciation for what one has (like shaft drive, and cruise control, for example).

Just sayin'... ::013::

I can't imagine only having one bike. My riding is way too variable for only one bike to accommodate.

And I don't think using a relationship to justify another bike is a good analogy either. Just sayin'...

 

[fjrden]

Thank you all for your good replies. I do love the S10 and probably will keep it because as was said, the Tracer has a short wheel base and thus sporty orientated, I only use and wish to own 1 bike. Good comments thanks

 

[groundhog]

Ladies and Gents and others lol. I left my 2014 XT1200ZE in for the 6000 miles service and took out a MT09 TRACER as they are here in the UK. A stonker of a bike if I was in my20s 30s but in the above 50s the bike scared me. It is so fast( throttle can be knuckled back) and possibly unstable (steering damper could cure) suspension not bad but would need tweaking. My only real issue would be screen which at 5'8" I found hopeless (aftermarket) handguards all but useless(change take off) Now I asked the sales for a pricing which would include heated grips, side luggage and rear rack for topbox. I was shocked in a nice way re the switchover and I must admit am thinking of changing. Would or have any UK especially looked at the MT09 and if so what would be opinion. When I got back on Tenere at approx. 9 stone heavier I realised why I like Tenere but I am tempted.

firdin A word of caution from experience if I may !

I had been thinking of getting a Tenere for quite some time. Then two months ago when I decided to part ex my XJR 1300 for another bike I found myself seduced by the MT09 Tracer, It seemed the ideal bike for me being lighter than the XJR and good for touring too. So I bought one, but I soon realised I had made a big mistake. The Tracer is a great bike in many ways, it goes like a rocket ship on steroids, handles well, looks good and is a great price...........BUT the fueling is terrible, the plastics all look and feel cheap, the ride is very harsh, the seat is like a block of wood, the screen just does not work and it's so quick I found myself riding way too fast most of the time. So after a month I just had to admit to myself that it was just not for me and made the expensive decision to take it back and buy a Tenere. Then I test rode the Tenere and I was where I should have been in the first place. It runs so much smoother, it felt good to have that weight and the secure planted feeling in the corners, it's a proper tourer and so on - I don't need to tell anyone here how good the Tenere is!!

All of this of course is my personal opinion but I can assure you I didn't take the decision lightly, I lost £1200. And from what you say you seem to be thinking in a similar way to how I did about the Tracer. So my advice for what it's worth is to think very carefully before you commit to buying one !

 

[jimyamaha]

The Tracer is a good road bike with an awesome engine. I had a MT-09 while my Tenere was having its first service and on 'S' mode the MT-09 engine is a bit of a hooligan. Then i got back on the Tenere it felt dead ! BUT no way would i swap. I have done my sports bikes and am really glad i have the S10. I went to a Fazer thou after my last R1 and that was crap and a Tracer would have been a good bike to bridge the gap to the S10.
I don't think the Tracer is a good tourer more of a good road bike.
Still if Yamaha put a triple in the S10 .....

 

[fjrden]

Thank you Groundhog.

 

[Bushyar15]

While I too have more than one motorcycle and from time to time have multiple motorcycles, I actually think the relationship analogy was pretty good. Sometimes I take for granted just how good one of my bikes are and lust after something else and go for it. In some cases I realize after-the-fact, the previous bike was better or actually met my needs and I miss it

I won't say "regret" but I sure wish I didn't get rid of my RZ500, TL1000R, TZ250, and 2000.5 RSVR…. Every now and then I think of trading/selling the Diavel for a Panigale, but I know in the end I'll miss the comfort factor of the Diavel…

I can't imagine only having one bike. My riding is way too variable for only one bike to accommodate.

And I don't think using a relationship to justify another bike is a good analogy either. Just sayin'...

 

[groundhog]

While I too have more than one motorcycle and from time to time have multiple motorcycles, I actually think the relationship analogy was pretty good. Sometimes I take for granted just how good one of my bikes are and lust after something else and go for it. In some cases I realize after-the-fact, the previous bike was better or actually met my needs and I miss it

I won't say "regret" but I sure wish I didn't get rid of my RZ500, TL1000R, TZ250, and 2000.5 RSVR…. Every now and then I think of trading/selling the Diavel for a Panigale, but I know in the end I'll miss the comfort factor of the Diavel…

I agree about the relationship analogy being good. I felt a bit like I had left my woman when I sold my faithful old XJR, and was then having an affair with the racey MT09 and now I can settle down with the woman of my dreams ;D

Or maybe i'm just getting sentimental in my old age