Review

[Combo]

I have not seen this one and for the most part I think it's close to fair.
You will need to watch all of it to see that the man comes around to the big Yamaha for what it is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ix5q9EDzz0

 

[RED CAT]

Doesn't sound like he knows what he's talking about especially regarding TC and ABS. :-[

 

[snakebitten]

While he did a good job of pointing out the virtues of the Tenere; solid, reliable, comfortable, and plenty of power, .......I get so tired of people harping on how traction control sucks off road. They even admit you can turn it off! So geeeeeze, should Yamaha wise up and not include TC on an Adventure bike?

Then, of course, the biggest FAILURE of the Tenere. ABS. It's so tiring.

And finally, you would think all the other 1200cc Adventure bikes in the world are light? Really? Which one?

They imply the GS is. That's what they are saying.

However, after ranting a bit, I remind myself I really don't care......right? I already have my Tenere. They aren't coming to take it from me.

And finally, although everyone is bound to be tired of hearing it from me, MY Tenere is even much much better than the ones they judge so harshly. So it's really not their fault they are ignorant of that.

 

[twinrider]

I rode some gravel logging roads last weekend, left the bike in TC2 and had no issues with that or the ABS. That said, I'm no speed demon when the pavement ends.

 

[GrahamD]

They imply the GS is. That's what they are saying.

All YAMAHA has to do is quote the weight without ABS, Centre stand and only 90% of the tank full or whatever that DIN standard is.

If you repeat that often enough and supply the press with fully optioned bikes and STANDARD specs then you will have a more even match.

Even Triumph had an official whinge about that bullshit, probable because the bike fully fueled and supplied with ABS weighed the same as the S10.

Secondly, the S10 is more of a GSA than a GS, if you look at the standard build. It was never meant to be an Adventure "light" bike. It was meant to be a real one.

Anyway shit happens so be it. I suppose all the GS;s are supplied with the "Pro plug" as well. We have to find our own $20.00 switch. Damn inconvenient that. I donlt know how I will cope if I needed it.

 

[MrTwisty]

I think it is a completely fair and accurate assessment of the Tenere. If you want a true off-road adventure bike buy a KTM, not a BMW, Yamaha or a Triumph. However, if you want Tonka truck build quality and solid reliability, buy the Yamaha.

 

[Ollie]

I usually like to watch vids from those guys but, in this one, he just seems to be pretending to do a review. And........though it's not unique to this particular review I don't get the way these bikes are pitched by the press......."A competent bike on tarmac, made to you get you to the dirt." The press seem to use offroad conditions to "simulate" how the bike might handle if one actualy took the bike on a RTW trip, where road conditions change, borders are crossed and languages change. I'm confused.... ::025::

 

[Kelvininin]

I took the Tenere off roading for the first time over this past weekend... And well. I didn't think the TC was that bad. I have 18 years of on road experience but have only been off road a handful of times. The "off roading" was mainly gravel that got sloppy every not and again. Never felt like I was being nannied at all.

Of course that may change as my skill level increases but for now, I felt my S10 is just a capable as my A990 was. Only I like the S10 a whole lot more.

 

[burnoil]

As for TC...I just slap it into Level 2 and go...no issues off road.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

I have to agree that TCS1 and TCS2 are intrusive. However, I only find TCS1 to be somewhat unpredictable. I just find TCS2 to be an irritant...sometimes. I've gotten to the point when I go from pavement to dirt I go from TCS2 to Off, and I'm very happy with that setting.

As far as the ABS, I still have not found a situation where it has caused me any problem at all. I do completely understand why in theory ABS is bad off pavement, but I still have not found myself in any situation where it has been an issue on this bike.

 

[kgfire]

The Yamaha stands out as a simple, rugged, reliable ADV. bike that does everything well. The new Ducati Multistrada, KTM 1190 Adventure, and GS1200 water cooler are electronic exotics that cost thousands more than the Tenere and when Nick Sanders rides one of them 50K miles with zero problems I might be interested. The problem with magazine tests is that none of them actually has to lay down the cash for a bike much less pay for any maintenance. Five engine maps, active electronic suspension, endless TC and ABS settings, and cruise control on a adventure bike, really?
Yamaha built a winner.

 

[Rasher]

Nobody ever defines off-road.

This bike is not a Motocross or Enduro bike, in skilled hands (that rules the press out then) it seems very capable to me.

I zapped down some dirt and gravel tracks on mine and it does fine, I would like to ask these press folks to try some off-road on a Fireblade, or a Harley, or a V-Max, why do they compare it to pukka off-road kit all the time, it is an ADV bike - and better than probably all bar the KTM off-road, which puts it ahead of the Ducati, Honda, Guzzi, Aprillia, Kawasaki and the new BMW.

 

[creggur]

I haven't ridden off road (off asphalt, as I'm riding dirt roads) since I was a kid - well over 20 years - and I've done just fine on the Tenere. Only one drop and that was when my nice dirt road turned to slicky mud - a drop was forgone at that point - lack of talent not a bike issue - lol.

Point is, if someone who hasn't played on dirt roads in over 20 years can roost around on it, someone with skill could probably take it most anywhere (see Jaime).

 

[20valves]

The Yamaha stands out as a simple, rugged, reliable ADV. bike that does everything well.....Yamaha built a winner.

::026::