S10 Owners, Feeling the Vibes?

[GrahamD]

I think I read somewhere that a German fellow was grilling a YAMAHA technical rep about power not being quite as advertised (like a few HP down) and the YAMAHA techo said that the engine won't produce maximum power until around the 20,000km mark.

Seems to reflecting a few comments here.

 

[Scottie Boy]

I think I read somewhere that a German fellow was grilling a YAMAHA technical rep about power not being quite as advertised (like a few HP down) and the YAMAHA techo said that the engine won't produce maximum power until around the 20,000km mark.

Seems to reflecting a few comments here.

You mean my bike is going to get faster everyday. ::015::



If the motor truly does get better with every mile, then I'm seriously contemplating not changing over to synthetic oil until I get 15 or 20k on the odometer. I want the engine to break in as much as possible. (No I'm not trying to change this into an oil thread) ::002::

 

[Mellow]

I freely admit that I have been one of the more vocal complainers about vibration on the Tenere. In spite of owning umpteen bikes including big singles, I had NEVER experienced vibration as bad as my S10. I honestly thought that I was doing long term damage to my body, the vibration was that excessive. My feet and hands would bother me for days after an extended ride.

Now for the good news, I can't explain it but my bike has been running GREAT lately. That's right, I said it. I'm happy with my bike right now. ::012:: It seems like my bike has smoothed out dramatically recently. Initially, I attributed it to the cooler temps but this past week we've had a few afternoons in the the mid seventies and the bike still ran flawlessly. While trying to analyze what my bike did in the past, I can remember riding in similar temps and being bothered by the vibration. What happened? The only thing I can think of is that I have been riding a lot recently with a good bit of miles in the mountains. Which means lots of rpm changes and high rpm running. Maybe I had an unsually tight motor and I just needed to flog the crap out of it. All I know is that my bike currently has about 4,300 miles on it and it has never ran this good.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my vibrations don't return next summer so wish me luck. For now, I plan to ride as much as I can and finally enjoy my new Tenere.

Cool, so whatever was causing your vibrations must have fallen off and now you're good... ;D

 

[EricV]

You mean my bike is going to get faster everyday.

If the motor truly does get better with every mile, then I'm seriously contemplating not changing over to synthetic oil until I get 15 or 20k on the odometer. I want the engine to break in as much as possible. (No I'm not trying to change this into an oil thread)

The beauty of this world is that we each get to try things our own ways. I flogged the S10 on my second ride and it would only do 120 mph with the bags on. Now, at just under 10k miles, it will do noticeably better than that. Actually, it would do noticeably better than 120 way back around 4k, that I noticed. (Nevada test track, don't try this on public roads, users may experience side effects, such as euphoria, increased heartbeat, diarrhea and death.) ???

FWIW, when I had the first service done at the dealer, they asked me if I wanted to upgrade to synthetic oil and I said no, preferring to wait a bit longer. When I got the bill, it had written on it that I had refused their recommendation to use synthetic oil. : As if somehow they were covering their butts for later. )

I will change to synthetic oil at the next oil change, (10k), which is just my preference. No scientific data was involved in this post.

 

[ErnsTT]

Okay its an old thread but some people were talking as if the engine would break down not using Synthetic oil according their dealers.

My U-Haul now has 40156 on its Odometer (km's of course) and it has been working hard, even being used as a Tow-it-All, i changed the oil the other way around, i dumped the yamalube, which gave a little consumption (according to sources its a Swiss-based oil) and having the weird experience with my Beemer.

Once changed to my preferred semi-synth 20-50 which prevented my Beemer pistons from scoring for over 400.000 kms, the small consumption totally disappeard, and it runs and runs and runs without any problem, but for the blown headlight at 36.267, and the occasional bad start (the battery is on the small side...), the only thing that should be fixed is the racket from the camchain tensioner, that seams to be ready for an update, it can give a lot of racket, until the engine gets up to its intended temp, then its as smooth as any other V-Twin...
(which of course is a bit lively kind of "smooth"

 

[Rasher]

Late to this party, anyway...

My bike had done 150 miles when I bought it as an ex-dem, I dount it was treated particularly gently for those first few miles which suits me just fine as I am with this guy on the break in issue:-

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

As soon as the bike was delivered (150 miles) I went around the block and dumped whatever Yamaha had put in it, I then put in some rather basic semi-synth oil (hard to find any not using the synthetic buzz word, but as it was the cheapest Silkolene stuff with two more higher performance oils above it in the range I thoght it should be better than the posh stuff for running in)

Anyway the next ride was planned to give me the chance to run it quite hard and be on /off the gas and up / down the gears, not thrashing it, but lots of WOT between 4k and 6k to bed them big dustbin pistons in.

My dealer also put Semi-Synthetic in (Rock Oil if your interested) which suits me fine.

From the first mile (or 151st to be precise) the bike felt spot on to me, far less buzzy than the GS it replaced, more vibes than the fours I had for most of my biking life, but for a twin (I have owned a few) it is as good as anything else I can recall.

 

[MIKE R]

For a twin, I really was satisfied with the vibes/lack of.

Then I went on a 14 day/3725 mile trip down to the Balkans. This involved going through the Alps and many other mountain passes with literally hundreds of sever hairpins etc . The engine was worked very hard in all the gears, even top when catching up other members of the group >. The net result is the engine, with 7k miles, is now so much smoother than it was when I originally thought it was smooth!

It is now smoother than a smooth thing!

Mike

 

[nchristi]

Theoretically speaking, the explanation provided http://www.bestrestproducts.com/c-100-dyna-beads.aspxcan casue vibes and therefore remediable. Its a long read, but very well explained. Good luck. <hope its not a repeat >

 

[markjenn]

Theoretically speaking, the explanation provided http://www.bestrestproducts.com/c-100-dyna-beads.aspxcan casue vibes and therefore remediable. Its a long read, but very well explained. Good luck. <hope its not a repeat >

Dyna beads are very controversial and Best Rest Products web page about them is a sales pitch. I fall mostly in the "snake oil" camp, but others swear by them. In any event, this thread is about engine vibes not wheel vibes.

- Mark

 

[nchristi]

@ Mark - ultimately vibes are felt in palm... doesn't matter where it was generated engine, wheel...or whatever. obviously Dyna beads are not for you, but they might be for someone else if they choose to use'em. Cheers.

 

[creggur]

I've noticed some vibe's but not to bad. This is only my second twin. I had the Triumph America and it was smooth. I also wish the grips were bigger. Thinking about putting some "grip Puppies" on. I had these before and there very comfy.

Love my Grip Puppies. Had them on my last two bikes - and love them on the Tenere.

 

[The Rotund One]

How do you get these (insert expletive here ) Grip Puppies on without tearing them up? I hair sprayed to the point I didn't think it'd dry out and still ended up tearing the Pup.... I didn't try the other one...

I'm not having a vibe problem but, I would like them to be bigger around. Maybe leather lace on covers with fringe would be appropriate....

 

[creggur]

How do you get these (insert expletive here ) Grip Puppies on without tearing them up? I hair sprayed to the point I didn't think it'd dry out and still ended up tearing the Pup.... I didn't try the other one...

I'm not having a vibe problem but, I would like them to be bigger around. Maybe leather lace on covers with fringe would be appropriate....

Some may disagree, but I've always used Brake Cleaner - just put a rag over your tank/fairing area, shoot brake cleaner in the Grip Puppy, slide it on - and the brake cleaner evaporates pretty quick. You don't need anything tacky like hairspray, they will stick to your stock grips without any problem (as you've learned). Done them this way for four years or so now without any issue...

I change them out about once a year because they start losing their fluff and vibe dampening in our Florida climate: Rain, Extreme Sun, Rain, Extreme Sun, Rain, etc...

 

[The Rotund One]

Thanks! I'll give it a try.

You're right, those things don't need any more sticktion! I'll trim the torn part off and put it on the throttle side so my GoCruise will still work. That sounds like a silver lining to me .

 

[creggur]

Thanks! I'll give it a try.

You're right, those things don't need any more sticktion! I'll trim the torn part off and put it on the throttle side so my GoCruise will still work. That sounds like a silver lining to me .

Good luck - you might want to shoot a little brake cleaner on the stock grips as well, and be quick about the install. As I recall the Tenere was a bit more challenging to get them on than the VFR for some reason... If you do successfully get them on, I think you'll like 'em - I wouldn't want to ride without them. First thing I did when I got the Tenere home from the dealership.

 

[Scottie Boy]

I installed mine with soapy water. If they start to stick on you, a shot of compressed air with a nozzle will make them temporarily expand.

 

[Maxified]

Yup, a little water, a little Dawn (dish soap), & the Grip Puppies slide on reasonably easy like Scottie Boy said. A little nozzle blast from an air compressor also makes the positioning a little easier.

 

[The Rotund One]

Well, as I'm out of brake cleaner, I'll try the dish washing liquid first. I figure, worst case, at least it'll be clean!

 

[Dirt_Dad]

I found Grip Puppies to be far too fragile for me. Amotostuff sells a similar product that they say "compare to Grip Puppies" but they are superior in my opinion. Much less likely to damage them during install and last for several years before needing replacement.

I tried the real Grip Puppies once. I was so accustom to the durability of the Amotostuff ones that I ripped a chunk out of the GP immediately. Still managed to use it, but it seemed to wear pretty quickly. When I took them off all I had to do was get it started and it tore right off. That does not happen with the Amotostuff ones, I usually cut those off.

http://www.amotostuff.com/super_tenere_hand_cont/179222.html

I also use the dish soap method and never have a problem.

 

[en0n]

A tip on installing the grip puppies or any handle grip without air compressor.
Spray soap water inside the grip as well as on the handle bar. Especially more on the inlets.
Align and fit the grip puppies onto the handle bar.
Once a small portion of it is in place, turn and twist the grip puppies clockwise/or anti if you like.
It will rotate and slide with the soap effortlessly into place