S10 service - available dealerships

[woodreaux]

Not starting any brand issues here -

coming from the HD side where there are dealers almost everywhere - please don't say they need them as I have never been stranded in all my years and miles.

What do you do for service when on the road? Currently returning from Alaska via the AlCAN and Cassiar highways and wanted can to go to Dead Horse and was advised not to by Motoquest and others in Fairbanks due to weather and road conditions.

Mileage to date nearing 11k miles and these are consecutive days riding.

I want to get an Adv bike now that I have finished my goal of riding a HD to all the (49) states, National Parks and all of provinces in Canada plus a lot of the Canadian NP's. This odyssey began a few bikes ago which is to say several years ago. I am a long distance rider and love it.

So for me the current (2) Adv bikes are the S10 and BMW. On this trip I've needed oil and tire changes plus rear wheel bearings as the Road Glide neared 50k Miles on the Oem bearings.

I have read where others left Bmw for the S10 and the S10 makes sense in terms of repairs and other reliability issues .

I have not seen many dealership Yamaha signs and fewer Bmw . This is a major concern for me and yes I carry tools and a quart of oil as many of you do. I am very capable of working on current my HD at a very granular level. I do like twisting wrenches on a mc and so learning to work on the S10 is intimidating and exciting.

Where do you go if you need service and what do you do when you need an oil change or new tire and there's no Yamaha dealer around ? HD has a list of their dealerships in a Rand McNally map plus their Road Tech-Garmin gps. Haven't seen or heard the same exists for Yamaha . If HD made an Adv bike - think of the cool chrome stuff . Ha ha!

Thanks in advance!!!
Woodreaux

Ps - next topic is: where to buy ???

 

[jimmy z]

The state your in see JAXON.Not a Yamaha dealer,but can get you anything you want.You can find him under vendors on this forum.One of the most knowledgeable s10 owners on the planet.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Welcome aboard.


First, realize that the Tenere is the BMW Recovery Vehicle when it comes to reliability. We have a lot of ex-BMW owners here and I'm sure they will chime in soon.


Second is that the Tenere big service for valves is at 26,000 miles so no rush. The US and World service intervals are different, I've noticed that a number of us simply do oil, filter, and routine stuff on the 5,000 mile marks. It's easy to remember that way and is between the book intervals.


As for where, just open a Google map of any city and type in "Yamaha motorcycle." Then do the same for BMW. The Tenere is the same type of work as on most big Japanese bikes and any independent mechanic with access to maintenance data should feel comfortable.


As for parts availability, the valve shims and numerous other parts are common with a number of other models.

 

[ThreePutt]

The BMW will run circles around the S10, handles and stops a lot better too. Folks here like to knock BMW's reliability but like most stuff on the internet, BMW's issues are overstated, and now I think pretty much behind them. Mostly it was the final drive on previous generations but you don't hear of them failing these days. I've criss-crossed the US several times on BMW's and have never had a problem. Now that the boxer is water cooled the service intervals are normal as well with the first valve check at 18,000 (I think).

There's a reason they sell and it's not just marketing and reputation. I would guess most that knock the BMW's have never ridden one.

All that said, I have a 2014 S10 now and do enjoy it. It's very capable but hard to get excited over. We flew to Anchorage 2 years ago and rode a 2013 Super Tenere home to Chicago via the Cassiar. No issues except for loose spokes.

 

[woodreaux]

Thanks for the comments - being totally sincere having as I have absolutely no knowledge of either brand.

While rolling through the Yukon and other outpost areas I kept an out for dealerships and motorcycles in general.

I had no idea you could take a S10 to a Honda or Kawasaki dealer for oil and /or tire when traveling.

 

[ThreePutt]

Getting tires or minor service at off brand dealers hasn't been an issue. The only thing they usually can't do on the BMW is balance the rear wheel.

 

[jmcgilroy]

Woodreaux, I'll bet that our paths have crossed somewhere... I've had 2 RoadGlides and 2 Heritages across the USA and Canada and never a mechanical issue. After my HD's phase of life, I took a little KLR650 up to Prudhoe Bay twice and a VStrom to Newfoundland. Most recent trip is to Yellowknife, NWT on the S10. There have been several minor mechanical issues on these trips which include a chain issue on the Kawasaki KLR...found a new one at a Honda Dealer. Worn-out tires on the KLR in Whitehorse, new set purchased and installed at a combination Honda Automobile/Motorcycle/ATV dealer. Worn out rear tire on the Yamaha S10 in northern Alberta and a replacement was purchased and installed at yet another Honda Auto/Cycle dealer. Oil filters and oil can be found in-stock at most NAPA or CarQuest auto parts stores across both countries.

I guess what I'm saying is that a choice between any Japanese brand or BMW doesn't need to be based on service support options.

I'm sure that we'll pass each other again sometime,somewhere.

Jim

 

[~TABASCO~]

Woodreaux,

Where are you located ? We do full service on the Super T's all the time... I've worked on a ton of them........ If your interested I can give you my opinion on the pros/cons between the BMW and ST... I've ridden the BMW many times....

 

[Checkswrecks]

BMW's issues are overstated, and now I think pretty much behind them. Mostly it was the final drive on previous generations but you don't hear of them failing these days.


I would guess most that knock the BMW's have never ridden one.

No, I've not ridden a BMW since letting somebody test ride my Tenere for a while last week.


The rear drive got the bad press and I personally know a victim, plus a riding buddy who had the transmission die on the highway. But the electrical issues have actually been been the continual problem. I've had two rentals strand me and an RT had an intermittent short, when my son and I pulled into Hyder the first thing we saw were two guys doing electrical troubleshooting on a GS, a fellow in our small local group had to replace the wiring harness on his GS, etc.

 

[RonH]

I've taken a lot of long trips, longest being near 11,000 miles in 13 days. This was on a 1979 Kawasaki KZ1000. I never needed service on the road even on that old thing. The Tenere is 10 times better. Of course a flat tire ect can happen on any motorcycle, and you are at the mercy of what dealer is near by, and will be ripped off every time and have to redo everything they did for sure. Par for the course unfortunately.

 

[jimmy z]

With the long trips you take Tires will be a concern on the s10.Newer Harleys can and do run over 20k on a set.If your running street tires on the s10 mileage can be from 6k to 10k.A lot less than your use to on your Harley.You can run some on off road tires and extend your range.A little planning ahead,have a fresh set delivered ahead of time at any shop can work for you.

 

[woodreaux]

Folks - thanks for the comments. Again not brand bashing or comparing brands.

The scope - intent of my question is for normal service on long road trips or needs a tire in the event of a flat.

I do not believe that anyone who rides 5-7k miles on a trip does not change the oil or in my case 11 k miles without oil and potential tire changes.

What I sense here is that normal service for oil / tires are available at non Yamaha shops and these would be similar service (commodity) items.

Other failures - I haven't considered them - it's a S10 !!!

 

[woodreaux]

JMC - thanks for your ride report as you nailed what I was asking!!!

As you've done all of the states and provinces I too have seen a lot beautiful places with some side roads that weren't really accessible to me on 800-900 pound HD touring bike.

My goal with the Adv bike is to revisit places where I really couldn't take a HD and of course go to new places .

Thanks for confirming service concerns!

 

[Checkswrecks]

Folks - thanks for the comments. Again not brand bashing or comparing brands.

The scope - intent of my question is for normal service on long road trips or needs a tire in the event of a flat.

I do not believe that anyone who rides 5-7k miles on a trip does not change the oil or in my case 11 k miles without oil and potential tire changes.

What I sense here is that normal service for oil / tires are available at non Yamaha shops and these would be similar service (commodity) items.

Other failures - I haven't considered them - it's a S10 !!!

The tire sizes are shared by the Super Tenere, VStrom 1000, and R1200GS so are easy to find.


Tire life depends almost totally on how you are using them. I've gotten 16-17,000 miles out of tires on long trips and commuting, but also have killed tires playing on WV gravel and riding fast in the twisties. The Heidenau K60 for example, is known for lasting forever and I did a lap of the continent on mine. Another member here was getting 26,000 miles/set in commuting.