SuckSqueezeBangBlow
Well-Known Member
I just wanted to put a few thoughts down for those that were wondering about my thoughts on my 2023 (depending on who you ask it is either a 2022 or 2023 but both the dealer and insurance refer to it as a 2023) Triumph Tiger 1200 GT Explorer and how it compares to my 2018 Tenere ES.
So first of all you are comparing a bike designed in 2012 or 2014 (can't remember) vs one that is brand new, right away that puts the S10 at a disadvantage however there are a few things that I still prefer about the Yamaha. First I liked the simplicity of being able to reset the trip odometer without having to go into the computer and fiddle around trying to find it and reset. Plus I liked the dash layout better on the Yamaha, had all the important info that I wanted right there, no changing screens or messing around with a joy stick to get it. Second the upper wind protection was better on the Tenere, but that being said I did have a Madstad system and screen on it so it may be just a simple as getting a larger and wider screen for the Tiger. The cruise control and other buttons on the Super Tenere were really good in my opinion, I really liked how they were laid out, simple and easy to use, easy to reach and figure out. Maybe a bit strange but I really liked being able to adjust the height of the shift lever, can't do that on the Triumph but I would do it all the time depending on which boots I was wearing when I had the Super Tenere.
Now that being said pretty much everything else on the Tiger is much better, the kickstand (which was my biggest complaint on the Tenere) is easy to reach, snaps out and back but is easy to reach. Tie for the centre stand although it does raise it higher on the Tiger so that you can either elevate the front or rear tire, will be good come winter so I can spin it and not worry about a flat spot. Suspension on the Triumph is so sweet, what a comfortable ride! So soft and absorbs the bumps like they are not even there, even on soft +2 you would still feel the bumps like going over tar snakes when I was on the Yamaha and not sure if part of that was the seat but it just absorbs all the imperfections in the road. The seat on my S10 had work done to it so that it was not angled down and much softer than stock and I had done the flat seat mod which did help but the Tiger is just so comfortable right out of the box, plus it feels like you are positioned and sitting in the Tiger vs sitting on the Tenere. You really feel connected and a part of the bike vs sitting on it and controlling the bike, kind of hard to describe it other than that way. Lower wind protection seems to be much better on the Triumph but that is not a big deal either way. Same with the bars, I can't say one is better than the other but I did have the Helibars on the Yamaha and I put them on after about 2000 km so can't really compare them to stock. Mileage on the Yamaha was way better, but again I am just breaking the Triumph in so not really a fair comparison, plus having it flashed and Dyno Tuned made a difference for the Yamaha. That we will push out to a later date once I have put more miles on it. The Tiger is so much lighter, like way way lighter, this has been the most noticeable difference, but that being said it is not light enough that you are getting blown around on the highway, it still feels solid and planted. Plus the balance is night and day different, the Tenere always felt a little top heavy and this is very level especially on the slow speed maneuvers, very easy to control. Again since I had it flashed, the throttle on both feel about the same, could not really give a point to either one. Same with the vibrations, at slow speed I don't find any on either bike and since I had Grip Puppies on the Yamaha it was basically not there on highway speed either but you can get some on the Tiger, Grip Puppies should solve that and make the grips a little larger which is what I prefer anyway. I will give a slight advantage to the Triumph for access to the battery because it is just under the seat (along with the fuses) but I did have a pig tail on the Yamaha so charging in the winter will not really matter one way or another. The brakes are the other huge change, I was never fond of them on the S10 as they just seemed to take a while to slow it down, they really grip on the Tiger. I wanted to take some measurement to see how long it took but I can tell you for sure these ones are much better. I was able to put my feet down comfortably on the S10 and in the low seat position on the Tiger it feels like it is the same height off the ground. I am going to try the high position but more for seeing what the cruising position is like as it puts my knees at a slight bend down in the high position vs more flat in the low position, and on the Yamaha they were pretty much flat too. Although I have not done a lot of standing on the Triumph it feels really comfortable and seems to put your legs at the correct position compared to feeling more bow legged on the Tenere, probably because of the seat on the Triumph is more narrow at the front. Sound of the exhaust gets a slight tilt towards the Triumph but I preferred the sound of the previous gen Tiger that had the Arrow exhaust. I had a stock exhaust on my Tenere. When changing gears on the Yamaha it always had a little "clunk", this Tiger is butter smooth and I have tried the quick shifter a few times but I have to admit it will take a little getting used to, but that aside it is just so smooth on the Tiger and just seems to "fit" vs being forced in. That may be a bit harsh of a description but it really feels effortless and smooth on the Triumph, not that I didn't like that Yamaha but this is just a couple of notches better. The last thing I will mention is the lighting, while they were fine on the Super Tenere the Tiger is much brighter both up front and with the brake lights however you are also comparing technology from 2012/2014 to 2022. Love the driving lights on the new bike as I didn't have them on the old one. My insurance went from about $1100 per year to $1200 per year. I have not been off road on it so have no comments about that.
Overall am I glad I made the switch? Without question the answer is yes. The Yamaha was a good bike, it was fine, it did everything well but was not great at anything. So far I am loving this Triumph, if you get the chance to ride one I strongly suggest you do it but be prepared to spend basically double what you did for the Super Tenere.
So first of all you are comparing a bike designed in 2012 or 2014 (can't remember) vs one that is brand new, right away that puts the S10 at a disadvantage however there are a few things that I still prefer about the Yamaha. First I liked the simplicity of being able to reset the trip odometer without having to go into the computer and fiddle around trying to find it and reset. Plus I liked the dash layout better on the Yamaha, had all the important info that I wanted right there, no changing screens or messing around with a joy stick to get it. Second the upper wind protection was better on the Tenere, but that being said I did have a Madstad system and screen on it so it may be just a simple as getting a larger and wider screen for the Tiger. The cruise control and other buttons on the Super Tenere were really good in my opinion, I really liked how they were laid out, simple and easy to use, easy to reach and figure out. Maybe a bit strange but I really liked being able to adjust the height of the shift lever, can't do that on the Triumph but I would do it all the time depending on which boots I was wearing when I had the Super Tenere.
Now that being said pretty much everything else on the Tiger is much better, the kickstand (which was my biggest complaint on the Tenere) is easy to reach, snaps out and back but is easy to reach. Tie for the centre stand although it does raise it higher on the Tiger so that you can either elevate the front or rear tire, will be good come winter so I can spin it and not worry about a flat spot. Suspension on the Triumph is so sweet, what a comfortable ride! So soft and absorbs the bumps like they are not even there, even on soft +2 you would still feel the bumps like going over tar snakes when I was on the Yamaha and not sure if part of that was the seat but it just absorbs all the imperfections in the road. The seat on my S10 had work done to it so that it was not angled down and much softer than stock and I had done the flat seat mod which did help but the Tiger is just so comfortable right out of the box, plus it feels like you are positioned and sitting in the Tiger vs sitting on the Tenere. You really feel connected and a part of the bike vs sitting on it and controlling the bike, kind of hard to describe it other than that way. Lower wind protection seems to be much better on the Triumph but that is not a big deal either way. Same with the bars, I can't say one is better than the other but I did have the Helibars on the Yamaha and I put them on after about 2000 km so can't really compare them to stock. Mileage on the Yamaha was way better, but again I am just breaking the Triumph in so not really a fair comparison, plus having it flashed and Dyno Tuned made a difference for the Yamaha. That we will push out to a later date once I have put more miles on it. The Tiger is so much lighter, like way way lighter, this has been the most noticeable difference, but that being said it is not light enough that you are getting blown around on the highway, it still feels solid and planted. Plus the balance is night and day different, the Tenere always felt a little top heavy and this is very level especially on the slow speed maneuvers, very easy to control. Again since I had it flashed, the throttle on both feel about the same, could not really give a point to either one. Same with the vibrations, at slow speed I don't find any on either bike and since I had Grip Puppies on the Yamaha it was basically not there on highway speed either but you can get some on the Tiger, Grip Puppies should solve that and make the grips a little larger which is what I prefer anyway. I will give a slight advantage to the Triumph for access to the battery because it is just under the seat (along with the fuses) but I did have a pig tail on the Yamaha so charging in the winter will not really matter one way or another. The brakes are the other huge change, I was never fond of them on the S10 as they just seemed to take a while to slow it down, they really grip on the Tiger. I wanted to take some measurement to see how long it took but I can tell you for sure these ones are much better. I was able to put my feet down comfortably on the S10 and in the low seat position on the Tiger it feels like it is the same height off the ground. I am going to try the high position but more for seeing what the cruising position is like as it puts my knees at a slight bend down in the high position vs more flat in the low position, and on the Yamaha they were pretty much flat too. Although I have not done a lot of standing on the Triumph it feels really comfortable and seems to put your legs at the correct position compared to feeling more bow legged on the Tenere, probably because of the seat on the Triumph is more narrow at the front. Sound of the exhaust gets a slight tilt towards the Triumph but I preferred the sound of the previous gen Tiger that had the Arrow exhaust. I had a stock exhaust on my Tenere. When changing gears on the Yamaha it always had a little "clunk", this Tiger is butter smooth and I have tried the quick shifter a few times but I have to admit it will take a little getting used to, but that aside it is just so smooth on the Tiger and just seems to "fit" vs being forced in. That may be a bit harsh of a description but it really feels effortless and smooth on the Triumph, not that I didn't like that Yamaha but this is just a couple of notches better. The last thing I will mention is the lighting, while they were fine on the Super Tenere the Tiger is much brighter both up front and with the brake lights however you are also comparing technology from 2012/2014 to 2022. Love the driving lights on the new bike as I didn't have them on the old one. My insurance went from about $1100 per year to $1200 per year. I have not been off road on it so have no comments about that.
Overall am I glad I made the switch? Without question the answer is yes. The Yamaha was a good bike, it was fine, it did everything well but was not great at anything. So far I am loving this Triumph, if you get the chance to ride one I strongly suggest you do it but be prepared to spend basically double what you did for the Super Tenere.
