S10 vsersus S10 ZE

MattR

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Nov 16, 2019
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North Hampshire UK
I bought a non ES model but next month I will be having the suspension tuned by MCT. I’m about 200lb and I will get the suspension revalved and resprung to suit my weight but with a clear indication on where to set it for the few occasions when I ride two up touring. My previous experience with MCT is that they can get OEM suspension close to the performance of Ohlins etc by changing valves and springs etc. Ride in service costs around £500 and takes half a day


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Electrolyse

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Aug 15, 2020
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Switzerland
I bought a non ES model but next month I will be having the suspension tuned by MCT. I’m about 200lb and I will get the suspension revalved and resprung to suit my weight but with a clear indication on where to set it for the few occasions when I ride two up touring. My previous experience with MCT is that they can get OEM suspension close to the performance of Ohlins etc by changing valves and springs etc. Ride in service costs around £500 and takes half a day


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hum, I wonder what suspension is more comfortable, yours or the EZ. Did you tried an EZ to compare ?
 

MattR

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No I didn’t but I think the actual suspension is the same just with electric adjustment. Others may know different.


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Sierra1

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There's been speculation that the spring rate(s) might be different. There's more than a couple of guys that don't believe the OE suspension gets the job done. There's some that have done sag measurements, and calculations, that show (on paper) that the bike is under sprung. Of course, there's just as many that is totally happy with the OE setup; me being one of them. I'm 300lbs solo, and 450 with passenger. The rebound/dampening adjustments are the key.
 

MonstrDude64

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Cypress,CA
There's been speculation that the spring rate(s) might be different. There's more than a couple of guys that don't believe the OE suspension gets the job done. There's some that have done sag measurements, and calculations, that show (on paper) that the bike is under sprung. Of course, there's just as many that is totally happy with the OE setup; me being one of them. I'm 300lbs solo, and 450 with passenger. The rebound/dampening adjustments are the key.
You are correct on the rebound/dampening adjustments. I wonder when riders complain about sliding forward on the seat, it is actually a fast rebound. It happened to me recently.

I have a RaceTech rear shock with Ohlins Cartridges and springs in the front forks. It was time for my rebuild and when I got it back, I noticed on my ride home, that I was sliding to the front of the tank. I have a custom seat with less of an angle, so it didn't seem right. After playing close attention, the same road I've been on felt rough.

Once home, I placed the bike on the wheel chock and bounced the rear. It came up way too fast, so I went underneath and added a few clicks... did the bounce again. After a few more tries back and forth, I found the sweet spot. I then press the peg real hard, placed one hand on the tank and the other on the seat... pushing at once. Both ends came up even.

I took the bike for a ride and had no more sliding to the front and no sudden jolts. I learned what to look for from taking the bike to Dave Moss last year at a suspension clinic.
 

Major E

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Aug 31, 2020
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Maryland
Hello from the Washington, D.C. area. I have a 2016 ES and can't imagine going back to adjusting the suspension manually. I find the menu for adjustment easy and pretty intuitive, and it is SO easy to make changes until you find the exactly right setting for you on the types of roads you use. And, if I go to an area with substantially different roads, I can change the suspension easily and then change it back easily. If, as I understand, the ES/EZ in your country comes with all the listed options, then it is definitely worth the extra money. I can't imagine not having a center stand -- the bike on the side stand is a bit unstable (and, as you know, there are many other benefits to a center stand). The same for the heated grips. By the way, I have some aluminum bags from Touratech and I highly recommend them over the Yamaha bags, which I hear have problems.
 

Electrolyse

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Hello from the Washington, D.C. area. I have a 2016 ES and can't imagine going back to adjusting the suspension manually. I find the menu for adjustment easy and pretty intuitive, and it is SO easy to make changes until you find the exactly right setting for you on the types of roads you use. And, if I go to an area with substantially different roads, I can change the suspension easily and then change it back easily. If, as I understand, the ES/EZ in your country comes with all the listed options, then it is definitely worth the extra money. I can't imagine not having a center stand -- the bike on the side stand is a bit unstable (and, as you know, there are many other benefits to a center stand). The same for the heated grips. By the way, I have some aluminum bags from Touratech and I highly recommend them over the Yamaha bags, which I hear have problems.
Hello Major E !

Thank you for your point of view, with all this covid stories (circus I could say), i'll wait for Q1 2021 and probably buy a S10 2018/2019 depend of the price I'll find.
I was also thinking about Touratech bags, but now I'm sure I wont get Yamaha's bags, thank for that :)
 

Sierra1

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. . . . I have some aluminum bags from Touratech and I highly recommend them over the Yamaha bags, which I hear have problems.
. . . . I was also thinking about Touratech bags, but now I'm sure I wont get Yamaha's bags, thank for that :)
1) The actual Yamaha bag is not the issue. They're tough, good amount of room, look good, and has almost invisible mounting hardware when the bags are off. If you're not going to use them very often . . . . and for as cheap as you can find them for. . . . they're ok. I have them, and am satisfied with them, BUT, I don't use them often, and payed less than half price for all three boxes.
2) The issue is the lock; it sucks pretty hard.
3) The Tenere Raid edition has aftermarket boxes, that come OE, that are much better. Can't remember who makes them, but they will cost more.
 

Electrolyse

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Thanks Sierra for the details.

I will use them probably once a month while I'll use the top case almost every time but not as a box but as a saddle backrest (best translation I've found) so the lock could not be that important.
Anyway, my car's engine is dead (thanks audi) so I'll have to fix that before end of year
 

ocgeek

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Aug 20, 2019
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Italy
1) The actual Yamaha bag is not the issue. They're tough, good amount of room, look good, and has almost invisible mounting hardware when the bags are off. If you're not going to use them very often . . . . and for as cheap as you can find them for. . . . they're ok. I have them, and am satisfied with them, BUT, I don't use them often, and payed less than half price for all three boxes.
2) The issue is the lock; it sucks pretty hard.
3) The Tenere Raid edition has aftermarket boxes, that come OE, that are much better. Can't remember who makes them, but they will cost more.
3 -> Those are actually the Givi Outback cases
 

ocgeek

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Hey gals, guys,

I'm from Switzerland (nobody's perfect), and after months (literally) of reflection I am gonna buys a S10. My very first one and second Yamaha (first one was my first bike, a 600XT which I loved too much)
And I have a question : does the extra money for a ZE worth it ?

I can get a 2016 non ZE for 10k CHF (or USD it is the same almost), 17 000km with yamaha paniers + top case + arrow exhaust (which i dont like) OR
a (many) ZE from 2017 to 2019, naked (no options) but with less than 10 000km for 11 000-13 000CHF.

thanks for your help

ps : I usually ride 10 000 to 15 000 per year, but now I'll make 6000-8000km per year

Stephane
Hi Electrolyse,

i was in your same position one year back...undecided on Z or ZE
After much consulting reading i bought a ZE second hand with around 19K Km MY 2014 which was well equipped (Worldcorsser kit, ...)
I left the Yamaha cases at the previous owner cse i didn't like them and i read a lot of issues with the locking mechanism and later went with Givi Outbacks set.

As an additional guidance to your purchase (and that also depends a lot if you do maintenance yourself or not - i do) consider also that the past 2017 EU models have lost the ability to run diagnostics from the main dial and you need to go to the shop.

The suspensions between Z and ZE are similar but NOT identical (while behavior on street may be similar...never tried Z).
The ZE has no pre-load on the front and the front dampening is asymmetrical (rebound on one fork and compression on the other),
the rear suspension is said to be a bit better on the ZE from factory (also the leverage at the back is different on the ZE)
We normally ride 2-up with luggage in our trips and have nothing bad to report on the suspension side...all good
That said the facility offered by being able to set all from the deck is indeed a plus to consider

Whatever you choose will be a good choice IMHO
The S10 is a very solid bike which does not excel in anything but does EVERYTHING very well, handles very nicely and it is still possible to maintain it by your own.
 
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sky4

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Jul 30, 2020
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Northern Colorado
how's the reliability of the ES system? Is it rebuildable? I tend to put stupid miles on stuff.... Seems like everybody digs it though.
 

Sierra1

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Joshua TX
Hmmmm. . . . now that you mention it. . . . I don't think that I've seen many problems with the e-suspension. Cruise control is a much more common complaint, and most of those issues are cured with clutch/brake switch cleaning. I'm hoping that the suspension has the standard Yamaha reliability. Life is so much easier when switching from solo to two-up, smooth road to rough road. . . . and back again.
 

Nikolajsen

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Jul 1, 2017
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I also don't remember any "problems" with the system.
I have seen a few post about the system needed to be reset, but once you know it, I remember it to be quit simple to reset.
 

ocgeek

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Aug 20, 2019
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Italy
how's the reliability of the ES system? Is it rebuildable? I tend to put stupid miles on stuff.... Seems like everybody digs it though.
As far as reliability goes i can just say i've seen no reports of issues in the forum i follow
Rebuild-able...simple answer is no...while it is possible to (re)inflate easily the gas pressure of the expansion tank
(That said there are people who can rebuild ANY shock including this one but that is a different story..)
P.S. Some said (just reporting what i read) that the ZE suspension is a tag better than the Z exp in the rear compartment)
 
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