Super Tenere or......?

[glashab]

Hi folks!

I would really appreciate your expertise! I am looking at either getting a Super Tenere or another comparative model. I will be mainly using it for commuting on highways and a little in the city as well as the odd gravel roads. My only requirement is that it must have shaft drive. I have come up in order of preference: 1. Super Tenere 2. Moto Guzzi Stelvio 2. Truimph Explorer 3. BMW GS. If any of you have owned both the ST and one of these in the past I would love to hear your thoughts. Also do you know of any other bikes that you think might be suitable? I would also really appreciate any relaibility issues which would leave me stranded from any of these models....Thank you so much for any feedabck from a sweltering New Orleans!

 

[greg the pole]

Can't comment on the other bikes.
But if you're commuting, and doing your maintenance, you will get bored of the Tenere before it breaks down.
Great bike

 

[WJBertrand]

You might add the Honda VF1200X Cross Tourer to your list to consider, it also has shaft drive. Having said that the Yamaha will be the most trouble free and reliable bike of those you listed. I would expect the Honda to be similar.

 

[glashab]

Thanks Greg thats great to hear! I am actually paranoid with things going wrong! Have had a bad run of luck with cars and a Ducati gave me headaches to no end when I was younger!

 

[glashab]

Thanks WJ Bertrand! I didnt know that that Honda was a shaft drive wil look at that too. I really do like everyhing that I hear about the ST...

 

[fac191]

I have a 2015 ES, i have been on a 200 mile ride on the old model Explorer. The explorer has a very strong engine, but it does feel like a big heavy bike. The S10 feels like a big dirt bike, you can get your feet down easier, and carries its weight very well. Reliability wise it wins hands down, and the service intervals are better.

 

[glashab]

Thanks fac191 for the input on the Explorer, yes the less hassle the better and I keep hearing that even before I joined the Forum recently. If you have had your bike serviced in different places do you think Yamaha servicing is generally close enough country wide or are there bad examples of servicng out there? I just ask as againa I have heard some horror stories of Moto Guzzi servcing and back in my time Ducati servicing was not so hot. Thanks for any feedback if any.

 

[Ron Earp]

I asked a similar question a month ago. You might find the discussion useful

http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=19662.0

 

[glashab]

Thank you very much Ron Earp!

 

[Use2btrix]

If you want long distance and/or two up comfort, easy maintenance, and the best reliability, pick the ST.

If you demand a 10 second quarter mile, pick a different bike, which will compromise the attributes listed above.

 

[oldbear]

I looked hard at all the bikes you originally mentioned prior to buying my S10. I could have easily bought any of the four, so I was looking at handling feel, reliability, comfort and price. The Guzzi was nice but seemed a little "vibey" to me. Looked at availability of dealers and the reported problems on the Guzzi site (lots of electrical gremlins) and ruled her out. The Turnip has a great motor, but felt heavy and somewhat awkward to me. The BMW GS I like, but dealer network is limited, there have been a some fairly serious issues over the last few years, and they are pricey. My good friend has a GS he bought new ('12) and it's been a great bike, BUT it has had issues with an electrical bug since new. Once or twice a year the headlight will "quit". No high or low beam. Then, somewhere between 50 and 200 miles later it will start working again. My friend is an excellent BMW mechanic and neither he nor tow dealerships have been able to find the "bug". Bob rides a lot and the bike is now pushing 100k miles, but he never knows when the headlight will fail to come on. It's made for a few "interesting" adventures.. ??? . Anyway, The S10 felt "right' and the reputation for reliability is unmatched. Also, the S10 was a BUNCH less expensive than either of the alternatives. Went with the S10 and have never looked back. Add gas and change the oil once in a while and you're golden.

 

[glashab]

Hi oldbear,

Thank you ever so much for that information it is just what I was looking for and " super appreciated" . Yes I did look at the Wild Gosse Chase Guzzi site and it sounded like potluck. Also on other forums I noticed that about some of the Truimphs, and after reading just a littlebit I went off the bimmer so quickly as you said many issues and expensive to maintain and buy (for no reason really to me). It totally looks like I will go with the ST as truly I had to dig very hard to find any issues at all and even then if there were any it was not due to the factory's fault in Japan! Now I have to start searching for a good deal on a 2016! Unlike in the UK I have all the fantastically large US to search , so I hope I don't grow old doing it!

Thanks also to Use2btrix! All of you guys really reaffirm why there is no excuse to get an ST! Have a good weekend all and stay safe out there.

 

[glashab]

I also wanted to say I am honoured to be living in your amazing country where the roads don't end!

 

[jmcgilroy]

You might add the Honda VF1200X Cross Tourer to your list to consider, it also has shaft drive. Having said that the Yamaha will be the most trouble free and reliable bike of those you listed. I would expect the Honda to be similar.

Saw one of these VFR1200X Honda's last month up in Canada and I was impressed by its looks. I didn't ride it, didn't sit on it, just gave it a once over so my opinion is limited. Adjustable windshield is a plus, tubeless spoke wheel similar to the S10, fuel capacity is close, seat height is about the same as is the MSRP. It is 26 lbs heavier than the already heavy S10. The factory panniers are nicely tucked in to avoid excess width but they're "side loaders" instead of top-loaders...don't care for those.

I think Jeff is right that the Honda should make your list. If I was making the choice it would be down to the Super Tenere or the VFR as the others don't have the extensive dealer network. If you plan on distant, remote adventure travel, there's usually a Honda or Yamaha dealer in most smaller towns. Moto Guzzi, Triumph and BMW dealers will be difficult to locate.

 

[Velvet]

It looks like I'm a bit late to the party, but my advice to you is to buy the Super Tenere. Since they were introduced I have wanted one, but for various reasons that never happened until this past April when I bought a lightly used 2014. From 2012 to date I have watched just about every YouTube video and article that I could get my hands on and it appears that the common denominator is that they are extremely reliable. I'm retired so I don't need to commute but I bought mine for an all around and long range trave bike. I feel very confident that it will never let me down. I just finished a 5,632 mile trip and all I can say is that it has definitely exceeded my expectations with comfort, fuel mileage, and overall ridability. I own multiple bikes, two of which are long range capable, but this is definitely the one that will see the most use. I'll be doing another trip next month which will be 4,000+ miles and its nice to know that the Super Tenere will get me there and back with no issues.

Though I can't comment on Moto Guzzi, I feel that the dealer network is too thin for me. I have owned a late model Triumph triple (not an Explorer) and I admire the Triumph brand. Though it wouldn't be to replace the Super Tenere I would definitely buy another Triumph, probably an 800 XCA or definitely a Tiger Sport if Triumph was to get off of their asses and import them into the USA. Though I don't want to start a debate here I would never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever buy another BMW. Since 1983 I have owned five personal and three company BMW's (six were 2002 or newer) and all have had issues with three of them leaving me stranded (two of the three were late models.)

That's my two cents. Good luck with your quest for a 2016 ST. I hope that a great deal comes your way.

 

[Rasher]

Had a 2008 GS for a couple of years, quite a lot of small niggles, not sure the latest Liquid Cooled versions are any better.

I tested the Stelvio and liked it a lot, but they too have more than there fair share of problems, in the UK dealers are few and most have other franchises, IMO you need an real enthusiastic dealer to keep these in good fettle, and even then the chances are it will not be anywhere near as reliable as any Jap manufacturer - probably a good choice for the leisure rider, not so much the week long commuter.

I think the Triumphs are good, a mate has one and it is nice to ride, his was an earlier model (2012) and within 1 year / 3,000 miles had needed a new engine management system, final drive and cylinder head - but I think all these problems should be well ironed out by now.....

....but would still say the Yamaha is a hard to beat choice as a practical bike for your needs ::008::

 

[Bryn]

Had 3 1200 GS's
1 100 Pd
4 1150 GS's
A new 2012 Triumph Explorer

And another 90 or so bikes before and during ( yes really ???)

My 2014 Super Tenere is as good if not better than any of them .....had a bit of a hickup a couple of months ago when I put it up for sale...but I think I've got over it now ::022::

 

[EricV]

For a mostly street machine, you may really like the Honda's engine. Smoother than the Super Tenere due to the V4 over the parallel twin. That said, Honda considers the center stand an accessory, costing about $170 and that's the only accessory on the factory list that I saw worth spending any money on. Everything else is available from the aftermarket for less money and in some cases, a nicer quality level.

And is it me, or did Honda very quietly sneak the CrossTour in to the US market? I looked at these a few years ago hoping to get one for my wife and Honda had no intention of bringing them into the US. The seat height was too tall for her anyway, especially with it being slightly heavier.

 

[Bigbore4]

I have a data point of 1. I've only had the Super Tenere. Mine has around 54000 miles on it as of this morning. I've been out riding since June 2. I left on well used Heidenaus. Had Michelin PR4's put on in Richmond VA. And I took a good long look at the rear this morning and it wasn't going to take me home. I found a Dunlop TrailMax I think, it's an 80/20 tire in Red Lodge at the chopper shop believe it or not and am still riding. I've done 2 oil changes on the road.

I did have a wheel bearing failure. The bike was around 50000 miles so maybe it was normal wear. Maybe the shop that last put tires on banged one, I don't know. What I do know is the dealer was a rock star and I didn't even need to whine too much to Yamaha to get them to allow the dealer to cannibalize a new bike for parts to get me going!

This bike is stone dead reliable, the electronics while not the most featured are among the best out there, and the dealer network is huge and mostly really good. I would buy this bike again in a second, no hesitation.

FWIW my brothers Stelvio is in the shop with an electrical gremlin.

 

[MNs10]

I've owned three on your list. About 20k miles on a Tenere, 12k on an Explorer XC, and approaching 20k on the current bike a water cooled R1200 GS.

On the highway any of these bikes will work well. The Tenere has slightly worse vibration at high speeds IMO and it has the slowest turn-in in this class by far...it gives the bike a stable feel but makes obstacle avoidance in commuting traffic a scary eye opener when compared to others you are considering. The Explorer is tough to beat at high speeds but is geared so tall that commuting requires some extra footwork if you encounter surging traffic (35-70) -or less if you just leave it in 4th gear.

If you're a bigger guy or do 2-up and have to have the Tenere get the ES, the suspension is too soft on the other.

My Tenere spent more time in the shop than all my other bikes combined and they never did get everything sorted. The Explorer had a recall under my ownership. The BMW has been flawless.

Doing your own maintenance? The Tenere takes more time than any bike I've owned...the BMW the least.

You came to this forum so you're likely as biased towards the Tenere as some of this group is anti-oldmodelGS... Go ride them all...if you can't appreciate or don't need the finer qualities the GSW offers, save your money but get the newer updated Tenere/Explorer/whatever.

-The GSW is the first bike I've had that I didn't want to get something different after a year. Good luck.