Super Tenere Under Powered?

[hawk281]

My trade in bike for the S-10, was 2013 Triumph Trophy, a 1215 cc triple. More than enough horsepower on hand. But I don't miss it as the S-10 does everything I need it to do, on or off road. I would like better gas milage, but hey, what ya going to do? ::021::

 

[ace50]

It's taking decades, but KTM is learning to evolve what works, in the way that the Japanese makes long have. It's always the total new redesigned aspects that seem to bite them and to get the performance means reducing the amount of safety margin a design has. The early 950s kicked ass as big dirt bikes but had a real problem with the rear cylinder overheating. The 990 and then 1190 got that sorted but the 1190 had a redesigned airbox which leaked dust into the engine. They got that sorted in the 1290, but I understand from the owner of a KTM dealer that the factory crash bars are so stiff that people are bending frames.

How does the old adage go?................fast, light or durable…...........pick only two.

 

[Checkswrecks]

LOL, when my ex wanted something done, I used to keep saying she had to pick two of when she wanted, how she wanted, or at the cost she wanted.

 

[Big Blu]

......
...

When you are negotiating a step rutted rocky climb in 2nd just above idle and the S10 pulls it self up the hill without breaking a sweat you'd never think to yourself it needs more power, .........
...
..

I'd be thinking "wtf an I doing in this situation with a 600lb beast!". ::010::

I doubt many owners buy a Super Tenere specifically for that type of riding. It's simply the wrong tool, so many others are better suited for that task.

Paul

 

[groundhog]

Honestly unplug yourself from the internet for just a moment and go and ride one.

The only time the power would come into question when compared to other bikes in its class is a straight line drag race, and top end speed approaching 200km/+

When you are negotiating a step rutted rocky climb in 2nd just above idle and the S10 pulls it self up the hill without breaking a sweat you'd never think to yourself it needs more power, same goes for when you are on a flat gravel road and want to flick the tail out the S10 will break traction super easy.

If all you want to do is slab it at 200km/h+ buy a sports tourer.

::026::

 

[Goldwing]

The latest version can do 0-60 in 3.5 seconds, is that slower than a KTM 1290, or Duc..yes but it's fast enough for me and my riding style. No complaints here...

 

[Big Blu]

..... it's fast enough for me and my riding style. No complaints here...

And that's all that counts! ::008::

Paul

 

[Scott Williams]

Goldwing is right. 0-60 in 3.5 sec. Wow! Beats most sports cars. In addition, it does the 1/4 mile in 11.6 sec. Doing 106. Faster than my two 'vettes and my Jag XKE back in the day. It is a personal thing, of course, but my 2014 is plenty fast enough for me....even 2-up. I am in the touring stage of life now, the hot rod days have passed me by. My 1956 T-Bird wasn't as fast as my buddy's 1956 'vette, but she sure pulled in the honeys. Harley is probably outselling the S10 by 100-1 and for the most part, they are slower. It's a matter of choice. I find my 2014 plenty powerful enough. If I needed more speed I'd rent a Hyabusa for a day to get it out of my system.

 

[barkingllizard]

TODAY:
first ride of the year,
exactly 80 days since my last ride,

RESULT:
plenty fast enough, actually effing quick
AND faster than anything else I saw on the street today...

[personally, I think the question is stupid and designed only to inflame]

there are plenty of different riding choices same as there are plenty of different riders,

we should all be out enjoying the wind, contemplating why no one ever asks if a KLR650 is under powered.....

 

[Big Blu]

TODAY:
first ride of the year,
exactly 80 days since my last ride,
......
...
..

Congratulation on the inaugural event for the 2016 riding season. ::015::
That 1st ride is the best! it's a great feeling to waken the beast from winter hibernation!

Paul

 

[Bryce]

contemplating why no one ever asks if a KLR650 is under powered.....

I thought that was a given.

I go plenty of places on my KLR and carry all sorts of crap with my fat ass and it seems to do just fine though.

I do agree that this sort of topic is meant to inflame though

 

[Maverick]

...[personally, I think the question is stupid and designed only to inflame]...

...I do agree that this sort of topic is meant to inflame though...

barkingllizard & Bryce, As mentioned previously, this thread was inspired as the result of conversations with S10 owners and echoed by some of the S10 owners on this forum. Can either of you clarify why you think the question is stupid or why you think the topic was meant to inflame?

 

[Bryce]

barkingllizard & Bryce, As mentioned previously, this thread was inspired as the result of conversations with S10 owners and echoed by some of the S10 owners on this forum. Can either of you clarify why you think the question is stupid or why you think the topic was meant to inflame?

History repeats itself... every S10 vs xxx (or yyy vs zzz on any forum for that matter) seems to go off the rails and turns into a pissing match. Maybe this wasn't originally a xxx vs yyy thread but it devolved into one.

The same crap happens on a diesel truck forum I'm on... the ford's vs the dodge, the 7.3 vs the 6.0.... blah blah.


Maybe the S10 is down on power compared to other mega-adventure tourers. Under powered it is not. What can it not do that the others can besides get you to super-legal speeds slightly faster? It's not designed to pull your house down... or haul your boat to the lake... or pull a 30ft gooseneck. It's very comfortable 2 up with your junk for a tour.

How much power do people need vs it's a pissing match that I've got xx more HP?
My parents toured all over the US on CB350 and CBR 450-Fours back in the 70s.

On my KLR, there have been times where I said, damn, it would be nice if this thing had some more umph to get me on down the highway (but that's not really a KLRs forte). On the S10, I can't think of a time where I said, damn, this pig can't keep up with traffic... in fact, twisting my wrist on it is always a good experience.

 

[Defekticon]

barkingllizard & Bryce, As mentioned previously, this thread was inspired as the result of conversations with S10 owners and echoed by some of the S10 owners on this forum. Can either of you clarify why you think the question is stupid or why you think the topic was meant to inflame?

Probably would have been a more fruitful discussion after you test ride the bike, because you're going to know real quick if it's sufficient or under powered.

 

[tenbob]

I have ridden a 1290 Super Duke for about 60 miles, interstates, in town, and back roads. That is one very nice motor wrapped in a brilliant chassis. The motor is in a different league then S10 which is more then a bit agriculture by comparison. If I had faith in the reliability of the KTM products, or had my own pit crew, I'd own one of those "ready to race" products.

Paul

As with most comments here about BMW's they are in reference to older models, and I suspect some posting those comments may have never owned any BMW, let alone a modern BMW. It always seem to become a contest which about which bike is "best", when in fact that isn't the subject of the tread.
That's just the way it is on the inter-web, folks will believe parrot it and believe it if it fits their own narrative. No research, no facts, no personal experience, that's just the way it is on the inter-web.

Paul

See this is where I take deep breaths... What's the difference here? Isn't it perhaps a case of parroting opinions, Internet reputation and whatever' applied to the KTM? In my humble 'opinion' BMW and KTM, in terms of reliability and dependability are fairly similar. Thats my take... I wrote something recently on another thread on here about perceived reliability with brands which unfortunately was removed for some reason, even though I intend no malice and only a incy wincy bit of controversy if 'thy skin is very thin'. 'Perceived' reliability for the Tenere tends to be fairly positive on the whole. There's normally a smidge of truth with these perceptions... Other than throwing your hard earned at an unknown and just taking a punt, all these perception / opinion parts to a jigsaw do add up to give a picture of some sorts which helps, the mere mortals amongst us... Amen!
Concerning the S10 being underpowered, well I think my flashed bike has got some nice stonk and is not underpowered. Actually I reckon a lot of 'ADVENTURE' bikes are OVERPOWERED! I'm not a wuss and like the buzz, brute performace gives you, but when I started looking at lard ass adventure bikes, nutter performance wasn't high on the list oddly enough... :

 

[bigbob]

by the way welcome to the forum. I have had a 2012 and now a 2014. I think there is quite a difference in the two bikes. The 2014 has a noticeable difference in power or maybe how the bike uses that HP. I find that I have no trouble passing, climbing or even pulling 135+ mph on the open road if you want it to...

Must be nice being ex-cop at 135!

 

[VRODE]

If this forum was composed primarily of women it would be like asking "Does this bike make my ass look fat?"

 

[Checkswrecks]

OK, so the consensus is the S10 is not as overpowered as some of the other bikes, can do the same stuff, and makes owners happy.


Beyond that, we have no place for hostility here. The pruning shears are now in use in this thread.


The Management

 

[ace50]

After getting a good first year ride this weekend in the mountain hyways and byways, about a hundred miles, this thing has PLENTY power to get you in trouble real quick! with plenty of smiles too! ::015::

What else do you need?

 

[Defekticon]

After getting a good first year ride this weekend in the mountain hyways and byways, about a hundred miles, this thing has PLENTY power to get you in trouble real quick! with plenty of smiles too! ::015::

What else do you need?

::026::

I got out for a ride yesterday, was pulling out of the toll on 95 at MD/DE line, happened to look at the speedometer and it said 98mph. Oops, too much throttle. Oh, and I had full Givi luggage with tools in them after a Harborfreight trip ::013::