There's a reason that the adventure bikes have become a staple of the Iron Butt and long distance crowd. These are the SUVs of the motorcycle world.
Super Tenere Under Powered?
- Thread starter Maverick
- Start date
trainman
New Member
coming from a 1200GS to a gen 2 I don't notice any difference, although I don't visit the red line very often
its a bit heavy but I think seasoned adv bike buyers appreciate driveability and traction as much as top end
anyway at what point does the arms race become stupid, 160hp on an adv or tourer? why??
summary - yes its light on power amongst its peers but take a look at the new Africa twin, guess what same issue
its a bit heavy but I think seasoned adv bike buyers appreciate driveability and traction as much as top end
anyway at what point does the arms race become stupid, 160hp on an adv or tourer? why??
summary - yes its light on power amongst its peers but take a look at the new Africa twin, guess what same issue
I came off the sport touring bikes (BMW RT, Honda ST1300), and several cruisers. I looked at all the bikes and really came to this decision. I wanted a bike that I did not have to worry about no matter where I took it, I had the confidence it would bring me back, and it had the grunt to carry two people anywhere for any length of time and maybe give me a dime back. I am not really a big dirt rider, but like you, I wanted a bike that could handle dirt (learning), and when the road got crappy, I didn't have to baby the bike.
Is this bike as fast as some of the others? No. But throw in dirt, curves, anything but straight road and you will be just as fast as all of them. My idea now of touring is enjoying the ride. I have slowed down a lot and really learned to enjoy the ride, not the speed. But she will cruise at 100+ all day long if you want.
And yes, she is a pig. Maybe because she is overbuilt? Don't know.
All the current bikes are damn good. I just think mine ('13) fits what I wanted. And if in the future it doesn't, I will find a different one.
Mark
Is this bike as fast as some of the others? No. But throw in dirt, curves, anything but straight road and you will be just as fast as all of them. My idea now of touring is enjoying the ride. I have slowed down a lot and really learned to enjoy the ride, not the speed. But she will cruise at 100+ all day long if you want.
And yes, she is a pig. Maybe because she is overbuilt? Don't know.
All the current bikes are damn good. I just think mine ('13) fits what I wanted. And if in the future it doesn't, I will find a different one.
Mark
I had a Moto Guzzi Stelvio before my S10 - trust me they're not heavy compared to the Italian Hippo ::013::
I think that the conventional thinking about the 160HP engine is that it is gives you plenty of power for the highway - which it does. It's my understanding that the KTM 1290 Super Adventure actually cuts that HP down to 100HP when you switch to "dirt" mode (or whatever their offroad setting is) so that the bike is more manageable off the pavement.trainman said:
I don't know if you can group the Africa Twin among the 1200/1300 cc bikes that we've been talking about. The displacement on the CRF1000L is 1000cc's and I believe the HP is rated at 94HP. This is not bad when you consider that the S10 is only 18 HP more but also is 70lbs heavier.trainman said:
barkingllizard
Well-Known Member
an argument could be made for more power, but reality suggests it is not needed,
even if the goal is riding to the starbucks, it is the balance determining the size of the smile...
the Yamaha Super Tenere IS far more capable than most who ride them, and delivers the smiles.....
even if the goal is riding to the starbucks, it is the balance determining the size of the smile...
the Yamaha Super Tenere IS far more capable than most who ride them, and delivers the smiles.....
trainman
New Member
told a bit of a white lie when I said no difference - after the GS the S10 always felt like it was in one gear higher than the GS, I think GS gearing meant you were always reving and stirring gears more to get it moving and the S10 certainly appears more laid back and lets you be lazy on the 'box changing
incidentally the Pan European over here is about 115hp, they sold a few!!!
incidentally the Pan European over here is about 115hp, they sold a few!!!
i think a lot of this "not enough horse power" is coming from journalist in these bike mags who only ride a bike for a few weeks at the most and pull then pull it to bits because the one they had last month with 60 bhp more was quicker. thats fine if were talking cutting edge sports bikes ..but not these sort of bikes ?. the tenere engine was built to last thats why it only produces 110bhp .. and in years to come the same journalist will be heaping praise on it .
mrpete64
Member
I agree. If this bike had 149 hp it would probably be still....lacking! I have ridden a lot of bikes, in my life, and if you are looking for blistering speed this is NOT the bike for you. I have ridden my 2014ES all over the place and find it putts down the road just fine. Comfortable, dependable, and a joy to ride. I have had a lot of BMW's and they were nice bikes. I rode the new watered GS and it was nice. I just am tired of paying "lots" of money for service.
With over ten thousand miles on my bike I can say, honestly, that it is a very good bike. Is it like the new Ducati...probably not...but my friend just took his Ducati in for a service and it was almost thirteen hundred dollars. For me, that is a lot of oil changes, tires, etc.
As noted by many on this site...it is a VERY good bike for the money. I swore I would never own one when I sat on them at the NYC bike shows. I drove the 2014ES prepared to buy the new 1000 V-Strom. I liked the stom but "loved" the ES.
Bikes are like women...but in the long run....much cheaper!
The important part in all of this is that one gets out and...ride! If you like what you ride...then just enjoy it. When it all comes down reviews are just that...personal feeling about how it feels, etc. And, of course, someone is trying to sell something.
I also enjoy music. If you think bike reviews are sometimes too much to deal with...read some amp/preamp/cd reviews. Talk about taking something to the nth degree.
Like most of you...I can't hardly with for the roads to dry up so I can get out and enjoy some fresh air and new sights.
With over ten thousand miles on my bike I can say, honestly, that it is a very good bike. Is it like the new Ducati...probably not...but my friend just took his Ducati in for a service and it was almost thirteen hundred dollars. For me, that is a lot of oil changes, tires, etc.
As noted by many on this site...it is a VERY good bike for the money. I swore I would never own one when I sat on them at the NYC bike shows. I drove the 2014ES prepared to buy the new 1000 V-Strom. I liked the stom but "loved" the ES.
Bikes are like women...but in the long run....much cheaper!
The important part in all of this is that one gets out and...ride! If you like what you ride...then just enjoy it. When it all comes down reviews are just that...personal feeling about how it feels, etc. And, of course, someone is trying to sell something.
I also enjoy music. If you think bike reviews are sometimes too much to deal with...read some amp/preamp/cd reviews. Talk about taking something to the nth degree.
Like most of you...I can't hardly with for the roads to dry up so I can get out and enjoy some fresh air and new sights.
You nailed it... "has different meaning for everyone". ::008::Maverick said:
Your question makes for interesting discussion but there is no correct answer, just different opinions. It all about managing our expectations and satisfying our needs. One mans "exhilarating clip" can be another's stroll in the park.
78f here today, I'm going for an exhilarating ride on my Vespa 300. Jezzzzzz, I really enjoy that thing, it makes me smile a lot.
Paul
Defekticon
Active Member
You might be interested in this review of a 1290 from a previous S10 owner. http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=18228.0Maverick said:
My cliffnote takeaway is that more power does not = more stability with touring gear.
One thing I will add, is that I will only use hard luggage if I'm touring. If I'm touring+leaving asphalt, I slap my wolfman dry saddle bags on in place of my GIVI Trekker luggage and expedition dufflebag on my passenger altrider luggage rack to keep the weight inboard. This makes a huge difference on a big bike offroad.
At the time, I was over 300 pounds. 2 up pulling a trailer from Va. to Ak and back. I never thought it lacked for power. More is always better though I guess.
dandil726
Member
I don't think so.
Rizzo
New Member
I have very little experience with this bike so time will tell. However, my comment was only to say that the touring mode is lethargic. The S mode is about what I expected with this bike. I bought this bike for reliability and all day comfort. My friend with the 1190 is on his second one as the first one blew up. No problems with the second one so far. My friend with the Multi uses it mainly for canyon carving. No canyons around my part of the world. The Tenere is the bike I wanted. More power would be great but at what expense? I'm sure I'll like the bike more as the miles pile on. I doubt it will ever leave sport mode though.
It sounds like you run your bike a lot like I do.Rizzo said:
When I rode the Super Tenere for the first time, I was unimpressed; specifically, I was unimpressed with the motor. After reading all the great things that owners had to say about the bike on this site, as well as on ADVRider, I figured that I must have been missing something on my demo, or perhaps there was something wrong with the bike. I then realized that there were two modes, T & S. I suspected that I maybe rode in T for my first ride. I took a trip back to the dealership and this time, switched the bike to S mode. It was as if I was riding an entirely different bike. At the end of the demo ride, I bought the bike.
The Super Tenere has gotten better and better the more miles that I put on it. I have only 10,000 miles on it now, but I have no regrets on the purchase. I don't think that the bike is underpowered once you're out of the "neutered zone," IE: out of the zone where you only get partial power (the ECU flash addresses this, but I don't have a flashed ECU). Without a flash, one must realize that down low, you aren't getting everything that the bike has to offer.
T mode is a wonderful thing for riding in the rain, in heavy stop& go traffic commuting, not knocking helmets when 2-up, off-road on a muddy surface, etc.
Just like TCS is wonderful on the road, but I am glad to be able to turn it down or off when off-road.
Just like TCS is wonderful on the road, but I am glad to be able to turn it down or off when off-road.
Hungry Tiger
2012 Blue S10
There is a well documented inverse relationship between power and reliability, not to mention maintenance costs. STen has more than enough power & torque for my purposes.
Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
Rizzo
New Member
dSPX said:
I have only 10 miles on my bike. haha. I'm sure T mode has it's place like Checkswrecks mentions.
Not to derail, but I'll be down in San Diego with the Tenere in June. PM me with anything I should see or places to ride. I'll be the one sucking on the tailpipe of a Ducati Multistrada.
+1 and.....Maverick said:
.... they're always ready to play and never have a headache!
Paul