I've been riding a lot on the BMW R1200GS and GS Adventure. And I did a fair amount of testing on the new Super Ténéré. I wrote an article on the Yamaha for
my blog over here in Belgium. These are my (personal) findings:
1/ Engine
Bmw is a little more powerful over the complete line. The new 4 valve/cylinder DOCH air cooled engine has more torque and revs a little better. The Yamaha runs smoother but lacks a little punch at the bottom of the scale. Starting from 3500 rpm the Yam is equally strong and keeps up until 7500 rpm where the BMW has the best end shot because the new 2010 model revs higher than the older model.
Vibration wise the Ténéré runs more smooth where the GS has more vibrations. Below 2500 rpm and above 6000 rpm I don't like the BMW. Also the Yamaha delivers the power a lot more linear what makes it easier to handle at full throttle. Even the BMW would win from the Ténéré in a straight line sprint, I prefer the way the parallel twin of the Yamaha runs.
2/ Wind protection
I'm 1,8 meter (5,9 ft) and for me the standard windshield on both bikes is adequate but I suffer from mild turbulence on my helmet. A wider and lager windscreen does help (like on the Adventure) so I think most matters can be solved. I rate the wind protection and turbulence the same on both bikes. But the BMW is more of a handful when exposed to strong lateral wind blowing on either side of the bike.
3/ Ergonomics
Both bikes present a neath solution to carry side cases. When you take them off the bikes still look clean. I think the BMW's system looks just a little better but I prefer the side cases of the Yamaha opening on the top. Construction and materials are almost similar. I prefer the seat on the Yamaha big time. Better support, harder and more anti-slip material is used. Riding position differs to. My legs are in a more natural position on the Ténéré but I think all depends on the length of your legs. To me the Yamaha just feels better, more harmonic. The dash of the Yamaha lacks the gear indicator but looks more modern. BMW keeps making analogue speedometers, it's up to you what you prefer. I think Yamaha did a good job. They have their 12v (normal size) plug near the dash, BMW mounts it down below and behind the rider. Difficult to use and you need a special BMW plug to. On the GS BMW still offers turning signal knobs on both sides of the handlebar but they are changing that on other recent models.
4/ Handling
BMW has a unique telelever / paralever suspension system. I've been riding a lot of BMW bikes and once you get familiar with it, it does a great job. Nose dive is less than on conventional suspension set-up and you can brake really hard deep into corners. But the downside is that the front lacks decent feedback if the going gets tough. With less feedback coming from the front the driver has less information on what the tire is doing in the corners. On top of that, the ESA system (electronic suspension adjustment) makes life easy but is not the best way to set up a bike properly. Looking at the ST10 I think Yamaha did a great job using an upside-down fully adjustable front suspension with progressive elements inside. the front provides a lot of feedback and does a fantastic job keeping the contact to the road on very different surfaces from race track alike tarmac to bumpy gravel roads. The rear suspension is easy to set up without the need of tools and the monoschock suspension is very good. I prefer the suspension on the Yamaha.
The BMW wins when it comes to the weight of the bike. It weights 30 pounds less (filled up). You could think that's a lot (it is) but thankfully Yamaha got the engine heaviest parts low, they provided a very balanced bike and the total concept does not feel like it's heavy at all. Of course the wide handlebars do help but that's the same on the beemer. To me both bike are similar when it comes down to interpreting weight in terms of handling. The Yamaha feels very light on slow corners and in difficult situations. Kudos.
5/ Transmission
Both bikes have shaft transmission. The Yamaha does not feel like it is powered and driven by axle. The feel is silk smooth compared to the BMW. Especially at low rpm and when I need to use the clutch, the Yamaha excels in excellent feel on the shaft drive. Take that into account together with the linear power curve and the Ténéré is a better bike to handle.
6/ Brakes
The ST10 has fantastic brakes. The BMW does to. To me they have similar braking power. Both ABS systems work great but on bumpy roads the Yamaha wins because of the front wheel keeping better contact with the surface. The telelever suspension can make it harder for the ABS system to get the job done. In normal (perfect road) conditions both perform equal. On worse roads the Yamaha benefits from its suspension.
7/ Overall conclusion
Looks are personal. I never loved the looks of the beemer. But it has always been a statement in this category of bikes. Personally I prefer the looks of the Ténéré. Over here in Belgium, comparing price tags, the Yamaha has the best cards because it has a lot of stuff build in standard where you need to pay a lot of extra cash when you want it installed on the GS. Both bikes are great performers. Engine wise, the BMW has the best cards when it comes to power and sprinting. Nevertheless the Yamaha feels smoother, handles better and the engine feels smoother when leaving the better roads. The engine runs smoother, the roll off is better and the transmission feels a lot better than the one on the GS. Both are great performers for adventure, travelling and touring. If you want to take both for a small street fight on twisty roads, they will both perform very well but people who want to set-up their suspension with a lot of care are better off with the Yamaha.
BMW has sold 150.000 R1200GS(A) bikes worldwide. So they own the crown in this segment of the market. I'm pretty well convinced that with the arrival of the ST10 a lot of interested buyers will look into the Super Ténéré. Personally I was so convinced that I placed my order two weeks ago. I think that Yamaha has made a bike that equals the BMW in many ways and excels in some parts. The monopoly is broken.
Being a freelance journalist riding motorcycles for a living gives me the benefit to compare a lot of bikes. Sometimes it is difficult to keep an open mind. When I have to buy myself my own bikes, it makes it even harder. I'm very critical on a lot of things. I honestly think I made a good choice. The future will tell as it always does. I've owned quiet a few different bikes. Some I loved more than others. I have a good feeling about the ST10.
Phil
