SuperTen article in HellForLeather 'zine

[herbivrus]

Apologies if this has already been posted (I didn't find anything in a search), but there's an interesting article about the SuperTen in the electronic Hell For Leather magazine:

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2012/04/alone-in-death-valley-on-a-636lbs-motorcycle/

Looks like a skeptic was made into a convert . . .

 

[Twitch]

Apologies if this has already been posted (I didn't find anything in a search), but there's an interesting article about the SuperTen in the electronic Hell For Leather magazine:

http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2012/04/alone-in-death-valley-on-a-636lbs-motorcycle/

Looks like a skeptic was made into a convert . . .

Nice read, thanks for posting the article. It looks like it was only posted in HFL yesterday.

In the article, the author refers to a new show called RideApart and if you click into that article it appears that it's going to highlight more S10 action. Could be interesting.

 

[coastie]

No idea what motorcycle he was riding on the street but it is not the same as mine. My S10 is smooth with more than enough power for fast moving city traffic.

 

[dcc46]

Good read, Thanks for posting it. ::008::

 

[colorider]

Hmmm, when I clicked on the link, it said I had to be a subscriber.....

:question:

 

[bloodline]

I wonder how long that author has been riding motorcycles?

 

[colorider]

Hmmm, when I clicked on the link, it said I had to be a subscriber.....

:question:

Okay - with enough mouse clicks, I was able to view the article. Not bad, overall.

I like one of his final statement:
" Now, having taken the big Yamaha way beyond my own limits, if nowhere near its own, I understand it a lot better as a motorcycle. It’s not some shiny exercise in ridiculousness, masquerading as a dirt bike to make touring riders feel better about themselves, it’s an honest-to-god dirt bike that can tour and commute and do all that stuff too. It overcomes its weight with clever design — the engine in the right place, weight distribution and swingarm — then boosts that fundamental capability with technology tailored for the dirt."

::022::

 

[rem]

I like one of his final statements

Thanks. I wrote that. R ::008::

 

[colorider]

Thanks. I wrote that. R ::008::

No need to be modest about it!!

::025::

 

[SisuTen]

Nice read. Didn't seem to be the usual pandering for money review you usually get. Do I agree with everything he said? Not necessarily, but he seemed forthright on the whole. Rem, your talent as a wordsmith is renowned! 8)

 

[WRW9751]

I read the article I to was less than thrilled with my new S/10 for a lot of the same reasons he gave. I have a FJ, time and miles on the S/10 has changed my thought process. If your honest with your evaluations you will probably come to similar conclusions. The S/10 shines on gravel and fire roads. I lacks some on the road. If I personally could change it, I'd like to be able to shut off the ABS on the rear brake only (on the fly). Gain 25hp, loose 75# and as long as I'm wishing eliminate the gear restrictions.

 

[markjenn]

I read the article I to was less than thrilled with my new S/10 for a lot of the same reasons he gave. I have a FJ, time and miles on the S/10 has changed my thought process. If your honest with your evaluations you will probably come to similar conclusions. The S/10 shines on gravel and fire roads. I lacks some on the road. If I personally could change it, I'd like to be able to shut off the ABS on the rear brake only (on the fly). Gain 25hp, loose 75# and as long as I'm wishing eliminate the gear restrictions.

I echo this also. I was not terribly impressed with the S10 when I first got it either. The weight was ever-present, the engine seemed a little flat and overworked, and I was touching the left peg to asphalt 15-miles into my first ride. The engine also had a off-putting character and wasn't particularly refined. The only aspect that immediately seemed great was the comfort. I wasn't as put off as the author of this article - who seems like a bit of a drama queen to me - but I wasn't initially bowled over with the bike either.

But.... this is one bike that grows on you over time. It simply works and to get the same utility and versatility of a R12GS in such a solid, cheap, and reliable package makes this truly an exceptional motorcycle. The sophisticated electronics package is a huge plus.

I do wish Yamaha hadn't cheaped out quite so much on features and had matched the competition on weight and power. And I do think that any engine restrictions, whatever they are in US trim, are ridiculous on a 90 RWHP motorcycle. Like the FJR, I suspect we're going to see a refined new model in year or two which will address these easily fixable flaws, albeit with a continued upward march in price that may further erode the price advantage over the competition. Triumph, BMW, KTM, and Honda are not standing still.

- Mark

 

[Boondocker]

I enjoyed the article and thought it was complimentary overall. I too came off an '04 V-Strom 650 that I paid $3,000 for. Yes the Super Ténéré is better in every respect, but not twice as good and nowhere near four times as good considering it's price. The DL650 is a great fit for me - comfortable, economical, faultlessly reliable, and perfectly suited to the commuting/light touring that is my riding envelope. So the big Yamaha has to match that for starters.

I have no regrets about the S10 and like so many others say, it continues to grow on me. Novelty wears off soon. Competency continues to impress. Having barely scratched the surface of this bike's capabilities, I'm confident that it will wear well for a long time.

 

[GrahamD]

Well having just come back from a 1800 Km good mixed ride, I agree with what the guy experienced except, as with Mark, I think the guy suffered from a bit of "Drama queen"

I suppose I did not expect to have a smooth turbine engine with 200kw on tap, so I wasn't disappointed. What I was expecting was a bike that was not as sharp on the road but used that to advantage in the rough, which was exactly what pissed me off about the Strom. It was good on the road, got up an boogied when I wanted but at legal speeds and everyday riding and on dirt the thing was tiiring. I was thinking about going to a GSX1400 or something or a 650 Strom.

After the last 1800km mixed roads I arrived back after 28 Hours in the saddle over three days feeling way better than I thought I would. Just confirmed that it solved all the niggles that I had with the Strom. I am starting to respect that this bike can just be pointed down any road and will just do the job. One thing I will say though is the adrenalin pump for me is now the off road sections, the on road section is good in a "just eats it up" way. I have absolutely no chicken strips on the bike now but I can't remember exactly where I was using all the tread. It just did what I asked on or off road and got out of my way and let me do my thing.

That's why I love this bike. ::024::

I have absolutely no idea why he thinks the bike has a high forward COG. That is not my experience. I think he is inferring that from the way the steering is set up. The way the bike just leans way over in the shed without that sudden "oops too far" feeling I get with a friends RT and my Strom suggests something different to me and the way it reacts when thrown off line my a large stone is just really different than what I have been used to. The whole bike moves sideways not tips sideways. That is something that I was trying to figure out over the 110Km of dirt "sort of road" I was riding on Saturday.

But I think the guy deserves credit for this..[from the video preview section]

I find riding a 637lbs behemoth absolutely shit-my-pants terrifying.

And that I think is the reason that riders with dirt backgrounds tend to like it a lot more than riders with sports bike backgrounds. The dirt riders just feel like they are riding a nuclear powered dirt pig while the road riders are shitting themselves. Good on him for being honest.

Love this pic

 

[coastie]

::025::HAHA "Nuclear Powered Dirt Pig" just made me choke on my breakfast! Great description! ::025::

 

[SisuTen]

I have absolutely no idea why he thinks the bike has a high forward COG. That is not my experience. I think he is inferring that from the way the steering is set up. The way the bike just leans way over in the shed without that sudden "oops too far" feeling I get with a friends RT and my Strom suggests something different to me and the way it reacts when thrown off line my a large stone is just really different than what I have been used to. The whole bike moves sideways not tips sideways. That is something that I was trying to figure out over the 110Km of dirt "sort of road" I was riding on Saturday.But I think the guy deserves credit for this..[from the video preview section]
And that I think is the reason that riders with dirt backgrounds tend to like it a lot more than riders with sports bike backgrounds. The dirt riders just feel like they are riding a nuclear powered dirt pig while the road riders are shitting themselves. Good on him for being honest.

+1 Graham.

I came from dirt and this bike is a delight, particularly for an older guy. My description to people who ask is that the bike simply offers no surprises, yet it can and will show balls when asked to do so. A "jack of all trades, master of none". As with people who are described as such, it deserves all praise available. You can buy a bike that excels in specific areas...all day long. To find one that does all things well, is exceptionally rare.

 

[Tolong]

+1 Graham.

I came from dirt and this bike is a delight, particularly for an older guy. My description to people who ask is that the bike simply offers no surprises, yet it can and will show balls when asked to do so. A "jack of all trades, master of none". As with people who are described as such, it deserves all praise available. You can buy a bike that excels in specific areas...all day long. To find one that does all things well, is exceptionally rare.

"jack of all trades, master of none".

You hit the nail on the head right there!!! Perfect description.

 

[SisuTen]

"jack of all trades, master of none".

You hit the nail on the head right there!!! Perfect description.

I think I found a name for my Tenere.....Jack.

So be it.