Surprisingly unreliable.

[Lowryrides]

I am surprised by my S10's reliability. I had Anthony reflash the ECU due to the horrible factory throttle response and added a slip on (@10,000 miles), some body protection and lights, otherwise stock, so nothing crazy. First problem was a blown fork seal while riding the MABDR, (@18,000 miles) ok, this could happen on any bike I get that, although it has not happened on any of the 50 plus bikes I've owned except for a 1972 DT250 around 1980, I'll look past this. Next the bike's throttle is wonky, most notably in 6th gear, when rolled on it begins to pull then the throttle application has no influence of acceleration to full stop, when returning throttle to closed it begins to pull again just before throttle is fully closed (@18,500 miles). Then the cruise control didn't work intermittently before failing 100% of the time (@19,500). The throttle problem and cruise are currently not repaired so who knows what is causing this, the lazy thing to blame it on would be the reflash except for the perfect 9,000 miles of running and fueling. I keep thinking of Yamaha's problems getting their MOTOGP bike to hook up out of corners and other issues they are having and can't help but wonder if the legendary Yamaha reliability and engineering has indeed become a legend?

 

[Scott F]

That sucks, but it makes me like mine even more to be honest with you. I hope to keep it for a long time.

Sent from my SM-S906B using Tapatalk

 

[Checkswrecks]

I was just in Gbg yesterday.

Sounds like individual issues on a 8-9 year old bike. Seals get old and corrosion gets into electrical bits but all can be addressed.

Might consider using contact cleaner in each of the switches related to cruise. There are two for the clutch and one at each brake.

If it took such a long time to develop the throttle issue, I'd suggest looking into a throttle body sync and cleaning the injectors.

 

[whisperquiet]

OP, did you have the cruise control brake harness recall done as the defective switch will disable cruise. Regarding fork seals, I alway run neoprene seal savers…..I currently have the zippered ones and have not had any seal problems.

 

[Jlq1969]

The throttle thing...you should. Check that the screws that hold the TPS are not loose...the hand throttle screw may be loose and give a bad reading regarding what your hand wants to do.

 

[Lowryrides]

I get that this is an 8 year old motorbike, and maybe I am just expecting too much. My 14 year old Electraglide has 76,000 miles and everything works though, I have repaired the stator at 60,000 miles and the compensator at 20, 000 miles and have no thoughts of getting rid of it yet and my 20 year old Heritage has 26,000 miles and has never needed a repair. My DRZ is slightly younger than the S10, but gets heaps of abuse and has been faultless. This is an apples and oranges comparison I know, but my reliability experience so far with this S10 would be on par with the BMW's I've owned, rather than past Japanese bikes. I will repair and see how it goes as I love the bike, but one more failure will be the end of it.

 

[Jlq1969]

I don't think that a GP bike has nearly the same components as the S10 (And surely the S10 ones are of worse quality than a GP one) If you have problems with the throttle, simply check the TPS, (it is normal that over time the potentiometer becomes worn or dirty and gives a bad reading)... or cracked vacuum hoses. Regarding the CC, you should already know what to check, but it is normal that a certain problem causes disconnection (or non-connection) failures of the CC.

 

[Jlq1969]

Either way, the S10 is not fail-safe, and the added value of the S10 is the forum. The vast majority (or practically all) of the possible failures of the S10 have been reported in this forum, and the solutions to these failures have also been reported, which gives you the possibility of finding solutions to a problem. Failures that generally do not need modifications (they are not a factory defect)...

 

[RCinNC]

I don't think anyone should keep a bike that they don't have confidence in. Even if you straighten out your current issues, are you ever going to fully trust your ride again?

But back to your question, no, this is not an unreliable bike. It's actually a proven reliable bike. My 2014 has over 100,000 miles with zero failures other than wear items, and there are plenty of other riders on here whose experience has been similar. But no brand of bike has a zero failure rate, and it appears that you're experiencing that non-zero rate. Your cruise control issue is one that some other members on here have reported, and if you research the forum, you'll find those posts and how they addressed the issue.

 

[audiowize]

Assuming you haven't had the brake switch recall done, you're unhappy with reliability because of a fork seal that leaked (you can run a seal mate around them usually to fix this on the road) and throttle response in 6th gear?

Really I wouldn't be disappointed in fork seals lasting about 20,000 miles, that seems pretty normal. This is a wear item that needs maintenance, and if you have the original fork oil in your 2015 bike, this is definitely on you!

 

[Lowryrides]

Thank you for the encouragement and suggestions. Regarding MotoGP bits being different than S10 bits, I agree of course, my observation is more from an engineering standpoint as Yamaha has managed to find themselves in a considerable hole VS everyone except possibly HRC. Audiowize, the bike is meticulously maintained, beyond factory recommendations, and I have ridden motorbikes for 50 years amassing over half a million miles, but I appreciate your stout defense of the S10's honor. As mentioned, I have not had the need to replace a fork seal due to failure on any motorbike since 1980, but again, I am not blaming the bike for this as it could happen, it just has not, not even on MX race bikes. The electrical gemlins... or whatever they turn out to be, I am less forgiving. I will add that I have found all motorbikes I have owned, to generally become more fragile after 30k, and if I like a bike well enough to soldier on beyond that point, expect some grief. The exception to this rule has been Harleys, they seem to keep chugging along, which I attribute to their mild state of tune and little to no concern about weight, which allows more margin to be engineered into the machine. A YZ125 will not last as many miles as a Peterbuilt.
I will report back with the findings after repairs are complete, and as others have noted perhaps that will help another who may encounter the same problem. The S10 has to wait it's turn behind a Suzuki Eiger that I am missing for it's wonderful ability to plow snow and is at my friend's house being repaired and a KTM 250EXC that seems to need a fuel pump.

 

[Jlq1969]

Yamaha has managed to find themselves in a considerable hole

But that hole has an explanation….Yamaha is alone….when you associate with someone “bigger than you” and that someone is interested in your business, sooner or later they will end up F#*%@ing you (as is the case with KTM-CFMOTO-BAJAJ. .and also the sale and distribution of KTM, is no longer in the hands of KTM…
It is as if your wife's gynecologist is also her personal trainer and it turns out that now he also graduated as a psychologist and is her psychologist, that is…late or early...

 

[audiowize]

Audiowize, the bike is meticulously maintained, beyond factory recommendations

So you had the brake switch recall done?

 

[Checkswrecks]

I get that this is an 8 year old motorbike, and maybe I am just expecting too much. My 14 year old Electraglide has 76,000 miles and everything works though, I have repaired the stator at 60,000 miles and the compensator at 20, 000 miles and have no thoughts of getting rid of it yet and my 20 year old Heritage has 26,000 miles and has never needed a repair. My DRZ is slightly younger than the S10, but gets heaps of abuse and has been faultless. This is an apples and oranges comparison I know, but my reliability experience so far with this S10 would be on par with the BMW's I've owned, rather than past Japanese bikes. I will repair and see how it goes as I love the bike, but one more failure will be the end of it.

Out of curiosity, are you the original owner?

 

[Lowryrides]

Yes, recall is done, so if this is one of the issues it is a recurrence of the same problem, which is possible.
I did not buy the bike new, I have only ever had 2 new motorbikes in my life; a 1999 Ducati Monster and a 2004 Triumph Speed Triple. I found this S10 on the facebook, it was owned by a retired Navy engineer, who after much conversation I had confidence in. I flew from Gettysburg to Fl, where he lives, and he picked me up from the airport. The bike was perfect, as he had stated, we did the paperwork and I rode it home, it had 8,500 miles on it and was 4 years old.

 

[twinrider]

I am surprised by my S10's reliability. I had Anthony reflash the ECU due to the horrible factory throttle response and added a slip on (@10,000 miles), some body protection and lights, otherwise stock, so nothing crazy. First problem was a blown fork seal while riding the MABDR, (@18,000 miles) ok, this could happen on any bike I get that, although it has not happened on any of the 50 plus bikes I've owned except for a 1972 DT250 around 1980, I'll look past this. Next the bike's throttle is wonky, most notably in 6th gear, when rolled on it begins to pull then the throttle application has no influence of acceleration to full stop, when returning throttle to closed it begins to pull again just before throttle is fully closed (@18,500 miles). Then the cruise control didn't work intermittently before failing 100% of the time (@19,500). The throttle problem and cruise are currently not repaired so who knows what is causing this, the lazy thing to blame it on would be the reflash except for the perfect 9,000 miles of running and fueling. I keep thinking of Yamaha's problems getting their MOTOGP bike to hook up out of corners and other issues they are having and can't help but wonder if the legendary Yamaha reliability and engineering has indeed become a legend?

Pretty uncommon experience. I've had two S10s and have put about 70,000 miles and they've been flawless. The first one needed a clutch at 30,000 miles. That's about it other than regular maintenance.

It may be lazy to blame the flash, but you could return to the stock map and see if it makes a difference.

 

[SpudBob]

Thank you for the encouragement and suggestions. Regarding MotoGP bits being different than S10 bits, I agree of course, my observation is more from an engineering standpoint as Yamaha has managed to find themselves in a considerable hole VS everyone except possibly HRC. Audiowize, the bike is meticulously maintained, beyond factory recommendations, and I have ridden motorbikes for 50 years amassing over half a million miles, but I appreciate your stout defense of the S10's honor. As mentioned, I have not had the need to replace a fork seal due to failure on any motorbike since 1980, but again, I am not blaming the bike for this as it could happen, it just has not, not even on MX race bikes. The electrical gemlins... or whatever they turn out to be, I am less forgiving. I will add that I have found all motorbikes I have owned, to generally become more fragile after 30k, and if I like a bike well enough to soldier on beyond that point, expect some grief. The exception to this rule has been Harleys, they seem to keep chugging along, which I attribute to their mild state of tune and little to no concern about weight, which allows more margin to be engineered into the machine. A YZ125 will not last as many miles as a Peterbuilt.
I will report back with the findings after repairs are complete, and as others have noted perhaps that will help another who may encounter the same problem. The S10 has to wait it's turn behind a Suzuki Eiger that I am missing for it's wonderful ability to plow snow and is at my friend's house being repaired and a KTM 250EXC that seems to need a fuel pump.

Never replaced a fork seal due to failure??? You, my friend, are one in a million. I can honestly say Ive never heard that before. Do you ever rebuild your forks? You never had forks resprung/revalved? On fluid changes I ALWAYS replace the seals. Its a wear item. Now that being said I have fixed many leaky seals with a piece of plastic from a 2 liter bottle-poor mans seal saver but that's another matter all together. I have, however, replaced many due to failure-especially stock ones.

 

[Lowryrides]

Spud, I have had fork seals weep small amounts and need to be replaced, but never had a massive blow out, catastrophic failure of a fork seal, if this makes me unusual, I'll take it.
Update on this throttle situation, 1 stick coil was found to have some corrosion, and was replaced. Everything in, around and with throttle bodies checks out. Factory flash was downloaded into the bike. Every stone overturned, way more than I will be in the mood to write about, and the throttle is still wonky. My solution was to buy a Husqvarna Norden 901 for off road trips and use the S10 as a commuter/general purpose bike, it is what it is. My hope is that in this more gentle role it will soldier on happily for many road going miles as a tool, rather than a machine that I am hoping for precise feedback and a visceral experience. I understand that this bike is a bit of a cult hero, this forum can be somewhat like the Honda Ridgeline forum I visit (a vehicle I also view as a marvelous tool that is very imperfect) where any opinion that is not glowing is heresy. So here is my heresy, the Super Tenere is good enough but not great.

 

[MFP]

Reminds me a bit of "PhilPhillipines".

 

[RCinNC]

You do a disservice to the many guys on this forum if you're going to suggest that their fondness for the Super Tenere can only be achieved through some sort of self induced myopia that prevents them from seeing the flaws in this motorcycle. It's not a cult bike, nor are the guys on here so slavishly devoted to it that they can't point out things that they find wrong with it. If you look through the threads on here, you shouldn't have any problems finding guys who've navigated their way through hard start issues, first generation CCT problems, clutch basket chudder, cruise control hiccups, and some other stuff. Nobody in here is claiming this is the perfect bike and simply refuse note any issues it might have. If you're going to stick by Webster's definition of reliable as "consistently good in quality or performance; able to be trusted", then the S10 is the epitome of that definition by any objective standard. Reliability isn't perfection.

Your particular bike might be surprisingly unreliable because of an issue that hasn't been correctly diagnosed yet, but the brand itself is an absolutely reliable motorcycle, and has proven this over the past 14 years. There are far too many guys on here with high five and six figure trouble-free miles on these bikes to ever hang the "unreliable" label on them.

If someone says this bike is boring, I won't argue the point; it's a subjective complaint. If they say it's outdated, I suppose that's true if you can't live without adaptive cruise control and a TFT screened home entertainment center. But unreliable, it most certainly isn't.