Tenere Opinions

[Sasager]

Time for a new bike again but where do I go from a Tenere????

I have a 2012 Tenere with near 30k miles. Bike has been reliable and fun to ride plus I have it dialed in just about right. Trips to Alaska, Mexico, Newfoundland and the Rockies have been a breeze. Done lots of Interstate slab and gnarly single track without a problem.

Question is as I approach 60 years old I'm looking for the least amount of hassles and the most safety which is why I'm on the fence about purchasing a new BMW or KTM with the lean angle ABS.

SO HERE IS MY QUESTIONS.
1/ Outside of reliability and cost are these two beasts worth it coming from a Tenere?
2/ Is a new 2016 ES much different from my 2012?

Maybe some Tenere owners who are in same position can give me some help

Thanks

 

[yoyo]

I'm coming to a 2016 from an 06 V-Strom 1000 so having ABS is novel for me but having ridden a 2011 S10 and a 2016 (briefly on the way home!) I felt the new bike was smoother but it might be more to do with zero miles compared to 20k than any change to the clutch etc. I guess a test ride is the only answer.

Have you considered a Triumph Explorer? The old model wasn't too clever but the new one seems very good, there's a good review on a UK online adventure TV program that might be worth a watch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQM7oCjkEbQ

 

[hawk281]

I went from two BMW's and a Triumph to the Tenere and consider it one of the best moves I've made, in regards maintance and reliability. No matter where you are there is alway a Yamaha dealership, can't say that above the other two brands. And by the way the 2015/2016 are heads above the Gen 1 Tenere's. ::021::

 

[Chump]

I went to a dealer to finally spluge on what i thought was my dream bike, a GSA. Never got the GSA and ended up with a 2012 Tenere and I currently have a 2015 Tenere. I only upgraded for the cruise but I discovered the fit and finish the 2015 is hands down better. I honestly I can't think of a bike I'd rather own than my Tenere. The big honda adventure bike would be a contender if it had cruise.

 

[WJBertrand]

If you're trying to avoid hassles, I think I'd stay clear of BMW and KTM.


-Jeff

 

[VRODE]

I hit 60 and sold the FZ1 (Gen1) and just splurged for a 2016ES. I felt the extra features were worth it. Reliability was a big factor. It'll probably be the last big, heavy bike I ever buy but it sure is fun and comfy.

 

[oldbear]

If you're trying to avoid hassles, I think I'd stay clear of BMW and KTM.


-Jeff

+1 I have both BMW and KTM friends and none of them has as reliable a ride as the S10--plus parts are more expensive, dealers are scarce....and they're pricy!

 

[dietDrThunder]

If I were in your shoes, I might continue enjoying my dialed-in Tenere, and patiently wait for the Gen 3 model. No idea when that will be, but I doubt it's more than 2 or 3 years off at most. I feel pretty confident that by then the bike will include the multi-axis gyro thingy facilitating cornering ABS and traction control etc. Just my $.02

 

[BaldKnob]

Yeah, you've barely got that thing broken in. A reFlash, fresh suspension, clutch basket (if you haven't done it already) and a new seat will make it feel like a new ride. Paint it if you have to. Then, hold out for the soon-to-be Tenere 700. I highly doubt Yamaha will put cornering ABS in the Gen3 Ten12. I'm hoping it's a 1300 with 125hp and weighs closer to 500lbs.

 

[dietDrThunder]

Yeah, you've barely got that thing broken in. A reFlash, fresh suspension, clutch basket (if you haven't done it already) and a new seat will make it feel like a new ride. Paint it if you have to. Then, hold out for the soon-to-be Tenere 700. I highly doubt Yamaha will put cornering ABS in the Gen3 Ten12. I'm hoping it's a 1300 with 125hp and weighs closer to 500lbs.

Write it down: I bet you $1US that it will

 

[barkingllizard]

SO HERE IS MY QUESTIONS.
1/ Outside of reliability and cost are these two beasts worth it coming from a Tenere?
2/ Is a new 2016 ES much different from my 2012?

coming from a Super Tenere, I went to a Super Tenere... Gen 2 is light years ahead in all aspects.....

 

[Rasher]

I don't get the obsession with electronic aids, I survived almost 3 decades with ABS or Traction Control.

None of these aids will save you if you really get something wrong, riding sensibly will do far more than any aid - and these aids can encourage people to take more risks / ride with a false sense of security.

ABS is nice to have, cornering ABS less so as yo really should not be braking mid turn anyway so unless you start braking in bends just because you have cornering ABS the chances are very small you would ever need to rely on it.

If you were UK based I would recommend "Rapid Training" for some advanced training o taking and advanced test (IAM / ROSPA in the UK) to improve safety.


If you fancy a new bike I would look at all the choices regardless of cornering ABS and other gadgets. Size / Weight will probably be more important to me when I get past 60, maybe even to the point of downsizing to something like the new Honda AT or if sticking with Yamaha the Tracer or upcoming 700 Tenere.

 

[dietDrThunder]

Time for a new bike again but where do I go from a Tenere????

I have a 2012 Tenere with near 30k miles. Bike has been reliable and fun to ride plus I have it dialed in just about right. Trips to Alaska, Mexico, Newfoundland and the Rockies have been a breeze. Done lots of Interstate slab and gnarly single track without a problem.

Question is as I approach 60 years old I'm looking for the least amount of hassles and the most safety which is why I'm on the fence about purchasing a new BMW or KTM with the lean angle ABS.

SO HERE IS MY QUESTIONS.
1/ Outside of reliability and cost are these two beasts worth it coming from a Tenere?
2/ Is a new 2016 ES much different from my 2012?

Maybe some Tenere owners who are in same position can give me some help

Thanks

Sorry, forgot the second question when I posted before.

There are few meaningful differences between the two. But, 'few' isn't the same as 'none' so here you go. The question boils down to whether or not the differences add up to enough value for you personally to spend the extra money on a 2nd gen, or not. I chose not, and I paid $6500 for my 2012 with about $1800 in accessories on it.

1. power: the 2nd gen makes a barely (or not at all in the case of the 2 I've ridden) detectable amount more power. The difference in power is tiny enough to be ignored. If you Google around there are at least 2 (I stopped looking after I found 2 anyway) back-to-back dyno runs on stock 1st v 2nd gen bikes, and you have to squint to see the difference on both, all the way across both tq and hp curves. IIRC on one of them, the 2ng gen made 1.1 more hp and tq was essentially the same, and the other had the 2nd gen 2.8 below the first, with about 1.5 more ft lbs of torque. These are numbers that you can't feel in your ass, only detectable by reading a chart. And hell, even if you could feel it, 2hp isn't a reason to spend several thousand dollars on a bike that nobody on Earth buys for how much hp it makes.

2. fueling: the gen 2 is better off idle than the gen 1, and doesn't have the slight surging at steady throttle that some report on the 1st gen bikes. I've ridden several including the one that I own, and I haven't noticed any surging, but that doesn't mean it isn't a real issue. There is an easy mixture adjustment that reportedly fixes this, but I never investigated since mine doesn't do it. As for the off-idle thing, this IMO is the big difference in the bikes. In Sport mode, the 1st gen bikes I rode (mine included) are abrupt off idle/closed throttle, where the 2nd gen bikes I've ridden are quite smooth in this area. In T mode, both are good. I prefer T mode because of this, even though it makes the bike a bit slower feeling (more throttle turning needed v. Sport to add 'x' acceleration. But, I'm not racing the thing so this doesn't bother me. But that said, it is because of this that I've got a re-flash of the ECU on my list.

3. Smoothness: the 2nd gen has an updated clutch basket that for many people makes a significant difference in the smoothness of the motor. The good news is that this is fixable on the 1st gen by installing the 2nd gen clutch basket, a mod that many owners have already done. When I was looking to buy a 1st gen, my short list had 4 bikes on it, and 3 of them had the clutch basket done.

4. Cam chain tensioner: there have been some reports of premature failure of the 1st gen CCT. Not really a deciding factor here, as the part is easily upgraded for a relatively modest amount of money (relative to the extra you'd spend on a 2nd gen, and it is far from a foregone conclusion that 1st gen CCT failure is imminent, but it is a difference.

5. Cruise control: very nice to have, not present on the 1st gen

6. dash: the 2nd gen has a nicely upgraded dash that is all digital, easier to read, and displays a bit more info. This isn't so much a reason to buy it over the 1st gen as it is a quite nice benefit you get to enjoy if you do buy one. The 1st gen dash is perfectly fine.

7. Mirrors and screen: I'm not sure why I'm mentioning these here, since I said "meaningful" differences above, but the 2nd gen has different mirrors, and a different screen. The 1st gen mrrors are fine, or easily replaced for short money if you disagree, and almost nobody keeps the stock screen on either bike anyway.

I hope this helps. You'll hear many answers ranging from 'the 1st gen is a steaming pile of dung and the 2nd gen is the finest motorcycle ever built' to 'you're a moron to spend even $1 extra to get a gen 2' and everywhere in between. As you shop you'll develop a better idea of what is important to you, and what isn't. The main point to remember is that they are fundamentally the same bike. You aren't going to hate one and love the other. My personal take on it is as follows:

A 1st gen S10 with an upgraded clutch basket and a replaced CCT is very close to being a 2nd gen bike, sans cruise. Others will disagree.

Have fun regardless of what way you go!

 

[Checkswrecks]

Time for a new bike again but where do I go from a Tenere? ???

I have a 2012 Tenere with near 30k miles. Bike has been reliable and fun to ride plus I have it dialed in just about right. Trips to Alaska, Mexico, Newfoundland and the Rockies have been a breeze. Done lots of Interstate slab and gnarly single track without a problem.

Question is as I approach 60 years old I'm looking for the least amount of hassles and the most safety which is why I'm on the fence about purchasing a new BMW or KTM with the lean angle ABS.

SO HERE IS MY QUESTIONS.
1/ Outside of reliability and cost are these two beasts worth it coming from a Tenere?
2/ Is a new 2016 ES much different from my 2012?

Maybe some Tenere owners who are in same position can give me some help

Thanks

I'm 60 and recently went from a Gen1 to a Gen2. Much nicer in many small ways.


While not for the lean-angle ABS, I looked at the big KTMs (have a 690 now) and once again looked at BMW. How many times do you panic stop in a deep turn? Other than that, the reliability and cost/value of the both the Euro bikes were still overwhelming negatives to me.


I was talking the other day with a guy who runs a motorcycle training business and he is moving from BMW to Honda. Said that the BMW has the image which is good for customers and marketing, but the cost of the BMWs has been too high from a business standpoint, and he absolutely needs the bikes to start and run without any surprises.

 

[fredz43]

Motorcycle Consumer News measured over 8 more HP on the 14 vs the 12, getting 99.5 at the wheel. I have owned both and can feel the difference. Even without the HP increase, the 2nd gen is a refined version of a very good bike. Yamaha evidently paid a lot of attention to this forum and other sources and addressed almost all the suggestions and niggles that owners expressed and a few that we didn't think of, when they upgraded the 2nd gen bikes.

 

[klunsford]

Motorcycle Consumer News measured over 8 more HP on the 14 vs the 12, getting 99.5 at the wheel. I have owned both and can feel the difference. Even without the HP increase, the 2nd gen is a refined version of a very good bike. Yamaha evidently paid a lot of attention to this forum and other sources and addressed almost all the suggestions and niggles that owners expressed and a few that we didn't think of, when they upgraded the 2nd gen bikes.

FredZ, you said a mouthful. I feel there is quite a difference between the Gen1 and Gen2. They just feel different and run different.

 

[colorider]

I don't get the obsession with electronic aids, I survived almost 3 decades with ABS or Traction Control.

None of these aids will save you if you really get something wrong, riding sensibly will do far more than any aid - and these aids can encourage people to take more risks / ride with a false sense of security.

If you fancy a new bike I would look at all the choices regardless of cornering ABS and other gadgets. Size / Weight will probably be more important to me when I get past 60, maybe even to the point of downsizing to something like the new Honda AT or if sticking with Yamaha the Tracer or upcoming 700 Tenere.

I think you meant to say "without ABS or Traction Control" above.

Many of us here can say the same thing, but it doesn't downplay the advantage to both items. And I disagree that none of these aids can save you when you get something wrong. That's really one of their strong features. To CYA when you DO something wrong.

Size and weight can play a part in the equation, for sure. Not a factor between Gen 1 and 2 of the Tenere. I guess I'm going the wrong way since I'm coming off of a WeeStrom and going back to a Tenere!! But then I'm an old fart and don't know any better!!! ::025::


Edit:
I should add, having owned both Gen 2 and Gen 3 FJR's, I came to really appreciate the upgrades between the two. These same upgrades are part of what make me look forward to getting a Gen 2 Tenere.

 

[dietDrThunder]

I don't get the obsession with electronic aids, I survived almost 3 decades with ABS or Traction Control.

None of these aids will save you if you really get something wrong, riding sensibly will do far more than any aid - and these aids can encourage people to take more risks / ride with a false sense of security.

ABS is nice to have, cornering ABS less so as yo really should not be braking mid turn anyway so unless you start braking in bends just because you have cornering ABS the chances are very small you would ever need to rely on it.

If you were UK based I would recommend "Rapid Training" for some advanced training o taking and advanced test (IAM / ROSPA in the UK) to improve safety.


If you fancy a new bike I would look at all the choices regardless of cornering ABS and other gadgets. Size / Weight will probably be more important to me when I get past 60, maybe even to the point of downsizing to something like the new Honda AT or if sticking with Yamaha the Tracer or upcoming 700 Tenere.

People used to drive cars with no seat belts all the time. Does that make seat belts a waste off time? When I was a kid we didn't have child seats; I used to roll around in the back of the Buick station wagon. Should I do that with my kids, just because it's possible and I used to do it? All sorts of things are possible; that doesn't mean things can't be improved.

I would recommend not having such a closed mind about rider aids. They can make a significant difference in all sorts of situations. Like you, I made it through until now (the Tenere is my first ABS-equipped bike) for 30 years. That doesn't mean that having ABS isn't better than not having it.

 

[TXTenere]

I don't get the obsession with electronic aids, I survived almost 3 decades with ABS or Traction Control.

That may be true, but often people don't believe in a certain technology until it saves them just once, then they become die hard believers.

If ABS or traction control saves you from crashing and getting hurt or killed (or even just wrecking your bike) only one time during the entire time that you own the bike, do you think it's still worth having? I'd say yes.

 

[XTZELEE]

One of the things I like about Yamaha is that they do seem to take into account real world feedback on forums, etc.

They slowly but incrementally use this info to improve the later models in many different ways. I have had three FJRs and each was an improvement on it's predecessor generation becoming a finely honed machine.

Yamaha do not deny that there are problems or shortcomings in their design and tend to address them (unlike some other brands).

I have the 2016 ES version and with all that electronic stuff, Yamaha's reputation for reliability is very important.