They finally get it!

[tenbob]

I know from what I've read so far on ere your a bit of a GS groupee Big Blu, but no harm in that mate. Could say the same about me over the Tenere, but I wasn't having a pop at you, merely forwarding my views of what the press relay from there un biased in depth reviews n write ups : and what 'some' owners need, ie, a longer trouser snake... : Free world n all tho... Well so the saying goes. ;D

 

[Mikeybikey57]

Huge power, along with gadgets and electronic "aids" can be really useful but at times, too much can be object defeating and can make things more complicated and troublesome. For example............

Top picture: Swiss army knife, a la Ducati Multistrada.

Bottom picture: Swiss army knife, a la Yamaha Supertenere.

 

[Ramseybella]

 

[Dogdaze]

::026:: ::002::

 

[Mikeybikey57]

O

 

[Donk]

Regarding the extra power thing n staying planted firmly in the real world.., I just don't get the big ups the other bikes get over Tenere. I get there is a difference in spec as well as in action, but the Ten is quite a fast bike, sometimes doesn't feel fast, but in reality it is. If for arguments sake, say another in class bike such as the GS or KTM is half a second quicker to 60... Well, that's the difference between counting from 1 to 2 then halving that. Wow!! Zzzzzzz!! : Top end power n whatever might be another matter, but what's the point in having that on a fat ADVENTURE bike (and there all fat to some degree really aren't they). Maybe I'm on my own ere and don't yet grasp what a basically is big comfy sit up n beg touring bike with some off road credentials, is all about, but I still reckon it's mostly unnecessary spec touted. Real world for me... Choice is choice n choice is good, but guess for some it's just bragging rights or a penis extention for others... Nowt wrong in that, but not my bag how to judge a bike overall. The Tenere is SOLID... In more ways than one... and should be commended for precisely that in this lard ass travel category... 8)

Don't get me wrong I love my S10 but sometimes HP does matter. AS IN TODAY! Four of us rode from east to west across Florida and back, 1 S1000XR, 2 R1200GS water cooled and me on the S10. Forget about the XR its in a different league but I got left behind from every light and every intersection by the GS(s) and it got frustrating. No one was racing, just our normal spirited ride but when you have places where you're accelerating from 20-70 or 0-60 I was clearly left behind or working the bike extra hard trying to keep up. Speed doesn't matter until 2 bikes are going the same direction on the same stretch of road. I was really over it by the end of the day. I'm not trading the S10 but sure wish it had a bit more go.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

I have to admit, I couldn't give a sh#% about straight line speed. There are countless bikes that will smoke a Tenere in a straight line race. If I'm thinking about adventure bike enjoyment on the pavement I care most about handling in the twisties. Not speed in the twisties, if I cared about that I'd still have the FJR. I want a bike that needs a skilled pilot to to ride briskly and competently in the curves. The Tenere has never failed to put a smile on my face when the road requires arm movement.

Of course that's my opinion living so close to West Virginia. If I were in Florida I might see things differently. I guess if I were in Florida I might still have my supersonic FZ1. 0-90 in about 3 seconds...in first gear. Now there's a bike that could smoke a Tenere.

 

[decooney]

...clearly left behind or working the bike extra hard trying to keep up.

yeah, for frequent stops/starts and frequent roll-ons in flat areas in a drag race setting going light to light like that, the extra weight of the big smooth Tenere is going to show itself a bit more. Not what it was designed for. If I was riding a lot in your same group setting it would be hard not to go right out and get the KTM 1190 or the Multistrada and re-do that same ride all over again. i.e. use to ride with a lot of guys where that's what we did, all day long, for a few decades. That was fun, but it got old too. Last year one of my good rider buddies and I went out and test rode the BMW GS, Multi, KTM 1190, V-stroms over multiple days. He got the Multi, I was originally going to get the KTM 1190 and ended up getting the '14 Yamaha S10 ES by choice. Overall, I learned to really appreciate the ride, handling, comfort. After doing several multi-day rides, now my buddy is growing tired of the super cool revvy and twitchy Multistrada wanting to settle into a smoother, heavier, and more forgiving Super Tenere. Go figure. I'd take into consideration what you are going to use the bike for most of the time.

 

[Ramseybella]

It's an easy rider for guys not in a big rush.
My rush is seeing what I missed when I was all about power riding big miles and not stopping.
I now take my time save on gas and let myself soak up life on the road, I don't try to play hurry and catch up anymore and ride solo.

::021::

 

[phil Turner]

as an owner of a 13 mod s10, in the past I have owned three gs,1100,1150,and 1200 and been riding bikes for over 40 years I live on a gravel road, I can tell you that the s10 out handles the bemers easy, I don't know if its because they are heavier on the front or what I don't know, but one thing I will say is that these adventure bikes [any brand] are NOT trail bikes when are people going to realise that they are road bikes with long travel suspension.

 

[decooney]

as an owner of a 13 mod s10, in the past I have owned three gs,1100,1150,and 1200 and been riding bikes for over 40 years I live on a gravel road, I can tell you that the s10 out handles the bemers easy, I don't know if its because they are heavier on the front or what I don't know, but one thing I will say is that these adventure bikes [any brand] are NOT trail bikes when are people going to realise that they are road bikes with long travel suspension.

You might be on to something about it being heavier in the front. Whatever the case, the front feels really planted and the overall balance of the bike works pretty good. My buddy and I have traded back and forth, my 2014 S10 ES to his 2013 Multistrada a few times, riding rough tight twisty on-road paved sections up and down California Coastal Highway 1, and riding various tight paved and very rough paved mountain roads in CA. It's strange, both of us have been riding for 44 years, raced in our younger years, rode sport bikes for half that time, and a lot of dirt. Both of us can manage to ride the big heavy wooly mammoth Tenere faster with more confidence through turns than either of us can on the world class super light weight multistrada. He's trying different tires again, and we may even try adapting a 19" wheel to the Multistrada, also modifying the suspension to compare again. Both of us still feel Yamaha engineers must have figured out how to apply the weight and lower center of gravity to the Tenere in a way that works really well for the average rider - even on twisty mountain roads or even gravel roads. I was shocked to see how well the big heavy Tenere handled on gravel roads the first time I took it out riding with 50 other bikes, BMWs, KTMs, other Teneres, etc. I've really learned to appreciate the extra weight and overall balance of the S10 bike on long multi-day trips, and how smooth and non-fatiguing it is. None of this gets discussed in reviews as they never really ride them long enough to take any of this into the final equation and scoring, or maybe not until now that is.

 

[tenbob]

Other than pushing the big lump about, I actually see that our glass is half full n not half empty regarding the weight it carries. Gives it a sense of solidness on the open road. Do you want it twitchy when the speed gathers? I mean for what the bike was more intended for and not for racing or sctratching... Again it's a big fat touring bike to munch the miles over plenty of typical road surfaces. If ya want shit off a shovel go from a bike surely there's different classes of bike more suitable to have instead or as well as? I know if wanted a bike to be a devil on, I'd buy a bike like a KTM 690... I once had the 640 n it was a nutter hoot > Even so, this bike, certainly after a flash, ain't no slouch. Buts its all relative to the design brief... Regarding the handling it might be a little slow to turn in but I feel very confident hitting a bend on this bike, even more so than some smaller sportier bikes I've owned. I know it saved my bacon early on in ownership, more so than previous bikes I've owned might have faired, when I hit a tight bend way to hot in greasy conditions and the thing just ploughed on thru... Weight n traction? By design? With good tyres I've loved the the front end sureness ever since. Yamaha are very lucky or they built that in... I believe the latter. Tiz a solid, get on with it bike. Underated from lack of 'getting it' just like my old faithful TDM was... :-* After saying all that, I'm due to test ride a GS 1290 Strada R plus 1 infinity tomorrow... Best me quick n hope my todger gains a quarter inch... ;D

 

[Andylaser]

I also like the planted feel the bike has. Much better than some of the twitchy feeling competition.

 

[Donk]

I have to admit, I couldn't give a sh#% about straight line speed. There are countless bikes that will smoke a Tenere in a straight line race. If I'm thinking about adventure bike enjoyment on the pavement I care most about handling in the twisties. Not speed in the twisties, if I cared about that I'd still have the FJR. I want a bike that needs a skilled pilot to to ride briskly and competently in the curves. The Tenere has never failed to put a smile on my face when the road requires arm movement.

Of course that's my opinion living so close to West Virginia. If I were in Florida I might see things differently. I guess if I were in Florida I might still have my supersonic FZ1. 0-90 in about 3 seconds...in first gear. Now there's a bike that could smoke a Tenere.

Yup Florida is a different type of riding and the FZ1 is pretty hard to beat for down here. I don't mind the S1000XR being faster or any other sport bike but when similar bikes like the GS keep pulling away from you and no one's racing it gets old. As I said I love the S10 but like every other bike there are things it does well and things it doesn't. S. Florida roads are not its forte'. Get the bike back to WI and its in its element.

 

[tenbob]

Is your bike flashed Donk? Admit it does liven up proceedings somewhat... Not 0-90 in 3 secs Fz1 style but certainly a relatively cheap mod. Liked my Tenere in its original state but curiosity got the better of me n I handed over the bullion. Still a lovely fat touring bike but with a little extra zest... ::008::

 

[Donk]

My ECU is flashed and I sold my Gen2 FZ1 in October! Nothing to do but smile and watch the world go by! Still loving the S10. She ain't fast but she's mine.

 

[twinrider]

I still struggle to understand Honda's pitch with the AT, in such a crowded marketplace. Chain drive & tubed tyres seem strange cost savings, although I can appreciate the purist off-roader looking for something different may see the attraction of the machine. Not much room for a pillion either. Still, I must get a test ride next Spring.

Ride Safe .......................... KEN

I don't see it as cost-savings. All dirt bikes come with tubed tires and chain drive for good reason and in the AT Honda has created an Adv bike with 50-50 capabilities, not a 80-20 like the S10, GS, etc.

 

[Badgerfan]

I don't know, I do somewhat see this as a more than a "road bike with long travel suspension" can I whip through the single tracks like my 450? No, not even close. But I do take it on single track trail's, in fact,depending on time andwho I am with I will specifically go out of my way to see what I can get into, it has definitely backfired on me at times ,but I am also impressed at Long hauls on the highway's, guess where I'm going with all this Babel is it definitely is more than a long travel road bike, and way more than a trail bike.