Would the spoke issue cause you NOT to buy the S10 again?

[Kidder]

What spoke issue???

Some can come loose. Go check all of yours to ensure they're tight.

 

[markjenn]

My $0.02....

I don't think the spoke issue is just "routine maintenance like every other bike with spokes". There are too many complaints of loosening prematurely and most bikes with spokes don't have the issues the S10 is seeing. I believe there is either a design issue or a factory setup issue. But I don't see the problem as a deal-breaker - just something you have to watch out for and do extra maintenance, at least for a while.. Whether this problem goes away after a few adjustments or remains a chronic problem remains to be seen. But it wouldn't surprise me terribly if the bike was recalled for this issue in the next year.

Weight is weight and the S10 is essentially the heaviest bike in its class. The 575 number appears accurate, even perhaps a little low - one of the road tests measured 636 with OEM guards and luggage, and 61 lbs for the accessories sounds a little high. In any event, it's a physically a large and imposing bike and noticeably heavier than its direct competition, the BMW GS, probably by 40 lbs or so. Personally, I don't buy into the "carries its weight better" argument - if anything, I think the S10 has a higher CG than bikes like the GS (as you'd expect with a tall DOHC parallel twin with battery and radiator mounted high up) and other road tests have said they think the bike feels more top-heavy than the competition. But... the bike handles well and is only incrementally heavier than the competition. It all depends on what you want to do with the bike whether the extra weight is an issue. But "feels lighter than a DL650"? I owned a DL650 and just roll my eyes when I hear comments like this.

It is important to not lose sight of the forest for the trees. The spoke issue is really only a minor maintenance irritant at this point and the weight issue isn't a deal breaker for most riders - you just have to be comfortable riding a big/heavy bike. (If you're not, I'd get one of the 800's.) On the other side of the ledger, you have an extremely robust bike that should be extremely reliable, the most sophisticated ABS and TC systems in the class, a very tough final drive system and easy to service clutch, an extremely comfortable and roomy cockpit, and a GREAT price, especially if you can take advantage of some of the deals out there.

All bikes are compromises.

- Mark

 

[stevepsd]

Who mentioned a DR 650?

Any how many folks that had spoke issues with them had them checked at the first required service at 600 miles?

 

[~TABASCO~]

My $0.02....

I don't think the spoke issue is just "routine maintenance like every other bike with spokes". There are too many complaints of loosening prematurely and most bikes with spokes don't have the issues the S10 is seeing. I believe there is either a design issue or a factory setup issue. But I don't see the problem as a deal-breaker - just something you have to watch out for and do extra maintenance, at least for a while.. Whether this problem goes away after a few adjustments or remains a chronic problem remains to be seen. But it wouldn't surprise me terribly if the bike was recalled for this issue in the next year.

Weight is weight and the S10 is essentially the heaviest bike in its class. The 575 number appears accurate, even perhaps a little low - one of the road tests measured 636 with OEM guards and luggage, and 61 lbs for the accessories sounds a little high. In any event, it's a physically a large and imposing bike and noticeably heavier than its direct competition, the BMW GS, probably by 40 lbs or so. Personally, I don't buy into the "carries its weight better" argument - if anything, I think the S10 has a higher CG than bikes like the GS (as you'd expect with a tall DOHC parallel twin with battery and radiator mounted high up) and other road tests have said they think the bike feels more top-heavy than the competition. But... the bike handles well and is only incrementally heavier than the competition. It all depends on what you want to do with the bike whether the extra weight is an issue. But "feels lighter than a DL650"? I owned a DL650 and just roll my eyes when I hear comments like this.

It is important to not lose sight of the forest for the trees. The spoke issue is really only a minor maintenance irritant at this point and the weight issue isn't a deal breaker for most riders - you just have to be comfortable riding a big/heavy bike. (If you're not, I'd get one of the 800's.) On the other side of the ledger, you have an extremely robust bike that should be extremely reliable, the most sophisticated ABS and TC systems in the class, a very tough final drive system and easy to service clutch, an extremely comfortable and roomy cockpit, and a GREAT price, especially if you can take advantage of some of the deals out there.

All bikes are compromises.

- Mark

X2 The bike is awesome ! "IF" a new owner had an issue it can easily be fixed, don't let that detour you...

 

[NoMorBills]

Some can come loose. Go check all of yours to ensure they're tight.

I have, it is not an ISSUE. Just because a few have come loose and or broke and it gets put up on the net.. Don't NOT make it any Issue.

 

[dcc46]

Nope not an issue

 

[hojo in sc]

I ride a bicycle and it has spokes, I have had some break and still able to ride without a spoke by taking a wrench to the other spokes to straighten out the rim. As for spokes on the motorcycle, I'd rather have spokes on a moto that I take off road than a non-spoke rim.

Weight, I've moved from a KLR 650 to a Wee, to a GS Adventure and now to the Yamaha ST. I feel the ST handles great, much better than the GSA, accelerates GREEEAAATTT, handles better in the twisties, and feels more comfortable on my knees.

 

[pluric]

I ride a bicycle and it has spokes, I have had some break and still able to ride without a spoke by taking a wrench to the other spokes to straighten out the rim. As for spokes on the motorcycle, I'd rather have spokes on a moto that I take off road than a non-spoke rim.

Weight, I've moved from a KLR 650 to a Wee, to a GS Adventure and now to the Yamaha ST. I feel the ST handles great, much better than the GSA, accelerates GREEEAAATTT, handles better in the twisties, and feels more comfortable on my knees.

It's because it doesn't demand as much worship.

 

[RidingUpandDown]

You may be interested in some of Nick Sander's comments, someone who knows with his overall impressions and real experiences, after 50,000 hard miles on the Super Ten:

http://supertenere1200.com/2011/09/15/nick-sanders-answers-your-questions/


" ...The Bike

Q. Yamaha says “Premium Only” for fuel, on the US bikes at least. I’m guessing you used whatever you could get, most of the time NOT premium. Did you have any issues with poor quality fuel along the way? Pinging or poor running?

A. Premium fuel only exists in Canada and the USA and toll road gas stations in Mexico so the rest of the journey the bike had to cope with low grade octane fuel on a daily basis. I was never concerned because the R1 managed very well on fuel as low as 82 so I knew the Super Tenere would be fine.

Q. Also on fuel – HarryA has a BMW GS and had fuel filter problems in Alaska. He asks if you had anything like that on the Super Tenere? In the recent tear-down, was the fuel pump and filter inspected?

A. I had no fuel problems whatsoever – except for some pinking on very low octane fuel but then you ride within those altered parametres and then engine subsequently runs fine. The engine tear down was 100% successful in that there was no evidence not only of wear and tear, but, believe it or not, no real evidence of the bike having been ridden. You may find this hard to believe but the engineers were amazed and could not believe the mileage it had achieved.

Q. I know you love your R1’s, but how does long distance travel on the Super Tenere compare? What were your impressions overall? Do the electronics (ABS, TCS etc) make any difference compared to the R1, in terms of making the bike easier/safer/more relaxing to ride, therefore making it easier to cover miles? Or, in your case, can you cover big miles just as easily on either bike?

A. The Super Tenere was easier to ride than the R1 in a number of ways: firstly it carried luggage easily, in my case camera equipment and a small laptop. Plugs and leads are a headache when you have no storage capacity whatsoever. Secondly, the weight gave me momentum and in the sense of some gyroscopic effect this gave better balance at speed. My own weight shifts did play with the riding line and approach to corners but not like on a much lighter bike where the positioning of your body is much more critical. Thirdly, this sense of weight was reassuring on poor road surfaces, a bit like wearing a stout pair of shoes instead of racing spikes. It may surprise you to know that cornering on a Super Tenere is every bit as good as an R1.

Q. Was there any time that the bike gave you any concerns at all?
A. No ..."

Care, and Maintenance will no doubt help have a safe successful riding experience, do things happen sure, life happens. I'm a scout-a-maniac and be-prepared/due diligence is a key for me, I've got lots of chrome in the garage, it sits, I've been looking for the best evolution of technology/engineering/fit/function... and this bike has it, for me.

I really value the forum and heads-up-idness... and recommend staying tuned in on all counts. So far my riding experience and adventure on the S10 just gets better and better and I've seen nothing that is a deal breaker/show stopper by any means. I don't want my middle name to become - Nick I have all the respect in the world for you but why would I ever do this Sanders- but I have a YES and I want to put so many freekin miles on this thing that my purchase-price to miles-ridden becomes micro pennies, if there is such a thing. ::001::

All the Best.
::021::

 

[Yamaguy55]

Here is my intentions for the bike....

1) Touring alone as well as 2up with my wife. Anywhere from 100 miles to 5,000 miles or more.
2) Some fun canyons. Not looking to rip it up and keep pace with sport bikes, but a fun spirited ride.
3) Dirt? Yup...not a lot but dirt roads. and maybe some double track. Nothing crazy off road but some unmaintained dirt roads that are passable by a passenger car.
Like this...

My ultimate goal. Ride from where I live now to Deadhorse AK.

Joe

I do all of this with mine, and I don't have any problems.
- Yes it is heavy, and it feels it when you're on very rough off road. But I WAS on that off road section, which isn't something every bike can do. Like NittanyXT said "It isn't a dirt bike, but is an all-road bike." Right he is. I take mine on trails and rough two track that I probably shouldn't. It actually is a surprisingly competent dirt bike, but the bulk and weight are the limiting factors. Mine will most likely never wear knobbies. I have a something more suitable for that use.
- I purchased mine to bring the wife when necessary, it handles two up just fine. The engine's power delivery is so flat it doesn't seem to care how much you load the bike.
- On our rough, steep, curvy back roads, it handles better and can certainly keep up with many sport bikes.
- Even with my off road rock garden excursions, I've not had to touch the spokes. All spoke rims need attention, so I don't consider that a "problem" If you don't want to deal with spokes, get a bike with cast wheels, then stay off rough roads altogether.
- I've owned a lot of motorcycles over the years, and I find that I sometimes have to touch up spokes, but once they seat, that's it. The ones that need constant attention have either material or rider problems, usually the latter. Face it: if you insist on beating the bike and wheels up on extremely rough terrain, you're going to have to do a lot more maintenance, especially wheel and suspension maintenance. That goes for everything, not just the Tenere.
- You want a real treat, buy an old car with wire wheels and maintain that. ::025::

 

[Kidder]

I have, it is not an ISSUE. Just because a few have come loose and or broke and it gets put up on the net.. Don't NOT make it any Issue.

Let's make this really simple. If one doesn't check the tightness of their spokes periodically, it could cause damage to the motorcycle or worse. If I hadn't put up that thread about checking spokes, how many people might have had an issue with Swingarm damage, brake disc damage, etc?

As far "Don't NOT make it any issue". I have no idea what you are trying to say.

 

[Yamaguy55]

Let's make this really simple. If one doesn't check the tightness of their spokes periodically, it could cause damage to the motorcycle or worse. If I hadn't put up that thread about checking spokes, how many people might have had an issue with Swingarm damage, brake disc damage, etc?

As far "Don't NOT make it any issue". I have no idea what you are trying to say.

I can't speculate on the above.

However, my guess is that many have gotten away from wire wheels and don't even think about wheel maintenance. I didn't get my first cast-wheel-equipped bike until the late nineties. Because of that, I always have spoke checking, and fastener checking, and all of the other little things that those of us that started riding in the sixties think about. I consider it part of motorcycle ownership to NOT treat them like cars. I wouldn't neglect to giving any bike a good going-over at least once a month, more often if used for demanding terrain. Part of my pre-ride check is to give the spokes a squeeze, and a trip around the bike with sockets and a torque wrench occasionally, isn't that over the top, either. By doing these things, and not necessarily just before a ride, I get a feel for what needs attention, and what doesn't. So far, my Tenere has needed no care at all, even though I do check it from time to time. It makes for a good rainy day project. It takes me about a half hour to completely go over the entire bike, and then when I do go riding, I know ahead of time that nothing needs attention. This way, I choose when and what I do, rather than have it dictated to me by circumstances.

I don't start my John Deere without checking the oil, even thought it has never used oil. I check the cars and truck and other outdoor power equipment the same way. I don't spend much time on fixing things beside the road, either. I've already done that, don't need to do it anymore. Lacks the fun factor.

I'm far more likely to need repairs from encountering rocks or other objects due to my natural predilection to tackle far too rough roads with my bikes. Seldom do my repairs come from lack of checking on my part. ::26::

 

[markjenn]

There is a lot of variance depending on the bike and how it is used, but in general, it is not common to have to do regular spoke maintenance on a motorcycle with spoked wheels. This idea that periodic loosening and tightening is just par for the course with any spoked-wheel motorcycle is faulty, at least in my experience.

- Mark

 

[drengmike]

Joe, This bike can take you beyond Deadhorse! We went to Prudhoe Bay and one of the riders rode a 650 Muzzi with street tires. I don't recommend this as it took him a while and he was the source of much entertainment! Enjoy the bike and be safe! Mike ::012::

Here is my intentions for the bike....

1) Touring alone as well as 2up with my wife. Anywhere from 100 miles to 5,000 miles or more.
2) Some fun canyons. Not looking to rip it up and keep pace with sport bikes, but a fun spirited ride.
3) Dirt? Yup...not a lot but dirt roads. and maybe some double track. Nothing crazy off road but some unmaintained dirt roads that are passable by a passenger car.
Like this...

My ultimate goal. Ride from where I live now to Deadhorse AK.

Joe

 

[3putt]

It is a pretty nice bike, but I imagine you know that now.

After the war, Japan could not build airplanes anymore, so they put their engineers on cars and motorcycles. Thus, they have been doing this for a while. Their stuff works!

 

[keeponriding]

No spoke problems...handles the weight way better than my old Kawasaki Concours....agile, easy to handle.

I'm 5'8" with 30 inch inseam....find the bike very easy to handle.

Have done gravel and dirt single tracks with the bike......the bike just ate 'em up.