YAMAHA SUPER TÉNÉRÉ, A Newbie's Perspective after 3-Years, 16,000 Miles

[Mtbjay]

YAMAHA SUPER TÉNÉRÉ
LONG-TERM REVIEW

(A New Rider's Impressions after 3 years and 16,000 miles)

​

ABOUT ME: New Rider, 5'9" 175LBS, 48 years old
LOCATION: Oregon - Pacific Northwest USA

PRIMARY USEAGE: Day rides and 3-4 day tours exploring minor roads 80-90% paved; moto-camping
RIDING STYLE: Fast, but not too crazy.
REASONS I CHOSE THIS BIKE: Value, features, versatility, and road feel.
INTENT: Explore the Pacific Northwest, future coast-to-coast ride to check all 50 U.S. States.

MY BIKE: 2012 SUPER TÉNÉRÉ 1200XTZ, BLACK
CURRENT TIRES: CONTINENTAL TKC-70's
MODS: NONE
ACCESSORIES: YAMAHA panniers, PIAA fog lights, YAMAHA heated grips, V-Stream Touring screen




HOW I CAME TO DISCOVER THE YAMAHA 1200XTZ:

I began riding 6 years ago, at age 43 on a 2009 Ducati Monster 696. Coming from a life-long bicycle racing background, it was the handling, of the lightweight Monster appealed to me most (404lbs, wet). After a year of building my skills in the local mountains and doing some tiring 2-3 day tours with 3-400 mile days, I was longing for a more suitable bike. Something more powerful that was better suited for touring and riding in cold weather, and more than likely with some off-road capacity.

Undecided between supersport touring and ADV, my short-list in 2012 was: Triumph Tiger 800 X/C, BMW 800GS, KTM 990, Honda VFR1200DCT, BMW K1200S and Kawasaki's Concours (all test-ridden). I wanted to spend $10,000 or less…. Then, a salesperson had the Super Ténéré running when I returned from testing 3 of the above bikes. It peaked my curiosity with it's stable yet surprisingly maneuverable ride, super comfortable riding position and powerful exhaust growl. I researched the heck out of the model and found, at the time, it was a hot new bike competing directly with BMW 1200GS but at a more affordable price point. Although I admired the BMW, point-for-point, the YAMAHA offered more of features I valued for less. Namely; fully adjustable suspension, shaft-drive, ABS, traction-control, spoked wheels (with 19" front), a powerful generator with 12V outlet, and enough power & stability for secure two-up riding.

Finding a Fall close-out for $12,000 out-the-door, the clear choice was - the YAMAHA SUPER TÉNÉRÉ!




OVERALL IMPRESSION: This is a sturdy, do-it-all machine that can take one comfortably over a variety of terrain. Not outrageously fast, it's focus seems to be stability and steadfast adventure riding. It's capacity for loaded touring is exceptional. It shrugs off rough roads, plows through dirt & gravel two-track, is comfortable in extreme heat or cold or rain, and has proven itself a really great versatile and reliable machine.



THE GOOD STUFF:

(IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE)​

1. Easy to ride. It looked huge when I first approached it, but any intimidation I had immediately fell away after the first few turns. Off-road, it's proved to have very predictable handling. I like that the motor can be lugged along at very low RPM, if needed, to crawl through tricky traction situations. Impressive!

2. Value: Feature for feature, it's arguably unbeatable: 1200cc's, shaft-drive, fully adjustable suspension, spoked wheels, two ride modes and adjustable traction-control.

3. Versatility: Twisty canyon roads, rugged gravel forest roads, one-up/two-up, fully-loaded, and commuting - this bike can do it all, and do it all well.

4. Performance: The bike is stable in all conditions and inspires confidence, even off-road (with the proper tires). Yet, it's quick and nimble enough to satisfy my need for excitement.

5. Comfort: With a supple suspension, good wind-protection and comfy riding position, 3-400 mile days are a cake walk. Even in inclement weather.

6. Reliability: So far, so good. No issues whatsoever. But it's still early in the game.





CRITICISMS, ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT:

(IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE)​

1. Weight: At an indicated 575 (to 636lbs!) ready-to-ride, it appears to be the reigning heavy-weight in the ADV category. But, it handles really well… FOR A BEAST!

2. Power: With such mass, I would prefer 10-30 more horsepower at times. I find the power-to-weight ratio is just a little bit lacking.

3. Smoothness: fueling and/or shaft-drive lash, I'm not sure But power comes on a bit abruptly from closed throttle, mid-corner.

4. Brakes: Could use a bit more power and improved modulation. Front has started pulsating some, sanding helped.

5. Controls: Traction-control should be adjustable on-the-fly. Suspension adjusters should be tool-free.

6. Fuel Economy/Range: 220-240 MAX, 38-44MPG average. 20% better would be nice, preferably through economy.

7. "Dashboard:" Throttle cable routing obscures the view. Dash characters are too small for how far away they are.

8. Looks: Not really a head-turner, it's a function-over-form kind of bike. I get a lot of, "What is it?" from people.



Knowing what I know now, would I do it again? Yes, most certainly. It "fit the bill" in more ways than one.

Would I buy another? Maybe…. Yamaha apparently has addressed many of the short-comings in the new model (weight & power, not withstanding). However, there is a lot of great-looking competiion in the area of ADV and seudo-ADV bikes right now.

Recommended? Absolutely. What a value! [ Especially if you're in the market for a used, sub-$10K ADV bike to take you far & wide. ]



Thanks for reading!

 

[barkingllizard]

Re: YAMAHA SUPER TÉNÉRÉ, MY LONG-TERM REVIEW: 3-Years/16,000 Miles

Mtbjay, I sure hope there is a typo error in this: "after 3 years and 16,000 miles".....

 

[verboten1]

Re: YAMAHA SUPER TÉNÉRÉ, MY LONG-TERM REVIEW: 3-Years/16,000 Miles

Mtbjay, I sure hope there is a typo error in this: "after 3 years and 16,000 miles".....

Haha, true!

I was thinking something similar

 

[Mtbjay]

Re: YAMAHA SUPER TÉNÉRÉ, MY LONG-TERM REVIEW: 3-Years/16,000 Miles

Nope. No typo… maybe it's 18K - I better check.

I never chimed in on the "So what do we now think of the bike thread.." but still wanted to write-up my thoughts (I might have gotta a wee-bit carried away…). That thread has 190+ replies and is off on a tangent anyway.

So, thought I'd put down my (newbie/greenhorn) impressions for people who might not be avid motorcyclists, but were considering big bikes and might appreciate a fresh perspective. Perhaps I should have stated that right from the get-go. {Changes made.}

Anyway, as I said, in my review, I've been primarily a cyclist all my life. Motorcycling is just a pleasant distraction from family life for me.

 

[groundhog]

Good review Mtbjay. Always good to see other peoples balanced opinions on the S10, especially on a bike that has not been flashed and farkled and generally f***ed about with ! And who cares whether you have done 16,000, 6,000 or 160,000 miles in three years. As long as your riding and enjoying it, that's what counts ::008::

 

[Dogdaze]

Nice review ::008::. And who cares what annual mileage you do, I only do about 4-5k per year, I ride for solitude and release from day to day grind on weekends only. riding fits into spaces around my life.

 

[Rasher]

Almost totally agree after 3 years and 22,000 miles, sorted most the negatives I had to get the bike I wanted (A slightly better S10)

CRITICISMS, ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT:

(IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE)​

1. Weight: At an indicated 575 (to 636lbs!) ready-to-ride, it appears to be the reigning heavy-weight in the ADV category. But, it handles really well… FOR A BEAST!

2. Power: With such mass, I would prefer 10-30 more horsepower at times. I find the power-to-weight ratio is just a little bit lacking.

3. Smoothness: fueling and/or shaft-drive lash, I'm not sure But power comes on a bit abruptly from closed throttle, mid-corner.

4. Brakes: Could use a bit more power and improved modulation. Front has started pulsating some, sanding helped.

5. Controls: Traction-control should be adjustable on-the-fly. Suspension adjusters should be tool-free.

6. Fuel Economy/Range: 220-240 MAX, 38-44MPG average. 20% better would be nice, preferably through economy.

7. "Dashboard:" Throttle cable routing obscures the view. Dash characters are too small for how far away they are.

8. Looks: Not really a head-turner, it's a function-over-form kind of bike. I get a lot of, "What is it?" from people.

1. Not much I could do about this, but few shaft bikes are significantly lighter, I have also made things worse by adding protection, Arrow headers did claim back a couple of kg.

2. Flash / custom Dyno setup and Arrows has given me about 10-15BHP over stock with gains through the rev range and a good bit extra up top - it is still not fast, but I rarely find it lacking either and it is definitely a lot more zappy than stock.

3. Post re-map mine is smoother and the throttle mapping spot on in both modes with a marginally enhanced S-Mode and massively improved T-Mode (full power available in all gears but is muted a bit compared to Sport - I actually use this mode now which I never did before.

4. Bakes - Really, I find mine powerful and progressive, I would say about the perfect balance, still on OE pads F & R and have a new set of OE pads to replace them as they have been so good. Life undoubtedly helped by long runs into and out of Europe on Motorways.

5. Agree about T Control, a big bugbear, along with the controls for the display being on the display rather than the bars - but small points. Suspension is for the most part adjustable without tools (rear pre-load and damping) Pre-load should rarely need adjusting up from and not hard to carry a small screw driver for the occasional front damping adjustment (I never change my front settings even when loading the bike up.

6. You can never have enough range, and nobody wants the fuel weight either. A good tank size really, not GSA stupid large, nor the typical "not quite big enough" 19-20L of many similar bikes. I would like 150BHP and 150mpg and a 12 litre tank please Mr Yamaha.

7. Find a good optician ::008::

8. Do not care much for looks, all Adv bikes are ugly IMO, it is the difficult to clean nooks and crannies that annoy me slightly.


But the bike is going strong and looking good - lasted better than any other bike I have owned, and I have done more mile is a shorter time on this than any other bike, also the most miles I have put on any bike, not the longest I have owned one but in the past long ownership was down to financial circumstances, this has stayed by choice.

Not perfect in every way, but probably the best compromise out there for my needs right now.

 

[verboten1]

Re: YAMAHA SUPER TÉNÉRÉ, MY LONG-TERM REVIEW: 3-Years/16,000 Miles

Haha, true!

I was thinking something similar (in jest of course!)

 

[shrekonwheels]

Good write up, I just had a kid I will be lucky to put on a 1000 miles this year.


The weight helps it ride smoother down the tarmac. Plenty of power regardless IMO

I love the looks, I think it is bold as hell, it cries for adventure.

Brakes are a bit grabby at slow speeds, otherwise quit decent.

 

[EricV]

The PacNorWet is a great place to ride, nearly year round. I'm glad you're enjoying the bike still, but there are some easy fixes to some of your points that you see as detractions.

3. Smoothness: fueling and/or shaft-drive lash, I'm not sure But power comes on a bit abruptly from closed throttle, mid-corner.

Some of this is throttle cable play. Adjust the throttle cable for minimal play and you will find it easier to be smooth. Ahh, mid-corner? ::005:: Not where you should be applying throttle, especially from closed throttle. You're doing it wrong. Learn to ride The Pace. This will change a lot of your riding habits, and show you an entirely new fun level all over your favorite roads. You will be surprised to find that you ride faster this way, w/o going any faster. More of this ::001:: None of this ::26::

Brakes - Err, compared to what?

TCS - Yeah, most of us agree with that one. Suspension, well, I don't think most people fuss with it often enough for your issue, but you can buy aftermarket hand adjusters for the top of the forks and it only takes a screwdriver really. In the rear, everything you might want to fuss with on a ride is hand adjustable.

You don't get better economy and better power. With a 1200 cc motor, it does pretty well. I place this as a fantasy desire that many share.

Throttle Cable - Easy fix, that I did the same day I brought my '12 home. A simple cable tie to pull it down loosely to the bars w/o being tight or binding. (see pics at bottom of post) As for the characters being too small, consider what info you need while moving, Vs what you feel is too small in the display... and bi-focals.

Looks - That's a bike night desire. You bought it to ride it. If you wanted a pretty bike to look at, you'd still own a Ducati.

Keep exploring and having fun with your Super Tenere. Take a wander over to Grangeville, ID some weekend and ride 13/12 over Lolo Pass to Missoula, MT. Or follow SR14 out to I82, jog across the river to OR37 and follow that to Pendleton, pick up US395 and ride South to John Day, then wander home. Stretch your legs a little and keep smiling. If you haven't already, check out the Rose City MC Grand Tour done every year. Good excuses to go ride places you may not have been. http://www.rose-city-mc.org/RCEventfliers/GT.html

Pics of the throttle cable 'hack' to prevent it from being in your view. No issues in 95k miles. Note the gap between the cables and the bars.

 

[rotortech71]

Hey Jason, if you were interested, let's ride again, even if it's for an hour or so. (Heck, even today or tomorrow) I'd be happy to let you ride my S10, so you can get a direct side-by-side comparison of your stock bike, over mine with an ECU flash, and 2014 clutch basket. I think you'd be pleasantly surprised by the difference in power delivery, and overall smoothness when those two mods are done.

Oh yeah, when I read your post, my first thought was, "oh boy, he's going to get crap about his lack of mileage". Don't worry, I have even less miles than you. I've been riding most of my life, but only do about 3 or 4 thousand a year on average. Not all of us have time to pile on 30K a year.

 

[mike25]

"Ahh, mid-corner? ::005:: Not where you should be applying throttle, especially from closed throttle."

OK, I'll bite, where are we supposed to apply throttle?

 

[EricV]

"Ahh, mid-corner? ::005:: Not where you should be applying throttle, especially from closed throttle."

OK, I'll bite, where are we supposed to apply throttle?

Check out the link above to The Pace. The basic idea on the street is to set your corner speed before you get there, maintain steady speed all the way though and there is no need for braking or accelerating in many cases. Braking hard into a turn and throttling out at the apex is a track technique that is not really well suited for the street. If you try The Pace, you will find yourself entering turns faster, and with greater stability as you run thru them. You're not trying to go thru the corner at the fastest speed, that's for the track. You're trying to be smooth. What this means is that you brake a lot less and don't need to accelerate, because you didn't needlessly dump speed. Riding with someone doing the Pace and someone doing the brake in, throttle out, you will see the Pace rider having to back off because the other rider gets in the way if they are in front. The other way around, the brake in, throttle out rider is always falling off and having to play catch up, accelerating more than they normally would because the Pace rider is long gone by the time they exit the corner, having never slowed down. It takes practice, but it is a style of riding that leaves you with a lot more options on the table, not to mention your brake pads last a lot longer too.

All I suggest is that you read the article and give the techniques a try. You may be surprised. If it's not your cup of tea, at least you tried something different.

The comment about abrupt power is to some degree an individual thing. Riders coming from carb bikes often take some time to get used to the sensitive throttle on EFI bikes. Throttle by wire, like the S10, is perhaps even more sensitive. Removing some of the slack in the cable does help most people be smoother. Riding the Pace simply means no mid-corner transition from brake to throttle to begin with, allowing the rider to carve thru the corner at a speed that is not necessarily slow, but is safe and in control.

 

[rider33]

'nice write-up & thanks for posting. I picked up a leftover '14 and would have to agree, a very flexible, well -built bike and an excellent value. Most of my milage has been long distance touring & when you get there you might want to trade up to the Gen. Two as cruise can be very, very handy when you start to pile on the 600-800 mile days.

 

[magic]

Good review Mtbjay. I am also new to this forum. I bought a '13 model this spring and have about 3500 miles on it. I have several other bikes to ride hence the low mileage. I agree with all your points and would like to add a few observations:To your point about smoothness and drive shaft lash. I believe this is caused by the clutch, the updated clutch is rubber dampened and also heavier so it should have more "flywheel effect" on the engine. The rubber dampeners absorb the power pulses from the engine reducing the jerkiness and smoothing out some vibration. I have done the idle screw and CO modifications to my own bike and still have an off idle hesitation and some jerkiness in the driveline, it feels like what we used to call "turbo lag". There are replacement throttle grip assemblies with less abrupt cams to reduce the jerky on-off efi throttle response. The website is G2ERGO.COM, I may try one on my bike soon. The Super Tenere could easily pull a taller 6th gear for highway cruising and while they're at it they could close the gap between 3rd and 4th. An accurate speedometer would be nice too. No bike is perfect, but the ST is a pretty good ride. I'm enjoying mine.

 

[yz454]

Mtbjay if you want to ride 1 with 67k I,am in Newberg . With mods .