I've ridden every generation of Wing except the latest one. I'll stick with my 2015 for several reasons. The new ones do corner and gobble miles. But the passenger gives up some protection and having my wife on the back is one of the main reasons I ride the wing.
As you guys know I bought the S10 without having really ridden it. A couple of 200 mile days for test runs and a quick trip in Georgia prior to my Alaska trip. This bike has performed flawlessly thus far on this trip at 11,000 miles so far. Shaft drive is always a plus for longevity and lower maintenance. With the tall VStream windshield, winglets, and infill dash there is a lot of protection that in itself was a big surprise. I have gone on 21 to 24 day gazillion mile trips on wings. There isn't any reason I can't do it on this S10 and that is another of the biggest surprises to me on this trip. I just need a custom seat and 1000 mile days would be no big deal. I just did a 655 mile day from 0915 to midnight and I wasn't in a hurry until 5 pm. Prior to that was over 100 miles of gravel. A 2 hr rest stop at Field's Station for lunch. The only thing uncomfortable was my Prima Donna derriere. I have a custom seat planned for this bike. Now I have 50L panniers and dry bags on top of those. Plus a top box and spare tires too. My only minor complaint is at 70 to 80 I make 29 mpg... due to load and air resistance. Now on back roads and gravel my range shows up over 400 miles. Yes, that isn't trustworthy as it goes off instantaneous mpg... but when I am doing 45 to 55 on over 100 miles of gravel and fairly level my range goes way up and I believe 400 miles can be done. That's what this bike is all about. Going cross country over different surfaces and getting there. I have been riding on this trip with new GSA 1250's and yes, they are nice... but one had so much problems he sold it and bought a new one just to get home. That and other stories of BMW not covering items under warranty that should be a no brainer. That’s what scares me away from that bike. Otherwise I sure do like it. If you have read my TG thread you know I was chomping at the bit for an AT but that has gone away now. Am I curious about one? Yes, I still am... but the need for one is gone. I have been in S mode the whole trip... except when doing 80 and somehow I got into T mode. Only discovered that when I wanted to pass a car that I had been slowly gaining on... twisted the throttle and nothing happened except a 1 mph gain. Huh, oh, T mode. Before when in Georgia on back ridge fire roads I was in T mode and will probably go there again for technical riding but I have done over 1000 miles of gravel in S mode (flashed) and now see no reason for T mode on forest roads or gravel ranch roads. This bike is tough. With the described loads on it I climbed a very steep embankment and ran along it and back down to the road and kept going. I was using the full potential of the suspension travel. I'm sure my T-Rex bash plate was used. I was hoping not to hit the big rocks (size of my head and larger) and the bike was like... what, that's all you got? I can do better...
Sure, I wish it had more power in some of the mountains when hitting the corners hard and going up hill out of some of the tight ones. When I came out of them I wanted more power as I got up to speed for the next one. So that's my 2nd and very minor complaint. Details of why I didn't make a corner (I made it... just not on the pavement) are at Adventuresbyguy.com
So, even though this is my 1st Yamaha I think I will be here for a while and not shopping for a replacement. Maybe a stable mate, but for the life of me... why???
Sierra1 which bike of those mentioned has an engine made in China?
View attachment 104822
View attachment 104823
View attachment 104824
