Yamaha have updated their Super Tenere in order to try and take some sales back from BMW and KTM. They've done an impressive job but, is it enough? Harry finds out.
Did a 30 minute testdrive and now I have rented one for a proper testing this weekend. It feels to me like the adventure bike for people who actually go on adventures and don´t care if it is 15 hp down on the others. I like the fact that you have the option of a version with less gadgets (Z or ZE model) Less is more. As for reliabillity it eats the Beemer and KTMs for breakfast. And the fidgety adjustment of the windscreen is only a testdrivers problem when they have to try all the options in two days. My current 2003 1150GS has a windscreen that I adjusted twice in seven years. Who cares if it takes one or two hands.
plxsfy: so true I had the same year GS as you and kept it for 11 years. I put risers on the adventure screen (it was a non adventure model to start with) and left them there for the next 10 years. I find myself with a BMW R1200R Sport in the garage and still a hankering for a big dirt bike. But not the new modern GS as I have that engine I my road bike. So the 660Z is certainly appealing.
Excellent review on an excellent machine! The Super Tenere will very likely be my next purchase. Reliability and durability are the names of the game in the adventure bike realm. Contrary to the belief of many, a certain popular brand seems to lack those traits. Electronic rider aids are secondary in my book.
The ABS can be turned off, but you need to spend like 25€ in a switch. Now, even paying an extra 25€, the ST will always be cheaper and more reliable compared to the GS. And with the money you save, you can buy all the extras you can imagine and it will still be cheaper... and did I already said reliable?
Absolutely love my Super T! A big factor for me was price; $12,300 USD out the door! You also can't deny Yamaha's reliability over the competition. Good solid review.
Just traded my GS after too many warranty issues (duff clutch and engine corrosion) BMW happy to swop complete engine but I wasn't its not a year old! Im not the only one its not isolated. My Tenere hasn't got all the gadgets but it works as good is more comfortable and I'm not worried about getting home or about unreasonable finish. There seems to be little said about the poor BMW GS 1200LC finish but there are loads of used ones at the dealers!
The Super T is all the adventure bike a GS or a KTM are at almost half the price.Simple is better,and the Super T will do it all without the expensive,and complicated gadgetry the aforementioned have.Nice review,thank you.
I owned the latest KTM and the latest Caponord. Both were the most unreliable bikes i ever owned. I toured with a mate on a GS and he broke down. I toured on old retros like the xjr1300 which i found more reliable and just as comfortable half the price and twice the torque. What this guys fails to mention is that out of all those modern adventure bikes the Ten will keep on thumping long after the others have broken down. No i don't own one so i am not biased either way, but i have done a large amount of research and i know someone with one. There is guys who are touring the world on S10 and they clocked up 150,000 miles with no technical issues at all. One guy is doing a million mile tour, at 150,000 he replaced his s10 with a newer s10. he is not sponsored. What does that tell you about the bike..... No other bike i have ever heard of can do that. Also it is the cheapest easiest bike to work on yourself and the valves have the longest service interval by a long long way. Yam have not designed this to be competition to the other bikes. They designed this so it gets its own reputation throughout the real adventure biker crowds, the bikers who really tour the globe and really do the miles. And they get sales as its the most reliable easiest and cheapest bike to own out there hands down... My next bike will be a s10 - going for the after 2014 as lots of updates.... I do massive miles around the world., you can check my videos out if you don't believe me. This is my next bike, yes its nice to have a more powerful machine, but i want to focus on my photographs and videos i do not want the hassel of a breakdown...
As usual, an informative and practical review. I did notice the absence of mentioning a price for the Super Ten -- in the US it's around 16500 US dollars - or 175750 SA Rand. Very price competitive to the BMW or KTM, if not a real bargain.
Thanks for the review. With more than 3 years experience on the first edition I can recommend the bike to new off road riders. And I've come to the conclusion that the criticism about the ABS is unfounded. In fact I've had an accident on another bike because I'm spoiled by the good braking capabilities of my S10. For my birthday we did a 100km stretch of dirt road, and I was surprised at how much the GS riders were struggling with the sand, we (the other bike was a Yamaha XT660) had to stop and wait 3 times.
Hi guys, I would like to ask you whether you have ever experienced or heard about a vibration issue. I am willing to buy this bike, but what I hear about this vibration issue is putting me off. What do you say?
Thanks for the review...I am concerned about BMW quality issues. The latest R1200RT recall is something to think about. Yamaha's quality alone could be the swing factor for me.
The S10 is a great bike it was definitely in the running when I was looking for one . When it came down to it the deciding factor was the engines so I chose the Triumph Explorer over it . IF I had the funds I wouldn't mind having it too .
Another good review Harry. I'm planning on buying the GS and I have only given the Super T a passing glance. This review might just make me give it a more in depth look. At least enough to give it a test ride at any rate. Cheers
It's always hard to be completely objective when testing bikes. I have had plenty of opportunity to ride off-road on the GS but not much on the Super Ten, apart from filming this test, so maybe my judgement might be skewed a little. There's no doubt that the Yamaha is a very good bike but the simple fact is that in this country, the GS will outsell it 100 to 1 and not all this is because of blind brand loyalty. For myself, the problem is time; how do I fit spending proper time with every bike out there into my life - even if I could get my hands onto them for a month or two.
@@IgnitionBikeShow I suspect you may have altered your stance and opinion on the Super Tenere 5 years on? I think this is a quality machine which can compete with GS., as is the Africa twin. Decisions decisions! Although for extended off road, dirt tracks etc, a smaller lighter machine is best I think
Great review, makes me want to up-grade from my current 2012, my wallet says no. Buy since the chance of me taking my Super Ten off road are few, i'll stay with 2012.
Over on your side of the pond, are parts for BMW & KTM also super-expensive, as they are here in the states? That alone would make me go for the Yamaha. Not to mention that the Yamaha's purchase price is lower as well.
Hello, I have a 2012 and replace it with a DX, you have that idea of trading by one, first see if the store is because I'm waiting for two months in SAC complained of yamaha, was the same thing as nothing, are sanding to the client. I called two more times asking about the delivery and the attendant said he was on analysis, WHAT are analyzing, and pay in cash.
I have a 2012 and it is a very good tourer (5000 mi NY to Key West trip last summer). Off road (with Heidenau K60) it is far better than you'd expect. It is very tall and heavy but its controllability makes up for its bulk (think titanic with 290,000 hp and a huge rudder, if you break it in half and sink it it's your fault) I actually do ride this offroad (if I want to hammer about a bit I use my 91 DR 350 indestructible beater from hell) and it is as good as it looks. I chose it because (US price for end of year 12,500 vs BMW 21,000) of the price and quality, BMW airheads are a favorite but the newer oil/liq. cooled gs has far too many quality issues (I had an 81 r80gs and it was superb, light and simple).If you are buying a bike, not costume jewelry for an assumed lifestyle, then this is well worth a look .P.S. Ewan should learn to ride and Charley should quit pounding his fork seals, just my 2 cents.
You left out the quality the Yamaha has that the KTM & bmw don’t have and that is, the Reliability of an Anvil. Some of us put that and the Military style instruments above a nameplate that’s some just have to have for whatever reasons. I’ve owned them all and there is no replacement for RELIABILITY.
They may not b the best but they r the original. Where they lead the BMW & KTM is unsurpassed reliability ,extremely affordable service ,& longer service intervals
Yamaha stole me from the Germans twice now. I swapped a 800GS for a 1st gen XT and last week saw me take delivery of the ZE model. Its very much a underestimated adventure bike and its well worth a test ride.
Neither the BMW GS,nor the Ktm have anything on the Super Tenere except exorbitant pricing.The Super Tenere is just as capable to say nothing of it’s other advantages.
They are made by a South African company called X-Kulcha and they are brilliant summer or warm climate riding pants. They are called the Dakar pants. Go to www.x-kulcha.com
+kuntay tubay Hello from Greece brother. These are very different bikes that you mention so it depends on what you are mainly looking for in a bike. I prefer relative lightness, low maintenance cost and simplicity so I got the Tenere 660. It has been absolutely reliable for 4 years and 50.000 km and I have travelled all around mainland Greece and almost all the Balkan countries. Only thing that ever stopped me was a flat tire in Romania. If you like to take a passenger, it is perhaps one of the least comfortable choices among those bikes with the Super Tenere being the best. I have never ridden a Multistrada but a fellow rider had it in Transfagarasan and it was simply the best bike in the tight twisty roads there. So if you want to ride really fast, it's a great choice. However, it is the kind of bike that begs you all the time to ride fast, so not that good if you want to enjoy a relaxed ride.
BMW and KTM are very unreliable - they might break any time. And they will. While this Yamaha is bulletproof. But, still, Super Tenere is not the best shaft adventure bike currently existing. Honda VFR1200XD Crosstourer is.
I demoed the Tenere and the throttle is so damn twitchy. I just dont get it, all of Yamaha's bikes have a really twitchy on/off throttle. Its so terrible to ride in first and second gear. WHY!!!!!!!!!!
Harry, me lad, How the Devil do we run this Music Video without the Bloody "music"? It is repetitive and distracting and obnoxious and distracting me from paying attention to what you are Saying !!!
