ES vs Non-ES

mcadvrider

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Feb 16, 2022
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Alberta, Canada
Would like to hear from anyone who has experience with both the ES and Non-ES Super Tenere. I am looking at a 2014 ES with 30,000km and a 2017 non-ES with less than 10,000km that are approximately the same price, same options/farkles. I am wondering if the ES is worth dropping down 3 years to get, or should I go with the newer, non-ES bike for simplicity. I plan on taking long trips with the bike and am wondering about reliability and repair for the ES suspension vs the non-ES suspension?
 

VRODE

Easy Does It
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Aug 7, 2014
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I ride on paved amd dirt roads mostly. I'm around 210 without gear. The ES works fine for me and come in handy as I encounter all kinds of surface changes during my rides. As far as I know the ES has proven to be very reliable and effective. It depends on your needs. If you are over 250 lbs or plan on traveling two up, I think you'll need to re-spring the ES suspension. Obviously, upgrading your suspension with quality stuff tailored to your weight and riding style would be optimum (though more expensive).
 

Sierra1

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I haven't owned a non-ES. I chose the ES because of the extra features. Ironically, the OE heated grips were one of the main features I was after, but have used the least. (I decided I don't have to ride in cold weather anymore) Our road surfaces vary quite a bit. The E-suspension make it extremely handy to adjust on the fly as the surface dictates. I don't think the E-suspension is any less reliable than the manual style. Many people believe both styles to be under sprung. I am not one of those, and I weigh 300lbs.

I am not saying that there's anything wrong with a non-ES, it's just that I knew that I wanted an ES; and I normally buy the vehicle(s) with the least number of extras. Both styles are damn near indestructible. There's a member on here with well over 250K miles on a Gen I bike. And many on here with over 100k miles. So, the mileage difference between the two is of little importance. I would go with the ES (obviously), but the other one would/will be fine. The T-12 is my favorite bike . . . . ever.
 

thughes317

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May 27, 2018
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The Bluegrass, KY
Non-ES 2017 owner here: I would say 3 model years newer and 20K km's less on the clock for the same price is a no-brainer, regardless of ES vs non-ES suspension.

Obviously I don't know what I'm missing, suspension-wise, not having owned an ES, and the heated grip option is an easy OEM or aftermarket add. I'd take newer/less wear-and-tear versus fancy options anyday. Just my .02.....
 

Sierra1

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Hmmmm . . . . I see a pattern forming here. :D But . . . . seriously . . . . 12k miles less . . . . on this bike . . . . is nothing. Color and farkles are more important than that many miles with this bike. Not a lot of bikes I would say that about.
 

VRODE

Easy Does It
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Aug 7, 2014
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Northern Vermont
I haven't owned a non-ES. I chose the ES because of the extra features. Ironically, the OE heated grips were one of the main features I was after, but have used the least. (I decided I don't have to ride in cold weather anymore) Our road surfaces vary quite a bit. The E-suspension make it extremely handy to adjust on the fly as the surface dictates. I don't think the E-suspension is any less reliable than the manual style. Many people believe both styles to be under sprung. I am not one of those, and I weigh 300lbs.

I am not saying that there's anything wrong with a non-ES, it's just that I knew that I wanted an ES; and I normally buy the vehicle(s) with the least number of extras. Both styles are damn near indestructible. There's a member on here with well over 250K miles on a Gen I bike. And many on here with over 100k miles. So, the mileage difference between the two is of little importance. I would go with the ES (obviously), but the other one would/will be fine. The T-12 is my favorite bike . . . . ever.
I had forgotten, but the heated grips are really what wanted (here in the sometimes frozen north). The ES was a really nice bonus as our road conditions vary greatly.
 

holligl

Find the road less traveled...
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Nov 13, 2015
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Ride them both if possible, and take the one you like the best. I agree mileage difference doesn't matter much. Ask if the valve check has been done on the ES, if so that's money ahead.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
 

mcadvrider

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Feb 16, 2022
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Alberta, Canada
Thank you everyone for the replies. I appreciate the feedback.

From my prior bike experience riding off-road, you set your suspension and leave it for the most part. With a non-ES model what changes do you make for the transition from pavement to off-road, and when adding luggage/passenger?

For the ES model, I suspect that you can switch from pavement to rough off-road by putting the bike on the center stand, make the major suspension adjustments, and ride away, making +/- changes on the fly. Same thing if you add luggage and a passenger, need to put on center stand to make the major change and then adjust on the fly?
 

holligl

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Thank you everyone for the replies. I appreciate the feedback.

From my prior bike experience riding off-road, you set your suspension and leave it for the most part. With a non-ES model what changes do you make for the transition from pavement to off-road, and when adding luggage/passenger?

For the ES model, I suspect that you can switch from pavement to rough off-road by putting the bike on the center stand, make the major suspension adjustments, and ride away, making +/- changes on the fly. Same thing if you add luggage and a passenger, need to put on center stand to make the major change and then adjust on the fly?
You have to set the preload while stopped with the engine running. (No Centerstand required) 4 settings: 1 rider, 1 rider w/luggage, 2 passengers, 2 passenger w/luggage.

Dampening adjustments can be made while moving, although with the menu operation, you are safer to stop. 3 basic settings: soft, standard, and hard. From there you can fine tune with +/- 1-3.

One note, the ES forks dampen differently. One damps compression while the other damps rebound. Can't tell while riding, but probably not technically ideal.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
 

Longdog Cymru

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Jul 21, 2018
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1,665
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Swansea, Wales, UK
Would like to hear from anyone who has experience with both the ES and Non-ES Super Tenere. I am looking at a 2014 ES with 30,000km and a 2017 non-ES with less than 10,000km that are approximately the same price, same options/farkles. I am wondering if the ES is worth dropping down 3 years to get, or should I go with the newer, non-ES bike for simplicity. I plan on taking long trips with the bike and am wondering about reliability and repair for the ES suspension vs the non-ES suspension?
I would go for the 2017 non-ES bike every time. In fact, that is exactly what I did when I bought my own non-ES 2017 bike 4 years ago and I haven’t regretted my decision at all. You don’t get heated grips on a non-ES bike, at least you don’t in U.K., but I fitted a set of Oxford heated grips and I believe you can connect them to the Yamaha harness if you want to control them from the menu, I think there is a thread on here somewhere with photos showing just that.
 

Lamby

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Aug 10, 2020
Messages
30
Location
UK
I currently have a 2018 ES wasn't really fussed about buying ES against non ES, it was the last one one in the dealer so got it at a bargain price. I would go for the 2017 non ES all day long you can always add heated grips and cruise.
 

Cycledude

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Jan 29, 2016
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3,998
Location
Rib lake wi
I have owned both ES and non ES really not much difference but I prefer the ES it seems to ride a little better.

Yes lots of folks complain the springs aren’t stiff enough but not me ! I did listen to folks claiming springs weren’t stiff enough on a different bike many years ago and bought and installed stiffer springs, I hated them ! After one year I removed them and re installed the original springs and couldn’t believe how much better it rode !

Both of my Tenere’s came with heated grips, it’s very unlikely that I would own any motorcycle very long without heated grips.
 

Don T

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Mar 11, 2011
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541
Location
Denmark
I ride a 2015 non ES with 155.000 km on the clock and have tried the ES version on a couple of occasions.

3 years and 20.000 km basically doesn't matter with this bike.
The ES on the T12 have proved to be very reliable and trouble free (like the rest of the bike).
It comes down to what you like and what's important to you.

If you seldom ride with a passanger the ES isn't that useful.
Properly adjusted the standard suspension works pretty well, and ones it's dialed in, you will most likely not feel the need for more than adjusting the preload when adding luggage and/or a passenger.

There is a couple of other things to consider:
1. I believe that the on-board diagnostic was removed from the dash on bikes newer than 2016..?
2. At some point Yamaha reinforced the rims on the Gen2 - maybe around 2017..?

You can't go wrong with either of the bikes you are looking at.
If the bikes are in similar shape and both have the accessories/equipment that you want, why not just pick the one with the best color scheme :)
 

Kruzzin5

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Oct 14, 2019
Messages
415
Location
Newmarket, Ontario
I have a 2015 ES and love it. The ability to adjust on the fly is so convenient. 60K kilometres with no issues. As someone said, see if the valve check was done.
 
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