First Ride Impressions - Super Tenere vs. Tiger Explorer

[RED CAT]

The Explorer is more streety compared to the S10. The S10 is way less expensive here than the Triumph and seems to have caught on more lately after people realize just how great the the bike is. N.A. has so many gravel/dirt roads compared to most of western Europe, so I'm betting the S10 will be more popular over here even though the Explorer has more horsepower and is way top heavy. Still waiting to see an Explorer on gravel. It would be be so far behind, it would think it was first! ::26::

 

[GrahamD]

Until someone in Japan wakes up and prices the Yamaha below BMW / Triumph money tehy are gonna continue to sell slow, all the delaers I have spoken to say the same, they can only shift Ex Dem Tenere's, so that is one bike per dealer per year.

The peple in Japan can politely request that the importers do a better price, but in the end it's up to the importers in the UK. (Unless they are based in Japan that is)

In Oz the S10 is about 40% cheaper spec for spec. That doesn't mean that the YAMAHA is too cheap though. BMW still sell well in the segment. Seems there are a lot of old people that wanted a BMW when they were 20.

 

[twinrider]

A mate of mine just tested the Tenere and Explorer back to back.

He liked them both a lot, but coming off a Jap four found the Triumph motor more exciting, and then then when it came to deal time a brand new Explorer was less money than the Ex Demo Yamaha - and about £1500 cheaper than a new Yamaha.

The Yamaha is a great long term ownership proposition, but this will never show up on a test ride, the zippy performance and sharp steering of the Triumph will always impress on a short ride - maybe less so in terrible conditions, fierce side winds and on loose ground, but during that 30 minute ride around the block from the dealer the Yamaha will not shine.

It has Traction Control ABS and Cruise Control so spec wise stacks up quite well, and with a 3 cylinder motor just seems to provide much better value than the Yamaha.

Until someone in Japan wakes up and prices the Yamaha below BMW / Triumph money tehy are gonna continue to sell slow, all the delaers I have spoken to say the same, they can only shift Ex Dem Tenere's, so that is one bike per dealer per year.

Come on Mr Yamaha stop trying to ::002:: and price the bike where it will sell, regardless of how much better Yamaha think the Tenere is compared to a GS, the buying public still regard (wrongly or very wrongly. or extremely wrongly) the BMW to be a premium product, and the Yamaha just to be a Jap bike - and all the other Jap bikes are cheaper.

Funny, here in Japan the Explorer is priced about $5K dearer than the reverse-imported Super Teneres. I've only see one on the road so far.

 

[ExTriumphExp]

I currently own an Explorer, I cant wait to get rid of it. The bike obviously wasn't developed fully before launch, the factory`s first guess at fixing the engine chirp failed so they swopped the heads within a certain (wide) VIN range. Some owners have congratulated Triumph for this action, quite what they are smoking I really dont know. Triumph stated that the bike had been in development for 6 years prior to launch, if this is the case why have they had to change the heads?
Whilst bikes have been to the factory some bikes have also had new FD fitted, no reason given, they just swopped them. Try having a look at the explorer forum, then compare the complaints on there to this site. Admittedly I don't own an S10 yet but i have ridden them, yes the Tex does feel quicker but whats the point in having a quick bike if you dont know if the TPS is going to fail on you at any time.

Give me a durable reliable bike any day over a quick unreliable any day

::021::

 

[Koinz]

I've read some of the post on the explorer over at adv. What is Triumph "compensating" you guys with?

Seems like owners are pretty happy with the compensation.

 

[ExTriumphExp]

I've read some of the post on the explorer over at adv. What is Triumph "compensating" you guys with?

Seems like owners are pretty happy with the compensation.

Oil leaks, coolant leaks & damage. I shit you not!

The guys doing the rework are a bunch of ::002::

 

[GrahamD]

Oil leaks, coolant leaks & damage. I shit you not!

The guys doing the rework are a bunch of ::002::

AT least this company is admitting it, attempting to fix the problem for people and compensating "squeaky wheel" people.

It is better than denying a problem constantly, In my book. But it still seems to invoke lots of loyalty for some reason.

But still, it would have been nice to develop the engine properly in the first place.

YAMAHA apparently had the S10 program going for 10 years. ???

I find that a bit hard to believe, as I suspect there was a lot of meetings in there, but it may explain why they have Double sided swing arms, little bits all over the bike that point to a thorough thought process, etc and a simple motor. I think they took the "long way round" design brief seriously.

 

[Koinz]

A little story:

Friend of mine bought a used 05 T rocket 3. Nice bike. Went to take it to work the next day and wouldn't start.

Something about that year that they routed all the lights through the ignition without a relay so it fried the ignition switch.

There is a mod to fix that, but apparently the previous owner never did it or had it done.

Stuff like that should be common sense, but then again, we have a few headlight harness issues as well that Yamaha has a fix for. My original seems to be holding up still, but at some point I'll have my Yes warranty take care of it.

 

[creggur]

Every time I read a thread like this I'm glad I didn't get any of the bikes that were above the Tenere on my "want list".

The list looked like this:

1) Explorer - Perfect on paper. 135 hp, sport touring bike that could (in theory) handle dirt roads and such. I was sold, nearly 100% - my only hesitation was the whole "first model year" thing...

2) Multistrada - it was pure lust and I don't think I was ever really serious about it, but the numbers make it appealing.

3) R1200GS - "Legendary" BMW reliability, tough-as-hell looks, and every article I read absolutely gushed about how great the GS is. High $$$ but it looked worth the investment.

4) Super Tenere - According to the reviews it is solid, but too heavy and under-powered. And coming from a lifetime on sports and sport tourers the underpowered thing turned me off. Last on the list....

Then I found this place, got some real-world perspective, and the clincher....a test ride. Traded my VFR on the spot, and I couldn't be happier. Wouldn't have imagined how happy, but man the thing just makes me grin from ear-to-ear every time I ride it...

 

[snakebitten]

What's even more amazing to me is how many of us KNEW we wanted it, and committed to it without seeing or riding it. And had we\they not, it very may not have ever made it here.

Kinda proves a lot of folks make up their own mind in spite of the widely accepted but obviously biased word of the experts.

 

[creggur]

What's even more amazing to me is how many of us KNEW we wanted it, and committed to it without seeing or riding it. And had we\they not, it very may not have ever made it here.

Kinda proves a lot of folks make up their own mind in spite of the widely accepted but obviously biased word of the experts.

Yep, you guys were visionaries, and I for one, appreciate it every time I hit the starter button!

 

[snakebitten]

Visionaries?
Man I would love to claim such wisdom.

More like some kind of voodoo trance that I really can't explain. Not like me. Only happened one other time in my life.

Normally I buy used, well documented and low risk.

By the way, the other time was in 2001. I had time to kill before an appointment. So I stepped into a dealer I worked at when I was a kid. Hadn't been in there for maybe 25 years. Hanging from the ceiling was the recently crowned MOTY 02 GSXR750. Silver\Red\Black

I looked up at it and in less than 1 second decided that bike was going into the back of my truck. They thought I was just saying I wanted it. It took em a few minutes to understand "no, I want THAT bike".

Not my most mature moment.

The Tenere was even worse. I had the same exact instantaneous self acknowledgement that I will have it. It took FAR more effort. And not even close to instant gratification.

Can you say tsunami?

 

[twinrider]

As owner of a Tiger 1050 looking for a new dual sport I could relate to Ventures comments. i agree with all his comments but would add the following. I have tested an Explorer and ST and found them both to be excellent bikes but with a fatal flaw in each. The Explorer generates tremendous engine heat that bathes the rider in it from waist to boot. The ST had bad engine vibration from 4500 up. The ST design with the side radiator is smart and the heat is well managed but what about the vibes. I would appreciate your comments.

Interesting. I rode a T12XC yesterday for about a half hour on twisty back roads wearing MX riding pants. Very hot day out and I didn't notice any issue with engine heat. Maybe it's better on more recent models?

What I did notice was the extremely smooth and powerful motor, which was happy to pull away from a dead stop in 3rd gear. And the very nice handling, really railed through corners. Am very tempted to get it.

 

[eemsreno]

My riding buddy Tiger Mike couldn't go with me this weekend, His Explore is broke down, in the shop. 24,000 miles on it. He had all kinds of warning lights flashing and it looks like the dealer is having a hard time fixing it.