IF YOU HAD A CHOICE

[Wobbler]

For those of you that feel the Yamaha Super Tenere' is too heavy, bulky, top heavy. Would a consideration for replacement be a BMW F800 GS Adventure option on the downsize? Thoughts... I hear a lot of feedback from some of my riding friends out of state.

 

[Nissbird]

Shaft drive is a must for me, in respect of that there is no downsizing available.

 

[Dogdaze]

I did do that exercise about 5 weeks ago, really wanted to get along with the 800GS ADV, but found it a little cramped and buzzy at highway speeds, it was great around the back roads though and heaps of fun, felt really easy to throw around, fun! Shame about the fit, I could live with the chain.................... if I had to.

 

[Checkswrecks]

If new and you want to stay with a shaft there's the Guzzi V7. They're 750cc, weigh in the low 400s, and are easy to find used too. And who doesn't like Guzzis?


With chain, the 800 Beemer has had multiple issues. You might try the MT09 Yamaha Tracer with the triple, the new bare MT09 with a plexi windshield, and there are spy shots of the even lighter 700 Tenere coming.

 

[Squibb]

I've just treated myself to a 2012 BMW F650GS SE (798cc) with 4400 miles as an all weathers hack, as I hate to ruin my beatiful S10 riding when copious amounts of salt are on the roads. In many ways it is more practical for road use than the F800GS, having cast wheels & slightly lower seat. Tim Cullis, Moderator on UKGSER, is a bit of a fan & he certainly gets around. Early bikes had a few issues, but this was all sorted by 2011.

The engine seems a bit feeble after the Yamaha, but it does the job economically & seems happy enough 2-up. I shall need to sort out a better screen idc, but handling seems light/sweet. Not sure I am quite ready for this as a one & only bike though. Opinions on the MT range seem to vary, but we weren't convinced that the finish quality would deal with a UK winter & found the seating a little cramped for two.

Ride Safe ...................... KEN

 

[barkingllizard]

Shaft drive is a must for me, in respect of that there is no downsizing available.

plus one on that, if I was going back to a chain, I would be considering a FJ-09, but I'm not, so I won't...
love the Yamaha Super Tenere Gen 2 without reservation.....

 

[RCinNC]

If I wanted to replace my S10 with a lighter bike, I'd go back to a Suzuki V-Strom. That was an excellent bike, and the redesign for 2017 looks really nice. I switched to the S10 because I do a lot of two-up touring, but I would have loved to keep the DL650 just for me.

 

[Defekticon]

For those of you that feel the Yamaha Super Tenere' is too heavy, bulky, top heavy. Would a consideration for replacement be a BMW F800 GS Adventure option on the downsize? Thoughts... I hear a lot of feedback from some of my riding friends out of state.

I'd consider an Africa Twin to be a downsize, although that's a trade off for stability on the highway. If I was ever going to not have the S10, I'd own an AT.

 

[AVGeek]

Had Yamaha brought over the XT600 instead of the 1200, I would have bought that. At the time I had my 08 FJR, so a smaller, lighter dual sport was what I was after. I even looked at buying a WR450 to plate for the street (but Nevada closed the loophole; in Arizona, it would have been easy to do).

 

[EricV]

For those of you that feel the Yamaha Super Tenere' is too heavy, bulky, top heavy. Would a consideration for replacement be a BMW F800 GS Adventure option on the downsize? Thoughts... I hear a lot of feedback from some of my riding friends out of state.

No. The F800GS is quite tall. If you're concerned about too heavy, bulky, top heavy, you're not going to like how the F800GS feels in the same conditions as when you have concerns about the S10. The F650GS/F700Gs (same bike, still not correctly named by BMW), is a better option for you to look at. However, the cost of ownership will be higher with the BMW than with the Yamaha. I say that with the wife having sold her '11 F650GS with 104k miles on it back in June, a '09 VStrom 650 Abs in the garage and 104k on my '12 Super Ten, as well as a new R1200GSA Low/Low in the garage with 10k on it that is the wife's new bike. She rides the new, bigger bike much better than she ever did the F650GS and with more confidence. It simply handles better, has better geometry and she certainly loves the power and better braking.

The F650GS is a commuter bike. The F800GS while more suited to off pavement, is just that same commuter bike with a few features that help it out. Both have the same Rotax parallel twin motor, with different tuning and both suffer many of the same design flaws and re-occurring issues. (some addressed, others continue to be ignored by BMW)

As others have said, take a look at the Vstroms. The bike is not really an ADV bike, but it rides like a tall, skinny bike and is quite tossable. Our '09 650 is a fun little bike to toss around, but I always miss the braking and power of the Super Ten when I ride the little 650. Still, the Wee is very capable. I have friends that have ridden one to Ushuaia and another that rode one for the IBR (11k miles in 11 days), and both have ridden them all over before and since with virtually no issues. Conversely, the BMW F650GS cost more in repairs over it's time with us than it cost to buy new. Many of those issues have still not been addressed by BMW such as the water pump and coolant overflow tank.

If you only ride 4-10k a year, buy anything that makes you smile and get a warranty on it. If you ride more than that, pay attention to riders that actually put miles on the bikes you are interested in. It will save you some grief in the long run.

 

[Andylaser]

Dont like the BMW twins, a bit too top heavy and not without their own range of issues. The G650 single isn't too bad though.

If you really needed a lot lighter then the Guzzi V7 is a good contender. Through some cash at it to get decent suspension, higher handlebars and some protection. Bear in mind it is quite a small bike physically and only has half the power of the S10. Also, the sump hangs down quite low. By the time you have it sorted though, it will have cost the same as the big Yamaha.

 

[Ron Earp]

For those of you that feel the Yamaha Super Tenere' is too heavy, bulky, top heavy. Would a consideration for replacement be a BMW F800 GS Adventure option on the downsize? Thoughts... I hear a lot of feedback from some of my riding friends out of state.

I went through this a few months ago with the Triumph Tiger XCA and the BMW 800 GS. Shaft drive is a must. If the Triumph would have had shaft drive then I might be on it.

The Tiger Explorer is shaft drive though and a fine machine.

 

[Checkswrecks]

The shaft 1200 Triumph feels bigger than the Tenere!

 

[Andylaser]

Agreed. Its great for storming highways, but looses out to the Yam as soon as the tarmac ends, or you are riding at low speed.

 

[RED CAT]

Pretty sure I'd go with the new Africa Twin if I was switching. The 800 BMW Adv is just a heavier 800 Standard. The S10 will ride circles around it performance wise ON and OFF tarmac especially if you ride it hard.

 

[ADKsuper10]

If I wanted to replace my S10 with a lighter bike, I'd go back to a Suzuki V-Strom. That was an excellent bike, and the redesign for 2017 looks really nice. I switched to the S10 because I do a lot of two-up touring, but I would have loved to keep the DL650 just for me.

Plus one on this. Rode 2015 wee strom for a bit and it is a well thought out bike for the money. I had a KLR for awhile, and loved it.

Can't go back to chain drive - the S10s super bike characteristics are hard to beat.

 

[VRODE]

Shaft drive is real nice but not a deal killer for me. If I went lighter I'd pick the AT over the GS800. I think in a few years I'll be real interested in the rumored new, lighter Tenere (XTZ700) if it ever sees the light.

 

[EricV]

Pretty sure I'd go with the new Africa Twin if I was switching. The 800 BMW Adv is just a heavier 800 Standard. The S10 will ride circles around it performance wise ON and OFF tarmac especially if you ride it hard.

At 503 Vs 575 in wet weight, I'm not seeing the AT as lighter enough to make a difference to the rider. That said, I haven't ridden one yet, so the OP needs to get out and sample some different bikes. Chain drive and tube tires don't appeal to me, but Honda does make fine machines.

 

[Ron Earp]

Ouch, forgot about the tube tires on the Honda and don't want anything to do with tubes any more. On our recent NC / TN blitz we had two punctures with five bikes and 1300 miles. My ST picked up a 3.5" perfectly straight wood screw on the rear that for the life of me can't imagine how it got into the tire. I carry a good plug kit so was rolling in ten minutes and was alerted to the pressure drop via my tire pressure monitoring system. The TDM850 with us also got a screw, but fortunately no tubes among us so no trouble.

 

[Timmeh]

I love my Tenere but truly lust after a KTM 1190.
I have no idea if it's noticeably lighter.
I'd love to ride the 1090....

If I step to a smaller more off-road focused bike it will either be the rumored FZ 07 engined bike or a Honda AT.
The couple of guys that I've talked to that own the AT both really like the bike.

I really liked the F800 GS, but seem to have outgrown my infatuation of it.