In defense of Gen 1...

[adventurelounger]

Ya know, your read all sorts of stuff on the internets. But every now and then it's worth juxtaposing your own personal and tactile experience in the physical world to arrive at your own judgement.

I've read a lot about Gen 1/Gen 2 Tenere differences. It came up a bunch in the "what do you hate about your Tenere" thread (either on here or ADVrider...can't remember which).

But here's the thing:

I went (again) for a nice ride this weekend on my 2013 Gen 1 Super T. Bone ass stock. No reflash, no clutch basket replacement, nada. I have about 6K miles on her. And you know what? That bike is pretty darn near perfect.

I've seen people complain about horsepower. Are you kidding me? It hauls my ass with alacrity. Even T mode is more than adequate, and S is brisk.

It feels like it's actually broken in and loosened up nicely in the first few thousand miles. All the clutch basket hoo-ha? I don't know if I'm missing something but my Tenner shifts like butter (at least relative to my old Airhead, which shifts like a piece of antique farm equipment).

The braking is superb. The ABS has already saved my bacon once.

I actually LIKE the half analog/half digital dash. I like seeing a tach needle. The windscreen, with the addition of an X-Creen extender, is superb. With the OEM heated grips, the bike is beyond pleasant riding in high-forties temperatures (which it was this weekend).

The ergos are pretty spot on for my 6'1 frame. The seat, while not perfect, would be pretty good if they just made it flat from the factory.

The panniers, which people bitch about (finicky locks! not really metal!) have worked flawlessly for me.

And even when I bought it (in late 2014) it was a virtual steal.

The fit and finish have been impeccable. I haven't had a single solitary problem. Not a one. And about half its life so far has been on New England dirt roads and trails, so it's not a pavement queen.

Could I let the internet talk me into something newer (Gen2), more "premium" (a GS), more off-roady (Africa Twin), or ballsier (KTM)? For sure.

But is this beast about as good and faithful as they come? Hells yeah, says I. One enthusiast's actual experience.

Maybe it'll be another mild New England winter and I can keep riding her 'til spring.

Just putting her in the garage tonight...

 

[wtwill]

::026:: I could not have said it better myself. I too have a '13 that I bought in fall of '14 at a steal. I have 13k miles on her with no issue what so ever. The only changes I have made to the bike are crash bars, skid plate, Parabellum Windshield, and Oxford heated grips. I have ridden 500+ mile days with the stock seat in the stock position and I have no complaints in the seat. My shoulders and neck suffer some so I suppose I could adjust the handlebar position some but its not bad enough to bother with. I came from a VFR800 and I am perfectly happy with the power of the Super 10. It is as close to perfect for me in stock configuration as I could imagine a bike being.

::021::

 

[Pterodactyl]

You guys with your 2013s and your "gotta have the latest and greatest" attitude. 19.800 miles on my 2012 with no mods made yet to any of the supposed issues.

I will trade all my blue painted bits for your white ones, tho......

 

[HBLQRider]

Love my Gen 1

::022::

 

[groundhog]

::026:: I have 24.000 miles so far on my Gen 1 that I bought eighteen months ago, it's standard apart from a Yoshi and I love it, and keep loving it more and more!
There's a post on here (I think) from someone who has gone from a Gen 1 to a Gen 2 and doesn't seem to be enjoying the change too much, as well as others that do. It's such a personal thing that I don't think you can definitively say one is better than the other
They are all great ::008::

 

[Roge]

70,000kms (43,500Miles) not an issue never ridden a Gen 2 so can compare, I keep thinking of swapping mine for something usually after not riding it for a bit, then I ride and do you know, why would I change. cost nothing but tyres fuel and some break pads, changed the CCT bolted some Roge bits to it its mine, it functions and I trust it.

 

[78YZ]

I too love my white 2013... Can I still post here if it is flashed and has the 2014 clutch basket? ???




::006::


Taken today deep in the state forest.

 

[RCinNC]

I think every bike has some glitch that people focus on and bitch about; sometimes it's justified, and sometimes it's something that gets really blown out of proportion as to how often the problem actually happens. Forums can make it worse, because they are like an echo chamber. Some guys start complaining about an issue, other guys pick up on it and start complaining about it, and pretty soon it seems to an observer that the problem is way more common than it actually is. You hear twenty guys on a forum bitch about blown headlight switches, or bad stators, or computers needing reflashes, or hard starts, and pretty soon you find yourself thinking your bike is a piece of crap plagued by issues, and you just have to get that reflash or clutch basket, even if personally you never really thought it needed those things. Confirmation bias at its finest.

Complaints like "low horsepower", or "the engine feels agricultural" are so subjective that they're almost worthless. For a guy who just came off an FJR1300 it might not feel that powerful, but it feels like a rocket compared to someone who was riding a Road King.

People love to bitch. If there isn't a real issue to complain about, people will find one anyway.

 

[fredz43]

I waited 11 months to get one in the first shipment of 2012 bikes in July, 2011 and loved it for every mile of the 34,000+ I put on it. I now have 24,000 miles on my Gen 2 ES and love it even more, so there's that. ;D

BTW, to the OP, the clutch basket improvement on the gen 2 has nothing to do with shifting, it has to do with reducing the 3k rpm "vibration" that us gen 1 owners thought was an engine characteristic, but turned out to be clutch design. Not a big deal, but one of the many refinements that are evident to previous owners of Gen 1 models.

If they hadn't come up with a refined model, I'm sure that I would still be perfectly happy with my flashed, Ohlins suspended gen 1.

Happy riding to you with your gen 1, adventurelounger. With only 6,000 miles, it isn't even broken in yet. ::008::

 

[Cycledude]

Yes gen 2 has some very nice improvements ! CRUISE CONTROL is the main feature I really wish my 13 would have, the other stuff is nice but no big deal for me. maybe gen 3 will even have self cancelling turn signals ! After riding bikes with self canceling turn signals for 30+ years it just seems like a very important safety feature that Yamaha simply left out to save themselves a few bucks.

 

[JRE]

I've ridden a few bikes with self cancelling signals granted it's been a handful of years) and I found it to be inconsistent which could be even more hazardous. Without the feature, I've gotten into the (obsessive) habit of hitting the cancel button often and it's rare for me to leave them on and if I do, not for long

 

[NoMorBills]

Agree, Agree Agree, 2012 gen1 50,000 miles. Stock tune, stock clutch, Clutch jumper in since day 3 , upgraded the suspension after the rear shock blew at 36,000. No other issues. never have had to adjust the valves. Best bike I have every owned.

 

[adventurelounger]

I waited 11 months to get one in the first shipment of 2012 bikes in July, 2011 and loved it for every mile of the 34,000+ I put on it. I now have 24,000 miles on my Gen 2 ES and love it even more, so there's that. ;D

BTW, to the OP, the clutch basket improvement on the gen 2 has nothing to do with shifting, it has to do with reducing the 3k rpm "vibration" that us gen 1 owners thought was an engine characteristic, but turned out to be clutch design. Not a big deal, but one of the many refinements that are evident to previous owners of Gen 1 models.

If they hadn't come up with a refined model, I'm sure that I would still be perfectly happy with my flashed, Ohlins suspended gen 1.

Happy riding to you with your gen 1, adventurelounger. With only 6,000 miles, it isn't even broken in yet. ::008::

Thank you. I know it's not very impressive mileage, but I divide my seat time between 3 bikes—my Airhead, a Guzzi scrambler, and the Tenere. Sorta like having three wives!

 

[smudger]

I also agree I have a 2013 Gen1 with a sorry 8000miles compared to you guys she is one of the nicest bikes I have ever owned. If the bike is having clutch basket vibrations or a shortage of grunt I am honestly not aware of it. Regarding the self cancelling indicators I have them on my 2015 Indian Chief Classic and sometimes if you don't reach the required lean angle they do not cancel so if you are not careful you still have them flashing up the road.
of the two bikes it seems to be the S10 I grab the keys for most often as she is like riding a magic carpet and I have to say I have loved every mile I have travelled on her. ::016::

 

[eemsreno]

My 12 isn't fully broke in yet so my opinion my change some but I doubt it. Every time I get to ride it I just can't get over how nice it is.!
No flash and it runs perfect! I've been ask if I have ever rode one with a flash. No but I rode an R1 the other day and guess what, I like mine better!, I rode a V-Max and guess what I like mine better, I rode an FZ09 and guess what, I like mine better, I rode a GSA and liked mine better. Why would I reflash my bike when it runs perfect.
I have ridden some 14 and newer and they are very nice! But so is mine!
I do have electronic Cruise but don't use it much, I like riding my bike not letting it take me for a ride.
There may be nicer bikes out there but I haven't rode any yet.

Steve

 

[Dogdaze]

Groundhog mentioned a Gen 2 owner that had issues, that may have been me! I put it down to user error and new bike vs old bike comfort. I will say this, my Gen 1 made me feel like I would never buy another Yamaha product ever again, it really was not good! However, I'm glad all you Gen 1 owners like your bikes, but for me, , the Gen 2 is the bike the S10 should have always been. It reallyy his much smoother ( I did get the clutch basket changed in the Gen 1) engine feels and sounds better, the cruise control really is worth it, paying speeding fines can be costly here ::010:: so was it worth it to me to change? Without a doubt, or back to Suzuki I would have gone.

 

[ace50]

All the clutch basket hoo-ha? I don't know if I'm missing something but my Tenner shifts like butter (at least relative to my old Airhead, which shifts like a piece of antique farm equipment).

The clutch basket upgrade isn't about how it shifts, it's about excessive vibrations around 3K. (cruising RPM)
It was so bad on mine I thought I just bought the wrong bike.
After the upgrade, it's now the finest bike I've ridden. (still have some minor gripes though) ::014::

 

[Sierra1]

I don't have a Gen 1 because I didn't "discover" the TENERE until it was a Gen 2. My FJ/Rs kept me happy. As long as you love what ya' got, it doesn't matter. I also have two JEEPs. A YJ & a JK. Each generation of the JEEP has its supporters and detractors claiming one is better than the other. The TENERE world seems to be similar. My opinion for either the JEEP or TENERE is that you either have one....or you don't; you either have one, or you want one. I call the TENERE the JEEP of motorcycling....street, dirt, it doesn't matter. So much aftermarket support for both that no two will be the same. ENJOY LIFE!

 

[fredz43]

I've ridden a few bikes with self cancelling signals granted it's been a handful of years) and I found it to be inconsistent which could be even more hazardous. Without the feature, I've gotten into the (obsessive) habit of hitting the cancel button often and it's rare for me to leave them on and if I do, not for long

I agree, Joe. I had a 2004 Gold Wing with self cancelling turn signals and sometimes it would cancel them before I got to the turn. Unsafe, in my opinion. I prefer to do my own self cancelling. ;D

 

[SilverBullet]

No defense needed, Gen 1 is a great bike. Ya'll just need to get out and ride more (except Steve). I picked up my brand new 2013 at a bargain price the beginning of last year. Still 2 months shy of 2 years old and clock is at 62,000 troublefree miles. I just put on new tires and brakes and stocked up consumables to last me till next summer. Only engine oil and gas needed.






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