Is ES worth it.

[lastparrot]

IS the electric suspension and heated hand grips worth it for an additional grand? Keep it mind right now I don't plan on doing any heavy off road, if anything a fire road or two.

 

[barkingllizard]

I'm going to say yes, lastparrot, keeping in mind I have nothing to back that up except for my own want.....

 

[Magdump]

I opted not to get the ES model because I like things simple and like you, don't intend to get hardcore off-road with it. That is what my WR250R is for. The ES system seems just another complex system system to break. I am no awesome rider that will push my bike to its limits so I have no use for it. For such folks that will use the S10 in a hardcore manner, it may have significant utility. Seems an unnecessary bell/whistle but take this in the context of an opinion from a novice. Will be interesting to see if the forum experts feel such systems are worth it.

 

[bnschroder]

I got one because I got a good price on a 14 and the non ES I saw at good prices were all 13 at the time. The 14 upgrades are probably more important than the ES, but i REALLY wanted the heated grips, and I often take my kid around and like the easily adjustable pre-load.
Otherwise I am with you - I probably couldn't tell the difference in the different set ups with my butt. Hell - I don't even know when a Pro would go soft or hard? I guess harder in the dirt, to avoid bottoming out and soft on the interstate for a smooth right. But then again, it's the dirt where it's bumpy and you may want it to be a little softer. Help!

 

[LJM]

Very subjective but I opted for the ES and really like it. I use soft settings for hwg travel & real bumpy city streets which CA has plenty of. Use the med & hard for back road fun. And I use the heated grips about every morning they work well. Plus I figured the ES option will be good for re-sale when the time comes. Pretty versatile feature & I think it's worth the money.

 

[vapexpr]

Yes, I pulled into my Yamaha dealer on a Stryker (2014) with numb fingers and left with a S10 ES (2014) with very happy hands. The electric suspension works well for me as half my riding is two-up. It makes it easy to constantly adjust for the changing load. If I lived in a warmer climate and always rode with the same load then it would not be worth the extra money.

 

[Lutsie]

Yes. I got the es only because of a good deal would have payed full difference in a heart beat after trying it. I change the settings between soft and medium every day commuting. Can't wait to take it off road. Going camping in 2 weeks so I'm get to try a new preload.

 

[Texasten]

I opted for non es, because then I could have the best color, blue!! *2014*

If I was buying a 2015, would more seriously consider the es, due to nice red color available.....

 

[Lutsie]

I opted for non es, because then I could have the best color, blue!! *2014*

If I was buying a 2015, would more seriously consider the es, due to nice red color available.....

I like my matt black but tex is right, the blue looks awesome.

 

[lastparrot]

So here is what I have in front of me. I have two different dealers in two different states. In my state I can get a new red 15 ES for what I think is a pretty good out the door cost. In the other state I can get a new blue 14 without ES for around 2400 less plus 500 to deliver since other than riding it I have no way to get it here and I don't believe in taking a marathon ride on a new bike (I want to be familiar and get use to it for a little bit). I like the red, it looks nice. Blue is ok and I could easily live with it. Of the ES options the Heated Grips during fall and winter would be nice. I know I will need to upgrade the windshield, raise the bar and get new cables, not to mention I want to find a luggage option that looks a little better so all my "savings" would go in that direction......What to do.... Thoughts?

 

[bigbob]

I know I will need to upgrade the windshield, raise the bar and get new cables

Get one before you worry about raising the bars. I ordered the bar risers for the 2012-13 as soon as I got my 2014. they would not fit so were sent back. Last fall nobody had 1" risers for the 2014 so I quit worrying about them. Now I do not think I need them. The 2014 are already higher than the gen 1 bikes. And now there is a German company that sells a 1" that does not need new cables.

 

[88millimeter]

I dont own an ES but if the springs are as soft as the '12 then the on-the-fly adjustment is pointless because it should always be at full stiff whether you are riding off road or on the tarmac in the twisties. Just my .02 cents.

 

[bigbob]

Get one before you worry about raising the bars. I ordered the bar risers for the 2012-13 as soon as I got my 2014. they would not fit so were sent back. Last fall nobody had 1" risers for the 2014 so I quit worrying about them. Now I do not think I need them. The 2014 are already higher than the gen 1 bikes. And now there is a German company that sells a 1" that does not need new cables.

No sooner post this and I see this one with the 2014-15 risers.

http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=15322.0

 

[snakebitten]

If you are not someone who is going to ever custom "spring and valve" your Tenere for your weight and riding preferences, I think the ES is almost a no-brainer.

The upcharge is amazingly inexpensive and offers the luxury of experiencing effortless suspension tuning to the very folks that are least likely to have even touched their suspension otherwise.

Ironic and really cool.

 

[CurtC]

I thought the heated grips were available on the non-es also?

 

[fredz43]

I dont own an ES but if the springs are as soft as the '12 then the on-the-fly adjustment is pointless because it should always be at full stiff whether you are riding off road or on the tarmac in the twisties. Just my .02 cents.

The ES shock spring is a LOT softer than the standard, 753 lb/in for standard 428 lb/in for ES but the system works very well. I don't understand how Yamaha worked all this magic, but it works great. I had over $3,000 in suspension upgrades to my 2012 and now have a 2014 ES and like it a lot better and not because I do a lot of off road riding. Probably 95% on road and the rest so far has been unpaved roads, but I hope to do more. I have never gone to full preload (setting 4 of 4) on the ES and normally have it on the lowest preload when riding solo and the next one up with full luggage, just like the icons show on the display. All of this has worked wonderfully for me.

The only thing I didn't like about the 14 ES was the matte color, so I had mine painted 2013 white before it was started.

 

[MIKE R]

I too like the electronic suspension, and change it regularly when riding the country roads of the Yorkshire dales.

I don't know about the US, but in the UK the ES version also comes with a centre stand, rear luggage rack and passenger grab rails as well as the heated grips which are not on the standard model.

Mike

 

[ridefire]

The only thing I didn't like about the 14 ES was the matte color, so I had mine painted 2013 white before it was started.
[/quote]

I am thinking about a 14 es coming from my 12 and was thinking about doing the same on color, Would you mind posting some pics ?

 

[Balmorerider]

I have the 2015 ES model and love the ES part! I ride two up quite frequently and think the system works great!

Chris

 

[vapexpr]

I too like the electronic suspension, and change it regularly when riding the country roads of the Yorkshire dales.

I don't know about the US, but in the UK the ES version also comes with a centre stand, rear luggage rack and passenger grab rails as well as the heated grips which are not on the standard model.

Mike

It's got the same stuff in the US.