Looking for some advice going from cruiser to ADV

[scartozi]

Hello all!

New to the forum and 1st post. Ok, so here's my background. Soon to be 49, been riding motorcycles consistently since I was 5, mainly dirt bikes, although I've had a few crotch rockets and Harley's over the years and currently ride a 2006 Yamaha Road Star Midnight Silverado 1700. I love my RS and my wife and I ride every chance we get, so 95% of the time I ride 2 up. I'm thinking about selling my RS and buying a ST because I've wanted one for years and ever since my cousin got his T700 it's got me itchin for one, big time!

BUT, here's my dilemma, I feel safer when riding in a more upright dirt bike position, not saying the RS is hard to handle, I just feel more "at home" in the upright position. The RS is comfy, but it does hurt my tailbone after riding for a few hours, even after purchasing a wide touring seat. My legs do get a little cramped after a while since I don't have highway pegs and at 6'-3" with a 36" inseam I've just accepted that. With the RS my wife has a comfy seat, floorboards and tall backrest. I've seen a few fold-up backrest options for the ST and also the trunk with a pad and touring seats which are all good options. I think my main concern would be if the passenger pegs are too high. My wife is 5'-8" and even after 50 miles or so she has to stretch he legs on the RS. To be totally transparent, I'm trying to convince her that she would be just as comfy on the ST as she is on the RS. Plus, we do a lot of backpacking and really want to motorcycle camp and go on more adventures, but with a more capable motorcycle than the RS.

I guess my questions to you guys would be.....
- Passenger feedback when riding 2 up, are they comfortable on long rides?
- Anyone here switch from a cruiser to adv? Any regrets?
- Are there any specific years to avoid when looking for a used ST?

I appreciate any feedback you guys can offer!

 

[Strummer]

Hello and welcome from Italy.
I did switch from cruiser ( not as big as yours) Yamaha 950 Bolt to 2020 Yamaha super tenere...
What to say.
If only I had took that decision earlier...
I don't even think to go back or regret the decision...
The S10 is a good bike, not the best out there, maybe for some a little bit "old" but it's still a great bike.
If you manage to try one you will get what I am trying to tell you...

 

[Mak10]

I ride two up, as my wife likes to go. It is one of the main uses- the ability to ride two up that makes this bike ideal for me. I have tried to make it as comfortable as possible for her. Corbin pillion seat, backrest on the Givi top box, and a heated jacket, proper gear, communication has done wonders.

My wife knows not the comfort of a road liner. I don’t know if she would be happy on the S10 after riding one.

 

[MileageMonster]

I switched from a Pan European ST1300 to the SuperTen. Only thing I regret is waiting as long as I did.
Over 40 years of riding motorcycles, mostly on All terrains, almost the entire series of XT.
500, 600, 660 and finally, the “King of the XT’s” the 1200. Never one regret about this choice.
Great mileage, great riding position, unsurpassed in reliability and above all, a special, not common beast…

 

[Panman]

Good day I'm 70 years of age 6'3 and about 250 Lbs. 34-35 inch inseam seat in the high position (Actually a custom seat that sits in the low position but built up as high as the stock high position). Guys like me never find quite enough leg room but I've made a 6,700 mile trip to AK and another 6,300 mile trip last summer and a lot of five and six hundred mile days and I survive just fine.
I can't speak to passenger comfort but I'm sure you could find some lower pegs for the rear. They look to be the same as my FJR and I had lowering pegs on it when I thought my wife still might be able to ride but couldn't.
I have three flattened disks from riding choppers and low riders and never would go back. Yesterday I took the Ten for a quick 300 plus trip over the North Cascade Hwy for a Mocha in Winthrop. I used almost five gallons of fuel in a 180 mile as the Ten can make a nice Sport Tourer also. A lot of folks say the Ten is long in tooth, I suppose I could find things to complain about but I'm not looking elsewhere either.

 

[RCinNC]

I had a Harley Road King from 2004 to 2012, when I bought a V-Strom. I do a lot a two up riding and touring; she and I rode up and down the east coast and cross country on it. While riding out in the southwest US, I got the itch for a better bike that could go down all those interesting dirt roads I kept seeing. So I went through a two year V-Strom period, then bought the Super Tenere.

My passenger is about 5'7", but she has a long inseam (about 33"-34"). She is far more comfortable on the back of the S10 than she ever was on the Harley. The footpeg position doesn't cause her any discomfort, and we've easily done 400 mile days together on the stock seat. She's told me that she has more room on the Yamaha than on the Harley. My S10 has 90,000 miles on it, and I'd say at least 2/3 of that was with her riding pillion. The only advantage the Harley had over the Yamaha as far as she's concerned was that the Harley was easier for her to mount and dismount. I could never convince her to stand on the footpeg to mount the Yamaha, so she has to do a Rockettes style kick to get on.

The different luggage options also make the S10 a way better two up touring platform than my Harley was. The leather clad hard bags on the HD might have looked badass, but they were virtually useless for practical storage for a long trip. The knockoff Pelicans I have on the Yamaha are way more practical for two people who are going to live on the road for a week or two.

I have zero regrets in switching from a cruiser to an ADV style bike. I doubt that I'd ever go back to a cruiser again, and cruisers were basically what I rode for 28 years. I'm in my late 50's, and have been riding since I was 18, and I didn't switch to an ADV style bike until I was in my late 40's.

If I was buying a used Super Ten, I'd probably confine my search to the 2014 and up models. The 2014 and up had cruise control as a standard accessory, and had an upgraded clutch basket and cam chain tensioner. Some riders of the pre-2014 models reported some clutch chudder with the OEM clutch basket, and there were some reports of premature failures of the cam chain tensioners. Both of those are easy fixes (the newer parts are backwards compatible with pre-2014 models), but the lack of cruise control would be a lot harder (and more expensive) to rectify.

 

[elricfate]

- Passenger feedback when riding 2 up, are they comfortable on long rides?
- Anyone here switch from a cruiser to adv? Any regrets?
- Are there any specific years to avoid when looking for a used ST?

Don't know, I ride solo.
None at all. I went from a Suzuki C90 to an S10, it was like flipping the channel from The Flintstones to The Jetsons.
Not really, just know that a first gen doesn't have the ES suspension, cruise control, or heated grips. Those are things you will have to add yourself (except the suspension)

 

[Mak10]

I would recommend the ES version if riding two up. It is so handy to easily change suspension settings. I use it a lot.

 

[scartozi]

Thank everyone for the feedback, that's EXACTALY the kind of info I'm looking for! I've been trying to locate one locally to sit on and potentially take on a test ride, but no luck yet. I have a few more dealers to check out.
RCinNC....great info, I might just have to read your reply to my wife, thank you!
elricfate....where about are you located in Ohio? I'm in the Sunbury/Lewis Center area.

I know that if it was just me I'd already have one, end of story. But, since it's something that my wife and I do together I don't want her to be uncomfortable and therefore not enjoy it. Personally, I think she would be more comfortable on a ST and have more leg room even before I'd lower the pegs, I just need to convince her of that.

 

[Sierra1]

. . . . - Are there any specific years to avoid when looking for a used ST? . . . .

As stated, there's no "bad" years, but '14 and newer are just more refined; factory cruise on ALL models. Mak is 100% correct on the E-Suspension. You can go from solo to 2-up with the press of a button, and change the compression/dampening with the same button. . . . on the fly. I've never had a cruiser due to the seating position, and have always had sport tours. This is my favorite bike ever. And since you're coming from a Yamaha, you already know about the rock steady reliability. The bikes out there that many consider "better" than the Tenere, will cost a lot more both in the initial investment, and repair/upkeep costs down the road.

 

[magic]

My current stable includes a 2013 Super Tenere and a 2009 HD Super Glide and 6 other bikes. I really like the upright seating position of the S10, but my wife prefers the HD for riding 2 up. It's much easier for us to climb on the HD especially with the side cases and the taller seat height on the S10. Also, the passenger pegs on the S10 would have to be lowered if we were to ride any distance. My Super Glide has forward controls so more of my weight is on my tailbone area. The S10 seating position is more comfortable for longer rides.

 

[Bill_C]

I moved from a big cruiser to my S10 and have never looked back. Much more comfortable for long rides. Better suspension helps but the leg room and seating position are what really sold me. That said, I have a complete Russle Day Long seat set, which makes it increadibly easy to ride 4+ hours in the saddle with no breaks. If you live on the West Coast, I highly recommend paying a visit to RDL.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

 

[Sierra1]

. . . . I appreciate any feedback you guys can offer!

If you're up for a fly-n-ride, here is a good candidate: 2020 Super T, ES 3500 miles | Yamaha Super Tenere Forum
This time of year, the weather will be fine. Should only take a couple of days to get it home. It's already equipped too.

 

[Panman]

My two cents on the ES thing are they aren't for big guys and their wife's! From what I've been hearing the rear shock just doesn't make it for us big folks, especially with the wife unit and camping gear. The ES may do for a while but the rear just doesn't cut it if your playing as they are a bit under sprung and wearing one out can be spendy.
You will wear out the stock unit on a standard unit also and if you are a ride at all it will go away faster than you expect. Put a Penske on it sprung for both of you and it is a shock you can rebuild.
2014 and newer and you know the rest.

 

[gv550]

I've had cruisers since 2000 and bought my T12 in 2016, sold my latest cruiser (a 2009 Voyager 1700) in 2018 and the T12 became our two-up touring bike for 1.5 years. We travelled a lot together, one month-long trip, and the only complaint I ever heard from wifey was the big step to get on and off the bike. Stock seat was comfortable and she had the top box to lean against. Hyperpro suspension properly setup for two works great. We added a Goldwing in 2019 so it replaced the T12 as our touring bike but she still says that big trip we did on the T12 was one of our best.

 

[elricfate]

elricfate....where about are you located in Ohio? I'm in the Sunbury/Lewis Center area.

I'm not far from you, I'm in Dublin (on the wrong side of the river).

My two cents on the ES thing are they aren't for big guys and their wife's! From what I've been hearing the rear shock just doesn't make it for us big folks, especially with the wife unit and camping gear. The ES may do for a while but the rear just doesn't cut it if your playing as they are a bit under sprung and wearing one out can be spendy.
You will wear out the stock unit on a standard unit also and if you are a ride at all it will go away faster than you expect. Put a Penske on it sprung for both of you and it is a shock you can rebuild.
2014 and newer and you know the rest.

I mean, I'm 300lbs and ran the stock suspension for a real long time. I just had it set for two riders + luggage when it was me and luggage. I did a spring swap for a slightly higher rate spring (here in the thread, I posted pictures and part numbers IIRC) and I now ride it on the single rider setting. That's been the last year or so. I don't ride two up, so I can't speak to the "and their wives" part, but if you are bigger, I would absolutely do the spring swap.

ETA: https://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?threads/2015-es-rear-spring-swap.28232/

 

[Mak10]

I find the stock spring rate excellent. ES settings spot on. I weigh 180 and my pillion 145.

 

[scartozi]

Elricfate….You’re about 25min away, small world! I grew up in Worthington and my kids go to Dublin schools.

I’m not sure what the max load capacity is for an S10, but I’m 270lbs and the spousal unit is 145lbs, so that’s 415lbs before any gear.

My stock RS shock is trash, bottoms out fairly easily. Most guys use a modified goldwing shock and swear by it. If I keep the RS I’ll eventually do the swap.

 

[Sierra1]

. . . . I’m not sure what the max load capacity is for an S10, but I’m 270lbs and the spousal unit is 145lbs, so that’s 415lbs before any gear. . . .

I think I read somewhere that max load is 450lbs. I'm 300, and spousal unit 150. Like Mak, I find that the stock ES shock is fine. I just select two helmets, and luggage. It will go through the curves just fine when I'm chasing my kid on his FJR. BUT, differ'nt folks have differ'nt tastes when it come to suspensions.

 

[elricfate]

[/QUOTE]

I think I read somewhere that max load is 450lbs. I'm 300, and spousal unit 150. Like Mak, I find that the stock ES shock is fine. I just select two helmets, and luggage. It will go through the curves just fine when I'm chasing my kid on his FJR. BUT, differ'nt folks have differ'nt tastes when it come to suspensions.

Yep. I only went with the higher rate spring so I could ease off the preload and have more wiggle room for camping gear/hauling. I am just pleased that it's gone so well.

Elricfate….You’re about 25min away, small world! I grew up in Worthington and my kids go to Dublin schools.

I’m not sure what the max load capacity is for an S10, but I’m 270lbs and the spousal unit is 145lbs, so that’s 415lbs before any gear.

My stock RS shock is trash, bottoms out fairly easily. Most guys use a modified goldwing shock and swear by it. If I keep the RS I’ll eventually do the swap.

That super ten will be fine under those weights. I just get antsy for "more performance, less stress" when I'm doing upgrades.