Looking hard at the Super Ten

timebak

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Joined
May 15, 2019
Messages
169
Location
Rogersville, Alabama, USA
I'm presently bikeless, but going to get back into Adventure biking. Been doing lots of research, but being 100+ miles away from any regularly stocking motorcycle dealer, almost all of my research has been online and talking to the few other Adv bikers I know or run across. Because of my isolated location, reliability and ease of maintenance are very important. I keep coming back to the Super Ten (and one other bike), especially the Super Ten ES, because I'll be eating a lot of highway miles as well as gravel and dirt road miles. And I love to go bike-camping.

Very surprisingly, this area is just about an Adv biker's paradise. Around here, I can ride thousands of miles of gravel and dirt roads, two-lane paved twisties, and major 4-lanes are close and interstates within 100 miles.
 

Mak10

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Aug 20, 2018
Messages
2,567
Location
SE Idaho
I bought mine and am loving it. If you are expecting a dirt bike- it’s not. If you are expecting a sport bike it’s not.
With that out of the way, it’s just what I wanted. I can take it off road, and it will take me where I want to go. I can take off the luggage and it is sportier and has gobs of power.
Tires are a big factor in performance. With knobbies it is much more confident off road. With street oriented tires it is much quieter and smooth on road.
It will comfortably go for hundreds of miles and pack your gear. I bought an es and love how easy it is to change for the load you have.

I am having a ball on mine. It has become my favorite means of transport. + 50mpg doesn’t hurt either.
 

2talltoo

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Joined
Jan 21, 2018
Messages
295
Location
Denver, CO
I also have an es model and love it. Just finished the Arrow exhaust and ECU flash and miss my GSA wet head even less now. Last I knew the dealer in Grand Junction, CO advertising 2018 es for $13,999 will let it go for 13.1k total out the door. Look it up on Cycletrader.com
 

Sierra1

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Nov 7, 2016
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14,812
Location
Joshua TX
....If you are expecting a sport bike it’s not....I bought an es and love how easy it is to change for the load you have....It has become my favorite means of transport. + 50mpg doesn’t hurt either.
He's right, but, I wasn't expecting a sport bike....and it turned out to be one. Depending on skill level, yours & theirs, the Tenere can embarrass the hell out of true sport bikes. And, you don't have to worry much about road surfaces, 'cuz she doesn't need roads.
 

Mak10

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Aug 20, 2018
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2,567
Location
SE Idaho
Much better than a sport bike. I don’t have to ride it like a monkey humping a football. ;)
 

steve68steve

Active Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2014
Messages
435
Location
Seacoast, NH
It's a great choice. The only problem it has is being such a perfect all-arounder than it doesn't win any bike comparisons. There's always another bike that's better on road, better off road, faster, cheaper, lighter, simpler, more advanced... but there's no other bike that strikes such a perfect balance that it threatens to be called "boring." It just does it all without complaining, every day, no drama.

If I had to do it again, I'd get a well-sorted used bike. There are plenty of low-mileage bikes that older guys have well-farkled and responsibly maintained.
 

Checkswrecks

Ungenear to broked stuff
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Mar 7, 2011
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11,489
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Welcome aboard. After nine model years, most of the big questions can be answered with a search.
Nope, this bike would never work off road.
;)
 

Flat lander

Active Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2018
Messages
309
Location
Lawrence Ks.
Welcome. From Kansas. I've had my es a little over a year now and have no regrets. Plan on crossing the border to do some riding in your state this fall.
 

Luke

New Member
Joined
Mar 29, 2019
Messages
3
Location
Sarnia, Ontario
I went to a 2018 Super Tenere ES last year from a 650 VStrom and am loving it. All day comfort on the highway or gravel roads, good weather protection, and a planted effortless ride. You really can ride all day and then get up the next morning and want to do it all over again. Highway stability, shaft drive, cruise control, good suspension all add up to a great bike. I don't do any hard core off road riding, so I can't comment on that. My focus is highway and dirt roads, reliability, cost of ownership and comfort.... I highly recommend it for those reasons.
 
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Major E

New Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2020
Messages
14
Location
Maryland
You won't regret with getting the Super Tenere ES model. I hear that the Gen II models (which the latest years are) is the way to go. I love my 2016 bought new in 2018 from a local dealer closing down its shop. $12,000, which is a steal. I recommend a re-flash from Anthony Corcella (on this forum), a full Arrow exhaust system, and the Touratech aluminum cases. Great combination. It is the best all around bike that I've owned. One of the best bikes for the money, too. A well kept secret. From what I read, it should be super reliable and parts and service are less than BMW (of which I have earned several). Ake the plunge!
 

RCinNC

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Joined
Aug 30, 2014
Messages
2,816
Location
North Carolina
I bought my 2014 S10, sight unseen, after a lot of on line research. I hadn't even sat on one prior to buying it. I'd had a V-Strom before it, but before the Strom I'd ridden a Harley Road King for a decade. I took kind of a gamble that I'd like the bike, and I wasn't disappointed. I'm just shy of 75,000 trouble free miles right now, and the only thing on the bike that's ever failed are a couple headlight bulbs. The only thing it's ever been in a shop for is to have the valve clearance check done. It's literally the best bike I've ever owned. Even with 75,000 miles on it, it jump on it right now and ride to California without a worry about mechanical problems.
 

ornery

Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2020
Messages
14
Location
AZ
3 weeks in to a 2020,,,,,,still reading the manual,,,,,,lololololol ;) and learning the bike,,, until I learn all the stuff I'm just riding it! Forgiving,,,,a real confidence building machine. I hate wrenching any more, just riding. SO happy I bought this over a new GS. Can't find any real comparisons,I just LIKE it....
 

timebak

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Joined
May 15, 2019
Messages
169
Location
Rogersville, Alabama, USA
I bought a 2016 ES last year on Aug 31st or Sept 1st. I love it. Rode it from NE Missouri to Utah and back this past May with eemsreno and met Mak10 out there. We had a blast. I've been down in the Ozarks on it twice and ridden it a pretty fair amount with some other bikers from work on the northern MO backroads. It does everything I wanted to do and then some. A couple of the local guys I ride with have highly modified, hot rod Harleys and I can easily outrun them at will.... REALLY surprised them and they've gained a lot of respect for the S10. I've had a good time installing farkles on it as well. It has greatly exceeded my expectations.
 
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