I realize that this is a delicate question, but please bear with me. The S10 owners that i have had the pleasure of speaking with love their S10's dearly. However, more often than not, they express a desire for more HP considering how heavy the bike is. Admittedly, the S10 is underpowered when compared to the GS or Super Adventure. I would like to hear from the S10 owners if they think the lack of HP is a hindurance to the performance of the bike or if they think it's a non-issue.
Super Tenere Under Powered?
- Thread starter Maverick
- Start date
hojo in sc
Member
To each his own I guess. I've had many bikes and just before my first ST I had sold my GSA and the first time I got on the interstate with the ST, WOW, I was impressed at how much quicker I got up to speed compared to the GSA, no regrets here.
Considering that people put turbos on Triumph Rocket's and Hayabusa's ???, is there ever enough power!?
I've been on faster bikes but, the only time I wish the S10 had more power is when I was passing someone, with little room to spare.
I've been on faster bikes but, the only time I wish the S10 had more power is when I was passing someone, with little room to spare.
The S-10 has very use-able power. I ride it 2-up, loaded with camping gear. In dirt conditions, it's very tractable. That is, it pulls smoothly and predictably from low RPM making it possible to negotiate sand and slippery, rough inclines while at max GVWR. I've ridden many of the twistiest mountain roads in the western US in this trim and never been disappointed in the bike's performance. My suspension has been tuned for my riding envelope. After that, put it on the highway and cruise at 75 mph for hours. Commuter traffic, merging onto a freeway? The bike gets out of its own way in a hurry if you twist the throttle.
If I needed to pop wheelies, do power slides, or burn a rear tire off in 1500 miles, then yeah, I would need more power. For what I need, to haul my up-rider and our stuff all over the place, the Super Tenere really fits the bill. Even though I have a flashed ECU, I leave it T-mode most of the time.
If I needed to pop wheelies, do power slides, or burn a rear tire off in 1500 miles, then yeah, I would need more power. For what I need, to haul my up-rider and our stuff all over the place, the Super Tenere really fits the bill. Even though I have a flashed ECU, I leave it T-mode most of the time.
Andyb43
Member
Plenty of power but had it flashed to sort out the lower gear restrictions making the power useable all through the range. so it great for me. If i want head banging stuff i will get on my sports bike.
Honestly unplug yourself from the internet for just a moment and go and ride one.
The only time the power would come into question when compared to other bikes in its class is a straight line drag race, and top end speed approaching 200km/+
When you are negotiating a step rutted rocky climb in 2nd just above idle and the S10 pulls it self up the hill without breaking a sweat you'd never think to yourself it needs more power, same goes for when you are on a flat gravel road and want to flick the tail out the S10 will break traction super easy.
If all you want to do is slab it at 200km/h+ buy a sports tourer.
The only time the power would come into question when compared to other bikes in its class is a straight line drag race, and top end speed approaching 200km/+
When you are negotiating a step rutted rocky climb in 2nd just above idle and the S10 pulls it self up the hill without breaking a sweat you'd never think to yourself it needs more power, same goes for when you are on a flat gravel road and want to flick the tail out the S10 will break traction super easy.
If all you want to do is slab it at 200km/h+ buy a sports tourer.
by the way welcome to the forum. I have had a 2012 and now a 2014. I think there is quite a difference in the two bikes. The 2014 has a noticeable difference in power or maybe how the bike uses that HP. I find that I have no trouble passing, climbing or even pulling 135+ mph on the open road if you want it to...
sjh
Active Member
Still waiting on my bike, chewing through this forum to kill time - so here's my thought: People making comparisons are habitually lazy.
I've spent years working with computer components, digital cameras, networking equipment etc etc. All of these had a whole bunch of lovely numbers one could use to compare one product to the other, and they never ever came close to telling the whole story.
Cheap example - My cell phone camera has more mega-pixels, a higher ISO and (software emulated) focal range than my DSLR. By many lay-person metrics the mobile would be "better" - but when I need something to produce reliable results with deeply considered ergonomics there is no question which is the right tool to use.
I feel comparing when comparing something with as many variables as a motorcycle it is nigh-on impossible to communicate anything meaningful. How many times have you heard that a bike has/lacks "character" with an implied nod/knowing smile.
After test riding BMWs/KTMs/Triumphs & Suzuki's comparable bikes i quickly knew the Tenere worked with me better than the rest, numbers & objectivity be damned.
I've spent years working with computer components, digital cameras, networking equipment etc etc. All of these had a whole bunch of lovely numbers one could use to compare one product to the other, and they never ever came close to telling the whole story.
Cheap example - My cell phone camera has more mega-pixels, a higher ISO and (software emulated) focal range than my DSLR. By many lay-person metrics the mobile would be "better" - but when I need something to produce reliable results with deeply considered ergonomics there is no question which is the right tool to use.
I feel comparing when comparing something with as many variables as a motorcycle it is nigh-on impossible to communicate anything meaningful. How many times have you heard that a bike has/lacks "character" with an implied nod/knowing smile.
After test riding BMWs/KTMs/Triumphs & Suzuki's comparable bikes i quickly knew the Tenere worked with me better than the rest, numbers & objectivity be damned.
Any time I even start to think I need more power I just spend an afternoon riding my tw200 problem solved. ::025::
rider33
New Member
here is the thing: power like speed is more about perception than reality. I once had a Yamaha RD that accelerated like a psychotic junkyard dog. It had maybe half the HP and third the torq. of my sport touring bike but you would have never known it, throttle twitching on that puppy was a blood sport. The S10 puts out about 85 HP at the rear whelel, that's a fair amount. If you really want to play boy-racer you can switch it into Sport mode, keep it in the upper end of its RPM range and the big girl will lift her skirts and dance right smartly. That's not what it's about tho. It's about taking you and maybe 3 wks worth of camping gear to the other coast or plunking down a Bureau of Land Management road at 20 MPH. It has plenty of power, it's just designed to get you over the next hill or across the next state, not just snap your neck back. Generally speaking, in tall, heavy bikes that's a good thing.
At a non sport bike track day I went faster on my 14 S10 than almost all of the more powerful ADV and sport tourers. The power is very useable and the chassis is really very good, more than enough for the street.
Loaded 2 up is good too, wife and I did a week in the Adirondacks on it this past fall and neither of us missed our prior FJR at all.
Really, if you can't go fast on the Super T, more power will not help....on the other hand, 20 more HP on top would be welcome if it didn't mess up the fine torque spread.
Loaded 2 up is good too, wife and I did a week in the Adirondacks on it this past fall and neither of us missed our prior FJR at all.
Really, if you can't go fast on the Super T, more power will not help....on the other hand, 20 more HP on top would be welcome if it didn't mess up the fine torque spread.
patrickg450
Well-Known Member
yea welcome, great first post................RoboCop said:
Stridercal
New Member
Having tested nearly the entire ADV class (missing out only on the newest entries, such as the "new" Tiger and 1300 KTM), it is my humble opinion that ADV bikes - more than any other machine - require a good balance between 'quantity' of power and 'quality.'
In technical (dirt) riding, the Yamaha is just as good as the KTM and, in certain ways, better than the BMW. It's much better than the Suzuki and miles better than the older Tiger 1200. Between the extra spinning mass in the engine bay and the mostly refined YCC-T system, the S10 is very tractable and controllable in challenging riding situations. And you're not using full stick on the dirt on any of these big bikes. Ever.
Of course, back on open roads, the KTM will simply disappear, and chasing the extra 15 hp of the BMW becomes a challenge.
In technical (dirt) riding, the Yamaha is just as good as the KTM and, in certain ways, better than the BMW. It's much better than the Suzuki and miles better than the older Tiger 1200. Between the extra spinning mass in the engine bay and the mostly refined YCC-T system, the S10 is very tractable and controllable in challenging riding situations. And you're not using full stick on the dirt on any of these big bikes. Ever.
Of course, back on open roads, the KTM will simply disappear, and chasing the extra 15 hp of the BMW becomes a challenge.
88millimeter
Member
Before i got my S10's ecu reflashed i did feel like it lacked power. AVC took care of that for me. Sport mode is now more than enough power for when i feel like killing my rear tire. I would even go as far as saying my touring mode now has too much power delivery and will take more concentration when riding in rain or snow.
Rizzo
New Member
I finally rode my S10 for the first time the other day. It's still snowy in places but I managed to get safely out of my driveway and onto the dry road. I love as happy enough in sport mode I guess. I really wasn't expecting much from this bike in terms of arm stretching power. However, touring mode was downright awful. Slow and lethargic to say the least. The bike only has about 10 miles on it so I can't judge it too harshly I suppose.
With a friend on an 1190 and another on a Multi, I think I'm in trouble. Haha. I'm still excited about the bike. I need to get to know it better when it gets warmer.
With a friend on an 1190 and another on a Multi, I think I'm in trouble. Haha. I'm still excited about the bike. I need to get to know it better when it gets warmer.
Attachments
yz454
Member
You do know that,s still a 11 sec bike in the quarter mile . Mine is lot faster than that , but the problem is we are spoiled with hp .
Robocop & patrickg450, Thanks for the welcome! The reason I joined this forum is because I really wanted to get a sense from you diehard S10 Owners what the riding experience is on an S10. I have a number of mounts and currently, my long distance bike is a 1989 Yamaha Venture Royale which is a great bike to tour on... except when the pavement ends. I rode the bike coast to coast a number of years back and I can't tell you how many times I ran into road construction (where you had to muscle the bike through dirt and gravel) before you got to pavement again. It was a white knuckle experience to say the least since my Venture is a 900lb bike without me and my gear (and I always overpack). I also have an adventure bike (a 2007 Aprilia Caponord) which I have never taken offroad because it is VERY hard to get parts for it if the bike gets damaged. I had ordered some parts for the bike which were on back order for over a year before the dealership canceled the order. Anybody who owns an Aprilia bike probably knows my frustration. Fast forward to 2016 and I am thinking of upgrading my touring bike to a current adventure bike... perhaps the S10. The one thing I enjoy about my Venture is that it's got a lot of balls. With the bike fully loaded with me and all my gear, the bike can take off like a rocket due to the VMax V4 engine in it and corner pretty well (thanks to the air suspension). Ideally, in my next touring bike, I'd like the best of both worlds -- a comfortable long distance tourer that can traverse any type of road and a perky bike that can hold its own when passing on the highway. I've ridden my bike from the East Coast to the West Coast (Vancouver, BC). I've ridden from Massachusetts to Key West. Even rode on the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia during a snowstorm (it wasn't my intention to do that, just happened). Just having the horsepower to get out of tight situations has saved my bacon a number of times but I guess I'll have to leave those stories for another day. I really appreciate all who have taken the time to give their S10 experiences on this topic!
Maverick, in describing your next bike {ideally} you pretty much nailed the Tenere.
2daMax
Active Member
I too felt the T mode was lethargic, unresponsive and feels like a lame 250cc bike until I set the CO to +3 for each cylinders. Now, with the CO changes, the bike is fun. I only use S mode in the tight twisties where I need the burst of acceleration to pass. I felt there was shudder/vibes around the 3k rev when upping the gears but no longer get these after the CO changes.
I have no access to Flash in my part of the world. The closest is Australia, but I don't want to risk losing the ECU in the mail. I would flash it if there are vendors in my country.
I have ridden the KTM 1190 adventure. Sure this bike brings more power but the S10 feels really planted at all speeds which inspires confidence. I had no idea what 'planted' means till I rode the S10. (Coming off from a Versys 650, Ninja 250R). I don't need the KTM 1190 power all the time, but I'll take planted every-time and everywhere I go.
I have no access to Flash in my part of the world. The closest is Australia, but I don't want to risk losing the ECU in the mail. I would flash it if there are vendors in my country.
I have ridden the KTM 1190 adventure. Sure this bike brings more power but the S10 feels really planted at all speeds which inspires confidence. I had no idea what 'planted' means till I rode the S10. (Coming off from a Versys 650, Ninja 250R). I don't need the KTM 1190 power all the time, but I'll take planted every-time and everywhere I go.
barkingllizard
Well-Known Member
PLUS ONEiClint said:
PLUS ONEjmoore said:
