JackN
Member
As a new S10 owner I thought you guys might like to hear my impressions of the bike compared to the bike I traded.
Three weeks ago I traded my 2010 Ducati Multistrada for my 2012 Super Tenere. The decision to make the change was not an easy one for me. Despite the issues I had with the Duc, every time I rode it, it put huge grin on my face. I was very reluctant to give up the Ducati despite it’s problems because riding it was so enjoyable. It was a hard bike to give up. The power of that motor is very addictive and the handling of that bike is fantastic. Unfortunately, the Multistrada also has several known problems. Many Multi owners are willing to put up with these issues, and for a while I was one of them, but a few weeks ago I had reached my limit. I began to feel the pros of Multistrada ownership were being outweighed by the cons. Although they are entirely different machines, I ultimately decided to give the S10 a try.
So, here’s what I think,
Engine.
When it comes to power, the torque and horsepower of the Duc win hands down. Put the Multi in sport mode, twist the throttle, and you feel like you’ve been shot out of a cannon. The acceleration is just fantastic, and very hard to resist. The problem is that on the road, at least for me, it’s more than you can realistically use most of the time. It’s fun to twist it once in a while, but it’s just way more power than you need and can use on the street.
The S10 doesn’t have nearly the power of the Multi, but for me it has more than enough to enjoy. The Yamaha has more than enough to be fun in the real world. I think the power of the S10 is just about right for riding on the street.
I also find the character of the two motors to be completely different. The Duc isn’t happy unless it’s turning more than 4K rpms. My impression of the S10 is that it likes to run at about 4K. That seems to be the sweet spot.
Handling.
The Ducati handles like a sport bike. No complaints whatsoever. It’s a light bike for it’s size and power and it handles great. You can’t fault it.
The Yamaha is almost 100 lbs heavier but I am amazed at how well this bike handles. On paper the specs (weight, wheel size, etc…) make it seem like this bike would not handle as well as it does, but when you ride one you quickly learn that it handles very well. I’m very impressed and happy with my new Yamaha.
Comfort.
Comfort is subjective. It depends on personal preferences as well as a riders size.
For my tastes I didn’t find the Multi to be uncomfortable, but I didn’t love it for longer rides. The Multi seat really locks you in place and doesn’t let you move around at all. It works well for aggressive riding, but not so much for long distances.
On the other hand, I find the S10 to be one of the most comfortable bikes I’ve ever ridden. I even like the stock seat. It’s comfortable and has plenty of room to move around and change up your riding position. I can ride the bike all day with no complaints.
Summary.
The Multi works best when it’s ridden aggressively. It’s light for what it is, has tons of power, and it has lots of braking power. The motor isn’t happy until the rpms are up, so you always end up riding fast. It’s a very difficult bike to go slow on. It’s awesome on a twisty mountain road, but it’s hard to relax and enjoy the scenery on this bike. You just always go hard on the Duc.
The Yamaha seems to work better if you maintain a more even pace. The S10 handles well even in the twisties, and it has decent power, but since it’s heavier it seems to go better if you keep a steadier throttle through the curves. You don’t have to ride slower, you just don’t brake and accelerate quite as hard as you would on the Ducati.
Both bikes are marketed as “Adventure Bikes” capable of doing just about anything, but for me they are completely different machines. The Duc is a sportbike with tall suspension and an upright riding position.
The Yamaha is the better “all rounder”. It handles very well and has enough power to be a blast on the road. It makes a great touring bike, even if sport touring is what you’re looking for.
Although I can’t speak from experience, the S10 is clearly capable of pushing the limits of the adventure touring spectrum.
It was hard for me to give up the Multistrada even with the issues I was having. Initially I wasn’t sure the Super Tenere would work out for me, but after about 1500 miles I am very happy I bought the Yamaha. I think it’s a fantastic motorcycle.
Three weeks ago I traded my 2010 Ducati Multistrada for my 2012 Super Tenere. The decision to make the change was not an easy one for me. Despite the issues I had with the Duc, every time I rode it, it put huge grin on my face. I was very reluctant to give up the Ducati despite it’s problems because riding it was so enjoyable. It was a hard bike to give up. The power of that motor is very addictive and the handling of that bike is fantastic. Unfortunately, the Multistrada also has several known problems. Many Multi owners are willing to put up with these issues, and for a while I was one of them, but a few weeks ago I had reached my limit. I began to feel the pros of Multistrada ownership were being outweighed by the cons. Although they are entirely different machines, I ultimately decided to give the S10 a try.
So, here’s what I think,
Engine.
When it comes to power, the torque and horsepower of the Duc win hands down. Put the Multi in sport mode, twist the throttle, and you feel like you’ve been shot out of a cannon. The acceleration is just fantastic, and very hard to resist. The problem is that on the road, at least for me, it’s more than you can realistically use most of the time. It’s fun to twist it once in a while, but it’s just way more power than you need and can use on the street.
The S10 doesn’t have nearly the power of the Multi, but for me it has more than enough to enjoy. The Yamaha has more than enough to be fun in the real world. I think the power of the S10 is just about right for riding on the street.
I also find the character of the two motors to be completely different. The Duc isn’t happy unless it’s turning more than 4K rpms. My impression of the S10 is that it likes to run at about 4K. That seems to be the sweet spot.
Handling.
The Ducati handles like a sport bike. No complaints whatsoever. It’s a light bike for it’s size and power and it handles great. You can’t fault it.
The Yamaha is almost 100 lbs heavier but I am amazed at how well this bike handles. On paper the specs (weight, wheel size, etc…) make it seem like this bike would not handle as well as it does, but when you ride one you quickly learn that it handles very well. I’m very impressed and happy with my new Yamaha.
Comfort.
Comfort is subjective. It depends on personal preferences as well as a riders size.
For my tastes I didn’t find the Multi to be uncomfortable, but I didn’t love it for longer rides. The Multi seat really locks you in place and doesn’t let you move around at all. It works well for aggressive riding, but not so much for long distances.
On the other hand, I find the S10 to be one of the most comfortable bikes I’ve ever ridden. I even like the stock seat. It’s comfortable and has plenty of room to move around and change up your riding position. I can ride the bike all day with no complaints.
Summary.
The Multi works best when it’s ridden aggressively. It’s light for what it is, has tons of power, and it has lots of braking power. The motor isn’t happy until the rpms are up, so you always end up riding fast. It’s a very difficult bike to go slow on. It’s awesome on a twisty mountain road, but it’s hard to relax and enjoy the scenery on this bike. You just always go hard on the Duc.
The Yamaha seems to work better if you maintain a more even pace. The S10 handles well even in the twisties, and it has decent power, but since it’s heavier it seems to go better if you keep a steadier throttle through the curves. You don’t have to ride slower, you just don’t brake and accelerate quite as hard as you would on the Ducati.
Both bikes are marketed as “Adventure Bikes” capable of doing just about anything, but for me they are completely different machines. The Duc is a sportbike with tall suspension and an upright riding position.
The Yamaha is the better “all rounder”. It handles very well and has enough power to be a blast on the road. It makes a great touring bike, even if sport touring is what you’re looking for.
Although I can’t speak from experience, the S10 is clearly capable of pushing the limits of the adventure touring spectrum.
It was hard for me to give up the Multistrada even with the issues I was having. Initially I wasn’t sure the Super Tenere would work out for me, but after about 1500 miles I am very happy I bought the Yamaha. I think it’s a fantastic motorcycle.
