Surprisingly unreliable.

[Lowryrides]

I am surprised by my S10's reliability. I had Anthony reflash the ECU due to the horrible factory throttle response and added a slip on (@10,000 miles), some body protection and lights, otherwise stock, so nothing crazy. First problem was a blown fork seal while riding the MABDR, (@18,000 miles) ok, this could happen on any bike I get that, although it has not happened on any of the 50 plus bikes I've owned except for a 1972 DT250 around 1980, I'll look past this. Next the bike's throttle is wonky, most notably in 6th gear, when rolled on it begins to pull then the throttle application has no influence of acceleration to full stop, when returning throttle to closed it begins to pull again just before throttle is fully closed (@18,500 miles). Then the cruise control didn't work intermittently before failing 100% of the time (@19,500). The throttle problem and cruise are currently not repaired so who knows what is causing this, the lazy thing to blame it on would be the reflash except for the perfect 9,000 miles of running and fueling. I keep thinking of Yamaha's problems getting their MOTOGP bike to hook up out of corners and other issues they are having and can't help but wonder if the legendary Yamaha reliability and engineering has indeed become a legend?

 

[Scott F]

That sucks, but it makes me like mine even more to be honest with you. I hope to keep it for a long time.

Sent from my SM-S906B using Tapatalk

 

[Checkswrecks]

I was just in Gbg yesterday.

Sounds like individual issues on a 8-9 year old bike. Seals get old and corrosion gets into electrical bits but all can be addressed.

Might consider using contact cleaner in each of the switches related to cruise. There are two for the clutch and one at each brake.

If it took such a long time to develop the throttle issue, I'd suggest looking into a throttle body sync and cleaning the injectors.

 

[whisperquiet]

OP, did you have the cruise control brake harness recall done as the defective switch will disable cruise. Regarding fork seals, I alway run neoprene seal savers…..I currently have the zippered ones and have not had any seal problems.

 

[Jlq1969]

The throttle thing...you should. Check that the screws that hold the TPS are not loose...the hand throttle screw may be loose and give a bad reading regarding what your hand wants to do.

 

[Lowryrides]

I get that this is an 8 year old motorbike, and maybe I am just expecting too much. My 14 year old Electraglide has 76,000 miles and everything works though, I have repaired the stator at 60,000 miles and the compensator at 20, 000 miles and have no thoughts of getting rid of it yet and my 20 year old Heritage has 26,000 miles and has never needed a repair. My DRZ is slightly younger than the S10, but gets heaps of abuse and has been faultless. This is an apples and oranges comparison I know, but my reliability experience so far with this S10 would be on par with the BMW's I've owned, rather than past Japanese bikes. I will repair and see how it goes as I love the bike, but one more failure will be the end of it.

 

[Jlq1969]

I don't think that a GP bike has nearly the same components as the S10 (And surely the S10 ones are of worse quality than a GP one) If you have problems with the throttle, simply check the TPS, (it is normal that over time the potentiometer becomes worn or dirty and gives a bad reading)... or cracked vacuum hoses. Regarding the CC, you should already know what to check, but it is normal that a certain problem causes disconnection (or non-connection) failures of the CC.

 

[Jlq1969]

Either way, the S10 is not fail-safe, and the added value of the S10 is the forum. The vast majority (or practically all) of the possible failures of the S10 have been reported in this forum, and the solutions to these failures have also been reported, which gives you the possibility of finding solutions to a problem. Failures that generally do not need modifications (they are not a factory defect)...

 

[RCinNC]

I don't think anyone should keep a bike that they don't have confidence in. Even if you straighten out your current issues, are you ever going to fully trust your ride again?

But back to your question, no, this is not an unreliable bike. It's actually a proven reliable bike. My 2014 has over 100,000 miles with zero failures other than wear items, and there are plenty of other riders on here whose experience has been similar. But no brand of bike has a zero failure rate, and it appears that you're experiencing that non-zero rate. Your cruise control issue is one that some other members on here have reported, and if you research the forum, you'll find those posts and how they addressed the issue.

 

[audiowize]

Assuming you haven't had the brake switch recall done, you're unhappy with reliability because of a fork seal that leaked (you can run a seal mate around them usually to fix this on the road) and throttle response in 6th gear?

Really I wouldn't be disappointed in fork seals lasting about 20,000 miles, that seems pretty normal. This is a wear item that needs maintenance, and if you have the original fork oil in your 2015 bike, this is definitely on you!

 

[Lowryrides]

Thank you for the encouragement and suggestions. Regarding MotoGP bits being different than S10 bits, I agree of course, my observation is more from an engineering standpoint as Yamaha has managed to find themselves in a considerable hole VS everyone except possibly HRC. Audiowize, the bike is meticulously maintained, beyond factory recommendations, and I have ridden motorbikes for 50 years amassing over half a million miles, but I appreciate your stout defense of the S10's honor. As mentioned, I have not had the need to replace a fork seal due to failure on any motorbike since 1980, but again, I am not blaming the bike for this as it could happen, it just has not, not even on MX race bikes. The electrical gemlins... or whatever they turn out to be, I am less forgiving. I will add that I have found all motorbikes I have owned, to generally become more fragile after 30k, and if I like a bike well enough to soldier on beyond that point, expect some grief. The exception to this rule has been Harleys, they seem to keep chugging along, which I attribute to their mild state of tune and little to no concern about weight, which allows more margin to be engineered into the machine. A YZ125 will not last as many miles as a Peterbuilt.
I will report back with the findings after repairs are complete, and as others have noted perhaps that will help another who may encounter the same problem. The S10 has to wait it's turn behind a Suzuki Eiger that I am missing for it's wonderful ability to plow snow and is at my friend's house being repaired and a KTM 250EXC that seems to need a fuel pump.

 

[Jlq1969]

Yamaha has managed to find themselves in a considerable hole

But that hole has an explanation….Yamaha is alone….when you associate with someone “bigger than you” and that someone is interested in your business, sooner or later they will end up F#*%@ing you (as is the case with KTM-CFMOTO-BAJAJ. .and also the sale and distribution of KTM, is no longer in the hands of KTM…
It is as if your wife's gynecologist is also her personal trainer and it turns out that now he also graduated as a psychologist and is her psychologist, that is…late or early...

 

[audiowize]

Audiowize, the bike is meticulously maintained, beyond factory recommendations

So you had the brake switch recall done?

 

[Checkswrecks]

I get that this is an 8 year old motorbike, and maybe I am just expecting too much. My 14 year old Electraglide has 76,000 miles and everything works though, I have repaired the stator at 60,000 miles and the compensator at 20, 000 miles and have no thoughts of getting rid of it yet and my 20 year old Heritage has 26,000 miles and has never needed a repair. My DRZ is slightly younger than the S10, but gets heaps of abuse and has been faultless. This is an apples and oranges comparison I know, but my reliability experience so far with this S10 would be on par with the BMW's I've owned, rather than past Japanese bikes. I will repair and see how it goes as I love the bike, but one more failure will be the end of it.

Out of curiosity, are you the original owner?

 

[Lowryrides]

Yes, recall is done, so if this is one of the issues it is a recurrence of the same problem, which is possible.
I did not buy the bike new, I have only ever had 2 new motorbikes in my life; a 1999 Ducati Monster and a 2004 Triumph Speed Triple. I found this S10 on the facebook, it was owned by a retired Navy engineer, who after much conversation I had confidence in. I flew from Gettysburg to Fl, where he lives, and he picked me up from the airport. The bike was perfect, as he had stated, we did the paperwork and I rode it home, it had 8,500 miles on it and was 4 years old.

 

[twinrider]

I am surprised by my S10's reliability. I had Anthony reflash the ECU due to the horrible factory throttle response and added a slip on (@10,000 miles), some body protection and lights, otherwise stock, so nothing crazy. First problem was a blown fork seal while riding the MABDR, (@18,000 miles) ok, this could happen on any bike I get that, although it has not happened on any of the 50 plus bikes I've owned except for a 1972 DT250 around 1980, I'll look past this. Next the bike's throttle is wonky, most notably in 6th gear, when rolled on it begins to pull then the throttle application has no influence of acceleration to full stop, when returning throttle to closed it begins to pull again just before throttle is fully closed (@18,500 miles). Then the cruise control didn't work intermittently before failing 100% of the time (@19,500). The throttle problem and cruise are currently not repaired so who knows what is causing this, the lazy thing to blame it on would be the reflash except for the perfect 9,000 miles of running and fueling. I keep thinking of Yamaha's problems getting their MOTOGP bike to hook up out of corners and other issues they are having and can't help but wonder if the legendary Yamaha reliability and engineering has indeed become a legend?

Pretty uncommon experience. I've had two S10s and have put about 70,000 miles and they've been flawless. The first one needed a clutch at 30,000 miles. That's about it other than regular maintenance.

It may be lazy to blame the flash, but you could return to the stock map and see if it makes a difference.

 

[SpudBob]

Thank you for the encouragement and suggestions. Regarding MotoGP bits being different than S10 bits, I agree of course, my observation is more from an engineering standpoint as Yamaha has managed to find themselves in a considerable hole VS everyone except possibly HRC. Audiowize, the bike is meticulously maintained, beyond factory recommendations, and I have ridden motorbikes for 50 years amassing over half a million miles, but I appreciate your stout defense of the S10's honor. As mentioned, I have not had the need to replace a fork seal due to failure on any motorbike since 1980, but again, I am not blaming the bike for this as it could happen, it just has not, not even on MX race bikes. The electrical gemlins... or whatever they turn out to be, I am less forgiving. I will add that I have found all motorbikes I have owned, to generally become more fragile after 30k, and if I like a bike well enough to soldier on beyond that point, expect some grief. The exception to this rule has been Harleys, they seem to keep chugging along, which I attribute to their mild state of tune and little to no concern about weight, which allows more margin to be engineered into the machine. A YZ125 will not last as many miles as a Peterbuilt.
I will report back with the findings after repairs are complete, and as others have noted perhaps that will help another who may encounter the same problem. The S10 has to wait it's turn behind a Suzuki Eiger that I am missing for it's wonderful ability to plow snow and is at my friend's house being repaired and a KTM 250EXC that seems to need a fuel pump.

Never replaced a fork seal due to failure??? You, my friend, are one in a million. I can honestly say Ive never heard that before. Do you ever rebuild your forks? You never had forks resprung/revalved? On fluid changes I ALWAYS replace the seals. Its a wear item. Now that being said I have fixed many leaky seals with a piece of plastic from a 2 liter bottle-poor mans seal saver but that's another matter all together. I have, however, replaced many due to failure-especially stock ones.