Tenere Opinions

[Dogdaze]

There is a lot talk about Yamaha making changes because of forum comments, etc. Is there any proof of this, or is this purely fantasy based optimism? I frankly think they make changes due to trial and error, a model goes out en mass beta testing for 3-5 years, meanwhile the engineers have come up with better solutions that they never thought of before...........

 

[AVGeek]

There is a lot talk about Yamaha making changes because of forum comments, etc. Is there any proof of this, or is this purely fantasy based optimism? I frankly think they make changes due to trial and error, a model goes out en mass beta testing for 3-5 years, meanwhile the engineers have come up with better solutions that they never thought of before...........

No hard evidence that I'm aware of, though the improvements to the Gen 2 ST seemed to directly address many of the observations made here in the early days of the US release.

 

[Use2btrix]

There is a lot talk about Yamaha making changes because of forum comments, etc. Is there any proof of this, or is this purely fantasy based optimism? I frankly think they make changes due to trial and error, a model goes out en mass beta testing for 3-5 years, meanwhile the engineers have come up with better solutions that they never thought of before...........

I don't think anyone can say for sure, however reading old threads I think it's pretty wild how some of the biggest complaints were addressed in the Gen 2 models. In a very specific manner at that.

 

[HeliMark]

I am sure every manufacturer checks out forum's to see how their products are doing. What they see are real complaints from the people using/riding. Not sugar coated or not quite right due to dealer/salesperson not understanding. For the most part, they see the worst and the best. And also they see the ingenious fixes that people come up with. Or how they determined what the problem is/was. A good amount of this is far superior to what the dealer can say. The intelligence of some of the people on these forums as far as mechanical issues are priceless.

The big thing is what do they do with the information. It seems at least Yamaha integrates the information and fixes within future upgrades. Better than some others.

Mark

 

[wfopete]

Time for a new bike again but where do I go from a Tenere????

I have a 2012 Tenere with near 30k miles. Bike has been reliable and fun to ride plus I have it dialed in just about right. Trips to Alaska, Mexico, Newfoundland and the Rockies have been a breeze. Done lots of Interstate slab and gnarly single track without a problem.



SO HERE IS MY QUESTIONS.
1/ Outside of reliability and cost are these two beasts worth it coming from a Tenere?
2/ Is a new 2016 ES much different from my 2012?

Those are Two Biggies how can you push them aside?
Regardless the Gen 2 is everything the Gen 1 wants to be.
Find one test ride it.

 

[Rasher]

Was not saying the aids are not good, just being a bit more careful on a non aided bike is probably more likely to save you than having these aids.

ABS is pretty good IMO, cornering ABS less so as you should not be braking in turns to begin with so there is less opportunity for it to save you.

The problem can be the effect of thinking your bike will save you, running into a corner 20 mph faster than your talent can cope with is not going to be sorted out by your ABS system, without ABS you might brake and lose the front and crash, with it you will brake - the brakes may not lock up, but neither will they shed the required speed so your going to run off the road or have to lean far more and crash....

...often the reality is you will not brake hard enough to trigger the cornering ABS, it is quite common for people to have an accident and not even triggered the ABS because our stupid human brains think we cannot brake any harder.


Where it really comes into its own is when there is some grease on the road that 'May' of caused a crash - but again just because you ABS kicked in does not mean you would not of survived without it, although many people will often go on about how their ABS has saved them half a dozen times in the last year - but if that was the case would they not have been crashing 6 times a year prior to having ABS :question:


I do agree any aid will be well worth the cost if it genuinely saves you just once - but this is not enough reason for me to ditch my S10 and go and buy a KTM1190 just to get a better ABS / TCS system - but it could be a factor if I was looking at two similar bikes at similar prices and one had better safety aids than the other.

 

[HBLQRider]

If I were in your shoes, I might continue enjoying my dialed-in Tenere, and patiently wait for the Gen 3 model. No idea when that will be, but I doubt it's more than 2 or 3 years off at most. I feel pretty confident that by then the bike will include the multi-axis gyro thingy facilitating cornering ABS and traction control etc. Just my $.02

This is what I am going to do. I have plenty of good miles left on my 2013 so I have time to wait on Yamaha to make a move.

 

[kgfire]

If you are looking for the least amount of hassels and the most amount of safety then you should probably stick with the Yamaha. I've owned all three of the bikes you mentioned and the Yamaha will give you the least amount of hassels but that being said, the KTM 1190 Adventure is truly remarkable with the lean sensitive ABS and traction control. Plus both features are programmable depending on how brave you feel with 130 rear wheel horsepower! The BMW wc is also loaded with safety features and a very sporty ride but the purchase price is pretty steep.
The KTM is a very safe sport bike that can be ridden in all kinds of conditions and terrain ( including the race track ) but it is chain driven, and, well it's a KTM so be prepared for some KTM quirks. The GS is really close to the KTM plus it's shaft driven but $$$ expensive and, well it's a BMW.
The Gen.2 Super Tenere is a definite improvement but that's it, an improvement over the existing package. I wouldn't hold my breath on a radically different Gen. 3 Super Tenere, the FJ1300 has been around forever with just up dates and refinements.

 

[itlives]

Absolutely no help here. I just wanted to say I'm glad I'm not the only 60 y.o. here.

This thread is the first time I've heard of the 700 Tenere. At my age, I'll keep working out so I can pick up the S10 for awhile.
A 700 does sound appealing, though!

 

[silverthunder]

RoboCop said ... "...they just feel different and run different..." It's really true.... And extras are good ... My previous ST was First Edition (2010-2015 about 100k kilometers)... I've got new XT1200ZE last november... And I am 61 yo .... ;0)

 

[Freebooter]

Sasager , first of all, stick with Yamaha. They are reputed to be among the most reliable, trouble free bikes on the road. Also, there is a Yamaha shop on every corner in every town in America, or near about! LOL! But for real, how far apart are BMW and Triumph shops? If you have trouble on the road you want a bike where its dealers are close by no matter where you are, which Yamaha and Honda are. Here in Alabama we have a Triumph and BMW dealership in Huntsville, 3-4 hours away, a BMW Dealer in B'ham, a little over an hour away, and a Triumph dealer in Mobile, 3 hours away. Damn all that. I chose Yamaha because they are reliable good bikes, parts are much cheaper than BMW, etc. (I know a guy who paid $1500 bucks for one shock on his BMW GS).

I am 60 years old, will be 61 May 24th. In December I traded in a 2015 FJ-09 I had bought in May of 2015 for a 2015 Sup Ten. I love the Super Tenere, probably the nicest bike I have ever rode or owned. I absolutely love the Cruise Control. But as far as ABS and all that other stuff people want or need, I don't know much about it and don't need it. I am no sports rider or speed junkie. I just like to tool around and I just try to ride sensibly and carefully. If I ever do buy smaller, it will be because of my age and heavy bikes being heavier and heavier. LOL!
Freebooter
Elmore Co, Sovereign State of Alabama
Occupied Confederacy

 

[Michrider]

As a 59 year old newbe but a long ago back ground I shopped around for a long time and found a new 13. The out the door price was close to a klr range. I figure the $4.5k vs. a new 16 was well worth the purchase. The 13 is not stripped but granted not as well equipped as the 16 ES however it can't be that bad can it?

 

[dietDrThunder]

As a 59 year old newbe but a long ago back ground I shopped around for a long time and found a new 13. The out the door price was close to a klr range. I figure the $4.5k vs. a new 16 was well worth the purchase. The 13 is not stripped but granted not as well equipped as the 16 ES however it can't be that bad can it?

Absolutely not bad in any way. The availability of leftover ist gen bikes makes for terrific value for sure. Plus, it makes even better values on the used market...don't ask what I paid for my '12

 

[Freebooter]

BMW wants $500 to just look at it? My buddy has a BMW GS and paid $1500 bucks for one shock. To hell with BMW.

 

[Terahi]

After about 10-weeks and 3000 SoCal commuting miles on my 15 ES, my favorite features in order:
1 - cruise control
2 - torque between 4000 - 7000 rpm
3 - suspension, never bottomed and I'm the size of an NFL Tackle
4 - not everyone has one
5 - it's a Yamaha

Least liked:
1 - horn
2 - weak power below 3000 rpm - doesn't like being lugged
3 - LCD tach. I want the analog back

Most desired feature on new bike? FJR - level power. I loved my FJR motor.

 

[copb8]

With the new FJR now having a lean angle sensor (IMU) I'm sure this technology will start filtering into other bikes in the line. At this point the FJR only uses it for the progressive corning lights, which seems a bit of a waste, but I'm sure it's just a short period of time before they have the software developed to integrate it into the existing electronic ABS and TC. Once that's done it's a small hop to put the same package into the S10.

That said, I'd like to place a $1 bet as well!

 

[ride1st]

The OP hasn't checked back in so I hope he is out riding and enjoying his 12 Tenere. It would help to know if his bike is stock or has had any of the common mods. At 30,000 miles and not wanting hassles the easiest thing to do is keep the current bike. Do a couple of mods, ride another 30,000 miles, and reevaluate then. Of course if you just want the excuse to buy a new bike get the 16 Tenere. Pass on the KTM and BMW if hassle is a concern.

 

[WJBertrand]

With the new FJR now having a lean angle sensor (IMU) I'm sure this technology will start filtering into other bikes in the line. At this point the FJR only uses it for the progressive corning lights, which seems a bit of a waste, but I'm sure it's just a short period of time before they have the software developed to integrate it into the existing electronic ABS and TC. Once that's done it's a small hop to put the same package into the S10.

That said, I'd like to place a $1 bet as well!

Agreed, I think Yamaha is testing out this technology to gain familiarity and prove reliability before integrating it further. I think good stuff is coming to future FJR and other Yamahas.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Agreed, I think Yamaha is testing out this technology to gain familiarity and prove reliability before integrating it further. I think good stuff is coming to future FJR and other Yamahas.

It's very much how Yamaha does things. The first Teneres got nearly the same electronics as the FJR but added traction control. Then the FJR got the traction control. Next the FJR debuted cruise control and we got it in a subsequent year. We also are sharing with the R1 and others in this gene pool.


Once they get a concept evolved the do stick with it. The shifter for example. While dimensions are different, the design of the shaft drive on our bike is nearly the same as the FJR, Venture, etc, also goes all the way back to the 1980s VMax.

 

[itlives]

The OP hasn't checked back in so I hope he is out riding and enjoying his 12 Tenere. It would help to know if his bike is stock or has had any of the common mods. At 30,000 miles and not wanting hassles the easiest thing to do is keep the current bike. Do a couple of mods, ride another 30,000 miles, and reevaluate then. Of course if you just want the excuse to buy a new bike get the 16 Tenere. Pass on the KTM and BMW if hassle is a concern.

Chiming in again....at somewhere around 26,000 miles, my 2012 is in Jaxon's shop right now getting the 2014 clutch and Graves MCCT installed -along with all the other checks/adjustments he recommended. I look to be putting MANY more happy miles on my 2012. Besides, I'm not that good of a rider that a lean angle sensor would do anything for me. I do like the ABS brakes and traction control, though. I wish the traction control could be turned off on the fly.