Went for a spin on mine yesterday and LOVED it, but I was rejoicing in the part throttle torque the flashed lump throws out between 3k and 5k, how much feedback the modified forks give, and how fantastically well it steers with my Wilburs shock perfectly setup, as everyone one who has gone down this route knows the bike is MUCH better with a about £1,000 - £1500 thrown at it.
Yamaha made some big mistakes that could have been avoided.
The press picked up on the restrictions in the mountains on the European launch, they did not realise it was a restriction in 1st - 3rd, but slated it for not having much pull out of tight turns. The bike barely matched the 2008 model year GS for power, the slight update in 2010 meant as the Yamaha hit the showrooms it was slower and less powerful than the GS - and had a lack of low down drive, although sans-restrictions the bike has a far stronger bottom end. If BMW can get an aircooled bike dating back to the 1920's through emissions Yamaha have no excuse.
The suspension was not great either on or off road, a better choice of spring / damping rates would have got it better reviews for handling - at zero cost.
It would also have cost nothing to have put the clock buttons on the handlebars ala BMW - coming from the Beemer I found this setup very antiquated - and the aftermarket style heated grips at £400 did not impress much - even less so when they are utter crap. An off button for the ABS would also have cost next to nothing. The luggage design was also not the best, and the panniers were smaller than the smallest of the two BMW offerings.
Yamaha would never have stolen many BMW sales, but as there are so many GS riders nicking 5% of them would have been worthwhile, but I think Yamaha never spoke to a single GS owner about what they liked, or even better someone like me (and maybe many of you) who had owned Jap bikes for years before trying a BMW, these are the target IMO, getting back those who had switched as opposed to the guys who are on their 15th BMW (lost cause!)
Also in the UK the bike was overpriced, a stock GS weighed in about $2000 dollars less, and about the same price with ABS / Traction - but has a perceived extra value for being a BMW. Honda and Triumph had a better idea and undercut the GS by a significant margin - and Honda were building a shaft driven V4 for a lot less money than the S10.
I think a bike with the Flash performance would have impressed the Journo's, OK still down on top end compared to the latest, but with this extra stomp it is a torque monster, add an ABS switch and you have got rid of the two biggest press concerns, an extra 5mm of ride height or slightly sharper geometry would have helped with handling comments and ground clearance (another gripe of many UK tests) - I guess Yamaha never rode a GS when developing the S10.
The bike could have been a fair bit better at little (literally a few bucks) extra cost at the factory, and priced a little more competitively, I think the reviews would have been kinder, it would have at least matched the 2010 twin cam GS it was launched alongside and been considered a viable alternative to the Beemer as a genuine dual purpose bike - and still have a place today alongside the "toys" now being sold by BMW / Ducati / KTM.
I still do not understand removing it though, they have no other similar bike in the line-up, the S10 R&D money has already been spent, what they ought to do is keep on selling it (in whatever market) and drop the price a little, more and more people are recognising it is a very good sturdy bike, and a few quid brings it up to date (or enough for real world use - my 100 RWBHP is perfect on the road, especially with the way it is now delivered)
I would also not want a triple, the grunt of the big twin is my favourite feature, all you need is 3k-4k on the tacho to be ripping along, ideal in the mountains and on bumpy back lanes, and well suited to motorway cruising.
I hope it stays on in the US and over here in Europe, although they need a re-think for 2015 - and this should not be along the lines of extra cylinders or 150BHP, something like the unleashed flash, with maybe another 10 BHP just to keep the press happy (every model must have more power than the last)
+ 10 BHP
No restrictions
Switchable ABS
Improved suspension
Cruise control
Controls on bars
Better heated grips
Better luggage
A diet (20kg would be good - just to keep the press happy)
Easy really, most of this would cost very little, even the Cruise as they have it on the FJR already, I think it really would be the best off-roader now KTM and BMW have gone chasing sportsbikes
