Will Yamaha Increase the S10 Power? If so, When?

[Velvet]

Presently, I don't own an S10 nor have I ever ridden one, but I am planning on making the purchase in the next several months. I'm choosing the S10 for what it is....an extremely capable, understressed, reliable, and well-balanced machine that I have read and heard so much about. It has nearly all of the requisite bits that I've been wanting.

I seriously hope that they don't make any radical HP changes, but maybe make subtle changes as they go similar to what they have done with the FJR. Keep it simple Yamaha!

 

[stomp347]

^ This. I couldn't agree with you more. I was seriously thinking about the KTM, but wanted something as reliable as my previous Yamaha rides. I only have 36 miles on mine before all the shitty weather arrived, but I can't wait to get back on it!

 

[Rasher]

Are owners of the new '14s and 15's getting the same gains over stock that earlier owners get with flashes, headers, intakes and pipes? Or will a tuned early bike be as powerful and torquey as a new tuned bike?

I have got a lot more than I would upgrading to a 2014, but I am sure if the same work was done on a 2014 it would end up that tiny bit better.


A full system with custom flash on an early bike comes in at about a grand at UK prices and gives over 10BHP more with restrictions gone, another grand gets a fork re-work and higher spec rear shock, another few hundred quid will get me a 2014 clutch basket and latest CCT - the cost of upgrading my 2011 for a 2015 would be about £5k.

As it is a Yamaha I also do not feel I need to keep buying new due to worries about expensive post warranty failures. It makes upgrading what I have very worthwhile.

This is the longest I have kept a bike excluding hard times when I was running a heap due to no cash to upgrade.

 

[Donk]

I bought the S10 over the KTM because after riding both I liked it more! I couldn't even explain it to myself because I like hp. I knew what I was getting and I'm really happy with the bike. I was concerned that I would be disappointed with the power but I'm not. It goes just fine. It's not going to win a drag race but still it's one of my favorite bikes and I've owned a bunch. It's great in the twisties and great on the highway.

A friend owned a VMax that was tricked out and dynoed at 190hp at the rear wheel. That bike, after mods was as reliable as any new stock Yamaha. I don't think modding an S10 is going to hurt reliability in the least. Yamaha's not going to up the hp any time soon so if you want more do it yourself.

 

[cosmic]

My bike is bone stock and I like it that way. I'm investing all the money in tires and fuel. That said, I wish they make it a tad lighter, so I could pick it up easier.

 

[copb8]

My bike is bone stock and I like it that way. I'm investing all the money in tires and fuel. That said, I wish they make it a tad lighter, so I could pick it up easier.

If I was picking my bike up a bunch I'd at least add crash bars!

 

[TheHelios]

If I was picking my bike up a bunch I'd at least add crash bars!

This is a must on any bike. There's no reason you shouldn't spend the sub-$300 for something that literally pays for itself the first time you drop your bike.

 

[s-flow]

Me too.. Yes, 2018.. just guessing.

 

[cosmic]

If I was picking my bike up a bunch I'd at least add crash bars!

This is a must on any bike. There's no reason you shouldn't spend the sub-$300 for something that literally pays for itself the first time you drop your bike.

Guys you got me all wrong...
Bone stock engine wise... I have enough protections.

 

[richarddacat]

::003::

I've gotten a kick out of reading the FJR comparisons. ::008:: That's my current bike, an 05 along with a K75c.

I'm ready for something different.... I think.

The mach1 speed references are something I can relate to and think getting something with less power will cure my need for speed? Ha ::025::, I run the same speeds on my K75. ::010::

It's not about the bike, it's about discipline. Am I really going to slow down by getting a different bike? Doubtful.
I need to control myself, realize that I'm not invulnerable like I was when I was younger. ;D

So I'm looking at whether I'll be as comfortable on the Super10 as I am on the FJR. Granted the seating position on the FJR is wearing on me but the air pocket and road comfort has me worried about parting with it. (Currently running double risers so I can't get closer to a dirt bike stance.)

Back on topic, why does the Super10 need more power?
Are you not satisfied with the power it has?
Does it need a 7th gear like many think the FJR needs a 6th? ???

Like what others have said, chances of Yamaha boosting displacement are very thin considering their history. The 2nd gen improvements were pretty sweet, what other "little" improvements could they make would be my question.

What I'm looking for is smoothness around 70-80mph, a wind pocket so a 400 mile day won't wear me out even more, storage and electronic cruise.

Fuel mileage in the 60's?...now that's where the Super10 could be improved. )


::021::

 

[TNWalker]

Hey richarddacat, I believe you and I are near enough each other that if you would like a test ride, we can arrange to meet up sometime after it warms up a bit so you can try out a 14' Tenere'. Wind management on the Tenere is easily solved with after market shield solutions. I have never felt that I need more power than the bike currently delivers. 6th gear smoothness is quite nice at 70 to 80 mph with ability to easily cruise faster if desired. With the right windshield and seat combination I have easily done 400 mile days on mine with very little fatigue. Tank to tank jaunts are quite easy on this bike. Give it a try. You won't be sorry.



Steve ::022:: ::26::

 

[richarddacat]

I may take you up on that Steve. Maybe I can compare your old bike to your new one? ::014::

It's still waiting for a new owner at Sloans and I warmed the seat today. ::26::

 

[copb8]

Richard, you hit on about every hot button I have and thanks for carefully laying your bike over to show a better view of your protection.

People ride differently and in different terrain so they look for different things in a bike. If the S10 power is more than enough for one person there's nothing wrong with it being underwhelming to another. You just gotta work out what kind of person you are.

I've owned an FJR since late 2003, first with an '04 and now with a '13. Cruising at 90+ is effortless on that bike (BTW, I'm one of those people that think it needs a 6 speed overdrive gear on top of it's current ratios). The S10 at over 90 is working harder and starting to suck quite a bit more gas. I do ride slower on the S10 than the FJR but not because it lulls me into a sense of serenity and harmony, but because it just doesn't feel like that speed is the bike's natural rhythm. Again, great for some and less great for other.

Can I live it? Hell YAH I can live with it! That's why I just listed the FJR for sale. It was becoming forgotten. I was getting tired of the seating position for long hauls (have risers and highway pegs) and I'm not a fan of it's very slow speed handling (love it above 40 tho). I want the ability to head off down any road at any time and not be restricted by the bike. I figure I'll give this a shot and if it fails I'll simply pick another FJR or equivalent. I don't think it'll fail tho.

Switching with an S10 owner for a few miles will be helpful but not definitive. It took me over a year to come to the conclusion as to what bike I preferred.

Everyone remember though, the original question of this thread was "Do you think Yamaha will add power", not "Yamaha needs to add power". I was just looking for all of your thoughts on the topic and it's been super interesting.

 

[EricV]

Off topic, but in regards to the FJR and 6th gear, you do realize why that will never happen, don't you copb8?

And you do realize that 5th is an overdrive already. Very, very few bikes have a double overdrive transmission. Not to mention that you're not using the full rpms, even at 90 you're not even close to redline in 5th on the Feej, so the only reason to "want it" is to make you feel better. If they ever modify the FJR's engine cases to add a 6th gear, it will almost certainly still be only one overdrive with nearly identical ratio to the current 5th, and you'll just have to row thru more gears to get there.

Having ridden the FJR at rally nominal speeds over a 5 day period that covered just over 5k miles, I still got an average mpg of 42, which is my normal riding mpg on that bike in rally trim too. I found that quite impressive, in terms of fuel efficiency.

As you and others have mentioned, the S10 is much more variable in mpg over 80 mph. I saw 16 on the dash mpg on the track at indicated 125 when the bike was fairly new still. The FJR doesn't drop nearly as much, but we are talking parallel twin Vs inline 4 and the inline four is just a lot smoother with less mass per cylinder.

 

[copb8]

Off topic, but in regards to the FJR and 6th gear, you do realize why that will never happen, don't you copb8?

And you do realize that 5th is an overdrive already. Very, very few bikes have a double overdrive transmission. Not to mention that you're not using the full rpms, even at 90 you're not even close to redline in 5th on the Feej, so the only reason to "want it" is to make you feel better. If they ever modify the FJR's engine cases to add a 6th gear, it will almost certainly still be only one overdrive with nearly identical ratio to the current 5th, and you'll just have to row thru more gears to get there.

Having ridden the FJR at rally nominal speeds over a 5 day period that covered just over 5k miles, I still got an average mpg of 42, which is my normal riding mpg on that bike in rally trim too. I found that quite impressive, in terms of fuel efficiency.

As you and others have mentioned, the S10 is much more variable in mpg over 80 mph. I saw 16 on the dash mpg on the track at indicated 125 when the bike was fairly new still. The FJR doesn't drop nearly as much, but we are talking parallel twin Vs inline 4 and the inline four is just a lot smoother with less mass per cylinder.

This is one of those endless FJR discussions that have been batted around the FJR forums forever. We're all just going to have to agree to disagree. I only mentioned it so that the poster would understand my wacked out perspective. But I'm sure no one here cares about the FJR battles and if they do I'm sure they're the forums to do battle on.

 

[sportsguy]

So I called Yamaha in Japan to ask for more power in the Tenere. They said no.

They did suggest they were working on a 100 hp blender, however, so at least that's something. they also believe the two slice toaster is going to make a comeback.

 

[snakebitten]

Haha.
Made me laugh.
Love to laugh.
Laughter is the best medicine for what ales me.

Thanks!

 

[copb8]

So I called Yamaha in Japan to ask for more power in the Tenere. They said no.

DAMMIT!

 

[sportsguy]

Haha.
Made me laugh.
Love to laugh.
Laughter is the best medicine for what ales me.

Thanks!

Just wait until the 100 horsepower margaritas kick in! Woohoo!

 

[Vanderwho]

Just wait until the 100 horsepower margaritas kick in! Woohoo!

I'm pretty sure, having owned an FJR, that I would need at least 145-HP margaritas to be satisfied.





But I would not need a sixth gear in my margaritas.