I've put 23,000 miles on my Super-T over the last year and gotten back on a couple of FJRs during ride trades. What floors me are the number of folks who trash the Super-T or any other bike when they haven't set it up for themselves. I had one person over the weekend tell me how the rubber in the footpegs will fall out and then your boots will get chewed up. He'd read it on the Intertubes somewhere...
:glare:
I got asked more than once at NERDS and by other FJR owners if I could have one bike, FJR or Super Tenere, which it would be. The Tenere staying in my garage is the answer. I did have a 2004 and 2007 FJR and like the model a LOT. Further, there is NO way that I would have bought the Super Tenere if it were set up like the one new demo that I rode a year ago at one dealer. Fortunately I'd already ridden them in both the US and Europe.
There are few FJRs left totally stock, and the same is happening with the S10. Since there are so many S10 owners from the FJR group (& BMW GS converts in both), let me throw out a short list of what the Tenere owners are finding. All of these are heavily discussed at
https://www.yamahasupertenere.com
1. Miles. The Super Tenere is stiff and awkward till it gets more than about 1,000 miles and then suddenly isn't such a frigid beast. It's almost like a light switch flips.
2. Seat. It's pitched too far forward, making the bike DAMNED uncomfortable out of the box for most people. Fortunately, it can be flattened for about $2 in rubber bumpers from Home Depot.
https://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=2306.0 At that point, me & most folks live OK with the stock seat, but the touring oriented owners tend to get it customized. Just like the FJR.
3. Windshield. Again, just like the FJR, virtually nobody keeps the windshield stock. Out of necessity this summer when some road debris broke my custom shield, I did a lot of miles with my stocker. I got beat up by cross-winds crossing the Great Plains and it's been heaven since replacing it with a Parabellum. Whether adding a MadStad bracket or going with a big touring shield, the windshield is one of the first changes to anticipate unless you are using this as a big dirt bike.
4A. Off-idle stumble. The US bikes are adjusted lean by the factory to get past the EPA certification. I've ridden a couple of non-US bikes and those owners do the blank stare when you ask about why they don't have the same thing. Fortunately, the two-part answer for the US bikes is amazingly simple. First, the CO setting needs to be changed.
https://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=1974.msg63366#msg63366
4B. Second step to cure the EPA stumble, follow the forum guidance (
https://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=1973.msg33495#msg33495) on how to adjust the throttle bodies, preferably after the bike loosens up. The stumble will magically disappear. btw, For the cheap folks who understand, the throttle body sync on the twin is truly as easy as on the old twins of yore and just like with those you can skip using a manometer with 20 ft of clear tubing, some T-barbs and caps, and a little antifreeze.
5. The missing 15 hp. The bike is about 5-10 hp down on the BMW GS and doesn't have the mid-range torque peak that makes the GS seem to have more "oomph." It's also interesting how riders of stock Teneres don't think the engine is remarkable till they realize that they are keeping up quite well with folks on "faster" bikes. The Tenere is NOT a GS and performs best when allowed to spin up and use the traction control.
To get an extra 15 hp in gears 1-3, simply use a small piece of wire to short the connector at the clutch safety switch on the left handle bar. All it does is run an unrestricted map that is already in the ECU and meant for starting. To make this a permanent mod, add an on/off switch, so the bike retains different engine maps for Touring (useful in rain & 2-up), Sport, and now you've added a Open ECU mode (clutch switch shorted).
6. Tires. The Heidenau K60 tire seems to have been made for the Super Tenere, even though the size is in common with the VStrom and BMW GS. I'm about 2/3 through my tread at 13,000 miles and a fellow near me changed his K60 set at 24,000 miles. Owners are running them fast on sport bike roads, where the traction control can overcome an overzealous wrist, and yesterday we were 2-up on steep twisty gravel tracks that would have stopped me with the stock Battle wings. The tires took us right up, with the traction control light coming on & off the whole way.
7. Engine guards. If you see any chance of using the bike off of pavement, the stock engine protection is totally inadequate. Get side bars and a skid plate.
8. Finally, will the big girl go off road? Here's a video for you to decide:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ov9lRBUgDY
The summary is that it can do more than most of us can, but I sure won't choose it or any heavy bike to take the place of a WR250.
