Weighing in at 636lbs ( cockeyed ) , the 2014 Yamaha Super Tenere ES is the heaviest escapade bike on the marketplace . But , it ’s also one of the best , this is why .
What ’s It Supposed To Do ? The SuperTen is a big Adventure bicycle , you know , the kind you ’re supposed to be able to hop on and bait around the world in stock form .
With so much weighting to carry , it obviously push its touring ability first and foremost , but thanks to a cagy mechanical layout , this is one ADV bike that can actually execute off - road .

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Peel back Yamaha ’s amorphous plastic and you ’ll see something that resemble a scaled - up dirt cycle . The upright , parallel - twin engine is fight as close as possible to the front wheel , a family relationship made possible by shifting the radiator to the locomotive engine ’s left side . That puts as much free weight as potential over the front wheel and makes for a very long swingarm . Considering the amount of weight in interrogation , that lead to a very implant front end and excellent adhesive friction .

Otherwise , the big Yamaha adheres to course convention . It ’s a big , well-situated , furrowed do - it - all bike that can also go off - route , but works best at cover big distance .
How ’s It think To Do It ? New for 2014 is the add-on of electronically adjustable respite , pocket-size modifications to the motor and power delivery , as well as some pinch to the ergonomics and weather protection .
That electronically adjustable pause controls both rebound and compression damping , as well as preload in the fully adjustable forks and shock . To manoeuvre it , you first choose between four levels of preload , optimized for a solo passenger up to passenger and rider , plus luggage . You then select heavily , standard or soft damping setting , tweaking each parameter three mouse click up or down . That ’s 84 total variation of reprieve adjustment to take from .

Now featuring Ti-82 graphics !
Operated through the handlebar switches , the system of rules is functional , if clumsy and obtuse . It ’s not just Yamaha that desperately require to start considering UX in its products ; the SuperTen ’s is as bad as any other bicycle on the mart .
In action , it end up being the two rider , plus baggage preload setting , plus the firm possible muffle that work well on the road . The drive becomes hard , but controlled in that setting , putting more weight on the front end and eliminating the bike ’s tendency to run for wide in corner while also noticeably sharpening guidance response .

Inside the 1,199cc , parallel - twin motor , the intake has been made straighter , the fumes porthole has change from vitamin D - shaped to orotund , new piston tintinnabulation slenderize friction and valve spring air pressure has been reduced 30 percent . In addition to the removal of the connector between the fumes headers , this adds 2bhp and 1.5lb - ft of torque while purportedly fix the engine freer revving . More importantly , the gas response in “ Sport ” has been sharpen , while “ Touring ” has been endorse off even more . The remainder between the two is now very pronounced , almost calling for a glad metier .
Handguards are now stock and the adjustable cover and its low steer deflector have been re - shaped , eliminating the buffeting that chivy the former model .
All that make the full package more versatile . Few owner ever bother adjusting their suspension , but this electronic arranging makes doing so very easy and will hopefully allow buyers to achieve more individualized performance .

How Does It Perform ? During this examination , we took the SuperTen down a few , jolly balmy fervency route on its stock Bridgestone Battlewing tire . But , we have extensive former experience with the bike , logging five mean solar day of solid off - roading on the much more dirt up to Continental TKC80s and have dwell with the wheel for a period of months .
A duet side note on tires . All the jumping and sliding and ecumenical dirt - ability you see in ads for big ADV bikes like this one are achieve usingContintenal TKC80s . Look closely in any of those photos or videos and you ’ll see their distinctively huge stride block . What ’s that tell you ? If you want to take this or a GS or an 1190 Adventure or whatever off road , start out with those tires . The SuperTen is also conform to with spoked ( unattackable ) , but tubeless tire ( commodious ) wheels . Thank you Yamaha , that pee situate punctures so much easier than if you have to pull the deuced tube out .
On the road , the SuperTen now makes an excellent tourer thanks to reduced vibraphone and fixed wind protection . Its acme - adjustable seat is handsome , flavourless and comfortable and being able to say the same about the rear makes it one of the best passenger bikes around . A bighearted bicycle , it ’s a little too hefty to wear dealings with veridical zestfulness , but its found nature and substantial low - end torque do make easy work of low speed obstacle and stoplight drag races , while its gamey quality weaken and long travelling reprieve work dandy on stinky roads .

Off road , the enormous motorcycle is ab initio intimidate due to its extreme weight . But , the more you push it , the well it responds ; that weighting - forward design really does keep the front wheel doing what you want . The foresighted swingarm combines very well with the tractor - comparable torque and space - out , V - like 270 - stage firing order , finding a surprising amount of traction even in sand and over loose surfaces or exorbitant climbs .
Traction control is switchable between two levels of intercession and there ’s no ab off permutation . While Yamaha ’s TC lacks the Brobdingnagian bit of musical mode or near - infinite user programmability of some competition , it ’s damn good . TC modulates ability through both the ignition timing and throttle butterflies , creating a smooth , seamless surgery that ’s barely detectable , except in the lack of crashing . Other diarist will plain that the abdominal is n’t easily de - activated , but honestly , on a bicycle this big , you ’re mete out with a ton of impulse , so its help hand is very welcome . You ’re already aiming to retard down smoothly and progressively rather than jam the affair into quoin and the abdominal facilitate with that vastly , while allowing a level of wheel lock suitable to achieving effective deceleration on very loose surfaces .
You ’ll note that the bicycle I ’m riding in these photos is fit with adjuvant clash bars and a sink guard . view both essential , the SuperTen ’s low-toned sink has cracked during several magazine tryout . This precaution wear upon a “ Yamaha ” badge , but is actually a thick , durable SW - Motech item able of actual aegis . Rolling it in as an official accessory means you could add its monetary value to your finance payment ; you probably wo n’t see its encroachment on your monthly bottom line . Also tick the corner for the excellent panniers . They ’re narrower than the handlebars , so lane splitting remains possible , while being unattackable , furrowed , waterproof and possible action with the ignition samara .

At 43mpg , the SuperTen can go up to 260 land mile on a unmarried 6.1 - gallon cooler of gas .
Yamaha also deserves to be commended for this bike ’s biotechnology . At 6′ 2″ , I ’m not terribly tall , but happen most ADV pedal too short to stick out well on as stock certificate . On the SuperTen , I can get as comfortable standing up as I can sitting down , without conform a thing . Again , peachy for covering aloofness , even off - route .
How Does It Compare To Rivals ? The closest competitor is manifestly the new liquid - chill BMW R1200GS . Both bikes are just about comparable off - road , but the GS is both significantly faster and a much better animal trainer on - road . The Yamaha ’s advantage do in its Mary Leontyne Price . With electronically adjustable break , verbalize wheels , cruise control , stir up grasp and handguards , its cost totals $ 16,190 while a similarly fit BMW goes for $ 18,250 .

The $ 16,499 KTM 1190 Adventure and $ 16,799 Adventure radius are so much more mutant - oriented on - road and off that the two bike experience like they belong to to unlike classes . Buy the KTM if you want to go fast and the Yamaha if you desire to go far .
The SuperTen is more off - road capable than the novel , $ 12,699 Suzuki V - Strom 1000 , but that wheel again has it beat in outright speed and treatment and , at just 502lbs ( wet ) is considerably lighter and more agile than the Yamaha . The SuperTen will do better with a passenger and luggage , but not $ 3,500 better . If you ’re carry passengers and baggage off - road on a regular basis , we ’d pay that premium . Otherwise , we ’d opt for the svelte , clean , fast V - Strom .
Adventure Ready ? amazingly so . The new Yamaha Super Tenere by all odds ride on the two - up touring ending of the ADV spectrum , but keep back enough reliable off - road capableness that it ’d be a great choice for tackling an epic misstep like the Trans - Labrador or Dalton Highways , particularly if you want to take someone with you . And you could fund those trips with the money you deliver over a BMW . Improvements for 2014 are worthwhile , if far from radical , making an already serious motorcycle more user - configurable .

depict Gear
Helmet : AGV AX-8 Dual Evo Tour($450 . Great helmet , but very fit - dependent . examine before purchasing )
Suit : Aerostich Roadcrafter Tactical($967 + . Best thing ever , just purchase one )

boot : Aerostich Combat Touring($387 . life caliber )
Gloves : Alpinestars 365($195 . Waterproof without insulation )
yamaha

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