Wasp's 1200GSA vs. Yamaha XT1200Z SuperTenere comapro

[KTM640Dakar]

Originally Posted by Wasp

This is obviously not the right place to post ride reports, info, and stories about a Super Tenere.
I started a thread in the beasts section at:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...6#post13355476

Enjoy.

Greg.

Isn't Tenere French for "couldn't afford a GS"?

[Crazy Canadian]

Originally Posted by KTM640Dakar

Isn't Tenere French for "couldn't afford a GS"?

Maybe we should each have thrown in a buck to help him afford a real bike!

[GB]

Greg,
I moved your posts to a separate thread. Competition is good. From what I see, the SuperTen is the closest competitor to the 12GS.

Same engine displacement
Same type of power
Similar weight
Shaft drive among others.

Feel free to discuss the merits of both bikes without being an asshat, like the above two posts.

Yes folks, some folks can afford both bikes, but opt for the Yamaha for personal or reliability reasons.

[Wasp]

Originally Posted by Gadget Boy

Greg,
I moved your posts to a separate thread. Competition is good. From what I see, the SuperTen is the closest competitor to the 12GS.

Same engine displacement
Same type of power
Similar weight
Shaft drive among others.

Feel free to discuss the merits of both bikes without being an asshat, like the above two posts.

Yes folks, some folks can afford both bikes, but opt for the Yamaha for personal or reliability reasons.

Thank's G.B

While I enjoy spirited challenges and intelligent conversation,, I dont know where those two were coming from.
I clearly stated that I test rode the GSA and was very ready (and surprisingly could afford) to purchase.

This whole thread started by me posting a picture of the similarity of some stickers and then someone asking the simple question:

Please tell us frankly

---

What was the main reason you took the Super Tenere?


If this info or thread is of no interest to you, don't respond or don't continue to open the thread.

Greg.

[GB]

This bike is supposed to be unveiled in Canada sometime in September 2010. I will be eagerly anticipating its release.

Since I acquired my 800GS, I relegated the 1200GS/A to garage queen status and long distance touring duties. It was just too large, too cumbersome for short jaunts, commuting and around town riding, plus I enjoyed the 800 more. Then I decided I should get a "proper" touring bike, but ultimately, I was unable to get excited about a fully faired motorcycle, too much plastic, too much heat, so a large d-s style bike that can be used as a touring bike is back on radar screen.

The SuperTenere has good wind protection from the tank panels, and comfortable pillion and rider ergos.. and I like the double sided swingarm / final drive concept which has been used on the FJR for years.

The lack of ESA is a plus in my mind. You'd be lucky to get more than 30K miles out of the stock ESA's, then what.. As inmates on the RT site have been doing, remove the ESA shocks and install quality aftermarket regular shocks.

Until now, there wasn't really anything in the same league as the 1200GS and Yamaha has done their homework well. Competition is great for product development and improvement.

[Plane Dr]

I have been keeping an eye on the S10 for awhile. A buddy in Vancouver has the old 750. Remarkable bike. I also looked at the 800GS but was looking for something more mileable (I am getting old, or am starting to feel old) but till the S10 makes it here the 12GS was a simple choice.

[Sam Buca]

I would say that the Yamaha is more a competitor to the regular BMW GS, and not the BMW GS Adv.

The perceived top-heaviness could be due to the 9gal (350 miles range) of fuel stored relatively high on the BMW, compared to the 6gal (?200 mile range?) in the Yamaha.
The BMW is also quite a bit wider that the Yamaha (due to the tank and cylinders) which will indeed make it more difficult to manuever because you are standing further off-center to the bike.

Did you ride the regular GS and compared that to the Yamaha?



.

[Wasp]

Originally Posted by Sam Buca

I would say that the Yamaha is more a competitor to the regular BMW GS, and not the BMW GS Adv.

The perceived top-heaviness could be due to the 9gal (350 miles range) of fuel stored relatively high on the BMW, compared to the 6gal (?200 mile range?) in the Yamaha.
The BMW is also quite a bit wider that the Yamaha (due to the tank and cylinders) which will indeed make it more difficult to manuever because you are standing further off-center to the bike.

Did you ride the regular GS and compared that to the Yamaha?
.

No I did not Daniel.

I only rode the yellow 2010 GSA as shown in the pics in this thread.
I was only interested in the GSA but you are probably right, the GS is probably a closer matched to the Yamaha.

Greg.

[wonderings]

Thanks for the post and comparison. The Yammy is the only bike that I would look at if I were to try something other then a GS. Though the smaller fuel tank would be a big con for me, I like to ride as long as possible without stopping. Looks like a fantastic bike and hopefully gives BMW a good run for there money.

To bad its not in Canada.

[Emoto]

Wasp, I was also thinking that the regular GS was a closer match. I have a regular 12GS and the extra weight and size of the GSA make it very unappealing to me, even though I am a fairly big guy.

But, I have been trying to keep up-to-date on the Yamaha, because it looks like a really nice bike. I have always thought Yamahas were good machines and my years wrenching on them professionally did nothing to change that thought.

We're not getting the Yam here in the USA, but I would still be interested in reading about your experiences as you go along with it.

Does anyone know how the Yamaha suspension travel compares to the regular GS?

[SCQTT]

The bike looks awesome.

I have always been a Yamaha fan.


Not going to hold my breath waiting for it to come to the the US.....I'm sure we'll get some sort of new Yamaha power cruiser with more chrome.

The new Triumph looks promising too.

More options, more better!

[Sam Buca]

Originally Posted by Wasp

No I did not Daniel. (ride the regular GS).

I only rode the yellow 2010 GSA as shown in the pics in this thread.
I was only interested in the GSA but you are probably right, the GS is probably a closer matched to the Yamaha.

Originally Posted by Wasp

1/ The Yamaha seat and ergo's were more comfortable - FOR ME. Yet you also stated that you intend changing the bars?
2/ The Yamaha felt exponentially lighter both sitting on its wheels and when rolling, also when wheeling the bike around by hand. I am not a small man (5'11" - 240lbs) but the BMW was spooky to try and get off without the side stand down, and even more spooky to stand beside and wheel around.
The regular GS is a lot lighter
3/ All the weight in the Yamaha felt like it was bottom heavy/neutral while the BMW felt top heavy. 9gal vs 6gal tank / about 20lb or 9kg
4/ The Yamaha is rock solid up to incredibly illegal speeds (to which it achieves very quickly) where the BMW is twitchy between each gear change and extremely light at the bars and unstable at those high speeds. The BMW had knobblies - makes a huge difference
5/ I was VERY unsure of the longevity and possibility of drive line failure with the BMW. Seems to happen all to often.. Maybe, yet there are may that last a lifetime
6/ The Yamaha feels physically smaller and less imposing than the BMW, specially in the dirt. I only took both bikes on a 2km section of powerline trail near my house but the Yamaha was immediately like an 50kg lighter bike and felt more controlable with the back end hanging out. GS vs GS Adv
7/ The suspension on the Yamaha (specially the front forks) seems smoother and I seem to feel less sharpness in bumps than I did with the BMW. In dirt the front suspension of the Yamaha is miles ahead. The bMW seems like every thing revolves around, and waits for, the front suspension.
The telelever does feel strange when not used to it - a sort of faraway feeling
8/ The Yamaha was $10,000 Aussie dollars cheeper than the GSA... The GS is a few dollars less than the Gs Adv

Greg,

Then I do not believe all the comments above are really valid as you are not comparing apples with apples. Many of the comments you made hold true when comparing the GS Adv with the regular GS.

I feel your enthusiasm for the new bike and I appreciate the time and effort you are putting in to show it. Especially for us in the USA who may never see the bike here.



.

[Wasp]

Originally Posted by Sam Buca

Greg,

Then I do not believe all the comments above are really valid as you are not comparing apples with apples. Many of the comments you made hold true when comparing the GS Adv with the regular GS.

I feel your enthusiasm for the new bike and I appreciate the time and effort you are putting in to show it. Especially for us in the USA who may never see the bike here.



.

Yeh, all valid points Daniel.. Take from it what you will but as I said, I did not ride the GS as I did not want one (dont like the look to be honest - just a personal thing) and did'nt even sit on one.. weird huh?

I dont think it is just the extra fuel in the GSA that makes it feel top heavy. A good part of my experience aboard the GSA was with a depleating tank volume (obviously). I started with BMW dealers fuel in the tank and I put 25lts in the bike before returning it at 700kms and probably less than 1/3rd tank so I probably didnt experience the GSA with anymore than 3/4 tank..
I dont know how much fuel is in the GSA which is at my house currently but I can check it out tomorrow.
I know my bike by comparison is a chocka-block full tank.

I think more of a mystery is how and where the S10 hides the weight that the scales have us believe.
I read a review this morning (on the net, cant find it now) and in an around about way the reviewer states that if not for the admission of weight by the manufacturer he would not beleive the bike felt over 200kg. That is one of the stand-out universal statements about this machine.. I guess you really need to ride it to experience it.

Concerning the handlebars - I havn't pinpointed it yet but I do need to move the bars on the Yamaha forward and up slightly (I think).
The S10 does suit my ergo requirements more than the GSA, But, the GSA was better in the transition from sitting to standing.
I dunno, it sort of feels like the bars are to low and close to my mid section when standing dirt style.

Greg.

edit:
On the subject of $'s - I think the fully kitted GS is about $5K > $6K lighter than the GSA so still a significant saving..
The knobbies - Time will tell as I just put knobbies on the S10, although I had a small ride on Sunday and it felt good on road and trail.

Greg.

[Grad]

Interesting review....too bad Yamaha can't get their shit together and offer it in the US.

[Sam Buca]

Originally Posted by Wasp

I think more of a mystery is how and where the S10 hides the weight that the scales have us believe.
I read a review this morning (on the net, cant find it now) and in an around about way the reviewer states that if not for the admission of weight by the manufacturer he would not beleive the bike felt over 200kg. That is one of the stand-out universal statements about this machine.. I guess you really need to ride it to experience it.

That is probably the most interesting component about the two bikes... the Yamaha FEELS a lot lighter, and the BMW FEELS a lot heavier.

I wish I could ride one, but alas, I doubt it whether we will find one here in the USA. In the mean time I really enjoy that 9 gallon / 350mile range (primary reason for buying the Adv.) on the GS Adv and will certainly try and ride one the next time I am in Europe or Africa!


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