Test ride day :-)

[RJT_Berlin]

agree, only found the vibes a "little" intrusive around legal limits on motorways etc, although never too concerning...... The finish on the bmw was excellent and i loved the bike. I actually found the XR more comfortable than the GS i previously had and was probably the best bike i have owned

 

[fredaroony]

I test rode the MT-10SP and was quite underwhelmed. Very poor feeling brakes, no auto blipper and poor low end fuelling.

The S1000R trumps it easily except for engine sound. The MT-10/SP is poor value for money compared to the S1000R, in Australia anyway.

 

[Morety]

I don't know what mode you had it in but the one I rode had an auto-shift up (only) which was excellent...really slick, and the brakes were very good, if a bit wooden....they just lacked a bit of feel.

To describe the MT10, ANY MT10 as "underwhelming" is one of the strangest comments so contradictory to that particular bike I think I've ever heard! The low end fuelling on the normal map was excellent...easily one of the best I've ridden in that respect. BMW have a reputation for good fuelling, so I would expect nothing but excellence from the S1000R fuelling. The S1000R trumps it, but not by a huge margin by any measure. On the road they are both excellent bikes. I'd take the Yamaha's engine every day of the week though.

There's a really informative video link below comparing the best of the super-naked bikes with some unexpected conclusions, especially on the KTM 1290:

 

[Arsey]

I test rode the MT-10SP and was quite underwhelmed. Very poor feeling brakes, no auto blipper and poor low end fuelling.

The S1000R trumps it easily except for engine sound. The MT-10/SP is poor value for money compared to the S1000R, in Australia anyway.

Very odd as the SP came with a quick shifter !

The fuelling on my bike was perfect as well.

 

[fredaroony]

Very odd as the SP came with a quick shifter !

The fuelling on my bike was perfect as well.

QS is up only on the MT-10, including the SP.

 

[Arsey]

QS is up only on the MT-10, including the SP.

Never said it wasn’t but I’m sure all SPs came with it as standard

 

[fredaroony]

I don't know what mode you had it in but the one I rode had an auto-shift up (only) which was excellent...really slick, and the brakes were very good, if a bit wooden....they just lacked a bit of feel.

To describe the MT10, ANY MT10 as "underwhelming" is one of the strangest comments so contradictory to that particular bike I think I've ever heard! The low end fuelling on the normal map was excellent...easily one of the best I've ridden in that respect. BMW have a reputation for good fuelling, so I would expect nothing but excellence from the S1000R fuelling. The S1000R trumps it, but not by a huge margin by any measure. On the road they are both excellent bikes. I'd take the Yamaha's engine every day of the week though.

There's a really informative video link below comparing the best of the super-naked bikes with some unexpected conclusions, especially on the KTM 1290:

The S1000R has more power over the complete rev range than the MT-10 and the fuelling is far superior. Not sure what other bikes you have ridden but I found it quite off/on down low. The first model was the worst but Yamaha did improve it in the 2018 bike. Power delivery was nothing special compared to the S1000R and the S1000R has more power across the complete rev range than the MT-10

The brakes on the S1000R feel light years ahead of the shocking feeling MT-10 brakes. Can't believe Yamaha are still using rubber brake hoses on such an expensive bike.

I'm not saying it's a bad bike but it's overpriced, under specced, compared to the S1000R. You also don't get cornering ABS or heated grips as standard compared to the S1000R

 

[fredaroony]

Never said it wasn’t but I’m sure all SPs came with it as standard

I never said it didn't come with a QS, I said it didn't come with an auto blipper.

 

[Morety]

The S1000R has more power over the complete rev range than the MT-10 and the fuelling is far superior. Not sure what other bikes you have ridden but I found it quite off/on down low. The first model was the worst but Yamaha did improve it in the 2018 bike. Power delivery was nothing special compared to the S1000R and the S1000R has more power across the complete rev range than the MT-10

The brakes on the S1000R feel light years ahead of the shocking feeling MT-10 brakes. Can't believe Yamaha are still using rubber brake hoses on such an expensive bike.

I'm not saying it's a bad bike but it's overpriced, under specced, compared to the S1000R. You also don't get cornering ABS or heated grips as standard compared to the S1000R

I've ridden a hell of a lot of bikes over the years and owned a hell of a lot too, so I know what good fuelling feels like thank you. The standard mode showed zero signs of being "on-off" so I can only conclude that you may have had a duffer or had it in a mode better suited to track work or that I may have had a fettled one...whichever, it was superb. Some bikes (like previous KTM models) had very obvious "on/off" fuelling at low revs. The MT10 is not overpriced by any measure, nor is it under-spec'd for the cost. I agree that the S1000R is probably better value overall, as it's not that much more but there's no denying the overall package of the MT10, the superb motor, superb handling and still great VFM. It has character in spades too. It is well made and has more than enough refinement. I'm not worried about cornering ABS but admittedly, heated grips, even if only an option would be welcomed. They're one of those things once tried you can't do without over here. Bikes are a very personal choice though and I get that. You obviously prefer your S1000R. I'd take the Yamaha....tomato, tomaito.

 

[Arsey]

I've ridden a hell of a lot of bikes over the years and owned a hell of a lot too, so I know what good fuelling feels like thank you. The standard mode showed zero signs of being "on-off" so I can only conclude that you may have had a duffer or had it in a mode better suited to track work or that I may have had a fettled one...whichever, it was superb. Some bikes (like previous KTM models) had very obvious "on/off" fuelling at low revs. The MT10 is not overpriced by any measure, nor is it under-spec'd for the cost. I agree that the S1000R is probably better value overall, as it's not that much more but there's no denying the overall package of the MT10, the superb motor, superb handling and still great VFM. It has character in spades too. It is well made and has more than enough refinement. I'm not worried about cornering ABS but admittedly, heated grips, even if only an option would be welcomed. They're one of those things once tried you can't do without over here. Bikes are a very personal choice though and I get that. You obviously prefer your S1000R. I'd take the Yamaha....tomato, tomaito.

Yup I’m with you.

Ive no idea what fredaroony is talking about. I had one of the first bikes in the country and the fuelling was perfect.
The overall build quality and finish was also streets ahead of any modern BMW.
I didn’t even consider the S1000R when I bought the MT10 because it looks boring,has a boring engine (ok,it might make power but the cross-plane in the Yam has character ) and my local BMW dealer is utter shite.

 

[Morety]

Yup I’m with you.

Ive no idea what fredaroony is talking about. I had one of the first bikes in the country and the fuelling was perfect.
The overall build quality and finish was also streets ahead of any modern BMW.
I didn’t even consider the S1000R when I bought the MT10 because it looks boring,has a boring engine (ok,it might make power but the cross-plane in the Yam has character ) and my local BMW dealer is utter shite.

Absolutely right...I have no idea how anyone having seen or ridden an MT01 could have arrived at any different a conclusion, the little extra power (and it is only a little extra) of the BMW accepted. One of the major differences (and hence why acceleration tests showed significant differences) is that the gearing on the Yam is much shorter in the first few gears and you just can't wind the throttle on without risking looping the bike...that hampers getaway times. On the test ride, when I did want to wind it on, it was always in 3rd or higher gears. As you say, the fuelling was nigh on perfect.

 

[fredaroony]

I've ridden a hell of a lot of bikes over the years and owned a hell of a lot too, so I know what good fuelling feels like thank you. The standard mode showed zero signs of being "on-off" so I can only conclude that you may have had a duffer or had it in a mode better suited to track work or that I may have had a fettled one...whichever, it was superb. Some bikes (like previous KTM models) had very obvious "on/off" fuelling at low revs. The MT10 is not overpriced by any measure, nor is it under-spec'd for the cost. I agree that the S1000R is probably better value overall, as it's not that much more but there's no denying the overall package of the MT10, the superb motor, superb handling and still great VFM. It has character in spades too. It is well made and has more than enough refinement. I'm not worried about cornering ABS but admittedly, heated grips, even if only an option would be welcomed. They're one of those things once tried you can't do without over here. Bikes are a very personal choice though and I get that. You obviously prefer your S1000R. I'd take the Yamaha....tomato, tomaito.

I didn't know we were going to get into biking resumes haha. You seem to have taken it personal that I disagree with you and I'm hardly the first person to mention the fuelling on the MT-10. The bike I rode was a stock MT-10SP from a dealer. I will say that I don't remember the mode it was in at the time

I also mentioned in my first post, the value of the bike was in the context of the Australian market. I have no idea what it costs in he UK compared to the S1000R.

Not only did BMW make an engine with more power and torque, not just a little either, it also has far better fuel economy. When I rode it after getting directly off my S1000R it felt exactly like that.

Risk looping the bike? I had to laugh out loud at that honestly and not according to the ride I did.

S1000R vs MT-10 on the dyno. Dyno chart near the end of the video

 

[Nutty]

Yup I’m with you.

Ive no idea what fredaroony is talking about. I had one of the first bikes in the country and the fuelling was perfect.
The overall build quality and finish was also streets ahead of any modern BMW.
I didn’t even consider the S1000R when I bought the MT10 because it looks boring,has a boring engine (ok,it might make power but the cross-plane in the Yam has character ) and my local BMW dealer is utter shite.

Don’t compare the build quality and finish of the R with the GS, as it’s leagues ahead. Mine was one of the best finished bikes I’ve had (after my KTM’s of course ).

 

[Arsey]

Don’t compare the build quality and finish of the R with the GS, as it’s leagues ahead. Mine was one of the best finished bikes I’ve had (after my KTM’s of course ).

Are they built in different factories by different people then ?

 

[RJT_Berlin]

My XR was also better finished than the GS i had

 

[Nutty]

Are they built in different factories by different people then ?

They must be. Either that, or the chimps building the GS aren’t allowed anywhere near the S bikes.

 

[fredaroony]

Don’t compare the build quality and finish of the R with the GS, as it’s leagues ahead. Mine was one of the best finished bikes I’ve had (after my KTM’s of course ).

I've owned both and I'd say they are about the same.

 

[Nutty]

I've owned both and I'd say they are about the same.

Do they have Specsavers in Australia?

 

[fatbob99]

Done 15000 miles on mine in the 2 years I’ve had it , been all over the place and off to Austria GP this year
It can be shite on fuel , but on a run 125-150 miles is possible , and not at slow speeds either , it just propagates a hint of mischief from within so you end up using more
Nothing’s gone wrong with it and it still looks like new , you can fix the brakes with a pad upgrade , though I did master cylinder and callipers.and a translogic blipper
Fuelling on the later bikes is fine though it is worth a remap even as standard as it helps a lot I found to smoothen the ride.
Whilst it’s not the fastest in the class , I’ve found it the most fun.
Just about to put flatter bars on mine to stop it wheelying

 

[Khulu]

Done 15000 miles on mine in the 2 years I’ve had it , been all over the place and off to Austria GP this year
It can be shite on fuel , but on a run 125-150 miles is possible , and not at slow speeds either , it just propagates a hint of mischief from within so you end up using more
Nothing’s gone wrong with it and it still looks like new , you can fix the brakes with a pad upgrade , though I did master cylinder and callipers.and a translogic blipper
Fuelling on the later bikes is fine though it is worth a remap even as standard as it helps a lot I found to smoothen the ride.
Whilst it’s not the fastest in the class , I’ve found it the most fun.
Just about to put flatter bars on mine to stop it wheelying

I'll look out for your bike at the Austrian MotoGP.