Another UK Magazine beating for the Tenere

[Rasher]

It's hard to find reason TO consider the Yamaha Super Tenere

Is how they start the summing up in ride magazine

Then again it was up against the GS, four bikes, four riders, two GS owners and zero Yamaha owners, I dunno why they did not just ask the CEO and Marketing Director of BMW Motorrad to write the f*** review.

In fairness they can only review the bike as delivered and I am sure the riders views that the Tenere loses out to the KTM / GS and Explorer on the road is probably spot on, the old GS was a more sprightly road performer and I have ridden the Triumph and it is really a sportsbike in adventure clothing, and I dare say the KTM is an awesome road rocket - which is what the UK press love, however....

... as always the test was based on a race, how quickly the bike could get from A-B with the rider going as fast as possible, so the Yamaha was a bit less composed and got left behind, but probably at a pace way beyond what 90% of owners looking for one of these bikes would ever attain - if your not so sure consider that they averaged 34 mpg on the Yamaha - that is UK MPG not your short measure US gallons - or around 7.5m to the litre for whoever understands those measures. Ask yourself how often you drop your S10 below 35 (UK) mpg on pavement :question:

Again what does not help is the Yamaha sitting at £12,000, the Triumph boasts an extra cylinder, cruise control and an extra 25 BHP at £11,100, for a mere £500 more you get the (I must say rather appealing) KTM, OK I do not need another 40BHP or want a chain drive, but it is a hell of a lot of bike for the money and has an exotic appeal, yet.....Of course the GS won, despite being the most expensive (£13,800) with all the electronic suspension.

If the Yamaha was listed at £10,995 it would probably do much better as at least it would be the cheapest, in reality it is, few people in the UK buy them new, dealers can only sell ex-demo's with a huge discount (£9.5k - £10k) and at the end of each year Yamaha are stuck with a load, put them all on pre-reg plates and sell them off for just over £10k - why don't they just price them like that in the first place.

Seeing as you can get an S10 for around £10k, fit an Ohlins / rework forks and get a Flash which will give a bike as good as any of the others for £11.5k

 

[zamfield]

Each to their own... And it's common knowledge that bike magazines get "kick backs" in more ways than one from manufacturers.
I've owned the GS, a 2007 and it doesn't hold up against the S10...Again, my opinion.

I've had a lot of bikes.
It got to the point where I had a new one every 4 months! (I know, it's habit forming!) and I'd have to say the S10 is the best of the lot.
Sure, it needs some farkles & "fine tuning" but I haven't had a bike yet that didn't.

Yes, the S10 is a little higher OTD but let's look at maintenance costs, ease of doing them & intervals.
Then let's look at insurance costs.

Its the Yamaha all the way for me, no matter what the mags say.

Go for a test ride and find out yourself.

 

[snakebitten]

Love it. Makes my XT1200ZR a sleeper.

Truth is, on a street race, I might not prefer my Blue Beast either.
Silly parameters for an "Adventure" test. Goofy.

I say the real test for this group is Load them down. Hit the road for a lengthy long tarmac day. Then a couple of days of testing them in the wild. And finally, that long trec back to the origin. Be sure to mix in some 2-up. An oil typical maintenance routine.

It takes the full Adventure menu to be a meaningful test. You can't ask just 1/4th of the questions and call a winner.

But who cares? It's been said before.

 

[JaimeV]

Yamaha Spain has a big stock of S10.
They reduced 2000€ the 2011/2012. The basic Tenere is 12.500€ now, a really good price. The new KTM is 15.200€

 

[GrahamD]

Where was the big Versys, MTS and Crosstourer?

They beat up on the Strom for years, trouble is it didn't go away. Some where along the line people realized that the Cost of ownership and real world performance mattered more.

One thing I think YAMAHA should learn though is that this is more of a fashion industry. If you make design decisions based on real RTW parameters you are talking to a lot fewer people. So yes bring on the XT1200ZRRR and it really doesn't matter whether it only lasts until the next model cycle because the cashed up posers will be onto the next big thing by then anyway.

Secondly YAMAHA needs a TRX1200R, to go after the more Street end of the Spectrum. Lighter, Adventure Styled and more powerful. Keep the XT1200 ground clearance though and chuck world crosser stuff on it and they will still find reasons not to like it.

Basically what BMW intended to do with the GS and GSA variants. Just that more people decided that the GS gave them the "cred" and was a cheaper way in. The the decided to go off and break the GS a lot in the rough stuff.

Anyway in Australia the first test by a real off road magazine on the new GS ended up with a broken rim and punctured radiator and was considered a bit of a step backwards in many respects.
Two did not finish. It just reenforced to me that YAMAHA made some good decisions regards how they mounted the radiator and how the wheels were designed. Yes the will still bend but they tend to hold up better and the spokes aren't reliant on the edge to maintain most of their strength.

Whether the design decisions mean anything to people is up to them, if they bother looking further than the HP and weight that is.

The important thing is whether they actually TRY. If they do a Suzuki they will just let the price fade away until it just an unbeatable bargain. Its YAMAHA's choice.

 

[twinrider]

Again what does not help is the Yamaha sitting at £12,000, the Triumph boasts an extra cylinder, cruise control and an extra 25 BHP at £11,100, for a mere £500 more you get the (I must say rather appealing) KTM, OK I do not need another 40BHP or want a chain drive, but it is a hell of a lot of bike for the money and has an exotic appeal, yet.....Of course the GS won, despite being the most expensive (£13,800) with all the electronic suspension.

Can't understand why Yamaha prices their bikes so high in the UK compared to the US. A big of the appeal of the S10 stateside for many people is its relatively cheap price, which offsets its lack of user-friendly features.

Anyhow, Yamaha basically only has itself to blame. It could have easily added handlebar controls for the dash functions, a gear indicator and more suitable riding modes at very little extra cost. It could also have added a premium package that included better suspension instead of just carbon fiber bling.

 

[Don in Lodi]

Does the UK have an import tax on vehicles from Japan? We used to so the US made stuff could compete. Doesn't seem to much matter these days though.

 

[CDMartin884]

Food for thought:

UK MSRP prices

BMW 1200 GS 11,395.00 out the door or 17,515.00 US

US Price before tax, tag, & title is 15,800.00

Triumph Tiger 1200 11,199.00 out the door or 17,213.00 US

US price before tax, tag, & title is 15,699.00

KTM 1190 12,595 out the door or 19,359 US

US price before tax, tag, & title is. . . Oh wait, we don''t have it

Yamaha Super Tenere 11,999.00 out the door or 18,443.00

US price before tax, tag, & title is 14,790.00

If I lived in the UK, the GS would be great deal new, but in the US not so much. If I really wanted the S10, the price tag would scare the heck out me. Kinda of like wanting a Defender in the US, just not practical to the wallet.

I have been to most the BMW dealers on the east coast of the US, and have never seen a GS for less than MSRP, and a bunch of dealer add-ons that jack up the price. I have personally owned several GS', but have always purchased them used. Personally I wouldn't own a 1200 GS wet or cam. Give me a 1100 any day.

 

[spasm]

the yamaha would win if. like ive said so many times, it had more power out the box, its looks are awesome, it handles awesome, its a yamaha awesome, but its boring out the box. i would describe it as FLAT.
i didnt luv my bike till i unleashed the power now i wouldnt change her for anything,
nothing more to say on the matter
::022::

 

[squarebore]

In comparison, the s10 is cheaper in Oz than the others. I bought my x demo for less than $15k. I did a lot of searching and nothing came close to the whole package that is the s10

 

[Rasher]

i didnt luv my bike till i unleashed the power now i wouldnt change her for anything,
nothing more to say on the matter

I think that would help a lot in the UK, my Gen2 Flash has made the bike what it should have been, an utter torque monster, sure it would still lose out top-end to the 125 / 135/ 150 BHP bikes, but when I rode it back to back with my mates triumph his bike felt very flat on the narrow back lanes we were riding, where I always had instant grunt at any revs in any gear, I needed to spin the Triumph past 5k to get it going, and often this meant screaming around in 2nd where the flashed Yamaha would pull hard in 3rd, or even 4th - it also feels so much more fun as everyone with the Gen2 Flash or Flash + Power Commander will know.

Britain is very sports bike focussed, and we have so few trails, a road-only test does make sense here as my guess is less only 1-2% of ADV bike riders ever leave solid tarmac, and most of that 1-2% that do probably don't go beyond a very simple trail.

What makes no sense is thrashing these bikes around as if your riding in the TT, this is not what real owners do - even real owners of sports bikes, I know this as I pass far more of them than come past me :exclaim:

I think had they loaded them up, driven to the Alps, spent 3-4 days riding passes and then rode them home - and like normal owners would as opposed to thrashing them flat out, pulling wheelies and practising stunts the result would have been more favourable - especially if they found some testers that were not BMW owners.

For a large number of UK riders the other bikes would work well, the "average" UK biker is probably about 35-45 years old and has grown up on sports bikes and now finds himself aching after every ride, but he still wants to blast along A and B roads at 90+ mph, impress friends and family with meaningless performance statistics, race Porches away from the traffic lights, the S10 is not for him.

People who like to "really ride" - leave their own postcode (ZIP) behind and ride all day, or for several days, get off the beaten track (in the UK this just means get off A and B roads onto unclassified lanes) and enjoy whatever road surface they are presented with at whatever pace they like as long as it is slightly below that of a TT rider - I can honestly say for a 3,000 mile Alpine trip I would take the S10 over the Explorer, to chase a sports bike down a flowing A-Road the Triumph is definitely "better", but I think the grin is bigger when you overtake a 1000cc super sports bike on the S10 than it would be on any of the other bikes.

 

[streaky]

the yamaha would win if. like ive said so many times, it had more power out the box, its looks are awesome, it handles awesome, its a yamaha awesome, but its boring out the box. i would describe it as FLAT.
i didnt luv my bike till i unleashed the power now i wouldnt change her for anything,
nothing more to say on the matter
::022::
[/quote what pete said ::022:: ::015::

 

[triman11427]

Aside from price and looks, I would say my own priority when buying a bike is reliability. Most bikes, from 800cc and up, are way faster than the average rider needs. Sure you can always use more speed, but that's just an adrenaline thing. Even my Wee FELT fast when I was thrashing it around. More power does not equate to a better bike. What really appeals to me is being able to change my oil and filter while wearing a tuxedo ;D as well as having total confidence that at any moment I can take my bike on a trip and not be concerned with knowing where the dealers are located along the way. I feel that way about my S10. I definitely don't feel that way about the others. We all know horror stories about various other brands.
I've owned Harley's and I can say the cheapest thing was buying it. The farkles cost more than the initial purchase price. I know bike reviews don't have these bikes long enough to comment on costs other than purchase price. By the time an evaluation of costs of ownership over time is done no body is interested and the new model year is available.
So, as mature, experienced riders, we know you must do your homework before purchasing any bike. The fact that mainstream media gives its opinion based on a much more superficial evaluation is not surprising. It might be frustrating to us owners, but not surprising. Personally, the reputation of the company goes a long way in my decision of which bike I would even consider. Yamaha's reputation for durability, design, and reliability, is world class. As an I would love to own a Ducati Multistrada but would never buy one because of its reputation of reliability, expense of ownership and dealership availability.
I do read these reviews, I just don't give them a whole lot of credibility.

 

[snakebitten]

the yamaha would win if. like ive said so many times, it had more power out the box, its looks are awesome, it handles awesome, its a yamaha awesome, but its boring out the box. i would describe it as FLAT.
i didnt luv my bike till i unleashed the power now i wouldnt change her for anything,
nothing more to say on the matter
::022::

I have to admit that my initial response to your repeated point that the S10 needs nothing but "more power" to turn the tables on its perception, was to totally disagree. And then I want to list the things that have already been mentioned collectively.

But I have to admit, of all the improvements I have made to my Tenere, the one that is sticking out the most every time I get on it is how it now reacts to the throttle. It does change everything. It's a different experience. It's a different Tenere.

I'm not saying there aren't other flaws that can be addressed. I don't agree "it handles awesome". At least not for heavier folks or 2-up riding. And as flawed as that aspect is when it is brand new, it is not very long before the oem suspension deteriorates a lot.

But again, I think I agree. If I was charged with increasing sales and perception of the S10, and the budget wasn't allowing for complete upgrade, I would hope I could get the engineers to find a way to give the motor the personality makeover that the Gen2 flash gives it.

Sounds like the UK press would be far quicker to embrace that than anything else.

 

[iffy]

Thats the trouble with most of the uk bike press, obsessed with handling and speed, in the uk its harder to find places on our congested and speed restricted roads to use either, even harder to find offroad routes. None of the bikes are bad bikes thay just do things differently, some better than others, you just have to find the one that suits your own needs not those of a magazine article, i have never bought a bike based on a journos point of view, i did research the S10 and other models via forums such as these, but i still made the decision to purchase after test rides (solo and with pillion), actually the missus new which bike i prefered by the way i was riding it apparently ::26:: luckily she concured ::008:: At least i can find it in the carpark

 

[TenRider]

In the short time I have owned my Tenere, I doubt I have ridden a bike so much in so many varied conditions Its nothing for me to do a 400km plus ride on the weekends. I love this bike, even though its not perfect I think that stands as testament to what this bike was designed to do. I have just started my adventure odyssey, with many plans .

 

[triman11427]

Other bike owner refer to their bike's faults as adding "character" to their ride. Instead of design flaws, I think I will generalize these issues as adding character to an otherwise great machine. ;D

 

[Mark R.]

It is unfortunate that the Tenere got such short shrift in the UK moto-press, but other popular bikes are also maligned. The KLR is very popular, and aside from an "Armageddon" article that placed it on top for an "End of the world" scenario in one magazine, it usually ranks at the bottom in most comparisons, if it is even compared at all. In the UK, all the testers are road bike guys and the conclusion should have surprised no one.

We all know what we have here. All we need hope is that Yamaha keeps producing this outstanding motorcycle, and keeps making parts for it.

 

[illustratedman]

I've long since given up taking any notice of what the press say about bikes. Yamahas tend to have good residual values after a few years in the uk despite their high intial prices, due to the fact they are reliable, reasonably well built as far as bikes go, cheap to run and service and generally good fun to ride. FJR's have been criticised in the bike press for years as being old tech no fancy electronics etc, but you'll struggle to find one cheap second hand simply because they are a great bike that does what it says on the tin very well. The emergency services in the uk and france have begun using them over the last couple of years to replace their wobbly pan euros and unreliable rt's for this very reason. For instance i recently had a cuppa with a bike copper at a cafe and asked him what he thought of his BMW RT a bike MCN constantly rate as the top tourer, pile of shite was his reply they're always breaking down and are crap to ride all day, he and his colleague who was with him were in agreement on this, a valid opinion they should know they ride em every day all day.
The tenere is a large adventure bike, the less technology it has on it the better and it's only one of three that have genuine off road ability. Why the f**k anyone wants skyhook suspension tyre pressure monitors and any other waste of space techno bollocks on a bike designed to be ridden in the middle of nowhere is beyond me. The power thing is a load of old tosh as well, after 6hrs riding on gravel feeling knackered i know i'd rather have the tenere engine under me than a 150bhp motor with a twitchy throttle. The uk bike press will never be convinced of this because they know better as they have had an hour and half adventure riding round the bmw off road school with dakar legend simon pavey, bmw's employee of the year, followed by an A road blat in full race leathers. :

 

[snakebitten]

In the short time I have owned my Tenere, I doubt I have ridden a bike so much in so many varied conditions Its nothing for me to do a 400km plus ride on the weekends. I love this bike, even though its not perfect I think that stands as testament to what this bike was designed to do. I have just started my adventure odyssey, with many plans .

If your adventure starting point is Melbourne, you can go in any direction (but due South) and find fantastic rides. I'm envious.