Help me understand...

[BarkSlayer]

...why this bike isn't more popular in this country than it is? What a great motorcycle! I have only 600 miles on my new '13 and it just gets better every time I ride it. Ran it up to an indicated 105 mph for a second on the interstate yesterday and it's much more stable (and smoother) than my GS ever was at speed. The bike corners like it's on rails and pulls like a freight train. All that and 26,600 mile valve service intervals...the S10 rocks!

 

[pnelson]

Here in the Pacific Northwest, I see Super Teneres out on virtually every longer ride I take. We have Glen Comeaux in Washington who's a great planner and sparkplug for getting us together. The first event I attended had about 20 Teneres including 8 that rode up from Oregon for the day. I wonder if there are more STs on the west coast?

I think the bikes might be out there but it takes work to bring folks together. Glen makes good use of Facebook as well as providing web sites for upcoming events. I'll be heading up for a ride he's organized in Washington on the Back Country Discovery Route [http://www.backcountrydiscoveryroutes.com/WABDR] in a couple of weeks and I've been looking forward to it all summer. The count for Tenere riders is at about 50 right now and we're still a few weeks out. I can't wait to get there and have some fun. (Thanks Glen!)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/508180775912122/

http://pnwsuperteneres.wordpress.com/

http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=10119.0 << for more info on the WABDR trip in August.

 

[cosmic]

...why this bike isn't more popular in this country than it is? What a great motorcycle! I have only 600 miles on my new '13 and it just gets better every time I ride it. Ran it up to an indicated 105 mph for a second on the interstate yesterday and it's much more stable (and smoother) than my GS ever was at speed. The bike corners like it's on rails and pulls like a freight train. All that and 26,600 mile valve service intervals...the S10 rocks!

It doesn't have the necessary OMG effect to become more popular.
Where I live, the Tenere in it's ES version is 3500$ cheaper then the fully equipped GS ADV. You need at least another 1500$ or more to "match" the equipment on the loaded GS (that's the way they sell it here). Main lights in LED technology and few other gizmos... Unmatchable. On top of all that, you get an ergonomical jewel for the tall guys and the BMW badge.
To be perfectly honest, I would buy one in an instant over the S10, but I'm just not that fool. In my case, reliability over hype any day.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

...why this bike isn't more popular in this country than it is? What a great motorcycle!

1. Yamaha badge doesn't offer the same 'Look at me, I have money' status as the BMW.
2. To truly appreciate just how good the Tenere is, you have to be pretty serious about your riding.
3. The vast overwhelming population of motorcycle owners buy a bike then put less than 1000 miles a year on it. They realized none of the benefits of #1, and #2 is lost on them.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Most people in the US who buy motorcycles buy for image and social, or for adrenaline. Harleys and sport bikes.


The ADV bikes cost more than the universal bikes, which market largely to the same customers who actually use their bikes.

 

[tomatocity]

Recently rode 3,450 miles through CA, NV, AZ, UT, WY, MT, and ID and other than meeting a new Tenere rider in Walker CA (first 200 miles), surprising I don't remember seeing another Yamaha Super Tenere.

 

[Mellow]

Shhhhhh... if word gets out, everyone will have them and they won't be so unique.

 

[Salmon Sam]

Not being top of the class in power, weight, and non-switchable ABS - in that order - turns a lot of potential buyers off, from what I can glean. I also think that there is a bit of an anti-Japanese bent amongst some bikers.

I don't quite understand, however, I have ridden the others and the ST works best for me. Love it. Almost perfect. ::014::

 

[RockyDS]

Recently rode 3,450 miles through CA, NV, AZ, UT, WY, MT, and ID and other than meeting a new Tenere rider in Walker CA (first 200 miles), surprising I don't remember seeing another Yamaha Super Tenere.

+1 I rode 7,300 kms (4,500 mls) on west coast last month (CA, WA, ID, MT, NV, UT) and didn't see another Super Tenere. I saw plenty of GS's though.

It's all about marketing, I think.

 

[tomatocity]

+1 I rode 7,300 kms (4,500 mls) on west coast last month (CA, WA, ID, MT, NV, UT) and didn't see another Super Tenere. I saw plenty of GS's though.

It's all about marketing, I think.

Next time in California swing through Placerville, Sacramento, Folsom, Elk Grove, Lodi, Galt, Valley Springs, to see a Super Tenere or two. What surprises me is I used to have a DL1000 and it traveled worse than my KLR and I see a ton of both. Actually the trip I took was with a KLR.

 

[Hungry Tiger]

tomatocity: Tim, were you at Walker Burgers when you eyed the other S10?

 

[tomatocity]

tomatocity: Tim, were you at Walker Burgers when you eyed the other S10?

I was riding south on 395 when I saw the White 2013 Super Tenere at Walker Burger... slowed and turned around. Ordered a burger and spent 20 minutes chatting with her. The Super Tenere is replacing a 2007 BMW GS. They sound like a nice couple and I hope I get to share some miles with them.

 

[RED CAT]

See many riders on here mentioning the FJR and how great they are. Last evening we chatted with a guy who had one and checked it over while we talked. Very clean 07 FJR. Anywho we got on the subject of getting it up on the center stand and that he was a new rider and couldn't do it. So I proceeded to show him the easiest way. Wow, what a heavy pig! I couldn't believe it. Got it up OK but thought it must be awful to ride. So low and so heavy compared to the S10. Pushing it off the stand it nearly fell on the opposite side. He says its 600lbs but felt way heavier than my S10 which is 575lbs. I did try a friends older FJR a while back and remember that it didn't like going around corners. I see why now.
Pretty sure you'd never sell me one. Our Super Teneres are the greatest. Thanks Yamaha!

 

[viewdvb]

It's a conspiracy by the magazines. How often do you see the S10 included in an adventure bike shootout and how often do see the BMW GS NOT included. The last one I read, they left the S10 in T mode then complained about the power. Low publicity - low sales. QED! Mind you, the bizarre original internet purchase only Yamaha launch certainly did sales no favours and that's a hard obstacle to come back from.

 

[barkingllizard]

1. Yamaha badge doesn't offer the same 'Look at me, I have money' status as the BMW.
2. To truly appreciate just how good the Tenere is, you have to be pretty serious about your riding.
3. The vast overwhelming population of motorcycle owners buy a bike then put less than 1000 miles a year on it.
They realized none of the benefits of #1, and #2 is lost on them.

Agreed... In my travels I still find people who 'didn't know' Yamaha made a big adventure tourer or Yamaha has more Dakar wins than BMW...
I blame Charlie and Ewan and wonder how different the landscape would be if KTM had said 'yes'.....

 

[viewdvb]

Agreed... In my travels I still find people who 'didn't know' Yamaha made a big adventure tourer or Yamaha has more Dakar wins than BMW...
I blame Charlie and Ewan and wonder how different the landscape would be if KTM had said 'yes'.....

Aint that the truth! That must have been about the best sponsorship money anyone EVER spent. As for KTM - mmmm? Would they have got round without the kind of corporate backup BMW could afford? I wonder if the S10 would make a breakthrough if Yamaha sponsored something dramatic on it.

 

[RockyDS]

Next time in California swing through Placerville, Sacramento, Folsom, Elk Grove, Lodi, Galt, Valley Springs, to see a Super Tenere or two. What surprises me is I used to have a DL1000 and it traveled worse than my KLR and I see a ton of both. Actually the trip I took was with a KLR.

We stayed in Salida one night then we went north out of Ripon on the Jack Tone Road (by-passed Lodi & Galt) to Lockeford, Plymouth, El Dorado and Placerville on the way to Lake Tahoe. No Super Tenere's but no Beemers that day either.

 

[corndog]

The GS series is what.....25 years old. Its engine design is what....over 100 years old. Rome wasn't built in a day. The Tenere is now in its 4th year...the first year of which they could hardly make enough.

I used to see (and still do) lots of Vstroms when I owned one, but they were/are cheap in the used market and great bikes for the money. The tenere is still somewhat pricey and good used ones, when found are still expensive. Give it time.

Personally I love my Tenere. I do bike nights often (always as a non drinker) due to my Harley friends and roots. No other bike I have owned has gotten as much attention. People stare at it slack jawed. What is it? How much displacement? Where have you taken it? How do you like it?....For some reason the Vstrom got half the interest when parked somewhere.

Eventually, enough Beemer guys will either get tired of the reliability or become poor from the upkeep and start buying the S-10.

 

[Donk]

1. Yamaha badge doesn't offer the same 'Look at me, I have money' status as the BMW.
2. To truly appreciate just how good the Tenere is, you have to be pretty serious about your riding.
3. The vast overwhelming population of motorcycle owners buy a bike then put less than 1000 miles a year on it. They realized none of the benefits of #1, and #2 is lost on them.

I agree and disagree with statement 1. To my way of thinking the Yamaha badge offers better "look at me, I have money" than the BMW. I still have money in the bank after buying a great motorcycle and I won't be spending it to keep my S10 running. Anyone who really knows motorcycles will see smart money spent in the Yamaha badge. Like the old man told me, "If you want to impress someone use your checkbook not what you drive!"

 

[Dirt_Dad]

I agree and disagree with statement 1. To my way of thinking the Yamaha badge offers better "look at me, I have money" than the BMW. I still have money in the bank after buying a great motorcycle and I won't be spending it to keep my S10 running.

touché...

In my world it's hard to argue with logic like that.