Looking for new adventure bike

[Mike the bike]

Hi

I have been watching this site for a few months to get a feel for the Tenere, I had a test ride a couple of weeks ago and liked the ride.

Having looked at the other options I think my choice will be between the BMW and the Yamaha, now here is my problem here in the UK the Yamaha is expensive and in low demand therefore I have to assume that the resale value will take a big hit. I know that in other parts of the world the BMW is way more expensive than the Yamaha however here in the UK I could buy the new water cooled BM for only about £400 more than the list price for the Yamaha.

On the basis of the above I cannot get my head around choosing the Yamaha over the BM unless I can get a considerable discount on the Tenere. Here is the question would you as Tenere owners have chosen the Yamaha if the BMW had been priced the same. Just interested in how people view this.

Regards

Mike

 

[Roge]

I have had 7 BMW before the S10 6 of them various forms of GS & GS Adventures. The Yam is every bit as good as the best of them and I was prepared to accept less as the S10 is cheaper in Aus especially as Yamaha will discount BMW won't. Its actually $7000 less before they discount.
Its tuneded in my opinion to be every bit as goo I have now done 10000kms since November with a 1500km I day trip, the bike has been impcable. Is it better than the BMs? No is it inferior? Also No. I went down the Yamaha route as the arrogant BMW dealer here and the not much better Triumph guys put me down a path that I had not contemplated. Its down to personal choice fate pushed me in an unspected direction and I class that as a win. Ride them all and base the choice on Value for money and personal preference.

 

[tiogajoe]

My local BMW dealer didn,t budge too far off of MSRP. The acted like they were doing you a favor. I will have far less in my S10 all loaded up even if I add a penske shock I,ve been thinking about Than I would in a bmw gs w/o luggage. I,m at $16300 w/ luggage corbin, aux lights, Altrider skid bars and rear rack plus too much to mention. Couldn,t see the premium to play BMW.

 

[coastie]

Hey mike since you are looking at just cost of ownership you should add up the cost of ownership to include maintenance over the amount of time that you feel you will own the motorcycle.
Yes I would have chosen the Yamaha if they were priced the same. One, because BMW's reliability. I got scared at the astonishing amount of reports that had left riders stranded with major repair bills. Two, the scheduled maintainence on the Beemer was ridiculous and expensive
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2.

 

[MikeBear]

Hi, Mike. I was considering GS as well. Cost was not major points for me. I am ok with paying more for better product. I am ok with having more frequent maintenance intervals . I just needed to be sure, that nothing would go wrong mechanically. One of the big tipping points was dealer network. BMW dealer network is, practically , non existent in US. You really need to have support vehicle behind to have a peace of mind on the road. Good luck. ::022::

 

[scott123007]

For the same price, I would get the BMW hands down. Regardless of potential failures that will constantly be brought to light by previous disgruntled owners, there are thousands with few, if any, issues. You are definately getting more bike with the new BMW, so for the same price, to me it's a no brainer. You could decide during the warranty period if it's the bike for you and how reliable it is, without it costing you anything except for maintenence. If you ultimately regret your purchase, there is a HUGE contingent of BMW followers (kinda a perceived status thing more than anything else though) so resale at a relatively low loss will be easy.

 

[greg the pole]

Pick up the latest edition of BIKE UK, read the new GS review.
The guys liked it, a lot, but...
Read towards the end of the article, and have a look at the pictures.

three of the journalists had such bad tank slappers on them that it broke the steering stop clean off the frame.
He said he had to work hard to save him and the bike from crashing. BMW said that in the million KM they have spent testing the bike, nothing like that ever came up. It's very possible what happened was rider error, but three guys having the same problem?
Bike gave it 4 out of 5 stars, and they said that it will not be a five star till the steering is sorted ???

Mr. Ash passed away at the test, RIP. cycle world had a write up from one of their participants, but he didn't go into detail of what happened, except that it was on an off road part of the test. Last time I remember something like that happening, was back in 97, when suzuki launched their psycho TL1000S, and one of the bike journos died on a test drive (something about a 3rd gear wheelie, put it down hard, and nothing good came out of it) Granted, this did not stop me from buying a 99 TLS, with a dampner fitted, which was not needed (but was used as a fix to correct the tank slapping), see rider error in above paragraph.

Price, resale, reliability, safety, which one is most important?
Yes, I keep reading the same thing about the Yami, reliable boring...rabble rabble...rubbish bike, no where in there do I hear anything about tank slappers.
I don't know about the UK, but the price diff. here is very big. The ST was a no brainer for me.
my $0.02

 

[Mike the bike]

Hi

Thanks for your replies here is the uk price of the new wc bmw, the Yamaha is 13,000 list. Crazy how the prices vary so much around the world
Pricing overview.

2013 BMW R 1200 GS: £11,395

Features BMW Motorrad partially integral ABS (switchable) as standard.

Available in Alpine White Metallic, Thunder Grey Metallic, Blue Fire Metallic or Racing Red Metallic.

In addition, the 2013 R 1200 GS is available in two higher specification models, which are exclusive to the UK. Both the ‘Touring Equipment’ and ‘Enduro’ variants offer customers a significant saving on a selection of performance, comfort and aesthetics-enhancing options.

2013 BMW R 1200 GS TE (Touring Equipment): £13,815
Standard spec includes:
Dynamic ESA (semi active suspension system).
Enduro ASC with Enduro ABS, Rain, Road, Dynamic, Enduro & Enduro Pro riding modes.
LED Headlight with Daytime Riding Light and twin bar rear light.
Heated Grips.
Tyre Pressure Control.
LED White indicators.
On-Board Computer Pro.
Preparation for GPS.
Chrome plated Exhaust system.
Cruise Control.

R 1200 GS E (Enduro): £12,435
Standard spec includes:
Enduro ASC with Enduro ABS, Rain, Road, Dynamic, Enduro & Enduro Pro-riding modes.
Daytime Running Lights.
Cross Spoke Wheels.

An overview of highlights of the new 2013 model BMW R 1200 GS:
Completely new air/liquid-cooled 1170cc Boxer-twin, with an output of 125 bhp (92 kW) at 7,700 rpm and a maximum torque of 125 Nm at 6,500 rpm.
Dynamic ESA semi-active suspension for both on- and off-road riding (factory fit option).
ABS and ASC (traction control) settings for on- and off-road riding, as well as different mode-specific Dynamic ESA settings..
BMW Motorrad Integral ABS as standard and improved braking with radially mounted Brembo Monobloc front brake calipers.
Five switchable riding modes which set up the ABS, ASC (Automatic Stability Control) and Dynamic ESA semi-active suspension for on- and off-road use.
World’s first motorcycle including LED main headlight, with automatic activation in the dark (factory fit option). Also featuring integrated daytime running light.
Latest generation Telelever front and EVO Paralever rear suspension, with lightweight shaft drive now running on the left-hand side.
E-gas ‘ride-by-wire’ throttle with optional cruise control.
Ergonomically-optimised and adjustable seat, handlebars and screen (with one-hand operation) for even greater personalised comfort.
New instrument cluster with on-board computer as standard. PRO on-board computer (with extended off-road riding functionality) available as factory fit option.

 

[wfopete]

The GS looks pretty good off road here:

2013 BMW R 1200 GS LC, 4 Days Enduro Race Marocco, Spezialtest Day 3, Dirk Thelen

and here: 2013 BMW R 1200 GS LC, Hardenduro onboard Marokko 03.13., Dirk Thelen

 

[greg the pole]

whoa!
that's a lot of blinking lights ::025::

Mike, it sounds that you are allready sold on the GS.
If you have access to both bikes for a lenghty test drive, do it.
In the end it's what suits you, not what other people tell you on the forum.

You have to keep in mind that the ST came out in 2010 (world wide), and early release 2012 in NA.
since it's three years on, there will allways be bikes that have better toys, and more flashing lights than the Star trek enterprise, so im not sure if you're comparing apples to apples.
I would be seriously concerned about the safety of the bike. BMW will say that there's nothing wrong with it (and they may be right), but again, three guys report the same thing on the same test, what are the odds.

 

[X5]

Value is in the eye of the beholder. I value reliability and a dealer network highly. With the BMW reputation for less than bulletproof reliability AND IT BEING THE FIRST YEAR OUT, I would be particularly leery.

 

[JaimeV]

I had a BMW GSA (2007 model) and now the Super Tenere. Both great bikes.
If you do mostly road both are great but I prefer Yamaha reliability.
I do a lot of off road so the Yamaha is a best bike for me, the suspension and narrower engine make the difference, you can do nearly enduro:

Super T off road action

Me and most of my GS colleagues had transmission and clutch problems (very expensive to repair). I don’t know if the new model has solved the reliability issues but I would prefer to wait a couple of years so the bike would be really tested.

 

[Mikeybikey57]

I've never owned a GS1200 myself but suffice to say that I just didn't get on with it at all, when test riding one late last year. As others here have pointed out, the question of reliability with the BMW's is not as good as either BMW or their owners would have us believe.

I have several friends who own GS 1200's and all have had problems, ranging from repeated electrical gremlins to catastrophic gearbox / transmission failures. The scary thing, for me at least is that they seem to happily accept this level of unreliability and expense, because their dealer is quick to get the work completed and provides them courtesy bikes whilst the repairs are being done (although it has been reported that they can break down too!!). One friend and his partner were stranded on their way back from a trip to Corsica, with a lunched rear wheel bearing, only to have it's replacement fail 2,000 miles later. I can't even begin to guess at what the bike actually has, that makes them keep coming back for more punishment. Character perhaps?

In my own case, I felt that the Yamaha was a much more refined bike, in as much as the engine wasn't as lumpy as the GS, the gearbox and transmission are significantly less agricultural and the electrics (being japanese) are probably going to be more reliable. I also paid a lot less for my slightly used S10 (a 2011 with 3k on the clock) than I would have for the equivalent BMW.

Also, in comparison to the Yamaha, the GS is very commonplace here in the UK. So if a degree of exclusivity floats your boat, then the GS isn't for you. Especially as the new one is, in all probability, very likely to also sell by the boatload.

At the end of the day though Mike, what you choose to ride is entirely up to you and whatever you go for, just make sure you enjoy it to the max and keep yourself safe out there. ::015::

 

[Siseneg]

Tenere looks pretty good off road here too

Yamaha Super Ténéré off road

 

[Xdriver]

I had an '09 GS. Really liked the bike, and would still have it had I not decided to go to an RT instead. Then, when I decided I preferred the big ADV style bikes, I didn't look to BMW again. It was a great bike and really easy to work on for the garage mechanic, but I had to work on it every 6K and and it was more work. Easy, but more. Next, after doing the work, I'd have to hit up the dealer to turn off the maintenance message the computer puts up. The newer one may be a little less maintenance intensive.

Finally, I went through three fuel strips on two '09 BMW's, and the previous owner of my RT had a final drive that didn't strand him, but was replaced since it was on the way out.

There's nothing the BMW did that the Tenere doesn't so as well, accept maybe aesthetics. The BMW has the Tenere on that one. Of course my wife thinks they're both ugly. Maybe so.

For the same price it would be a tough choice. Much easier choice here in the US.

 

[EricV]

Hi

Thanks for your replies here is the uk price of the new wc bmw, the Yamaha is 13,000 list. Crazy how the prices vary so much around the world
Pricing overview.

2013 BMW R 1200 GS: £11,395

Hmm, Perhaps you were pricing the World Crosser? MSRP on the Super Tenere is £ 11,999.00 LINK That's Yamaha - Motor UK.

BMW makes a nice, feature rich bike that is generally pleasant to ride.

::009::
Having some direct experience with BMWs, and their US dealers, I pretty much think anyone would be foolish to buy a first year bike. If you do, buy an extended warranty and make sure you read the fine print before you sign, understanding the limitations of the warranty. Ours was only good to the purchase price of the bike, and no more than the actual value at the time of repair for each incident. FWIW, the bike, ('11 F650GS), repairs have exceeded the purchase price of the bike at 50k miles. Included in the repairs was an entire new engine. Of the many service bulletins on this particular bike, none were fixed for the customers until a failure had occurred. The dealer flat refused to correct the known issues that had service bulletins out, since they had not yet failed, despite full knowledge that they would indeed fail. There are outstanding bulletins that have been out for years that don't even have a fix.

Every once in a while I meet a BMW owner that claims to not have had a major failure. Usually, I simply suspect they are lying. Because I know far, far too many BMW riders that have had failures. Major, trip ending, two truck required, life threatening failures. Locked up FDs, broken drive shafts, broken u-joints, transmission failures, valve train and other engine failures, many even before the warrantee mileage or warranty period was past, several just out of warranty. Sometimes the dealer went to bat for the owner, sometimes not. The FDs are better since '08, but I wouldn't touch that new design yet.

A neighbor with one of the "sealed for life" FDs kept trying to tell me his FD had a drain plug. He still refuses to grasp the concept that removing the driveshaft and swinging the FD down after removing the set plug inside the FD is not a 'drain plug' but instead a factory fill plug. Note that BMW will not replace your "sealed for life" FD until it fails, despite the subsequent change in design, returning to a housing with actual drain and fill plugs. Though I have heard of some dealers offering to drill and tap the unit for customers.

If you plan on selling the BMW before it runs out of warranty, no real harm, go for it. The Yamaha warranty is unlimited mileage as is the extended warranty, should you choose to purchase it. BMW lacks that faith in their products.

 

[Checkswrecks]

. . . .Here is the question would you as Tenere owners have chosen the Yamaha if the BMW had been priced the same. . . . .

Simple:

YES.

Damned straight, Skippy!

 

[HoebSTer]

I would buy the Yamaha if it was $3k more than BMW and it's non existent issues.

 

[Siseneg]

Yeah, me too. But I was pretty loyal to the Japanese brands. Still, when I shopped for my first 'adv' bike I did a lot of comparisons and narrowed it down to between the Dakar and the KLR. I selected the KLR mostly because it is plain and simple. Not technologically advanced at all and no magic boxes built in (back in 2001). When I shopped this time around, I did a little less comparison shopping but still looked feature-to-feature between the Beemer, the Triumph and the Tenere. I don't know if I can positively identify that there was a single factor that put the Tenere in my top spot, but early on in the comparison stuff, I found the other bikes going on my mental paper 'against' the Tenere, as if I had somehow set IT as the default standard to beat.

 

[TALLTONE]

I came from a gsa and a gs before that, I had lost confidence in them after reliability issues, and got paranoid listening to every knock and squeak. I love the bmw, its a great bike but then I love the s10 its also a great bike but reliable. I dont think there is a bike out there that is going to be 100% reliable but the yammy is pretty close. Ive only got 8000miles on mine at the mo but had no problems as yet. Motorcycle mart in kidderminster gave me a great price on my gsa against the yam, you could give them a try. BUT , the answer to your question from me is ,,, reliability for me is key so, yes, yammy for me. Good luck with what ever you choose mike, i am in no way trying to influence your desicion, but the wc bmw is a newbe so I would expect some recalls from the dealer.