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First off, as I mentioned in the original post, the gist of the article and the results surprised me. Why?
Because I think, as others have mentioned, the article, its survey, and its results are all terribly skewed. For the most part I have serious doubts that such high percentage of "adventure" bike owners ride all the off-road the survey results suggest. Whether this is because of the particular sample the surveyors chose was much more dirt-oriented than the true national average, or because some respondents stretched the truth about their riding habits is impossible to know... I will say I have been around some vehicle surveys like this over the years and it is not uncommon for people answering a survey to come with responses that have little to do with actual reality. Like the pricing surveys so many manufacturers often have... They will show a product, and ask what people would be willing to pay for it. It has been shown time and time again survey respondents will almost always respond with a price much, much higher than they will actually pay. Psychologists and sociologists have all sorts of reasons as to why this happens, but the fact is happens.
I have a feeling this survey is much the same - i.e. respondents answer they ride, for instance, "single track trails" a lot more than they actually do. Checkwrecks probably broke the whole thing down more accurately than anybody, and I wholeheartedly agree with his assessments.
Now, that said, let's look at your observations, Sam...
Will surveys like the one in this thread affect Yamaha's planning for the Super Tenere, or other "adventure" models? I doubt it. First off, they will trust their own market research for the most part. Second, we all tend to forget that manufacturers do product planning years in advance, not months. It's been said the Super Tenere we see today was in development for 5 or 10 years before the public saw it, so I think it's safe to say what we'll see from Yamaha (and other makers) in 2015 and 2016 is all pretty much set, and they're currently working on what they think the market will be in 2017 and beyond. Mind you, they are also trying to shape the market as they observe it. All too often this why we sometimes see manufacturers go off on weird tangents for what seems like years before they alter course. Witness Honda... Not that long ago we got the DN-01. Nobody bought it, but yet we've continued to see bikes obviously patterned in its image even to this day.
But I also think we tend to forget sometimes about companies themselves... For the most part Yamaha is a pretty pragmatic company when it comes to their motorcycle line-ups. They seem to follow their own path more than some other manufacturers, are are rarely reactionary. It also seems they like to follow the direction of what *works* well rather than chase the latest numbers contests. The R-1 is a classic example. Rather than chase the peak horsepower numbers so many other marques did they instead chose to actually reduce peak HP and to follow a path to more usable power. It may not have won magazine shootouts, but for the most part it was better for the average rider. Ditto the FJR... With it they didn't chase peak power, most number of cylinders, most gadgets, or any of the rest, but instead decided to develop what seems to be the best overall compromise for the market segment. It won't win any of the "Spec Wars", but it works.
Point is, IMHO, while some, like Honda with the NC700X, CB500X, Crosstourer, etc. , will indeed produce "adventure" bikes that really are analogous to today's SUV market - i.e. they *look* the part of an off-roader, but can't play it - I don't see Yamaha going that way. Historically it just hasn't been their style. Look how long they have stuck with the 660 Tenere. Look at how long they produced bikes like the original 750 Super Tenere. It's almost like these types of bikes are in Yamaha's genes, and they do stay pretty true to their heritage compared to many manufacturers.
Honestly, I see Yamaha continuing to build bikes like the Super Tenere that are much more off-road capable than much of their competition, like the aforementioned Honda's and the Suzuki V-Strom's. Sure, they may not be as off-road capable as a KTM, but then the Yamaha is a much better on-road mount as well as being infinitely more reliable, dependable, less maintenance intensive, and less expensive to own and operate. I expect we'll see the current Super Tenere continue in Yamaha's line-up for years to come, regularly updated and refined much like the FJR has been, and developed over time to be better at the same mission statement it currently has. I think it will remain true to both that mission statement and Yamaha's heritage.
OTOH, I do think we're about to see Yamaha come with some bikes in a separate line-up that will greatly resemble the old TDM's... Bike with the Super Tenere's DNA, but more street-oriented and little or no off-road intention. I think this where will see the rumored "FJ-09", along with an "FJ-07", too, and hopefully one day an "FJ-1200" based on the Super Tenere's driveline. Not FJR's, mind you, but just like the TDM's Yamaha built not that long ago. I could see a market for those, and such bikes would be prefect to distinguish Yamaha's model line from all the other Japanese makers line-up.
But that's just my opinion... ::025::
Dallara
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