USA Bids Farewell to the Super Tenere - We Hardly Knew Ya'...

[Dallara]

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Well, it looks like it's official now...

No 2014 Yamaha Super Tenere for the United States, and apparently not for Canada, either.

Take a really close look at this page...

http://www.yamahamotorsports.com/content/115/yamaha_sport_street_motorcycle_home.aspx

At first it looks like there is a 2014 Super Tenere, but there's not... If you click on each model you will every single model *EXCEPT* the Super Tenere and the FZ8 shows having a 2014 model, while the Super Tenere and FZ8 are both 2013 models.

This does not bode well for there being a 2014 Super Tenere, and could possibly mean dire things for the Super Tenere continuing to be offered in the United States at all in future years.

So glad I got mine... So long Super Tenere... We hardly knew ya'.

Dallara



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[Salmon Sam]

Yes, but there was one prediction that it would be off the market for 2014, coming back totally re-designed (triple?) in 2015. Still inferring from the US Yamaha site without any formal acknowledgment. Be nice to get an official statement from Yamaha. Wonder if this is the same for Europe as well, where adventure bikes are bigger sellers?

 

[Dallara]

Yes, but there was one prediction that it would be off the market for 2014, coming back totally re-designed (triple?) in 2015. Still inferring from the US Yamaha site without any formal acknowledgment. Be nice to get an official statement from Yamaha. Wonder if this is the same for Europe as well, where adventure bikes are bigger sellers?

Well, I wasn't going to post about it at all until I saw the link to the the new 2014 FJR1300ES in another thread. When I saw that the new 2014 Yamaha street bikes were all shown there I thought I'd break the news.

My Yamaha dealer buddy told me a few days ago that he was talking to his rep and was told there would be no 2014 Super Tenere. I was holding out that maybe that was a smokescreen so I wanted to wait until Yamaha showed the new 2014's and see if a new Super Tenere slid in there.

Anyway, my buddy told me the rep said that the 2012 Super Tenere's had sold pretty good, but the 2013's didn't sell well at first, and slowed down from there. Apparently Yamaha just doesn't see the market here for the bike. Sad part is my buddy made it sound like the rep was saying it's well and truly over the S-10 here - Sayonara USA. He was asked about other markets and possible replacements but the answer to that question was pretty much a flat "I don't know."

Another funny thing came out of the conversation... That the reason for the FZ-09 triple was it's cheaper to manufacture than the FZ-8 was. Lesser parts count (something like 15% fewer parts in the engine or something like that), some new ways of casting and making the frame that make it cheaper to manufacture, etc., etc. No word at all on any other FZ-09-engine based models that he knew of.

I hope you're right, and that we get an updated and improved Super Tenere in 2015... But sadly, I don't think it's gonna' happen.

Won't be the first time in my life one of the best bikes I've ever owned was a two-model-year wonder, though, damn it!!! ::025::

Dallara




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[thfraser]

This is sad news. I just hope that there are enough aftermarket suppliers and Yamaha support around to keep it going for many, many years.

 

[snakebitten]

I can completely believe that our beloved Tenere, in its current design, would disappear from the US lineup. Yamaha delivered about the amount of Teneres that we appear to have wanted. From here on out, they are not getting snatched up quick enough.

I too am glad I got mine. And I just might have the first bike that I plan on keeping beyond the "normal" lifespan. In miles and\or years.

The only thing that could change that is if someone brings a better bike to replace it with. Sounds like a simple statement. But think about it a little harder for a second. I'm one of the Teneristas that is convinced that this bike stands head and shoulders above any other offering. For LOTS of reasons too. And price is NOT really near the factor some might think. And no other manufacturer is currently even developing their bike in the direction that leads to a copycat of the Tenere.

So it ain't easy to get me to part with this bike.

Gonna be interesting over the next 2-3 years watching who does what. I do think that the absence of the Tenere leaves a void in the market. Just not a big one. We are a much more exclusive club than I wish. You guys are picky geniuses, it turns out.

 

[Boondocker]

Dang ::010:: I was so looking forward to new colors and exciting new graphics.

Seriously though, if Yamaha has nothing to add to the Ténéré other than cosmetics, it doesn't need a 2014 model. The 2013 will do just fine. The skipping of a model year isn't a new concept in the motor vehicle industry. Suzuki, being in financial straits lately has done it with several models, such as the DL1000. Looks like that model will make a comeback, having skipped a model year or two. Maybe I'm just trying to paint a happy face, but I wasn't looking to buy another Ténéré anytime soon. In 4 or 5 years, having put 100,000 miles on this one at the rate I'm going, if I'm ready for a new bike by then, I hope to be able to consider the latest offerings. The S-10 has already secured my sentiments regardless of its market viability.

 

[BravoBravo]

That is a shame, but as others have pointed out, it doesn't necessarily mean there will never be another Super Ténéré to replace this one. It does make me breathe a sigh of relief that I have one right here and right now.

-Bruce

 

[SpenceS10]

It would be a shame to drop the Tenere. Although I firmly believe it has not had a fair evaluation from the magazine industry. It's no secret that BMW is in bed BALL deep with the magazine company's and they're not about to kick that sewing machine they call a bike off the top of their list. It take guys like us that will go on our own intuition and experience to try a bike like the Tenere, and not believe what the magazines say. Most BMW guys are brand loyal and won't change no matter had bad the bike may be. I dumped my GS like a hot potato and would never own another one. Good luck Tenere, hope to see it back soon!!

 

[oilfield_trash]

My biggest concern is it may cause the aftermarket to dry up. The bike will work forever.

 

[TNWalker]

Though a bit sad by the omission from the 2014 line, I'm not at all surprised. American markets are still dominated by the "cruiser" market and will be it seems for the seeable future. I hope to see it in a future model year lineup but in the mean time, I'm glad I got one. This is one bike that will be with me for a long time. Mine is #0000092 and was the only time I ordered a bike sight unseen. I wanted this one from the day I heard about it on the internet. Still got plenty of miles and years to pile up till the next "must have" for me comes along.

Steve ::26:: ::022::

 

[Dallara]

My biggest concern is it may cause the aftermarket to dry up. The bike will work forever.

Amen. My concern exactly.

I figure I'm gonna' keep my Tenere to the end of the YES extended warranty I bought, which should put it at somewhere between 65,000 and 80,000 miles if all goes to plan. Maybe a whole lot longer, as the original plan was to put 100-K on it. I'm not worried about Yamaha having parts for it, and I've got pretty much all the farkles I can imagine putting on it either already installed or sitting here in boxes. But what if some of these farkles break?

What do you do then, either to get that farkle fixed, or replace it with something equivalent?

Most likely whoever is making farkles for 'em will cease any development, and as their stocks of product for the S-10 deplete most likely they won't replace 'em.

Again, sad...

Dallara




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[snakebitten]

My biggest concern is it may cause the aftermarket to dry up. The bike will work forever.

Good reason to complete your farkle project.
I'm unofficially done. Or put another way, all elective surgery has been completed. She's a masterpiece.

Gonna take a bike that is JUST as Dirty as this one, just as capable of 2-up camp loaded, and just as ruggedly reliable, to knock it off the top notch.

That's not a long list. But nobody is even aiming at it.

 

[Salmon Sam]

I wonder what the sales are for 2012 and 2013 compared to the GS. Yes, there are a lot of GS's out there, but that bike has been going for awhile and the last couple of years hasn't been good for that price range. The non-Hog bike market is still pretty much in the doldrums I thought. The real market, for those interested in non-Hogs, are mid-priced bikes like what the FZ-09 and Bolts are aimed at. Could just be a market timing thing that Yamaha missed with when the ST came out. ::022::

 

[NickBrewer3]

Might want to wait just a bit before you pour the dirt over the grave, a few hours ago the Super Sport Touring page still only showed the 2013 FJR, even though the 2014's were shown in the main page....

 

[Dallara]

I wonder what the sales are for 2012 and 2013 compared to the GS. Yes, there are a lot of GS's out there, but that bike has been going for awhile and the last couple of years hasn't been good for that price range. The non-Hog bike market is still pretty much in the doldrums I thought. The real market, for those interested in non-Hogs, are mid-priced bikes like what the FZ-09 and Bolts are aimed at. Could just be a market timing thing that Yamaha missed with when the ST came out. ::022::

Another interesting point my dealer told me...

That sportbike sales are in the crapper nationwide. I mean seriously down. He said it's got Kawasaki and Yamaha (he's a dealer for both) spooked bad about what to do about it. Said that's one reason Honda, Yamaha, and Kawasaki (he didn't mention Suzuki) are all trying to move a bit "downmarket" price-wise with more products like Kawasaki Ninja 300's, Z1000's, Ninja 1000's (which gets ABS this years *AND* accessory side cases!!!), Yamaha Bolt and FZ-09, and Honda's new 500's. The one thing that keeps mentioned over and over is "finding new riders"... That, and "Teh average age of the American motorcyclist is getting more gray-haired...", etc., etc.

He seems to think you may start to see fewer and fewer pure, high-buck sportbikes - that they will become more "limited edition" items - and we'll see many lower priced bikes, and sadly, in the USA even more cruisers.

I don't know how much of that is just his own opinion and how much is what he gathered from the rep. He's at the Kawasaki dealer show in California as I type this, and one thing he was really happy to see was a Kawasaki Jet-Ski 310... Oh, and it's got a sound system!!! He said the Ninja 1000 with side bags actually looks very, very nice, and it's not priced too bad.

Just FYI... And merely relaying stuff I heard.

Dallara



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[Salmon Sam]

But Nick Sanders has grey hair. What's wrong with grey hair?
Does this mean (its coming) that I will soon have to buy a Harley or a Goldwing? :'(

Love my ST.

 

[Karson]

Figures - Yamaha did next to nothing to try and market this bike, and not just in my area from what I've noticed, pretty common here in NA.

 

[Salmon Sam]

Karson,
I totally disagree. Yamaha did a ton. Just as much as any other bike. When it came out, it was on the cover of every bike magazine at one point. Sometimes several times. They had great you tube videos of the lifestyle. Their sponsorship of Nick Sanders was brilliant. They sponsor the AMA Adventure Riders series. They have a great banner at most dealers (I got one Ebay). They prominently displayed it with a cool engine cutaway at motorcycle shows. The aftermarket ADV companies had some good farkle stuff for it. What else should they have done? I think that the adventure market in the US just isn't that big for this kind of machine. I also think some don't like the looks or the hp.

 

[GrahamD]

Who knows.

Australia had 2010 models for 2 years then 2013 models. All I see on the road are blue/silver first edition S10's. They may have just ordered twice as many as it turned out they needed.

Honda have just dumped the CrossTourer over here for cost out the door. The Big Tiger is getting pre-farkled for the same price out the door. It doesn't sell well either. Versus1000 hardly seen. V-Strom1000? Try finding one of them in a dealer.

The sellers in this market over here are image brands.

Ducati's that don't lean more than 10 Degrees.
GS's that never get dirty.
Harleys that do 2000Km a year.

It seems the old cashed up grey hairs are going for the pose big time. The majority seem to want something that OTHERS recognize.

But anyway, just for shits and giggles, click this link and go to the top 10 worst brands and see where all that money is going. It certainly isn't Quality..
http://www.reliabilityindex.com/

I suppose if you buy a bike OR car with a lease that assumes great resale you will be spending many hours not increasing the mileage.

There was a time where build quality counted. It's now more image and if you want an image you have to keep at it and get in when the buyers are young and impressionable. Biggest selling bike in Australia for young people right now.

Kawasaki Ninja300. In 30 years the Versys1500 will be the Adventure bike of choice.

Anyway the whole segment seems to be morphing away from ADV to General Purpose. There is this general perception that a large bike can't go off road, so I think people are generally buying HiPo Premium burning Comfy Race bikes that will do a bit of Gravel AND have an image. Not many of these big ADV bikes were designed from the ground up as off road Tourers. They are usually just jacked up street bikes with very street oriented geometry and power outputs. The real world doesn't count that much and probably never did. The fact that the 200HP crotch rocket sales have tanked is probably an indication that they have an image problem and therefore aren't worth the discomfort any more.

No need to suffer for fashion just to be cool.

As long as YAMAHA keep the spares in stock I am a very Happy camper and glad it came around when it did. Otherwise I would have ended up being one of those "bike flippers".

 

[Buckeye56]

It may also be that Yamaha USA decided they have enough leftover 2013s to carry then through next year. As long as th emoter ship continues to produce the bike with no major changes that would require recertification, Yam US can always bring in more. Honda did that a couple of times with the PC800s and the ST1300s. I do hope that they continue to develope the bike as it is what I had hoped they would build.