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

[creggur]

First things first: Karson and Dallara agreed on something...did anyone else notice that? Thought it worth mentioning.

Anyway - I'm hoping it is simply a model year skip to clear inventory. This is, by-far the best bike I've ever owned, and I still wonder how many more Yamaha would've sold if the bike rode out of the box the way it does with the Gen 2 reflash... I know it would've gotten more favorable reviews, and maybe a bit more hype for knocking the GS off its center stand.

The other trick is getting people to ride it to actually see how good it is. I came off a VFR800, and had a friend looking to move from his CBR1000 to something more comfortable. I'd been gushing about my Tenere for months, and offered him a test ride anytime he wanted. He looked at the specs and saw the power-to-weight ratio, magazine reviews, and videos about low power output and never took me up on it. Ended up buying a Street Triple (maybe Yamaha are on to something with the FZ09).

Either way, I plan on keeping mine for a good long time, nothing out there right now even comes close to the price/feature/reliability equation I'd be looking for. And if I had to replace the Tenere right now and couldn't find another one I'd likely be looking at an FJR and pick up a KLR to play off road...

 

[snakebitten]

If my Tenere was stolen, and there was no longer a replacement available, (hypothetical, of course) I would have no choice but to buy the absolutely closest\similar bike to it.

It would be the best bike for loading up with a couple of weeks of camping gear and the wife. (2-up pack-mule mode)
It would be required to quickly and comfortably gobble up many hundreds of miles to get to the out of state destination.
And then stripped down for some 2-up mountain climbing.

Put another way, it would need to work for me just as Ole Git Rays' Tenere is working for him and Karen.

Sorry, but it can't be an FJR.

Nope. Sorry to say, but there is only 1 bike that sits adjacent to the Tenere.
I would simply have no choice.

 

[Karson]

The new KTM 1190, or the waterhead?

Let's just hope this is a what-if post and they're just doing smart business practices and getting rid of some left over inventory before coming back 2015 with some of the easy options/upgrades we've highlighted here time and time again.

They're website layout changed since last night, still the same bikes listed on it but the design changed. No S10

EDIT: It still doesn't change the fact that the demographic is shifting, and has been for some time now.

 

[snakebitten]

The new KTM could be closer than I think. But I doubt it.
The previous one is nowhere close on the tarmac portion of the mission.

The GSA is the only choice. Period. And no wonder. What bike do you think Yamaha was directly targeting with the Tenere? Had to be the GSA.

And they NAILED it too.

 

[Big Blu]

We have the best CONTINENT in the world to ride motorcycles in!

More importantly we have the best roads for adventure motorcycling.

But I guess there just aren't enough adventurous people like us buying Super Tenere's. More people buy into the cruiser image - a Harley if they have money to burn or something like a Vulcan 900 if they don't.

Yamaha just want to make a profit. If they can't sell bikes they'll sell ATV's, sleds, or generators.

Not sure I agree about this being the best continent, have ya had a chance too poke around Europe or Australia, maybe not the same but very good non the less.

I do agree that all they want to do is make a profit... It's called capitalism and thank god for it. ::025::

Why all the angst guys, we already own an S10 so why should we care if they are discontinued?
Does anyone REALLY believe Yamaha will abandon the Adv. Touring Segment?

Our stock S10 aren't perfect, or we wouldn't be spending &&& on a ECU reflash, suspension, seat upgrades, etc....
I have faith that Yamaha will be bak in this market segment with a better tool, do you?

REJOYCE, it's only going to get better!

The new GS is a really really nice bike, with that in mind, Yamaha may have realized it's time to move away from the S10 to something more competitive.

Regards, Paul

 

[Checkswrecks]

. . . it wouldn't be the first time Yamaha chose to "abandon" a market... Like they did with the TDM, the GTS1000, or the T-Max just to name a few.

Agreed, and there were others. Yamaha has done "skips" but they are rare when compared to dropping models.

And it does surprise me in a way. Take the two-stroke YZ125 and YZ250, for instance. Sales of those fell to near zero, and Yamaha quit developing them at all, and haven't for years now, but they stayed in the line-up...

What is missing from the discussion is what Yam and the others ARE making. How they are NOW using production capacity? The total profit and total number of motorcycles produced are back up, but they have done it by serving the growing markets. Which we are not. They have gone to light bikes, scooters, and some UJM because those are what the world sales are employing Japanese workers to build. Compared to us in the "bouquet" market, hose bikes cost less to build, have better margin in percentage terms, and sell in greater quantities. Those are the cold hard numbers.

IMHO shaft drive is one of the best things about the Super Tenere. I'd hate to lose it. A twin makes a much better off-road capable engine.

The ability to explore gravel far from home with a shaft is one of the reasons the Super Tenere was on my short list, too. I'll likely pick up another chain bike for fun but am not going back to a chain for commuting, long distance touring, and most 2-up weekends. (she would not appreciate grease on her pants). So the list really shrinks to the GS and Trumpet.


But then, before we actually need another bike, I/we are really happy with the Tenere. FJRs can go 300,000 miles and I see no reason the Tenere will do less.
Maybe with bold new paint and graphics.

 

[Dallara]

...They're website layout changed since last night, still the same bikes listed on it but the design changed. No S10

Yep, Yamaha's web site sure did change again last night... Now it looks worse for the Super Tenere than ever...

http://www.yamahamotorsports.com/sport/products/modeloverview/cat/2014/58/model_overview.aspx

I do agree that all they want to do is make a profit... It's called capitalism and thank god for it. ::025::

Why all the angst guys, we already own an S10 so why should we care if they are discontinued?
Does anyone REALLY believe Yamaha will abandon the Adv. Touring Segment?

Our stock S10 aren't perfect, or we wouldn't be spending &&& on a ECU reflash, suspension, seat upgrades, etc....
I have faith that Yamaha will be bak in this market segment with a better tool, do you?

REJOYCE, it's only going to get better!

The new GS is a really really nice bike, with that in mind, Yamaha may have realized it's time to move away from the S10 to something more competitive.

Regards, Paul

Yep, Yamaha USA operating as a separate entity from Yamaha Japan certainly wants to make a profit... And that's how these things work. Yamaha Japan does not decide what's sold in the USA. Yamaha USA does, and that's a very important distinction. But more about that in a moment...

Why the "angst"? Well, yes, I do already have my Super Tenere, but what happens if mine gets stolen? Or run over by a truck? Or my son decides he wants one to replace his KLR? Sure, there will be used ones out there, but Yamaha drops it altogether, and for good, Yamaha will eventually sell out of the 2013's and then nice used ones will get harder and harder to find, too, especially in my neck of the woods. I'd greatly prefer the option of going down to my dealer and at least being about to order a new one.

Do I "REALLY believe" Yamaha may "abandon the Adv. Touring Segment?"

It's certainly a very real and high probability possibility here in the United States. How many years did they sell all sorts of Tenere single and Super Tenere twins models in Europe before we ever got a whiff of one? Just because Yamaha may choose to continue to pursue the Adventure bike market in other countries is no guarantee whatsoever that Yamaha USA will decide to bring any of those bikes here... We've never gotten the current 660 Tenere single, and probably never will. Our current XT1200Z Super Tenere's were brought here first only under the PDP program - where Yamaha had firm orders with deposits - to gauge market demand, and there was *just* enough for them to warrant bringing some more in for 2013 to see if there would be any demand to maintain importation. After all, they had to try and recover the costs they had in USA certification, so two years of importation made sense.

Sad as it is to say, it doesn't appear there was enough demand, and therefore sales, to warrant there being a 2014 model...

Let's face it, there is really not a very large "adventure" market here in the USA. It's large enough for more *boutique* manufacturers like KTM, BMW, Ducati, Moto Guzzi, and Triumph to want to try and grab a piece of it, but apparently not enough for the Japanese...

Suzuki tried to throw some adventure "make up" on a couple of street bikes, call 'em V-Strom's, and then bring a few in here and there... Kawasaki trundled along with the KLR650 that went pretty much unchanged for decades, gave it a minor refresh, and then tried the "adventure lipstick on a pig" approach with the ER-6N to create the Versys, but it's not a real "adventure" mount anymore than Suzuki's 'Strom's are, and you don't see Kawasaki bringing the Versys 1000 here, do you? Honda's had Transalps and Africa Twins forever in Europe, but they don't bring 'em here, and anything they've ever offered here in the USA that even remotely resembled an "adventure" bike has been more of a street bike in "adventure" drag than even the V-Strom's.

Looks to me like Yamaha tried to give it a real roll of the dice, brought the real "adventure" bike thing here, tried it, and now they think it didn't work... So, Adios!

Believe me, nobody hates to say that more than I do, but IMHO that's the reality of the situation... And you can thank all the cruiser-buyer "Bandito Wanna' Be's" and "Leathers But No Talent" sportbike buyers that have screwed up the USA motorcycle market - maybe for decades yet to come.

OK, I'm depressed now... It's raining now, and it has delayed my departure on a ride today, but the hell with it! I'm suiting up and going to ride my Super Tenere! ::26::

I may even flip the bird at a few of those friggin' cruiser and frickin' sportbike riders!!!

(just kidding)

Dallara



~

 

[snakebitten]

But then, before we actually need another bike, I/we are really happy with the Tenere. FJRs can go 300,000 miles and I see no reason the Tenere will do less.
Maybe with bold new paint and graphics.

Good point. I mean we are all so aware of the robustness of this platform.
The legend of the GS is built on the multiple examples with 200,000 and even more miles. (Regardless of their "recent" history)

I can see no problem with racking up many years and many miles on this Tenere.
Maybe someday I will be posting about my latest ADV ride report on my well worn but well cared for 12 year old Tenere with countless miles! If ever there was a bike that would qualify, it's this one.

 

[RED CAT]

Kawasaki could have built a better Adventure Verseys 1000 by simply installing a 19 inch front wheel on it. We have them here in Cankstan and I looked them over very carefully before buying my S10. They were a lot lighter, had more power and looked like a possibility. They are also $3000. cheaper than my S10. If they would have been just a little more dirt worthy! Hense, they hardly sold any here. Can get a brand new one for $10,000. Still not selling.

 

[Big Blu]

Dallara, I'll bet ya a beer Yamaha will be back in the Adventure Touring segment In the USA in 2015, you in?
Until the S10 they had nothing to compete with the GS, BMW's number 1 seller in the USA. With the S10 they've entered the market and were completive, not so much with the LC GS. They will be back.

Jesus man you worry about the strangest thinks.... Stolen bikes, hit by trucks! Replacements will alway be available on the used marked, but why bother, there will be a better Yamaha product in the future, count on it!

Now back to the whining! ::025:: ::021::

Regards, Paul

 

[snakebitten]

I love your optimism.
I'm cautiously agreeing with you.

 

[rotortech71]

What a shame. True, at least I have mine, but like Dallara said, I'll be hoping now that it doesn't get stolen, backed over, or heaven forbid, totaled by me. On the other hand, Power Yamaha in Sublimity Oregon has TEN new Teneres in stock. Eight grays, and two whites. They've been in stock for a long time, so I guess that shows what the market for them has done. The people like us who were researching them before they arrived have bought them. Now the new inventory is, for the most part, just sitting there... At least in the state of Oregon.

 

[AVGeek]

So, according to one of the FJR Forum members who currently works for Yamaha:

They don't have a huge abundance of excess inventory they need to get rid of that would warrant skipping s year, so nobody really knows right now.

I certainly hope they don't abandon the market, but I certainly think Dallara may be right...the Cruiser market is the dominant market force in this country, and it makes anyone who wants something else part of a niche...

 

[snakebitten]

Power Yamaha in Sublimity Oregon has TEN new Teneres in stock. Eight grays, and two whites. They've been in stock for a long time, so I guess that shows what the market for them has done.

Don't tell me that. It's so tempting to buy a "crate" and store it.

 

[creggur]

Good point. I mean we are all so aware of the robustness of this platform.
The legend of the GS is built on the multiple examples with 200,000 and even more miles. (Regardless of their "recent" history)

I can see no problem with racking up many years and many miles on this Tenere.
Maybe someday I will be posting about my latest ADV ride report on my well worn but well cared for 12 year old Tenere with countless miles! If ever there was a bike that would qualify, it's this one.

I could see doing this - I'm not really a "latest-greatest" chaser...just gonna ride this one for a long, long time...

Hell, by the time I get tired of this bike there's no telling what will be on the market...

 

[Big Blu]

I love your optimism.
I'm cautiously agreeing with you.

Maybe you'd like add a beer bet for Dallar! ::013::

Regards, Paul

 

[rotortech71]

I've been hoping the adv market would grow and take off in the states. At work, I park among a sea of cruisers, sometimes 20 or 30 of them, and a handful of sportbikes. My S10 stands out as the different one in the bunch, and I love it. I tried the cruiser thing several years ago, and hated it, it just wasn't me. I do catch a lot of crap though. "That thing's too tall", and "why don't you clean the bugs off?", and "where's the chrome?", and "how the hell can you ride that thing?". Maybe they'd leave me alone if I at least cut the ass out of my pants, hung a guardian bell from the S10, and wore a neoprene skull balaclava? Just kidding though, I love my cruiser buddies. They know not what they do.

 

[barkingllizard]

I don't see anything saying the Super Tenere will not be available, maybe no 2014 model as of YET, but there is no difference between years so far.....

there will be a better Yamaha product in the future, count on it!

I don't see Yamaha abandoning the segment.

but KUDOS for writing a great Author Topic: USA Bids Farewell to the Super Tenere - We Hardly Knew Ya'... (Read 906 times)

Additionally, its not the model year number I'm interested in, its the number on the odometer.....

 

[North]

Don't tell me that. It's so tempting to buy a "crate" and store it.

::026::

I was just thinking the same thing...if only i had the cash to do it...i WOULD!

I'm of the thought that the model is done here in the US, and that SUX! ::010::

 

[Karson]

I'm half tempted to spend some time on the fz-8 forum so we can sulk together :'(