Why do you think this is not a 'young' buyers bike? Tends to be an older custome

[~TABASCO~]

As I see on the forum and at the Rally, the average Tenere owner is 50's - 60's.... Why do you think this is ? What might you guess the reason is this isn't a popular bike for 20-30-40's buyers?

For example, I see KTM, a more expensive bike, parts are more expensive, less dealers, Etc,.... Yet, they have a much broader aged buyer from 20-60'ish........ The customers are there, they have younger guys willing to dish out the extra cash for a more expensive product like the KTM. Why is the Super Tenere a relative 'unknown' in this segment ? Its a competitive market with BMW, KTM, (maybe) Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Etc ... Why is the Tenere in the shadows?

Do you feel it has to do with:
Factory participation ?
Advertising?
Incentives?
Factory not backing the 'Adventure segment' on the on a personal level ?
Power of the bike?
Features?
( Tell us what else - your thoughts )

I think it would be great to hear from people and there ideas about this topic........ Your thoughts ? ::024::

 

[cosmic]

Over here in Croatia the S10 ES price is 20914$. KTM 1190 is 20100$, and almost fully equipped GS 1200 is about 21000/21500$,depending on what kind of deal you get. Fully equipped GS ADV sell for 24400$.
If i was buying at this moment, my money would go elsewhere too.
Leave all the other pro and cons aside but the price and specs, our beloved S10 is OLD.

 

[OldRider]

With age comes wisdom.

 

[Ramseybella]

Why do you think the government wants young 19 20 year old's to join the military?

 

[2112]

I think a lot of motorcycle sales are advertising and 'peer' driven. You see the 'cool kid' on an 'XYZ' or you see some sports/film/TV star on an 'XYZ' and you NEED one to make your life complete. The fact an 'ABC' would suit you better is not important, You gotta have an 'XYZ'. BMW have mastered this (fair play to them, top marketing), Harley Davidson have nurtured this over many centuries decades and Triumph and Ducati are just catching up on the nostalgia and heritage theme. Young un's are into sports bikes (speed & danger = chicks & beer) and the faster the better (chicks & bikes...). Adventure bikes are sold (in many cases, lets be honest) on the DREAM of a round the world epic adventure and all the drama and romance it could bring. The fact that they make excellent street bikes, acceptable off-roader's and capable tourers is almost a coincidence. Lets let the yoof of today have the bikes they want and sit back (comfortably) with experience and wisdom on the great bikes we have ::008::

 

[Dirt_Dad]

With age comes wisdom.

::026:: I think you've hit the nail on the head.

My theory: Most people generally have less money in their younger years. There's no shortage of things competing for the scarce resources. Sport bikes are relatively cheap and the performance is off the charts...and addicting. Younger people with sufficient cash and an interest in an adventure bikes are attracted to the high performance that KTM can provide them. There is an intangible cool factor with KTM, too.

Riders who have spent many years in the game and are tired of aching backs and sore wrists, or the chores and irritations of dealing with maintaining a high performance anything, and can genuinely say, 'been there, done that,' are more inclined to appreciate the bike like the Tenere.

The Tenere has the ergonomics that are important to riders that have been alive more than a couple of decades. The performance is quite good, but no so over the top that you have the feeling it's a delicate instrument that could break at any moment. It is truly a compromise bike blending of the things that a lot of us experienced guys really value.

So yes I do agree, with age and experience comes wisdom.

 

[snakebitten]

The Tenere is an "educated purchase" for most gents I see in our bunch.
Researched. And rarely NOT someone's 20th or more bike,.... so experienced riders, mostly.

The only real surprise to me is how much better it has turned out to be than my education, research, and experience led me to believe.

Some say it is getting old. Ok, it technically is. But, even so, I still claim it is perhaps the best example of total motorcycle engineering ever produced by man.
Think very carefully before you have a stroke over that statement.


I'm ready to defend it, which would surprise no one around here. LOL

 

[Dirt_Dad]

..., I still claim it is perhaps the best example of total motorcycle engineering ever produced by man.
Think very carefully before you have a stroke over that statement.

Now that's a very bold statement.

Did I mention how good it is to have you back, Snake? ::008::

You are correct about bike count for me. It's somewhere around bike 25 or 26ish for me. It would make my head hurt to count them up right now. A lot of experience went into selecting the Tenere. 40K+ miles later and there are zero regrets from this gray haired rider.

According to your logic I'm a fortunate guy. My motorcycle is best example of total motorcycle engineering ever produced by man. And I've always said my last ATV was the greatest dirt toy god ever allowed man to create. I have a pretty good track record.

 

[GrahamD]

Because it's often an emotional purchase. So something wow.

Is there antything wow about the S10 on the spec sheets? No.

Does it feel safe becuse everyone else is buying them? No

Are all the reveiwers raving? No.

So that leaves people who look at the bike in detail and decide for themsleves and probably have a bigger clue about things and what makes up a bike and whether it suits what they need.

Anyway looking at many threads over the years for most what defines a bike is power, weight, popularity and wheel size.

Doesn't seem to be much understanding besides that in a lot of places.

And good to see you back as well Snake. ::008::

 

[silverfin]

I bought a 2014 Super Tenere because it is the best choice for 2up travel to S America for people with average short legs (31 inseam). So far my research was correct and I am happy with the choice...though a 650 Vstrom could have worked if we were not so heavy and loaded (I had a 2007 and rode is cross the USA 2up with no problems). A coonfession I have: 5900 of the 6000 miles I have piloted this bike has been 2up with gear on the way to our current location in San Miguel de Allend, Mexico.

No issues...doesn't like less than regular fuel, weighs alot, feels like it will never let me down and gets an average of 48mpg 2up with gear and a light throttle and has enough clearance not to scrape on topes.

2up to South America on a Super Tenere at: http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1021672

 

[navynuke]

The reason isn't that anything is wrong with the Super Tenere, but the KTM has power and offroad performance to attract the younger more adventures hooligans that also want a big bike. The BMW is also older, but has the market share to attract some younger buyers.

The Tenere makes sense to our heads, but some of the crazy bikes appeal to the irrational parts of our hearts listened to by more young riders.

 

[snakebitten]

Now that's a very bold statement.

Did I mention how good it is to have you back, Snake? ::008::

It IS a bold statement. And it would be silly to act like I didn't mean for it to be.
But I've gotten away with it many times with no worse than a friendly debate, that usually just causes a narrowing of the claim, enough to make it hold up.

And thanks! It's good to get back on the horse and back with the guys. Just what the doctor ordered.

 

[dclements0]

I'm 34. I looked heavily at the GS and the 990 but after scouring the forums for research I liked the reliability of the S10. My boss at the time really pushed me to get the 990 for its hard core off road ability. I thought long and hard about how I would ride 90% of the time which is mostly commuting and a once a year 2500 mile trip. I also have wanted a GS since before I could drive. The price of the GS was way more than I could or wanted to afford. I had an 03 Harley for 2 years and dreamed of riding gravel and the ability to ride where I wanted to ride whenever I wanted. That's not the Harley MO.

After I sold the Harley I tested a GS and a Tenere. Then I looked at dealer networks and realized anywhere I went I would have access to parts and service. The BMW not so much. Then I looked at the 990 again. I didn't have a dealer nearby so I crossed it off the list. Long story made longer I sold the Harley and put a short stack up and paid cash for the Tenere. Then the KTM 1190 came out and I really liked the way it looked. Our dirt bike KTM dealer became a street bike dealer. Went In and they wouldn't offer me what I wanted so I walked.

My opinion on why younger folks don't look at the Tenere is that it's not sexy... At all. The 1190 is a great looking bike. The GS is ok. It has a funny beak but it looks good and has power and history. I look at pics of the Tenere on the Yamaha site and it looks like a pig. Yamaha doesn't make it appealing. Look at the KTM pics or even the GS pics and they really give you the feeling of adventure and rip roaring fun.

Look at the Yamaha in person and it looks fun. Ride one and it doesn't ride much different. Mine was about $9000 cheaper than a GS off the floor and I had a ton of fun on my test ride so it was an easy choice for my wife and me. I could get an adventure bike that would do anything, take me anywhere and be more reliable than any other adv bike out there.

My opinion again is that the Tenere is not sexy and first come across as the fully capable bike it really is. I still look at 990 forums because those guys spend a lot of time off road in real remote places and I yern for that adventure. But there are the same number of pics where they are rebuilding, repairing or broke down. Look at the Yamaha forums and there aren't the way out there adventures but they keep going and going and going with few and far between breakdowns. I love my bike. I wish it was 100 lbs lighter and a little more nimble like the 990 but I can get on it and do what I need to do and with a few small mods I think MY Tenere along with plenty of yours are pretty damn sexy. So I'm still happy with my choice 2 years later.

 

[dclements0]

Oh I also looked at the Triumph Explorer but I have a friend who owns a Triumph and Although he loves his bike our closest dealer is over 400 miles away and nobody will work on it here. It's always leaking or has this or that. In my opinion the Explorer is the best looking adv bike out there. And the triple is to die for but I didn't want the issues that come with it. So, Yamaha should make the FZ-09 into a dirt, road touring adventure fury and they'd have a winner. Sexy and fun all rolled into one package.

Someone said it earlier, Yamaha hasn't created the lifestyle image that other brands have done so well. They might be ahead in many areas but image isn't one of them in this market.

 

[BravoBravo]

Lots of great observations on this string. And by the way, let me add to the chorus by welcoming you back too, snakebitten. Great to see your posts again. I absolutely agree with your observations about the Super Tenere being the best overall motorcycle known to mankind, and I too have had quite a few over the past 40 plus years of riding. Yes, marketing is what drives motorcycle sales, just like any other product. The "Long Way" series worked miracles in generating interest in the whole adventure touring segment, especially for BMW, but also I think for KTM, since they were involved early on and caused quite a stir in the series when they dumped Ewan and Charley. Yamaha has not done a very good job, in my opinion, of selling the Super Tenere, even though I certainly believe it is a superior product to its competitors in terms of reliability and rideability. Having recently turned 62, I do not feel the need for the hottest, fastest bike I can buy. I have noted on other forums I frequent that it seems to be the younger riders who are drooling over the high performance claims of the newest KTM models. For me, my Super Tenere does everything I could ask of it with no drama and great aplomb. I absolutely love this bike.

Cheers,

Bruce

 

[EricV]

::026:: on SB being back in the house. Good to see you posting!

I agree that image is part of the issue, but I also believe that older riders pay more attention to ergonomics. Many, (certainly not all), are looking for a fun, capable bike that is also not going to beat us to death or leave us crippled for a day after going for a ride. Not long ago I folded myself up onto a GSXR 600 for a demo ride while getting my headlight harness recall done. I was gone for an hour or so, riding in city and out in the sticks on two lane roads, including some fun twisty bits in the local canyon. The entire time I rode that bike, it was like it was waiting for me to wring it out. I had to pay attention to not grab a lot of throttle, or I'd very quickly be over legal speeds, easily to a large margin. No tickets for me in a while and I'd like to keep it that way. A fun bike, but not ideal for my 260 lb, 5'11" frame and old knees.

By comparison, the S10 is comfortable and willing to go any speed I want all day, w/o feeling like I'm not using 90% of it's capability. I think that the ergos of the bike and the solid performance and reliability attract older riders. Few buyers of a liter sport bike are thinking about all day ride comfort or reliability. I remember hearing "It has sooo many miles though", when trying to sell my FZ-1 with only 14k miles. Some of the interested buyers that called or came by remarked that most sport bikes are crashed before hitting 10k, so they were looking for a good deal on a "low mile" bike and worried about reliability with my "high mileage" bike.

Most of the KTM guys I talk to speak about the power and dirt abilities of their KTMs. Some ride them hard and fully expect to service them often. I think Yamaha's 26 valve check interval attracted me long ago with the FZ-1 and FJR, as well as being a facet of my attraction to the S10.

 

[greg the pole]

interesting topic.

I was 34 when I bought the ST.

I liked the fact that it was:
-japanese and reliable
-much cheaper than a GS.
-And I liked the look of the bike

Money was not a huge issues, so it wasn't that.

Didn't get to do much research as it was an early delivery model. I sat on one in Europe back in 2010 ::015::
I'm not disapointed, I don't want to sell or upgrade to the 2014. Clutch basket, and ecu flash will make a huge difference. 51km and it's keeping me very very happy.
I've done three trips this year on it. All of them following a similar 3500km route. No issues, check the oil, check the tires. Ride the shit out of it, wash it when you get home..maybe.

I rode a 2012 WC GS. Great motor, but I'm scared of the reliablity, and the fact that I would need to drop $22 or so on a bm here.
The 1190 is tempting, but with the airbox dusting issue, would not touch it with a barge pole.
Rode the 2013 vstrom 1000....meh is what came to mind, sort of like my 2006 Vstrom 1000 with better brakes.

 

[cosmic]

interesting topic.

I was 34 when I bought the ST.

I liked the fact that it was:
-japanese and reliable
-much cheaper than a GS.
-And I liked the look of the bike

Money was not a huge issues, so it wasn't that.



I rode a 2012 WC GS. Great motor, but I'm scared of the reliablity...

Same here... age too.

 

[martin_nj]

Only reason I bought this over a BMW or KTM was because I don't like to work on bikes, but rather to ride them.

Also price a little bit.

I'm 29 years old.

 

[Hungry Tiger]

It keeps running day after day, mile after mile. Thrash it off pavement, same reliability, not prone to breakdowns. Allows you to go out of reach of civilization, and not worry about getting back.