Would you have bought your Tenere if it was the same price as a BMW 1200GS?

[jettcity1]

The answer is clearly a NO. I did the research and bought the better bike, The Yamaha. Here in the PNW, Seattle BMW is the only game in town. ALL BMW guys have to go there and they pay and they have issues.
I can go to any Yamaha shop and get my work done and get parts easily and cheaper. I enjoy the yamaha very much and I have ridden many many bikes over the years.
If the BMW was ALOT cheaper and had dealerships that were easily found and good to work with, I might be looking that way but thats not the case.
There is a reliability factor also and I know guys that have had problems with their expensive 'kraut juggers and they are not happy to admit it.Im riding the 'S-10 and enjoying it very much.
Yamaha has a winner here and the rest of the manufacturers are merely trying to catch up to it. ::017:: ::017:: ::017::

 

[cb0802]

Are we talking about a $13k BMW or a $18k Yamaha
For every sensible reason; reliability, dealer network, maintenance cost, ease of maintenance, I would pick the Yamaha 10 times out of 10. For some reason though, I’m attracted to the GS like I was to many of my ex-girlfriends. I knew they were trouble when I met them, but they were too pretty to walk away from. For me, the 2009-12 GS was one of the best looking bikes available.
Fortunately, the BMW design team decided to extended the beak/bill on the ’13 model to nearly ridiculous proportions. Looking at a ’13 model GS is like running into one of those old girlfriends and seeing she gained about 30 lbs.

 

[MrTwisty]

No. I would have bought a Tiger XC...almost did anyway. If the Tiger didn't exist, I would have bought a V-Strom.

 

[JaimeV]

Yes.
I bought the S10 to replace a GSA. The price didn't had anything to do with the decision.

 

[Salmon Sam]

OMG, CB0802, if you thought the old GS was nice looking, I hate to see yer old girlfriends (snicker). ;D

Here are a couple of pics of me on a rented GS on the Dragon (TN) and my buddy on the rented ST (let him pick the ST that trip, since I own one). Which bike looks better (try not to look at my uncool hi-viz wear)?

ADV Moto magazine characterized the ST as an Adventure-Sport bike combo versus the GS, which they categorize as more of an Adventure-Enduro combo. Don't know if I buy that. I will say that I think that the GS is more fragile than the ST - which through personal experience and stories from others is pretty bullet-proof!

 

[klenoth]

Im living in Norway and the prices on motorcycles here are insane. The Yamaha and BMW cost about the same (42600US$)
I bought the Yamaha and is wery satisfied.
The following reason for this is:
The closest BMW dealer was 280km away
BMW have expensive servicing and parts
And the rumor og the electronics and the drive line of the BMW is not so reliable.

 

[twinrider]

Looking at a ’13 model GS is like running into one of those old girlfriends and seeing she gained about 30 lbs.

Sounds like you haven't ridden a '13, they blow the S10 away in the performance department. No reflash needed. ::024::

 

[autoteach]

Hey Mr. Lakeshore area, I bought a Passat TDI wagon over in your neck o da woods!

Yeah, Airheads rock.
Their new stuff is for the uber-rich. Rear main seal? Been there. Sucks. Try to do a brake fluid flush on a new one? Wtf...

Yeah, I like to play music with their brake systems. When I go for a test ride and there is a coworker around I start playing with the brake lever and it sounds like you are stepping on a computer hard drive.

Where about are you in WI?

 

[Combo]

Yes I would and I hope Yamaha is not watching this site.

I like many things about the BMW but I am a Yamaha fan and like the way Yamaha puts things together more than most.
I have had many years of good luck with Yamaha. Since 1976 I have never been stranded or have dropped out of a race due to a bike failure that was Yamaha's fault. I had raced Suzuki and Hondas before that and I got real good at rebuiding transmissions and crank seals. That stuff all stopped when I went to Yamaha.
Myself I would have a hard time going to a BMW due to the culture, reliability, less dealers in the USA and the fact I am a Yamaha fan.

 

[powder]

Yeah, I like to play music with their brake systems. When I go for a test ride and there is a coworker around I start playing with the brake lever and it sounds like you are stepping on a computer hard drive.

Where about are you in WI?

Janesville/Portage/Wausau yeah, servo assist for wallet removalectomy...

 

[snakebitten]

Sounds like you haven't ridden a '13, they blow the S10 away in the performance department. No reflash needed. ::024::

You mean acceleration, right?

Yea, it has more ponies. But "performance" can cover more ground than just acceleration.

 

[squarebore]

To the original question - NO. I got my S10 as an ex demo with 600kms at $5000 off the RRP. This brought it down to my affordability. Wouldn't dream of paying the new price for a GS in Australia.

 

[twinrider]

You mean acceleration, right?

Yea, it has more ponies. But "performance" can cover more ground than just acceleration.

Torque, acceleration, handling and suspension are all really good on the GS. Questionable reliability is the only real issue I see at this point.

Take one for a test ride when you get a chance. Make sure it's in dynamic mode and let us know what you think.

 

[RsZk]

I had the opportunity to purchase the BMW, Triumph 1200XC, Ducati Multistrada, or Tenere. I chose the Yamaha based on this site and the fact I just come off of a BMW. I just wanted something different and had yet to own a Yamaha. Great experience so far. ::013::

 

[powder]

Torque, acceleration, handling and suspension are all really good on the GS. Questionable reliability is the only real issue I see at this point.

Take one for a test ride when you get a chance. Make sure it's in dynamic mode and let us know what you think.

Questionable reliability should NOT come with a price tag of $3-10K more money. That would be issue #2.

Issue #3 would be lack of dealership support.

Issue #4 would be that the Tenere is serviceable in MY garage w/o needing to buy factory equipment to do things like a brake bleed.

Issue #5 is that Yamaha stands behind their products. Story time: There once was a nice little girl who needed the oil change done on her 650GS, and I obliged her with that service. Before putting all the tupper-ware back on the bike I did a leak test with a start up of the bike-the plastic fuel cell had sprung a leak, near the pump, and was lightly spraying gas. Turned out there was a BMW factory TSB (tech service bulletin) on bad fuel cells and the dealers were directed to tow/flatbed the bikes in, replace the bad fuel cells, and get the bikes back to the customers. BMW refused to honor their own TSB on this serious issue. She had to hire a lawyer and quickly won the case.

If BMW REFUSES to honor their very own TSBs, on issues which are KNOWN about pertaining to bad plastic in their fuel cells, do you think they REALLY care about any quality or customer service issues? She communicated with BMW regional and NA people for 6 weeks before getting the lawyer. That was her second and very LAST reliability issue with BMW motorcycles-she sold them off. Done. Finito. When you screw your Customers, on issues which are already acknowledged with factory TSBs, those TSBs only exist to let NHSTA PERCEIVE the factory is doing something about it. It's beyond dangerous-it is actually malicious.

 

[Dallara]

Torque, acceleration, handling and suspension are all really good on the GS. Questionable reliability is the only real issue I see at this point.

Take one for a test ride when you get a chance. Make sure it's in dynamic mode and let us know what you think.

They still have a "Telelever" and that silly "Paralever" set-up, don't they? Still two answers to questions nobody asked... ::025::

Dallara



~

 

[snakebitten]

They still have a "Telelever" and that silly "Paralever" set-up, don't they? Still two answers to questions nobody asked... ::025::

Dallara



~

Honestly? I would have no isssue with either the Telelevr or the Paralever if they were better. Period. If they were BETTER.

But they are overall a compromise. An unnesary and stubborn compromise.

Maybe if they keep sticking with it long enough (as though it hasn't been long enough) they will get it right. Then they will actually have an advantage.
But you CAN NOT make the BMW handle as good as you can make the Tenere. It is currently an engineering impossibility.

Having said that, you CAN make it handle really good. Too bad you can't make it reliable too.

 

[Rasher]

I actually liked the front end, it worked a treat (or at least on pavement) and I even thought the front end feel was pretty decent.

It was not as plush as conventional forks, and neither was the straight linked rear end, but the lack of dive and bump handling on the brakes was admirable, the GS also steered really nicely (or at least on pavement) and was a joy to chuck around.

If it was not made out of shite components by an arrogant manufacturer and sold by arrogant dealers I would have bought another one.

The supplying dealer lied about the service history, only begrudgingly did the service work he had led me to believe had already been done (and acted as if I was an arse and he was doing me a huge favour) and the warranty details never arrived despite calls and E-Mails to first the dealer, end then BMW - they managed to send a renewal letter asking if I wanted to give them £350 to extend it - I finally got my 12 month warranty details through over 18 months after I bought the bike (by which time I had sold it)

I was also quoted one price for a service and then charged another, no explanation of how the price changed from when I booked the job, to when they did it, they insisted I was at fault, basically calling me a liar, no negotiation, no acceptance of any mistake their end or even a misunderstanding, I was wrong, they were right.

The customer service really sucks :exclaim:

 

[autoteach]

I actually liked the front end, it worked a treat (or at least on pavement) and I even thought the front end feel was pretty decent.

It was not as plush as conventional forks, and neither was the straight linked rear end, but the lack of dive and bump handling on the brakes was admirable, the GS also steered really nicely (or at least on pavement) and was a joy to chuck around.

If it was not made out of shite components by an arrogant manufacturer and sold by arrogant dealers I would have bought another one.

The supplying dealer lied about the service history, only begrudgingly did the service work he had led me to believe had already been done (and acted as if I was an arse and he was doing me a huge favour) and the warranty details never arrived despite calls and E-Mails to first the dealer, end then BMW - they managed to send a renewal letter asking if I wanted to give them £350 to extend it - I finally got my 12 month warranty details through over 18 months after I bought the bike (by which time I had sold it)

I was also quoted one price for a service and then charged another, no explanation of how the price changed from when I booked the job, to when they did it, they insisted I was at fault, basically calling me a liar, no negotiation, no acceptance of any mistake their end or even a misunderstanding, I was wrong, they were right.

The customer service really sucks :exclaim:

Actually, their customers really suck ) At least that is what they said about this guy that was trying to get a deal on his service....

 

[Rasher]

Actually, their customers really suck )

That is certainly the attitude they have :exclaim: