You guys are all idiots

[Checkswrecks]

I got to ride 2 Teneres before they came to the US and knew it was a winner to live with. At the end of the day, the folks here know what we have.
The Tenere is the




BMW [/size]Recovery Vehicle[size=large]

 

[low drag]

I didn't see the article and I'm new to motorcycles.

But the magazine business is the same business whether it's motorcycles, guns or cars etc.

I temper every 'review' based upon how many full page color ads a company in the 'unbiased' review has in said issue.

 

[Rasher]

I have only been riding since 1985 (apart from the caning the odd moped / mates mx bike round a field) but since then I have been reading the motorcycling press, and less and less with each year of gained wisdom.

In Sportsbike Britain every year they had to have a 600 shootout, 1000cc shootout and then the tourer / hyperbike shoot-outs.

We all know there has not been much between most modern bikes in the last 30 or so years, and probably bugger all in it in the last 20, yet these poor Journo's have to come up with something as a single liner that tells the punter they are all good and to go buy the cheapest / nicest colour will not do.

It does not help that most of these Journo's are a way off the pace of a half decent National Racer, often failing to put a 600cc supersport bike round a track faster than the CB500 lap record, this means they cannot even accurately gauge which one is faster in the "right hands" - and most readers are not "the right hands" anyway and would find them all perfectly adequate.

I would also like to say how great all these bikes are, the Triumph, BMW, KTM, Ducati, Guzzi etc are all brilliant motorcycles and I would happily ride any one of them across Europe if someone handed me one to use.

In the Journo's desperation to find some differences they now tend to hire in racers and pro's to abuse machines way beyond the point any owner could, for sportsbikes the ultimate lap time may be important to some who like to have some evidence to back up their bragging at Starbucks.

Anything with off-road pretensions is even harder to test, apart from putting them round an MX track with a top MX rider, but this is not the same as a race rep on tarmac as that was designed with the race track in mind, no Adv bike is designed for the ultimate MX track laptime and adv bikes have the widest design parameters in the motorcycling road.

Good on smooth Tar
Good on rough Tar
Good on Gravel
Good on Dirt
Good solo
Good two-up
Good at commuting
Good at Touring
Good at low speed
Good at high speed

Compare that to an R6 design brief of "must lap a GP grade race track faster than a GSX-R / CBR / ZX6R", not saying the job of building the fastest supersport bike is easy, but there is no compromise in the design.

The problem with putting the Adv bikes against one another is the fact they are so diverse from the Multistrada to the KTM, but in reality the real thing to consider is what they can do compared to other bikes.

The Multistrada is pretty good off-road in isolation, shown a bumpy dirt track or gravel lane I would much rather be on the MTS than a R6, and more importantly the MTS would probably be as fast around a track as a R6 in the hands of the average person.

Adv bikes really need to be compared against all of the bikes they compete with at all the things their design brief covers, run any of these bikes against a sports or touring bike and the off-road ability will shine through, probably hold its own in the handling stakes as well, although perhaps it will lose out on comfort and Weather protection.

The S10's Comfort will be way ahead of a sports-tourer at the expense of handling on smooth tarmac, but down a bumpy / pot holed / gravel strewn back lane it will whip the sports-tourer, and again off-road my money is on the S10 being way ahead of a VFR800.

Durability and reliability has never featured in the press reports, and probably never will, real world practicality could be included but rarely is as the press are just a bunch of freeloading morons for the most part (there is the odd exception)

They certainly do not understand the wide appeal of bikes like the S10 to those who do not get given another brand new motorcycle every week most of us can only afford one bike to do everything, and have to pay for maintenance and repairs out of our own limited budgets - for me that is the BMW, Ducati and KTM off the list already, but the rest all hold some appeal, the Yamaha one on ticking all of my boxes and at the time I bought mine offering the best long term value.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Have to agree that the owner's mindset is completely different from the person handed a set of key and told go play as hard as you want. Don't worry if you break it, the truck will be along to pick it up if anything bad happens. It's hard to imagine the fun you could have with a bike knowing you only had to preserve your own life and limb. Damage to the bike is meaningless. Sounds like a fantastic proposition and I'd love to try it. Who knows what bike would be your favorite in those conditions.

Of course that has nothing to do with owning a bike and caring if it runs tomorrow. A totally different set of parameters matter when you are the one paying the bills.

Online and print magazines need content. The fact it has little to do with real life isn't the point to them. It's content, and if it gets them eyeballs and advertising money, that's all that matters to them. The fact we're talking about it means they have produced eyeballs and the ad money will come in. Mission accomplished. Nothing wrong with that as long as we don't take them any more seriously than take the thought given to the real life application of their reviews. It's all just motorcycle candy.

 

[Dallara]

Online and print magazines need content. The fact it has little to do with real life isn't the point to them. It's content, and if it gets them eyeballs and advertising money, that's all that matters to them.

The fact we're talking about it means they have produced eyeballs and the ad money will come in. Mission accomplished. Nothing wrong with that as long as we don't take them any more seriously than take the thought given to the real life application of their reviews. It's all just motorcycle candy.

All true... Except I no longer purchase any of the mainstream motorcycle magazines. In fact, I pretty much refuse to because of their lack of editorial integrity. there are only a handful of motorcycle publications I even look at, and each for specific reasons...

- Motorcycle Consumer News - http://www.mcnews.com/mcn/ - it's available via subscription only, and I read it simply because they refuse to take advertising money. They live or die by their subscribers, so they're priorities are remarkably different when it comes to evaluating products. They have no advertisers to lose, but they can lose subscribers if they're not honest, so guess who they cater to? ::025::

- Ride Texas - http://ridetexas.com/ - they don't evaluate motorcycles, and rarely even review products. Their content is about places to ride in the State of Texas, as well as nearby states, and it's written by people just like you and me. They've survived by catering to their public and subscribers, not advertisers.

- Cycle News - http://www.cyclenews.com/ - it's free online, and comes to your email inbox, but I've been a Cycle News subscriber for decades simply because they cover more motorcycle racing better than anyone else in the world. Road racing, MX, enduros, hare scrambles, desert racing, trials, speedway, flat track - you name it, they cover it, and they do it faster than anyone, too, often having full, detailed articles within hours of the race events. I don't read their bike reviews, though, as they seem to be as biased there as the other mainstream publications.

- Roadrunner Motorcycle Touring & Travel - http://www.roadrunner.travel/ - they do bike reviews, but I rarely read those, as they tend to be pure fluff - i.e. they just love everything. Never a bad word about any bike, period. That said, they have some of the best travel articles, often with great detail about really interesting places worldwide. It's the "coffee table" mag of the bunch.

I get Cycle World's online magazine, but only because my friend, Kevin Cameron, signed me up for it. He writes technical articles for them, and I like to read his stuff. Other than that I don't read much of it, and I never buy their print mag.

My point is the vast majority of those magazines do *NOT* get my "eyeballs", and I doubt they ever will. I actually blame the motorcycle press for much of what's wrong in the motorcycle marketplace today... But that's another discussion entirely! ::025::

Dallara




~

 

[cochise325]

Ah yes I am guilty as charged by the thread title. But I am a very happy idiot whilst riding my fat girl.

 

[Don in Lodi]

Isn't Rider magazine one of the ones that have a Tenere in their stable of long term bikes? They used to mention every once in a while their crew's waiting list for taking the Tenere out... for weekends, for a photo mule, for road trips. I haven't subscribed for a couple years, but I seem to remember the Tenere always being top two at least with Rider. Ah, but the market has changed and broadened. Anybody subscribe to Rider? I've got fond memories of Rider, just curious what direction they've gone.

 

[Langolier]

In my opinion a bike review is a fruitless as a oil/seat/pannier/tire/windshield/muffler/suspension or any other review. ::002:: Buy it.... use it ... if ya don't like it sell it or don't buy again. They all have good points and bad. It all comes down to personal opinion.


::021::

 

[Andylaser]

I blame Yamaha for not making a bike that can read magazine articles.

 

[Don in Lodi]

...and a lousy PR department! ::008::

 

[TommyBwell]

I blame Yamaha for not making a bike that can read magazine articles.

That was probably a better title Andy. Tenere's are idiots. They don't even know they're for street use only.

 

[Arrowsigns]

I'm happy to park the Tenere next to my XR650R, 450X other "shootout" losers that have gone the distance and got me home every time.

 

[creggur]

I blame Yamaha for not making a bike that can read magazine articles.

Haha!

 

[Mikeybikey57]

I blame God and/or Human Evolution (delete as appropriate)……………………………for making some people stupid enough to believe absolutely everything that they read in popular motorcycle publications. ???

 

[Travex]

Motorcycle rags. The young read them, middle-age gripe about them, and the old wipe with'em.

 

[MotoJunky]

Here is my letter to Motorcyclist:

Regarding your Down and Dirty off-road test of four big ADV bikes in the August issue:

While most readers know that your staff is ever-bedazzled by the latest suite of techno-gadgetry and ever-increasing horsepower numbers on new motorcycles, those of us who live in the real world where we actually pay for our motorcycles, tires, repairs, and dented rims, and we actually use our ADV bikes regularly in the back country, well, we have other priorities. Durability, toughness, and reliability come readily to mind as the actual currency that is valued in ADV riding.

Your testers damaged two front rims, as well as jumped the bikes, slid them around corners, and laid them on their sides as handy seats during break time. No one who personally pays for such a motorcycle would ride it or treat it like that. And no one who wants to come home unscathed from a day or week-long trip in the back country would ride these bikes like you did.

Unsurprisingly, the Super Tenere landed in the back of the pack in your Down and Dirty off-road test. I ride my Super T on as much dirt as I can find, solo, and besides never being stranded due to mechanical issues, I have never abused the bike like that. It has a real skid plate (Rumbux)and an ABS off switch that cost me $15 off Ebay, and other accessories that make it extremely capable in the dirt, not the low slung pig that you made it out to be.

The Super Tenere is fast joining the ranks of motorcycles that have a loyal following of riders who recognize its toughness and durability, though it never seems to fare well on comparison tests. These are bikes like the KLR 650 and the DRz 400; popular, reliable, and with a deep aftermarket, able and ready to solve any farkling challenge. I’ll take that any day over the two winners that, if the internet holds any truth at all, might not get me home.

Mark Richards
Albuquerque, NM

I look forward to seeing your very well-written letter in an upcoming motorcyclist magazine. Until then and dependent of their response, I probably won't by another one of their magazines. Very good summary.

 

[SAL]

When all is said and done. I follow the rules as spelled out by the key words of this song:

Love The One Your With.

I just finished a 4,000 mile 10 day ride to and from the MSTA STAR (rally) n Rapid City on my new to me 2012 Super Tenere. Road in hellish downpours from St. Louis all the way to South Dakota, Side winds that would make a 747 pilot wary in Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Montana and other; gone up Bear Tooth Pass and Chief Joseph Highway, hit the gas to stay away from amorous Buffalo in the Badlands and sweated like a pig in the heat. Bike was flawless whether going 20 miles an hour or much, much faster.

Basically, if your happy with what your riding and you have a grin every time you get on or off of it --- it is the right bike for you.

But in my case anyhow, as far as the Super Tenere is concerned: "I LOVED THE ONE I WAS WITH".

 

[muddysoles]

I blame Yamaha for not making a bike that can read magazine articles.

::025::

LOL, I ordered one having only seen grainy pictures of one. Took delivery without having ridden one. What kind of idiot does that I ask. ::010::

Ditto! And mine was the first one in the region .. Never felt so happy being an idiot ::001::

 

[coastie]

...and a lousy PR department! ::008::

Actually Yamaha has a very good pr department, they just don't push the Tenere. ATV's, Boats, and their star lineup are a different story.


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[coastie]

When all is said and done. I follow the rules as spelled out by the key words of this song:

Love The One Your With.

I just finished a 4,000 mile 10 day ride to and from the MSTA STAR (rally) n Rapid City on my new to me 2012 Super Tenere. Road in hellish downpours from St. Louis all the way to South Dakota, Side winds that would make a 747 pilot wary in Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Montana and other; gone up Bear Tooth Pass and Chief Joseph Highway, hit the gas to stay away from amorous Buffalo in the Badlands and sweated like a pig in the heat. Bike was flawless whether going 20 miles an hour or much, much faster.

Basically, if your happy with what your riding and you have a grin every time you get on or off of it --- it is the right bike for you.

But in my case anyhow, as far as the Super Tenere is concerned: "I LOVED THE ONE I WAS WITH".

-

Your not the first to say this. Actually I thing just about every owner has come back with the same. The Tenere does not show how good it is until you put that big multi day loaded up trip on her.


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