2010 Yamaha Super Tenere First Ride [motorcycle-usa.com]

[atadaskew]

It was inevitable. Yamaha’s new Super Tenere was bound to be compared to BMW’s R1200GS. It should be, they’re both from the same adventure bike genre after all. The trouble is, the Beemers sell like hotcakes and there has to be a reason for that. Could the Japanese really challenge the mighty Germans to produce a motorcycle that’s equally capable all round? It’s a tall order which ever way you look at it. On paper, things do look promising. A 108.4 bhp, 1199cc Parallel Twin against the German 110 bhp, 1170cc Boxer engine. Both bikes have a shaft drive, aluminium luggage and a riding stance designed for hours in the saddle... hence the mammoth press launch.

Read the entire first ride here:  http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/277/7526/Motorcycle-Article/2010-Yamaha-Super-Tenere-First-Ride.aspx

[bomber]

thanks for posting -- the looks of the beast and the fact that it has linked brakes and non-switchable ABS says something -- confusion over what market niche to grab, perhaps?

Course, my meteoric rise to the top of motorcycling marketing might lead you to dismiss my opinions.

;-}

[chornbe]

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/277/7526/Motorcycle-Article/2010-Yamaha-Super-Tenere-First-Ride.aspx

Absolutely zero surprises.

So in all, the Super Tenere is an adequate all-rounder. It’s fun, comfortable and easy to ride. But in the UK the biggest stumbling block isn’t its performance but its price. Compared to BMW’s R1200GS, it isn’t any better, it has fewer options and it is more expensive. For the price of a Super Tenere, you could lavish a GS with BMW’s Dynamic package that includes a tyre pressure control, ABS and ASC (traction control) Then you could add a Premium package, which includes a chrome exhaust pipe, heated grips, an onboard computer with oil warning light and LED indicators and still brim the tank and pay for your first night away. For diehard Yamaha fans, maybe that doesn’t matter. For everyone else, I’m not so sure.

[bluepoof]

Wow, I'm not in the market for that bike...but the article is by an awesome, smart, well-versed, funny woman contributor/rider who used to be a Gladiator!  

[Spanky]

If she comes with the bike, I'll take two!  

[mugwump58]

Somewhere I have seen a video, in French, that shows how to turn the ABS off.

[ST1300Rider]

I saw one of these in Italy last month. The first bunch are/were internet order and came with some fancy graphics and a special number. In person, up close it's a beautiful bike. Fit and finish, paint etc. are near perfect. It will be interesting to see if it makes it here.

This has to be the ugliest exhaust evar......

[R Doug]

Honda VFR v. BMW K - - -  FAIL

Yamaha Super Tenere v. BMW - - - FAIL


Dear Big 4, please do what you have done best in the past and quit trying to be something you are not.  Continue to make the best bang for the buck bikes with low maintenance and high mileage capable motors.  

[Windblown]

Honda VFR v. BMW K - - -  FAIL

Yamaha Super Tenere v. BMW - - - FAIL


Dear Big 4, please do what you have done best in the past and quit trying to be something you are not.  Continue to make the best bang for the buck bikes with low maintenance and high mileage capable motors.  

+1

File under "WTF were they thinking?"  Heavier, less power, more expensive, and it looks like a V-Strom. Way to go Yamaha!  

(and this from a Yamaha fan)

[atadaskew]

This Yam fails on so many levels, from price, weight, performance to mind numbing details like this:

The screen is adjustable, but doing so is not exactly a two-minute job. Where the GS just needs you to twist a couple of knobs, the ST requires an allen key, screw driver and the removal of a side panel. It’s just a shame it’s so overcomplicated.

It's like they have no idea what other mfgs' bikes are like.

[squeezer]

I saw one of these in Italy last month. The first bunch are/were internet order and came with some fancy graphics and a special number. In person, up close it's a beautiful bike. Fit and finish, paint etc. are near perfect. It will be interesting to see if it makes it here.

I can't see it being competitive here if it's priced the same as in Europe.

[Walker]

I used to really want a Tenere back when I had my KLR.  Not so much anymore.

But why are they showing this bike parked in the sand with giant dunes behind it and only street tires on the bike?  = FAIL

[forester]

Oh Cool, look - a Blue V-strom!  

[atadaskew]

hmm, this bike seems to have gone over as well as a lead balloon.

Eat yer heart out Honda VFR12!

 

[martee99]

I would love to be in the middle of the desert with her.

[bluepoof]

I would love to be in the middle of the desert with her.

You realize she was a Gladiator, right? She'd whup your ass!  (er, not that they're anything wrong with that if that's what yer into... )

[JamesG]

That they invited 'Merican juros to the press ride gives some hope that maybe they intend to someday sell them here (or Yamaha is just trying to piss us off).

[atadaskew]

That they invited 'Merican juros to the press ride gives some hope that maybe they intend to someday sell them here (or Yamaha is just trying to piss us off).

They thought they were inviting Canadians.

[Blunder]

This has to be the ugliest exhaust evar......

Gotta make room for that catalytic converter.

[JamesG]

Um.... Moto-USA.com?

[atadaskew]

Um.... Moto-USA.com?

The reporter is a Brit, not a staff member. They buy articles from wherever.

[JamesG]

Well then... they shouldn't because it makes me start jonesin' for this bike again.



JEZUS CHRIST ON A CRUTCH YAMAHA!!!  This is the only bike I would hock my Uly for and you won't bring it here. WTF!?!?!?

[Blunder]

Well then... they shouldn't because it makes me start jonesin' for this bike again.



JEZUS CHRIST ON A CRUTCH YAMAHA!!!  This is the only bike I would hock my Uly for and you won't bring it here. WTF!?!?!?

Find the Yamaha USA email address and start a mail campaign.

20 years ago, hell, even 30 years ago, Yamaha has tried to introduce innovative motorcycles to the US market and for various reasons failed miserably.

The 550 Vision (they even painted it in John Player Special colors with a full fairing), the XJ650 Seca (a shaft driven beauty), an XJ900 Seca (a bored and stroked 650 with a great half fairing), the original TDM850 (the Tedium) and nobody listened with their pocketbooks or loan officers. Those bikes didn't even get to languish on showroom floors. They sat in crates in Long Beach.

The FJR was never planned to be sold in the American market, yet an email campaign convinced them that maybe there's a market for such a bike.

[atadaskew]

 This is the only bike I would hock my Uly for and you won't bring it here. WTF!?!?!?

Serious question.  What is it that you like about this Yam?  Every test I've read about it slams it.  It came last in the MCN test comparo against the KTM 990, BMW GS and Duc MS12.

[JamesG]

Serious question.  What is it that you like about this Yam?  Every test I've read about it slams it.  It came last in the MCN test comparo against the KTM 990, BMW GS and Duc MS12.

KTM = Too dirt bike

BMW = Too titanic

MTS12 = Too fruf-fru/expensive/streety

Tiger = same as above only not as much.

The only things I don't like about my Uly is lack of OR tire/wheels, it could use a fairing, and of course the heat can be annoying.  I don't care if this Yamaha isn't the most powerful, lighest, etc. etc. It does what I want in a package that I can stand to look at.

[Davy F.]

This is the only bike I would hock my Uly for and you won't bring it here. WTF!?!?!?

Well then, would it annoy you even more for me to tell you that I have had the new Super Tenere out for a nice 100+ mile demo ride ?  

[GTS_Rider]

...20 years ago, hell, even 30 years ago, Yamaha has tried to introduce innovative motorcycles to the US market and for various reasons failed miserably.

The 550 Vision (they even painted it in John Player Special colors with a full fairing), the XJ650 Seca (a shaft driven beauty), an XJ900 Seca (a bored and stroked 650 with a great half fairing), the original TDM850 (the Tedium) and nobody listened with their pocketbooks or loan officers. Those bikes didn't even get to languish on showroom floors. They sat in crates in Long Beach.

The FJR was never planned to be sold in the American market, yet an email campaign convinced them that maybe there's a market for such a bike.

Yeah you missed one, there's a reason the FJR was never planned to be sold in the American market, the reason is called GTS-1000. This was the super high-tech bike of the early 90's , but the hub-center steering, and 14k price tag threw everyone but a few for a loop. I would argue that the GTS was a better machine for the ST market than BMW's offerings at the time. But I have no clue about BMW's offerings at the time... so maybe I'm wrong.      

Any-case , for sure they were right in the same price range and the end result was nobody wanted to pay BMW prices for a Japanese bike...even though the 'tech' may have been way ahead of BMW at the time.

It's nice to see that Yamaha has corrected the error of their ways. Of course it stands to reason, if you can't sell a 'better bike' for the same amount of money, you should be able to sell a lesser bike for a greater amount of money...  ???  

[atadaskew]

Of course it stands to reason, if you can't sell a 'better bike' for the same amount of money, you should be able to sell a lesser bike for a greater amount of money...  ???  

This ties in nicely with the investment strategy of buy high, sell low...

[Baz]

I kind of like it, but not sure what I would do with it. I spend most of my days in 4 wheel drive on oil lease roads, so have no urge to eat even more dirt on my days off.

[Giaka]

I can't see it being competitive here if it's priced the same as in Europe.

Local dealer has one, $16,500 for the one without bags (is there a bagged model?).

[motormike]

Local dealer has one, $16,500 for the one without bags (is there a bagged model?).

Boxes, not bags.  The Yamaha website lits the Acessory Packages (see link).  MSRP is $13,900 (Impact Blue) Priority Delivery Program - Delivery begins May 2011 and $13,900 (Raven) Priority Delivery Program - Delivery begins May 2011

Edited to add the prices of the Accessory Packages :
X-Country Terrain $749.85
Comfort & Convenience $1,019.75
Adventure Touring $1,519.60


http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/super_tenere/tenere_accessories.aspx

[Rincewind]

Local dealer has one, $16,500 for the one without bags (is there a bagged model?).

Nice pic, what did you think of the bike?  Worth that sort of price point?

[sprale]

After pining after a Vee for some time, I picked up a used K5. I love it. It's the ugliest bike on the road. The Tenere? Kinda ugly, but I never thought a GS (anything past the R100GS) was pretty. In a bike, I'm usually after beauty or reliability, but they never seem to come together on the same bike.

[falconati]

I used to really want a Tenere back when I had my KLR.  Not so much anymore.

But why are they showing this bike parked in the sand with giant dunes behind it and only street tires on the bike?  = FAIL

Because they're targeting GS riders  

[squeezer]

Local dealer has one, $16,500 for the one without bags (is there a bagged model?).

Does that mean they're selling it over MSRP or -- I guess -- that's what you're up to after dealer prep charges?

By the way, I think I was dead wrong about it being uncompetitive with the GS up in this price range. It looks like a whole group of folks on fjrforum -- including at least one GS owner -- have plopped down the cash for the PDP. There's already chatter about a Super Tenere rally next fall. I guess they're finding a market.  

[Rincewind]

That price likely includes some of the accessory packages.  See Motormikes post above for prices to add to the $13900 base price.