There have been lots of Super Tenere reviews by the press. It's been a mixed bag of results from the beginning. And although, on occasion, somebody that "gets it" gives the Tenere its due, it is far more common that it comes up short against the competition because it just doesn't have the required wow factor the press seems to require.
Fine.
But I just had a fantastic 3 day run across Texas on a Tenere that was leaking wow by the mile.
Hey Yamaha, here is what you do.
Straight out of Europe's bag of tricks, release an XT1200ZR.
1. You can add a new color for it, or simply add a classy graphics package to enhance the existing colors.
2. Then add Ohlins Bling front and back.
3. Add the Gen2 Flash. (Can be Any brand, but results need to be similar to what I experienced all day today. Superb! )
4. If you must, add a name brand can (not loud) and an R version of the shroud.
Nothing more. Restraint. You do not need to pre-farkle the bike.
Retail for R models with Ohlins can often warrant $4000.00 premiums.
So MSRP in the USA is 18,500
Now for the press release, supply the regular version too. They must be ridden back to back.
So the first review will simply result in huge praise over the improvements Yamaha made to their Super Tenere. They will certainly find the wow. Because it is a truly stunning leap forward. They will say things like "Yamaha finally releases the Tenere they should have built in the first place".......blah blah blah. It will be predictable.
Then they will start testing it against the typical cast of characters. Only this time it won't come across as dull and characterless. Yamaha will get credit for unleashing the beast.
It will still be a Tenere that needs personal farkling. That's the nature of this genre of bike that lends itself to bolting on every imaginable RoundTheWorld piece of kit.
But there WON'T be any issues with how it runs and how it handles! The inferiority complex will be a thing of the past.
Lucky for me, I don't have to trade mine in to get one. In fact, several of us already have the XT1200ZR.
It's available now.
Fine.
But I just had a fantastic 3 day run across Texas on a Tenere that was leaking wow by the mile.
Hey Yamaha, here is what you do.
Straight out of Europe's bag of tricks, release an XT1200ZR.
1. You can add a new color for it, or simply add a classy graphics package to enhance the existing colors.
2. Then add Ohlins Bling front and back.
3. Add the Gen2 Flash. (Can be Any brand, but results need to be similar to what I experienced all day today. Superb! )
4. If you must, add a name brand can (not loud) and an R version of the shroud.
Nothing more. Restraint. You do not need to pre-farkle the bike.
Retail for R models with Ohlins can often warrant $4000.00 premiums.
So MSRP in the USA is 18,500
Now for the press release, supply the regular version too. They must be ridden back to back.
So the first review will simply result in huge praise over the improvements Yamaha made to their Super Tenere. They will certainly find the wow. Because it is a truly stunning leap forward. They will say things like "Yamaha finally releases the Tenere they should have built in the first place".......blah blah blah. It will be predictable.
Then they will start testing it against the typical cast of characters. Only this time it won't come across as dull and characterless. Yamaha will get credit for unleashing the beast.
It will still be a Tenere that needs personal farkling. That's the nature of this genre of bike that lends itself to bolting on every imaginable RoundTheWorld piece of kit.
But there WON'T be any issues with how it runs and how it handles! The inferiority complex will be a thing of the past.
Lucky for me, I don't have to trade mine in to get one. In fact, several of us already have the XT1200ZR.
It's available now.