Interesting Snippet in this month's Bike Magazine UK

[RCinNC]

Dealerships don't like to gamble; they sell what they know they can sell, especially if they have limited showroom space. It's a pain in the ass for those of us that like bikes that aren't generally popular, but it's reality. I've only been in one dealership that had any real enthusiasm for promoting adventure bikes, and that was Romney Cycles in VA. The Yamaha shop that was nearest to me had only sold one Super Tenere between 2010 and when the shop closed last year, and if I recall, they ordered that bike for the customer; it wasn't on the showroom floor. That dealership's bikes were almost all cruisers, with a sprinkling of dirtbikes. The shop I currently go to is about 1/3 sportbikes and cruisers, and 2/3 UTVs and four wheelers, with a couple of Polaris Slingshots (that take up a ton of room).

I think if a lot of people were contacting dealerships and inquiring about the Super Tens, then more dealerships would stock a couple.

 

[Sierra1]

The more I read on here, the more I appreciate my local dealer. Their showroom is large enough to showcase most of what Yamaha has to offer; motorcycles, water craft, and side by sides. No snowmobiles, but this is Texas. And no Niken; they don't see a market for it. This dealership even had a "pre-release" R1. They always have a Tenere on display, with more in the crates.

 

[WildcatGreg]

"All the GS without the BS" is still my mantra.

I don't think I'd be as generous as to call the motorcycling world's reaction to the S10 as "underestimated". Non-existent seems more descriptive. How many shoot-outs have you seen that didn't even include the S10, not even as the butt of a joke? I'm amazed when I see a DL1000 in a comparison with a GS, a KTM, and a Multistrada, but the S10 is nowhere to be seen, and not even a mention. This bike must have a Romulan cloaking device installed as an option on this bike, and it's just not listed on the spec sheet.

Coming from a slew of BMWs, KLRs, Versys 1000 and an Africa Twin (still have that one), the Super Tenere was always in the back of my mind as the "half the price" alternative to the GS. I can't explain why I didn't gravitate towards it previously. After my first 100 miles on my new 2017 I picked up this week, can say it is awesome and will do everything my GS did for sure. There may be a few electronics features that the GS had but nothing I will miss for almost half the price. In my opinion, the Super Tenere is the closest match to an R1200GS out there.

 

[Ramseybella]

Dealerships don't like to gamble; they sell what they know they can sell, especially if they have limited showroom space. It's a pain in the ass for those of us that like bikes that aren't generally popular, but it's reality. I've only been in one dealership that had any real enthusiasm for promoting adventure bikes, and that was Romney Cycles in VA. The Yamaha shop that was nearest to me had only sold one Super Tenere between 2010 and when the shop closed last year, and if I recall, they ordered that bike for the customer; it wasn't on the showroom floor. That dealership's bikes were almost all cruisers, with a sprinkling of dirtbikes. The shop I currently go to is about 1/3 sportbikes and cruisers, and 2/3 UTVs and four wheelers, with a couple of Polaris Slingshots (that take up a ton of room).

I think if a lot of people were contacting dealerships and inquiring about the Super Tens, then more dealerships would stock a couple.

The new generation of potential riders are not buying motorcycles like us enthusiast of the past.
The tossup of do i buy a car or a motorcycle is a no brainier when you're paying off a College loan.

The Super Ten never did get a good add campaign from Yamaha, Yamaha seems to suck in that department.
I never see 1200 tens in the two shops i stop at, Bobby J's had one for four years on the floor.
And a used one on the lot.
Wonder how the new Honda Goldwing is doing with the older Millennials it was suppose to appeal to?
I'm still waiting on the Tenere 700, now it's suppose to come in 2021??
Starting to fear the motorcycle market will start taking a hit within the next ten years.
Dirt bikes are not cool and practical to the young people, as that's usually how you get the motorcycle bug started.

 

[Memoryspade22590]

Lol. That's true, I have several guys I work with who have children that didn't get their drivers license until in their 20s. I got my farm license when I was 15. Different generations I guess.

 

[Nikolajsen]

"farm license" ?

 

[Memoryspade22590]

Yeah, in South Carolina 40 years ago you could get a license that allowed you to drive secondary roads if you were doing farm related work. After a year it converted over to a regular drivers license.

 

[Tenman]

Got my La license at 15 in 1971. MC endorsement too. On a fine new yammi ct 175. $700 cash. All my friends had dirt bikes here in La. Land owner would let us ride there dirt roads. Those days have been gone. Gates everywhere. I can't blame the land owners a bit. Trash and giant ruts took care of that. My family has 3 farms there now. We got gates too. It's a lot more forgiving crashin in the dirt learning how to ride.

 

[Memoryspade22590]

I think a lot of the southern states had a system like that so young people could start driving early to help with farming. I know Texas had the same age setup as South Carolina.

 

[Nikolajsen]

Yeah, in South Carolina 40 years ago you could get a license that allowed you to drive secondary roads if you were doing farm related work. After a year it converted over to a regular drivers license.