North American Side Panels in Black not Silver?

[Bill310]

I realize that as one gets older one starts to forget things and it has been a long time since September 1st. I have also never paid one bit of difference to the colour of any of my motorcycles.

Why did Yamaha stop putting the Silver side panels on the blue bikes for the North American Orders and start installing Black instead?

Was the silver a first year "special edition" identifier, I just don't think the Blue looks as nice with the Black Side Panels.

I can't believe I have done this but I ordered the silver side panels from Europe (Including matching hardware). I have all the silver AtlRider parts already and silver jesse bags on order and just decided I wanted the motorcycle to look the way I wanted and that the Black side panels don't work for me on the Blue bike

This is so in contrast to how I normally choose color.

Actual buying conversation, when I bought a red motorcycle in 2004

Me "You have 5 red ones, 1 silver and 2 black in stock, You say your best price is $xxxx Dolloars. Now lests talk about color, I need your advice. What colour is the most popular?

Salesman "well Silver and Black are really hard to get and we only have a few left." Trying to close deal on colour"

Me, " so Red is not as poplar, It looks like it doesn't have the sheen and depth of the silver and black . I need you advice on this then. Which colour would have the best resale value?"

Salesman, "Silver or Black" No one wants red.

Me, "Well resale is important to a lot of people so if I want to trade in this motorcycle next year how much more will a silver or black one be worth compared to a red one"

Salesman, "You could get $200- 300 more for Black or Silver on trade next year "
(this is of course complete BS)

Me, " Yeah motorcycle owners are really particular"

Salesman "they sure are, no one wants red"

Me I will take a red one then for $300.00 less than the price we have been discussing. The I stopped talking and just looked at him.

He broke after 3 minutes of silence

Everywhere I rode that bike, people would say, wow I really like that red i didn't know it came in red that is why i bought silver or black

 

[hANNAbONE]

so, Bill...it looks like to me you took advantage of this dealership and it's sales force.
You realize you cut the guys commission by several dollars taking advantage of him for your $300.00 savings.
Interesting parallel to your comments about having some vendors possibly taking some money off their products to stoke the fires of us waiting months extra for our new sled.

Am I missin' something here..? Seems to the same to me...jus sayin

 

[ptfjjj]

Oh no! Looks like administration is going to have to move this one to the debate forum........ Personally, I like the black panels. ;D

 

[Koinz]

8)

 

[colorider]

Oh no! Looks like administration is going to have to move this one to the debate forum........ Personally, I like the black panels. ;D

Troublemaker............

;D

 

[SpeedStar]

Oh no he didn't!!!

 

[fredz43]

I'm just wonderin' how much less would I get for my blue bike with black panels than his blue bike with silver panels if I traded next year. I'll need to go re-negotiate my price with my dealer. ;D

 

[toompine]

so, Bill...it looks like to me you took advantage of this dealership and it's sales force.
You realize you cut the guys commission by several dollars taking advantage of him for your $300.00 savings.
Interesting parallel to your comments about having some vendors possibly taking some money off their products to stoke the fires of us waiting months extra for our new sled.

Am I missin' something here..? Seems to the same to me...jus sayin
[/quote.

Well I have to side up with Bill310 here. In the word of commerce the salesman was doing his best to make a deal, probably for more than he might normally get...that is sort of his job and the way of "business". Afterall there are no set costs in most things, only asking costs with the market deciding "value". So while this saleman was doing his best "closing" pitch, he was not aware that he was being set up by a craftier negotiator. Game set match. Alls fair in a game where the rules are set by a salesman.

Now the way I got a great deal on my Tenere was efficient and fair but less fun than Bill310's . I asked a series of dealers what their best price was that they were comfortable with based on their business model, business needs, profit margins. Never negotiated, never asked them to lower it, just said thanks I will get back to you. When I found a dealer that had a price we both liked I took it. It was way lower than some dealers but we both got the deal we wanted.

 

[HoebSTer]

heck, i wonder what the silver panels would look like on the black bike.

 

[Bill310]

You know I feel honored, it appears that I might have my own stalkers on the Tenere Forum. ) I must have really got under some skin and we got that new forum rolling.

BTW missed the key point in my post. I bought the silver side panels and fasteners from Europe, so I will have black side panels that come with the bike and I will have the silver panels that I bought and imported, so I paid more and I will lose that on resale - these side panels have no added value, they are just an unnecessary cost. A cost I willingly paid because I wanted them. I didn't try to pay less for my motorcycle with the black side panels when I bought it from my dealership nor did I try to take advantage of a human tragedy and force a small manufacturer to suffer financially.

You are trying to compare the negotiation of a lower price from a dealership on an in stock motorcycle, when color meant nothing to me; with my dismay at forum members trying to use a natural disaster and human tragedy to mobilize an internet posting gang and force small specialty suppliers to give them a deal.

I have always negotiated to get the best deal when I buy a motorcycle, car, or house; that is the free market. I expect all of you do that as well. What I took umbrage with was the band wagon of "bargain hunters" who were trying to use Yamaha's production difficulties and the human tragedy to screw over some unique American specialty manufacturers. These suppliers need our help and cash now at the retail price. Doing the right thing, sometimes costs more, and good negotiating does not mean using an unfair advantage. That is called bullying.

Remember the dealership didn't have to sell the red motorcycle to me, but 20 of you can force ( but say negotiate - to make yourselves feel better ) a small manufacture to sell at a loss in order to get some cash flow (albeit negative cash flow) they will just as likely stop making that item and close up.

 

[Bill310]

Sexy, very Sexy >

heck, i wonder what the silver panels would look like on the black bike.

 

[Waspworks]

heck, i wonder what the silver panels would look like on the black bike.

Agreed Bill. Actually I would like to see the silver/black seat + rear handles and rack + panel work in silver on the black bike.

Greg.

 

[colorider]

So many color combinations - so little time!!!!

 

[motocephalic]

heck, i wonder what the silver panels would look like on the black bike.

I was thinking and hoping for the same thing.

 

[2XADV]

Black = Silver. (With a rattle can of quality Silver paint.) There are great flexible silver paints in rattle cans that are for painting plastic bumpers and stuff like that.

One of my motos: If you don't like the way it looks, PAINT IT".

 

[ptfjjj]

One of my motos: If you don't like the way it looks, PAINT IT".

+1

 

[Kidder]

Here's a crappy Photoshop I did to put the silver panel on the Raven.

 

[Bill310]

Not crappy photoshop at all, looks very nice. Yamaha USA missed the boat on this simple upgrade.

If someone want to organize a group buy of silver side panels and fasteners from the UK send me a PM and I will give you the contact information of the shop I deal with to avoid the VAT

Here's a crappy Photoshop I did to put the silver panel on the Raven.

 

[motocephalic]

nice job Kidder, I think that looks great, compliments the black nicely

 

[Kidder]

Not crappy photoshop at all, looks very nice. Yamaha USA missed the boat on this simple upgrade.

If someone want to organize a group buy of silver side panels and fasteners from the UK send me a PM and I will give you the contact information of the shop I deal with to avoid the VAT

Hmmm, an interesting idea. The more I look at it, the more I like it. It breaks up the black quite nicely. I may consider buying the panels/hardware.