USA Bids Farewell to the Super Tenere - We Hardly Knew Ya'...

[EricV]

Lots of interesting observations and opinions.

I kept the last bike 9 years and only replaced it with the Super Tenere because the S10 was better at what I was doing with the previous bike. That was mostly because I changed what I was doing and was seeking more off pavement potential. I don't see myself replacing the S10 anytime soon.

Whatever Yamaha does, believe it or not, they will eventually make it public. Then we'll know what is available, or not.

Oh, and while I realize it is a real factor for some, I fully intend to use the S10 up. Resale? I hope the bike is just another cheap CL bike for someone that can't afford to spend much, but wants a reliable bike. I got about 30% of the purchase price for the last one after 9 years and 160k of riding it. (Yeah, I know, not counting the farkles that went with it!)

 

[joneil]

I'm not a motorcycle industry insider by any stretch of the imagination, but, I can tell you this. In the automotive world, to discontinue a model just two model years in, (even for a single, yet large market) they would have needed to introduce and discontinue the vehicle on the same day. They have to give strong commitments to suppliers to get competitive prices on the components. You can't just call up and say thanks but no thanks...... Not without writing a big check or offering some other form of compensation.

My guess is, we are going to see some changes to the line up, thus the delay in releasing the 2014 stuff. Again, I'm no expert. I defer to all those with inside info, but for now, I think i stick with the "I'll wait and see camp." My fingers are crossed.

 

[snakebitten]

Whatever Yamaha does, believe it or not, they will eventually make it public. Then we'll know what is available, or not.

Waiting is no fun though. Besides, there's not much else going on.
(Other than 1 unfortunate "clunk" after a valve clearance job)

 

[Doug44]

I think it is a matter of excess inventory of 2013's right now. I know that my Honda/Yamaha dealer, who primarily sells lots of Gold Wings and cruisers, sold 15 2012 Teneres, which was his second best selling single model, after the Wings. He has had 2 each of the white and grey 2013's in stock since they came out, with limited interest in them. If they were to bring a 2014 model here, I don't think he would be ordering any.

I am just up the road from Fred in Decatur, IL and the Decatur dealer has at least 2 new unsold 13's ------ 1 white & 1 Mattie Grey plus a used 12 (blue) with around 5k on it. Also unless it has sold recently the Urbana IL dealer has a brand new 12 (blue) plus 13's in stock so they are not jumpin off the shelfs in Central IL.

 

[Salmon Sam]

You guys are too funny.

Actually, you could make a strong case that Yamaha will bring out an updated version, based on early positive sales. I know Yamaha was very happy with the sales in the first year in NA. It has been essentially 3 years as they really should have had a 2011, as the 2012 was REALLY advanced. It is possible that dealer feedback is causing them to incorporate suggested updates to get back ahead of KTM and BMW, which of course takes considerable time. I still think that the adventure market is a growth area - maybe not that of cruisers, but worthy of attention. Of course, I worry too that these updates may be to make it less dirt worthy and more of an adventurer poser (to make it more marketable to the masses), but we will see.

 

[OldRider]

I'm not a motorcycle industry insider by any stretch of the imagination, but, I can tell you this. In the automotive world, to discontinue a model just two model years in, (even for a single, yet large market) they would have needed to introduce and discontinue the vehicle on the same day. They have to give strong commitments to suppliers to get competitive prices on the components. You can't just call up and say thanks but no thanks...... Not without writing a big check or offering some other form of compensation.

My guess is, we are going to see some changes to the line up, thus the delay in releasing the 2014 stuff. Again, I'm no expert. I defer to all those with inside info, but for now, I think i stick with the "I'll wait and see camp." My fingers are crossed.

In the motorcycle world there have been a lot of two years models.

 

[John D]

Since were giving our 2 cents worth, heres mine. . . Yamaha has spent a truckload on R&D for this bike and factory accessories and is not going to kill it. I think they are going to improve it, and have a late release for the 14 year model. It would make more sense to just cut back on production, and continue making them, rather than kill the entire line. Case in point, they're cruiser touring bike still has a cassette player and carburetors. I bet they don't sell many of those, but they just keep making them without upgrades.
I don't remember who told me this, but it was with someone with Yamaha ties. . . He said that the fuel injection system used on this bike will not work well with a cruise control system, and would need to be changed up if they wanted to put in a factory cruise control in. Maybe he knows something or maybe not. Time will tell. Until then, ::021::

 

[Dallara]

In the motorcycle world there have been a lot of two years models.

Ain't it the truth!!! I've owned a number of them!!!

And something Joneil, John D, and some others are perhaps overlooking... The Super Tenere is not a "two year model". It only is in the United States. It was available for two model year runs in other parts of the world before it ever got here to the United States.

Further, just because Yamaha USA drops it from it's line-up here in the United States doesn't mean they will not continue to offer it lots of other places in the world.

Look at Yamaha's own TDM-850, for instance... It was introduced to the world in 1991, but it only sold in the USA for two model years (1992 and 1993), but it went on being sold in Europe right through 2000. Then it became the TDM-900 and is still being sold today throughout Europe and the UK...

http://www.yamaha-motor.eu/eu/products/motorcycles/street/tdm900a.aspx and http://www.yamaha-motor.eu/uk/products/motorcycles/street/tdm900a.aspx

That's a full 20 years after Yamaha USA dropped it from their line-up and stopped selling it in the United States! ???

Dallara



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[bikepharmer]

The ADV bikes are the fastest growing market segment. Just take a look at the magazine articles, gear sold, long way round viewership, and new entries (Tiger XC 800 and 1200, BMW adding 650,700,800 GS and 800 GS Adv, KLR updated after 20 yrs!)

KTM is bringing the 1190 to the US, New vstrom 1000 should be here in 2014. Maybe Yamaha is going to update it to be more competitive (beak, anyone?) >

The economy in the USA has been a bit slow, and my dealer says new and used bike sales are slow. Disposable income favors the 50 and over age group, who see 3 yr/36K warranty vs 1 yr/unlimited and they bite.

The ST needs to boost the power (the new bar will be 150 bhp, like Duc and KTM), make abs switchable, and shed some weight (it is the fat girl at the dance for big bore adv bikes). Yeah, I know it "doesn't ride heavy", but it is still there.

It is a great bike, just needs a few changes to appeal to the US market.

 

[Bigbore4]

my brain hurts

 

[Dirt_Dad]

I blame myself. I bought one in 2011, and another one in 2012. I take one year off from buying Teneres and they shut down production? Same thing happened when I stopped buying Twinkies. Sorry guys.

A few thoughts. I did not read all 10 pages here, so I may be operating without all the facts, but I'm not going to let that stop me.

This does remind me of being a V-Strom owner. Year after year after year, Suzuki would fail to make any announcement on the DL1000. They would make no update on the web site for the DL1000 until weeks after all the other bikes. The message boards would light up every year with predictions of doom based on rumors and "insider information." The entire exercise was pretty amusing.

I"m not saying it's impossible that Yamaha is killing the bike. But unless I missed something on page 7 of this thread, I am not yet convinced it's done.

I do know for a fact there are leftover 2012s still on the floor. So it stands to reason there are 2013s still on the floor. Putting the bike on hiatus for 2014 while existing inventory is brought down seems like a reasonable business decision. This has been an extremely bad sales year for many bikes, the slump is not at all limited to the Tenere. Permanently walking away from the investment Yamaha made in developing this bike due to poor sales this year sounds premature to me.

Someone mentioned a smaller Tenere in the future. I think it's likely at some point in the future. My high volume dealer I talk to tells me the strongest seller this year is the V-Strom DL650. The Wee have been a standout in a slow year. Yamaha has nothing to compete in that market space. A Tenere 800 could be a welcomed addition in that market.

On a personal note, I'm extremely grateful that Yamaha brought the bike here to the US. It has been everything I wanted it to be, and so much more. All bikes have strong and weak points and there is no such thing as a perfect motorcycle. That said, this has been a perfect fit for me. It matches my attitude, and my desires for riding. If it is truly discontinued, I'll be happy I own one (two), and it will stay with me until there is something obviously better on the market. That could take a very long time.

 

[motostevie]

I hope the S10 sticks around a while, or gets upgraded. You would think so, just considering the adventure segment's popularity right now.

I have already owned a two year only model.... my 1983 Honda VT500FT Ascot. Was my first bike, bought it brand new back in 1983. Honda was done with it in 1984. Not a typical bike for the "US" market. The cruiser version sold much better of course, and for more years.
The Harley I currently own is similar, it didn't last that long either, for a Harley anyway. Again, not for your typical US Hog rider. I guess I like odd balls, (but I don't consider the Tenere to be one).

 

[Ramseybella]

I would say the Tenere is a pretty tall bike for most folks not as tall as the Triumph 1050 Tiger I owned, so far a few friends I work with sat on my Yam and stated Man this bike is huge; To some it can be intimidating and turn them off but yes I have big Woody's wheels so mine is freakishly tall.
The Tenere is an eccentric bike for the few eccentric folks loving to be eccentric AVD riders.
We are a small crowd and as I see some of us are selling off there S10's we are getting smaller, some for financial reasons others due to is a bit of a beastly bike off road.
I hope Yamaha does not cut this bike and also provides a smaller lighter alternative for the intimidated and or younger folks.
But without reason or understanding what makes AVD riders do what they do and why they do it, I feel we are a dieing breed with time.
Us older Cat's had Wide World of Sports to influence us as kids, six day Enduro trial racing, dirt bike and open air MX ruled I loved the Desert races and also Formula 1 car races cant wait for the movie Rush to come out.
What do the young have now I Pod, Video and Texting Nirvana and spending time and money at the tattoo parlor. I know I am a bit off not all young folks are in a mental Box isolated and void of verbal communication. Some do Mountain and road biking and thats a good thing.

You will always have the wild Hog weekend warriors, Harley Davidson religiously pipes the commercials across the channels ride a legend, ride a Harley!! In short ride something that scientifically shouldn't run at all WTF?
Ever see a Yamaha commercial? Ride a Tenere, Ride the World!! ::024::
Sorry guys I am bored its late, have a good night and>>
::021::

 

[20valves]

Hoebster had the right idea, he painted his LEMON yellow the day he got it. Did he know something we didn't. ::013:: I for one will never buy a new release model.

WTF kind of incoherent nonsense is this? :

 

[bloodline]

I think we should ban dallara or something.

Straight from mother Yamaha:

"Orders for the Super Tenere will be placed in March of 2014."

AND, an official email about this subject is expected momentarily from Yamaha.

Now, what does this mean?

It means the bike WILL return to the USA in 2014.

Will it be the same? Don't know.

Why the hold up? Don't know.

Officially, there are a few models with hold ups in production and that's why they have not been released.

Word on the street- Yamaha is coming out with a 100hp side by side (razor) and guess what motor is in it...

 

[wfopete]

Just for the record & I want to be clear; I had nothing to do with any of this!

 

[avc8130]

So what do you guys think? Tar and feathers? Burning at the stake? A good, old-fashioned stoning?

Where's that "angry mob" smiley thing.

ac

 

[bloodline]

A stoning. I like that.

 

[Dallara]

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Damn, Bloodline!

I just got back and was going to report the same thing. Got the info from the Yamaha District Manager. Said the same thing about certain bikes being delayed, etc., etc. Only thing he didn't mention was whether it would be a 2014 or 2015 model, though my dealer said that logic with Yamaha says that if they won't be taking orders until Spring 2014 then it will most likely be labeled a 2015 model.

Looks like I may owe Big Blu a beer!!! ::003::

OK, of to put on my "getting stoned" gear... ::025::

Dallara




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[Salmon Sam]

I vote worse: Dallara has to sell his ST and buy a ...
Discuss.