You're selling your bike, you're moving on, what NEXT ?

[Jlq1969]

Anyhow, it just looks from the outside that Yamaha is doing the opposite of every other manufacture in the world.

I don't know what will be the “best” business model for motorcycle manufacturers…..maybe Yamaha wants you to sit on the same motorcycle for 15 years….and the other manufacturers want you to change motorcycles every 2 or 3 years…. I don't know which of these business models has the best results…..but over the years, at least Yamaha continues to be its own owner….while the other manufacturers (more aggressive in their market position), no longer they also own themselves…..50% of KTM belongs to BAJAJ……and I don't know in what percentage, but that BLACK ROCK owns a part of BMW motorcycles, I don't think it is the “best partner”…. .Perhaps that Yamaha is dedicated to "buying" other companies, or that a very small percentage of capital is exchanged with another Japanese company (Toyota)...
It does not mean anything to the consumer who "needs" a new model of motorcycle every 2 or 3 years…..but as a business model, perhaps it is better, better than associating with capital that sooner or later will end up “eating” you……

 

[Bmwdumptruck]

Honda seem to be following a very similar business model. Neither has any interest in whats become niche models. Hondas biggest interest is there 125 models, sold in millions around the world. Yamahas 700 and 900 models are doing well enough to keep the factories busy, so they‘re not intersted in developing new niche models esp with EV on the horizon. Annoys me, when they ditch well designed product that just needed updates and tweeks to keep the up to date though.

 

[Strummer]

When Yamaha back in 2010 introduced what was " maybe" the best adv bike back then probably they were expecting other results...
Maybe they have learnt the lesson... IF even with the " maybe" best bike they didn't manage to break through probably now they don't care as much as they did..
Truth to be told the new Tracer 9 gt seems to have all the new technology at still a reasonable price.
Not a bike for everyone but which one is it?
I am not a fan of Yamaha I just happen to like their bike over others.
In few years time I will be looking for another new bike, if it will be Yamaha good , otherwise I will be happy with something else.
Maybe an Italian one lol
Just my two cents

 

[jeepinoutwest]

Basically the same bike so why trade it?

Down 65,000 miles, 4 years newer, full warranty, she needed a few things, and probably now have the last production year model. Was able to transfer every single accessory. To me its a very worthy upgrade. I tend to buy the same truck over and over too.

 

[audiowize]

What competes with the FJR? There really isn't a lot on the market, so why update a model with so little competition?

I suspect there is a lot of uncertainty about the regulator climate in the larger markets right now, and letting some dust settle could very well be a smart play on Yamaha's part. If they want to be able to do a model run for 10-15 years but suspect that regulations should shorten that to 5 years, that throws a wrench into what they are accustomed to dealing with.

 

[Eville Rich]

What competes with the FJR? There really isn't a lot on the market, so why update a model with so little competition?

I suspect there is a lot of uncertainty about the regulator climate in the larger markets right now, and letting some dust settle could very well be a smart play on Yamaha's part. If they want to be able to do a model run for 10-15 years but suspect that regulations should shorten that to 5 years, that throws a wrench into what they are accustomed to dealing with.

I think this is likely. Also that they are such a huge company, competing on a narrow market (large ADV bikes) may not fit their corporate style. Yamaha builds good quality stuff for all sorts of products, but it tends to not be cutting edge. Their music instruments, motorcycles, and whatever else seems to be about solid builds for which they want to amortize development costs over many years of production runs. That keeps costs down and allows for kaizen manufacturing which requires minimal changes to a good system. Changes create variance. Yamaha does not like variance. Regulatory changes create variance and require product changes. I believe both work against small updates or product innovation.

Plus, selling 1 million (or whatever) small motorbikes that have minimal tweaks is likely more profitable than selling 100k big bikes that put them in competition to innovate.

This all OK, in my opinion. It's sort of like Toyota. Honda is similar. Nothing wrong with it, but you can't expect that philosophy to support keeping up with companies that compete based on incremental innovation or a quicker product life cycle. There's both upsides and downsides to whatever philosophy you take.

My expectation is that the ADV market may not be one that fits well for Yamaha, so they may end up pulling away. Or come out with a new bike that catches them up, but ride that product for 12+ years. Sort of like Toyota and the 4Runner or other models.

Eville Rich
2016 S10

 

[Bmwdumptruck]

The trouble these days is, certainly in europe, the adventure market is just about the only market…..

 

[sheikyerbooty]

12 years on the Yamaha is still state of the art. IMHO

 

[lund]

Agree 100% ^^^^^
The Tenere was at least 10yrs ahead of its self, now the rest are finally catching up, well it appears like they are catching up with their gadgets and bells and whistles, now if they could truly figure out how to make their shit durable they could claim #1 in motorcycle tech reliability held by Yamaha.
Some say the Tenere is Yamaha's a copy of an already existing motorcycle the GS, Could be but it certainly put it in the German builders face in saying we can doit better.
It appears to be an on going thing with Yamaha. They build for you to enjoy for years to come and if you like dishing out your coin every time something makes mototrend and youtube popularity dish, Yamaha isn't for you.
Though getting into a new ride after years of smiling trouble free milage is cool.
Mine is a 19, so got a few years to go and enjoy.

 

[14kmtnman]

A delivery update concerning my new Norden 901 Expedition, it came in this past Thursday, and was unboxed on Friday. It has the missing windshield issue as well a scuff on the skid plate (no dents), both of which are now ordered from the factory. Bummer. The dealer was telling me that their KTM 's missing windshields came in fairly quickly, once the issue was discovered upon unboxing. They are not sure about the skid plate delivery yet. So I'm still anxiously waiting...... I'm going to the dealer today to finally see it person.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

I guess 'fairly quickly' is in the eye of the beholder. The KTM that arrived at the dealership for me in late January finally had a windscreen and skid plate by late March. That didn't seem all that quick to me.

 

[14kmtnman]

I just got back from the dealer. They said projected windshield delivery time was May. That could be the 1st or the 31st. A long time to wait. Same time frame for the skid plate. The skid plate scuff was on the bottom of it, towards the front. I said there were going to be more to come, but they said it was a new bike, so it should be perfect when delivered. I want them to make an offer on the factory mounts and saddle bags, since I will not be using them. The biggest surprise was that my feet did not fully touch the ground, maybe missing by 1/2 to 3/4 inch at the heal. I was solid on the balls of my feet, but could not flatfoot it. It seems higher than the 2023 1290s and 1290r, both of which I could flatfoot. I sat on a new 890 adventure R and I had the same issue. The new 2023 890 adventure was able to let me flatfoot.

 

[TenereGUY]

I just got back from the dealer. They said projected windshield delivery time was May. That could be the 1st or the 31st. A long time to wait. Same time frame for the skid plate. The skid plate scuff was on the bottom of it, towards the front. I said there were going to be more to come, but they said it was a new bike, so it should be perfect when delivered. I want them to make an offer on the factory mounts and saddle bags, since I will not be using them. The biggest surprise was that my feet did not fully touch the ground, maybe missing by 1/2 to 3/4 inch at the heal. I was solid on the balls of my feet, but could not flatfoot it. It seems higher than the 2023 1290s and 1290r, both of which I could flatfoot. I sat on a new 890 adventure R and I had the same issue. The new 2023 890 adventure was able to let me flatfoot.

View attachment 100551

My friend who sold me the S10 is going to buy a Husqvarna. What's the weight of that and HP/torque specs?

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[Sierra1]

I still prefer my motorcycle engines made in Japan v. China.

 

[TenereGUY]

I still prefer my motorcycle engines made in Japan v. China.

So do I and Someday they will catch up but even when that happens due to how they conduct business and trade I prefer to buy elsewhere when I can.

 

[lund]

I still prefer my motorcycle engines made in Japan v. China.

Proof is in the pudding and in this case years of puddings LOL.
Japanese motors in anything in general is better, in virtually every category including USA motors.
Thats my opinion.
I try very hard not to buy anything made in China, that is a challenge on its own and will never buy anything with a Chinese engine in it.
Some of my buddies laugh at me all the time because I will not shop in certain retailors like Walmart(AKA wallieworld) and Canadian Tire(AKA China tire).
F@k them for their low values hahaha, "low values"

 

[audiowize]

Here's a data point on Japanese vs. Chinese engines (the "same" engines).

 

[lund]

Here's a data point on Japanese vs. Chinese engines (the "same" engines).

Hahaha, the part they don't tell you is that the Chinese Honda motor is old obsolete and no longer made by Honda. Honda may still have old stock in warehouses but they sold the old tech and rights to manufactures in China. This has been a common practice with many other manufactures and one that I can think of related to bikes is BMW with their 650/700/800 GS line. Old tech from the past sold to Chinese manufactures and people thinking they are the same, well they are in a way but no longer in the originated country as they have moved on.

 

[TenereGUY]

Hahaha, the part they don't tell you is that the Chinese Honda motor is old obsolete and no longer made by Honda. Honda may still have old stock in warehouses but they sold the old tech and rights to manufactures in China. This has been a common practice with many other manufactures and one that I can think of related to bikes is BMW. Old tech from the past sold to Chinese manufactures and people thinking they are the same, well they are in a way but no longer in Japan as they have moved on.

That business model is older than BMW as Harley did it when they sold their old tech to Japan I believe prior to WW2.

 

[audiowize]

Honda still makes the GX200 engine in multiple countries (some are even made in China).

Here's a video of small engines being assembled in North Carolina. I would imagine the GX200 tested by Project Farm came from there or Thailand.