an Akrapovic muffler to a bike featuring both
the lowered seat ($349.95) and lowering kit
($151.30).
Also on show was Rodney Faggoters WR450
Dakar Rally bike, which also drew a decent
crowd at the Auckland event, but the Tenere
700s remained the main stars of the evening.
The bikes on show were pre-production but,
as we’ve come to expect from Yamaha, the
build quality was top notch, indicating the full
production bikes to arrive in December should
be of high quality.
There are, of course, areas where Yamaha
hasn’t gone all out on the Tenere 700 in order
to maintain its attainable price point, with the
switchgear and LCD rally-style dashboards clear
indicators that Yamaha has kept price-conscious
buyers in mind when designing the new bike.
“I’d say this is the most important model
release we’ve probably had in the last decade
and that’s on top of things like the WR450,
which for us in Australia is probably our most
important model. Tenere 700 I reckon is going
to overtake that and we’re expecting it will be,
in Australia at least, the number one selling
motorcycle next year.”
If the Australian reaction is anything to go by,
Yamaha Motor NZ will have a very good end
to 2019 when the NZ allotment arrives in the
country. While NZ pre-sale numbers weren’t
available at the time of writing, Ferry told
Kiwi Rider that the Australian pre-sales were
incredibly strong.
“We’re hoping to receive our first shipment over
December and that is about 150 to 200 bikes.
Okay. In Australia, basically, we have about 150
of those spoken for retail. And then the dealer
demand on top of that has risen now that
they’ve seen the customer demand after doing
this roadshow.”
Yamaha Motor New Zealand’s General
Manager, Alan Petrie, noted that while the
Tenere 700 has not yet sold out its first
shipment in New Zealand, riders interested
in the latest member of the middleweight
adventure category to speak with their local
Yamaha dealer to secure their own Tenere 700.
Priced from $16,999 plus on roads, the new
Tenere 700 is due to arrive in New Zealand
dealerships in December.
NEW TFC TRIUMPH
ON THE WAY?
T
riumph Motorcycles and the Distinguished
Gentleman’s Ride have long had a special
relationship, with the iconic British brand’s
modern classic lineup the perfect ride for the
modern gentlemanly rider.
In previous years, Triumph has offered fully
customised bikes up as prizes for the rider who
raises the most money globally towards the
Men’s health focussed charity, and now for the
2019 edition of the DGR Charity ride Triumph has
reportedly upped the game.
With the recently launched Triumph Factory
Custom (TFC) line, Triumph now has an exclusive
line of bikes on top of the company’s already
lustful range of machines and, for the 2019
Distinguished Gentlemans’s ride, the DGR’s
founder has announced that, together with
Triumph, the DGR will be giving away a special TFC
model to the rider who raises the most money for
the charity this year.
“How’s this?!”, exclaimed a rather excited
Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride founder, Mark
Hawwa. “The highest global fundraiser wins
TFC 001/750. Which model? No idea, it gets
announced to the world when it gets handed over
to him or her at a special presentation!”
While Triumph could be giving away Thruxton
TFC 001, the smart money is that Triumph will
be giving away a yet to be announced TFC model
which will join the sold-out Rocket III TFC and
Thruxton TFC models, with the bike limited to 750
units worldwide.
When asked how the Distinguished Gentleman’s
Ride managed to secure such a lucrative
prize, Hawwa put it simply: “This is all Triumph
Motorcycles baby! We have an amazing
relationship with them.”
Triumph motorcycles has sponsored the annual
event since 2014 and given bikes away globally to
dapper gentlefolk for their fundraising efforts as
part of the company’s sponsorship deal.
KIWI RIDER 17