At the end of the 250 km comparo day, Speedy, Jérôme and I were in complete agreement on the benefits of riding test bikes. Indeed, at each stop, opinions evolve and change. Judge for yourself:
By Oli the Belgian
With the collaboration of Speedy and Jérôme
Presentation:
Let's start with the doyenne. Released a few years ago, the XTR/X line has delighted enduro and SM enthusiasts at tight prices.
Introduced a year later, the MT03 took advantage of the MT01's popularity (aesthetic, but surprisingly unsuccessful in terms of sales).
The Ténéré, on the other hand, took everyone by surprise when it came out. A daring gamble on Yamaha's part (as is their wont). The big twin-cylinder trail bikes have in fact been increasingly transformed into road bikes, and the single-cylinder trail bikes have returned to the original look, total stripping down.
Aesthetics:
In terms of family, the parents could be represented by the XTR/X, with the R being the mother with some fine remains, hard-working, multi-purpose but still suffering the ravages of time. The father, the X, with its updated look, even sporting KTM orange (thanks to Fabrice for the loan, at short notice, of his orange XTX), muscular and arrogant
The Ténéré, the big sister, sleek, sporty, adventurous, but with a face (the headlight) reminiscent of a "Transformers".
Then there's the enfant terrible, the MT03, stocky, virile (even violent) and impossible to calm. It can go from an angel's face at a standstill to an unruly temperament on the move.
Motorization:
Starting from the same 660 single, the differences are felt in the balance between weight (172kg for the R, 175kg for the MT and 183kg for the Ténéré), transmission ratios (minus 2 teeth on the MT03) and a little power (-3hp for the MT03).
On repeat tests, in 3rd or 4th gear, the XTR came out on top every time, the rear tire sucked by the MT03. With its pebble-like aerodynamics and longer transmission, the Ténéré, meanwhile, marked time.
Handling:
Here's another moment when a test ride doesn't always reflect the raw numbers on the spec sheets. Seat heights are 805mm for the MT03, 875mm for the XTR and 895mm for the Ténéré. According to Jérôme, the smallest and lightest of us, he had just as much trouble stopping with the XTR as with the Ténéré. The shape of the tank plus that of the saddle mean you have to spread your legs on the XTR. Speaking of the saddle, we come to the chapter of ...
Comfort:
Whether rider or passenger, the Ténéré spoils everyone. The straight fork head requires an enduro helmet (big turbulence with a full-face), but provides excellent protection up to 150km/h. The deep seat and straight legs make for a very comfortable riding position. Long stages are quite possible, and the passenger can take advantage of the higher seat height to see over the rider, who is firmly clinging to the large passenger grips.
At the opposite end of the comfort spectrum is the MT03. Chest forward, clinging to the handlebars with open handlebars and a vibrating tank between the legs, two desires are opposed: either to attack and concentrate on riding, or to stop at a terrace and enjoy the beast's perfect plasticity. The black double saddle, stitched with red thread, is beautiful, but quite hard.
And despite the fact that all three machines are equipped with under-seat pots, my trio of testers in the duo seats (my children) unanimously told me that it was the MT03 seat that "heated up" the most.
And what about the XTR? The little windscreen above the headlight protects the rider up to 100km/h, the riding position is natural and restful (despite a handlebar that vibrated a lot), and the long, soft saddle invites you to take a leisurely ride as a duo.
Autonomy:
This chapter is also open to numbers: 15l fuel tank for the XTR and MT03, and 22l for the Ténéré.
The MT03's engine and chassis character encourage you to adopt a more energetic riding style. Bottom line: don't expect to exceed 150 km before the reserve indicator lights up.
The XTR easily exceeds 170km before the warning light.
As for the Ténéré, during the 900 km test, I managed 280km on a full tank. And each time, I still had a brick left before the reserve, so 300-320km per fill-up should be achievable.
In terms of average consumption, the Ténéré got 5.8l, as did the XTR, and count on a good 6l for the MT03.
Riding :
Here, we touch on a more personal notion, just listen to the opinions at each stop. At the start of the day, everyone agrees that the MT03 is the most fun, but after 150km, the majority of the riders agree.
Speedy keeps pace with the XTR, despite the tire's very hard compound and enduro profile. He's sure things would have been different on his personal XTX, but he appreciates the R's playful, stable character.
As for Jérôme, his heart sways between the 3. Having been riding the XTR for 2 days, he grabbed the MT03 as soon as the opportunity arose! The Ténéré intrigued him, but the height of the saddle scared him. This fear was dispelled as soon as he set off, as the XTZ's natural balance did the trick.
And what about me? I finally got to grips with the Ténéré, a bike I'd already had for a week and with which I'd covered 450 km. I was looking forward to my reunion with the MT03, which I'd been lucky enough to receive over the course of a week a month earlier. I admit to having a soft spot for it, certainly in memory of the MT01, which remains my favorite bike: the short transmission, firm suspension and "attack" position make for a lively ride. The bike likes to be taken to the corners, with a position akin to that of a Supermotard. When I take over the Ténéré's handlebars, the forks are more inclined, giving a smoother front end, and the rhythm becomes smoother, which doesn't prevent me (according to those following me) from taking it to the corners.
Surprisingly, the Ténéré breaks off before the red zone, while the MT03 blithely passes it (the red zone!)
For the XTR, there's no red zone to worry about, as there's no lap counter!
I admit to having taken the XTR at the end of the day, after having let off steam on the other two. Speedy had warned me that the tire climb was quite slippery and, of course, the first time I turned the corner, I lost the rear end... Not good for confidence, that! Despite this, the XTR remains the smoothest in terms of controls (gearbox, clutch, etc...)
Conclusion:
As I come to the end of this test, I understand better why my two passions are motorcycling and wine. Starting with the same grape variety or the same engine, you can achieve such different results, it's magical!
The Ténéré really won me over. Multi-purpose (for the big boys, anyway!), it will delight enthusiasts of leisurely rides who might like to do a bit of off-roading.
As for the XTR, it's really the queen of the city: high, supple suspension, comfortable, it's aimed at city dwellers who'd like to do a little enduro riding at the weekend.
And the MT03? It's still a special case: fast, lively, hard to keep a straight face on it.
Dare I draw a parallel with the behavior of a KTM Superduke? Only half as powerful, of course!
In any case, this is a family of monos to discover or rediscover. Especially at a time of great repression on the roads.
A +
Oli the Belgian
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| Yamaha MT-03 2009 | Yamaha XT 660 R 2009 | Yamaha XT 660 Z Ténéré 2009 | ||||||||||||
Chassis |
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| Nombre de places | ||||||||||||||
| Frame | ||||||||||||||
| tubulaire type Diamond | Tubulaire en acier, type diamant | Tubulaire en acier du type Diamond | ||||||||||||
| Fuel capacity | ||||||||||||||
| 15 liters (3.96 US gallons) | 15 liters (3.96 US gallons) | 22 liters (5.81 US gallons) | ||||||||||||
| Oil capacity | ||||||||||||||
| Seat height | ||||||||||||||
| Seat height : 805 mm (31.69 in) | Seat height : 865 mm (34.06 in) | Seat height : 895 mm (35.24 in) | ||||||||||||
| Length | ||||||||||||||
| Length : 2,070 mm (81.50 in) | Length : 2,240 mm (88.19 in) | Length : 2,260 mm (88.98 in) | ||||||||||||
| Width | ||||||||||||||
| 860 mm (33.86 in) | 845 mm (33.27 in) | 895 mm (35.24 in) | ||||||||||||
| Height | ||||||||||||||
| Min height : 1,115 mm (43.90 in) | Min height : 1,230 mm (48.43 in) | Min height : 1,500 mm (59.06 in) | ||||||||||||
| Ground clearance | ||||||||||||||
| Wheelbase | ||||||||||||||
| 1,420 mm (55.91 in) | 1,505 mm (59.25 in) | 1,500 mm (59.06 in) | ||||||||||||
| Dry weight | ||||||||||||||
| 175 kg | 169 kg | 183 kg | ||||||||||||
| Curb mass | ||||||||||||||
| Weight when fully loaded | ||||||||||||||
| 192 kg | 185 kg | 206 kg | ||||||||||||
| Brake assist | ||||||||||||||
Front axle |
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| Suspension | ||||||||||||||
| Telehydraulic fork Ø 41 mm | Telescopic fork Ø 43 mm | Telehydraulic fork Ø nc | ||||||||||||
| Wheel travel | ||||||||||||||
| 130 mm (5.12 in) | 225 mm (8.86 in) | 210 mm (8.27 in) | ||||||||||||
| Angle de chasse | ||||||||||||||
| Setting | ||||||||||||||
| Brake | ||||||||||||||
| Braking 2 discs Ø 298 mm (11.73 in), 2-piston caliper | Braking 1 disc Ø 298 mm (11.73 in), 2-piston caliper | Braking 2 discs Ø 298 mm (11.73 in), 2-piston caliper | ||||||||||||
| Wheel | ||||||||||||||
| Front tire : 120 / 70 - 17 | Front tire : 90 / 90 - 21 | Front tire : 90 / 90 - 21 | ||||||||||||
| Pressure | ||||||||||||||
| 2.1 bar | ||||||||||||||
| Handlebars | ||||||||||||||
Transmission |
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| Gearbox | ||||||||||||||
| 5 stage gearbox | 5 stage gearbox | 5 stage gearbox | ||||||||||||
| Transmission | ||||||||||||||
| Secondary by chain | Secondary by chain | Secondary by chain | ||||||||||||
Rear axle |
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| Suspension | ||||||||||||||
| Mono-damper | Bras oscillant (Monocross) | Bras oscillant (Monocross) | ||||||||||||
| Wheel travel | ||||||||||||||
| 120 mm (4.72 in) | 200 mm (7.87 in) | 200 mm (7.87 in) | ||||||||||||
| Setting | ||||||||||||||
| Brake | ||||||||||||||
| Braking 1 disc Ø 245 mm (9.65 in), single-piston caliper | Braking 1 disc Ø 245 mm (9.65 in), single-piston caliper | Braking 1 disc Ø 245 mm (9.65 in), 2-piston caliper | ||||||||||||
| Wheel | ||||||||||||||
| Rear tire : 160 / 60 - 17 | Rear tire : 130 / 80 - 17 | Rear tire : 130 / 80 - 17 | ||||||||||||
| Pressure | ||||||||||||||
| 2.3 bar | ||||||||||||||
Motor |
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| Motor type | ||||||||||||||
| single-cylinder , 4 strokes | single-cylinder , 4 strokes | single-cylinder Vertical , 4 strokes | ||||||||||||
| Cooling system | ||||||||||||||
| liquid | liquid | liquid | ||||||||||||
| Fuel system | ||||||||||||||
| Injection | injection | Injection | ||||||||||||
| Fuel | ||||||||||||||
| Starting system | ||||||||||||||
| Timing | ||||||||||||||
| 1 ACT | 1 ACT | 1 ACT | ||||||||||||
| Number of valves | ||||||||||||||
| 4 valves per cylinder | 4 valves per cylinder | 4 valves per cylinder | ||||||||||||
| Displacement | ||||||||||||||
| 659 cc, Bore x stroke: 100 x 84 mm | 659 cc, Bore x stroke: 100 x 84 mm | 660 cc, Bore x stroke: 100 x 84 mm | ||||||||||||
| Power | ||||||||||||||
| 44.4 ch to 6,000 rpm | 47.3 ch to 6,000 rpm | 47.3 ch to 6,000 rpm | ||||||||||||
| With compressed air | ||||||||||||||
| - | - | - | ||||||||||||
| Compression | ||||||||||||||
| 10:1 | 10:1 | 10:1 | ||||||||||||
| Torque | ||||||||||||||
| 5.73 mkg to 5,250 rpm | 5.95 mkg to 5,250 rpm | 6.10 mkg to 5,250 rpm | ||||||||||||
| With compressed air | ||||||||||||||
| - | - | - | ||||||||||||
| Émission sonore | ||||||||||||||
| - | - | - | ||||||||||||
| Motorcycle can be restricted to 34ch (A MTT1 Permit) | ||||||||||||||
| No | No | No | ||||||||||||
| Motorcycle can be restricted to 48ch (French A2 Permit) | ||||||||||||||
| No | No | No | ||||||||||||
Options/Equipment |
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Practical information |
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| The advantages | ||||||||||||||
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| The disadvantages | ||||||||||||||
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| Performance | ||||||||||||||
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| Price | ||||||||||||||
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| Country of manufacture | ||||||||||||||
Compare |
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Fuel consumption
Yamaha MT-03 2009
: 5.20 liters/100km (0.45 mpg)
Yamaha XT 660 R 2009
: 5.50 liters/100km (0.43 mpg)
Yamaha XT 660 Z Ténéré 2009
Undisclosed
Range
Yamaha MT-03 2009
: 288 km (179 miles)
Yamaha XT 660 R 2009
: 273 km (170 miles)
Yamaha XT 660 Z Ténéré 2009
Undisclosed
Torque
Yamaha MT-03 2009
: 5.73 mkg
Yamaha XT 660 R 2009
: 5.95 mkg
Yamaha XT 660 Z Ténéré 2009
: 6.1 mkg
Power
Yamaha MT-03 2009
: 45 ch (44.40 hp)
Yamaha XT 660 R 2009
: 48 ch (47.30 hp)
Yamaha XT 660 Z Ténéré 2009
: 48 ch (47.30 hp)
Power-to-Weight ratio
Yamaha MT-03 2009
: 3.94 kg/ch
Yamaha XT 660 R 2009
: 3.57 kg/ch
Yamaha XT 660 Z Ténéré 2009
: 3.87 kg/ch
Torque-to-Weight ratio
Yamaha MT-03 2009
: 30.54 kg/mkg
Yamaha XT 660 R 2009
: 28.4 kg/mkg
Yamaha XT 660 Z Ténéré 2009
: 30 kg/mkg
Speed
Yamaha MT-03 2009
: approximately 165 km/h (102.50 mph)
Yamaha XT 660 R 2009
: 166 km/h (103.10 mph)
Yamaha XT 660 Z Ténéré 2009
: approximately 180 km/h (111.80 mph)
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