Road test of YamahaXTZE 1200 Super Ténéré 2016 Pleasure and punishment

pre-trip

preparing a trip with the immense advantage of being able to choose your mount is a wonderful privilege. Starting with a forecast of over 3,000 kilometers in a week, an outbound trip with a loaded duo, a hefty dose of freeway and a series of steep passes, the choice of bike was automatically a big trail.

not wanting to be too obvious with a GS, and a little afraid of the sporty comfort of an Africa Twin, the choice was between a Suzuki VStrom 1000 and a Yamaha.
As I was going to be sharing the road with a Multistrada S, I opted for the ZE's electronic suspension as the decisive choice.

after collecting my bike from Yamaha Belgium, I immersed myself in the owner's manual. For this kind of electronically packed wheel, it's always worth it! If only to avoid blocking the suspension system. And yes, I've learned that you have to proceed in stages to define a pilot, a pilot plus luggage, a duo or a duo with luggage. If you get carried away, the system panics! Good to know!
When I load the bike, having weighed the side cases to balance them properly, I take a look at them. In addition to their adventurous look, they must be very practical to sit on during a stage, thanks to their flat, sturdy lids.

The top case will be used to load light items (rain suit and other sweaters), as we too often forget that its weight must not exceed 7 kg.
I start upgrading (and that's putting it mildly!) the suspension. Comfortably seated, feet firmly on the ground, engine running, the first stage already raises the bike significantly. in the 2nd and 3rd stages, the seat height has risen a few more centimetres. This seat height, coupled with the weight of my luggage, will cause me to break out in a cold sweat on the outward journey. Yet another lesson to be learned: a fully loaded motorcycle with two people is still a very big machine (with a full tank, I imagine it's close to half a ton!) to maneuver and even to pilot. When I look at the first video of the trip and see my "tense piloting", I think it might be a good idea on a long trip to send some of the luggage, if possible, by a means other than the motorcycle. Sending a trunk by train to the drop-off point isn't always super-expensive, and allows you to keep the real pleasure of riding for the trip.

the trip

as this was my first experience with my new TomTom rider, I decided to start by riding to the hotel in "fastest mode". So off I went for 380 km of freeway. The 1200 gives me very good protection, and the seat height is a real help. My passenger is equally well off. With her back nicely wedged against the small top case, she benefits from the backrest integrated into the Airbag helite vest as a cushion. On the other hand, there's nothing sexy about the freeway, so I quickly turn to the GPS to find us a nicer route.
When you ask it for a "biker" route with winding roads, it's not uncommon to see the travel time double, if not triple! But in any case, it's always possible to backtrack to the shortest route. In this case, as the timing wasn't on fire, we embarked on the winding route.

despite the considerable weight, I feel as though I'm only using the first 40% of the rev counter. The twin-cylinder's massive torque (11.9 mkg at 6,000 rpm) allows me to roll along the narrow roads of the Vosges region. The sound of the Akra cartridge echoes along the stones, and the fuel level doesn't seem to be budging. After 250 km, I still haven't reached half the gauge. On average, I think I've consumed a mere 6 liters per 100.

small mountain roads, rhaaaa, lovely!

the second day of the trip was spent with my brother, who joined us on his Ducati Multistrada S. Setting off in the morning in the sweltering heat, our passengers keep a close eye on the GPS. Inevitably, my daughter spotted the 7h 40minute driving time. The prospect of 8 hours in the saddle at 35 degrees doesn't appeal to her. Well, we take the back roads and then when it's too much, we take the freeways again.
I've installed the TomTom in a vertical position, and I find it much easier to read. By connecting the GPS to my cell phone's network, I can get traffic (and radar!) information. And don't forget to turn off your mobile when crossing the Swiss border, as you're leaving Europe and it's forbidden in Switzerland!

the roads are worthy of Gran Turismo, with climbs, descents, twists and turns, and braking. The pace is steady without being unreasonable. After 5 hours of winding roads, fatigue sets in. Hop, we put the Rider back in fast mode.
The rest of the week will be spent having fun, with several videos on my YouTube page - a few pictures are better than a long explanation.

for the return trip, I'm back solo and without the side cases. The bike is obviously much more playful. The 930 km return journey was quite long, and I think I was a little presumptuous about my endurance. Despite the soft seat, cruise control, excellent windscreen protection and very good electronic suspension, 10 hours on the bike is too long...

See you soon

Oli the Belgian