Motorcycle specifications YamahaXTZ 1200 Super Ténéré 2011 The great outdoors is mine!

The new Super Ténéré is finally here. High, majestic, with Touareg accents and a desire for space. It's taken Yamaha a good many years to offer its faithful a machine that takes up the torch of the 90s adventurer. But today's XTZ 1200 has little in common with the 750 adventurer born in 1989. It used to smell of warm sand and the bewitching perfumes of rally-raids... Today it flirts with grand touring. Its name still evokes the famous African desert, but will it be putting its wheels down between the ruts of the Atlas? Rather, in the spokes of the BMW R 1200 GS. The debauchery of technology and on-board equipment speak for themselves.

But before we delve into the bowels of the biggest XT ever, let's take a moment to be charmed by this vessel of the sands. Nostalgics will have guessed, hidden in the watermark, a hint of the spirit of the Gallic-colored machines that raced towards the pink lake.
The cat's eyes are intimidating, mysterious and, above all, a far cry from the strange look of the 660 Ténéré's little cousin. And if its build seems imposing, with its thick shoulders and lanky frame (in short, not too well-suited to thwarting the traps of the dunes), the Yam staff have nevertheless developed this bike for several types of trip: the European version of asphalt road or the dusty version of track.

The ancestor had a parallel twin - the 2010 XTZ will do the same. Except that the numbers have swelled, a lot. To launch into the 2nd decade of the 3rd millennium, Yam has brought us a brand-new 1199 cm3 mill. Set at 270°, with 2 balancing weights and a dry sump, this big mill isn't all about power. With 106 hp, it follows in the footsteps of the BM trail bike, without trying to match the frightening power of the latest Ducati Multistrada (which isn't exactly in the same league, it's true...). More than 11 mkg of torque will have no trouble getting the XTZ off the ground in many situations.

And do you know what you'll find in a trail bike these days? Electronics, galore. And not just to regulate the mixture according to the 2 lambda probes. No, there are bits of MotoGP in there, like in the R1 hypersport. We've added YCC-T and traction control to the right-hand controls. In other words, an electronic throttle backed up by a system that measures wheel rotation speeds. As soon as the going gets rough, Traction Control intervenes in a choice of 3 modes:

1) TCS1 (standard): kicks in as soon as the rear wheel slips.
2) TCS2: reduces the effect of Traction Control, allowing the rear wheel to slip slightly.
3) Off mode: completely disconnected.
In addition to Traction Control, a number of different mappings are available:
a) sport "S": instant response for enhanced performance
b) touring "T": for greater flexibility

When it comes to traction, the tuning fork brand hasn't done things by halves. And there's something big on the braking front too. No radial mounting (not really necessary for a trail bike...) for the brake calipers, but a nice nod to the sport - they look like those on the 2002-2003 R1. For fun, the discs are petal, a.k.a. wave-type. For efficiency, ABS is standard, combined with a coupled braking system. Braking from the front? Coupling is automatically distributed between front and rear, taking into account speed, crew weight and lever effort. Are you braking from the rear? It doesn't engage the front brake, leaving the rider free to control the front end, especially when riding off-road.

For the chassis of its new trail 1200, Yam has opted out of aluminum and placed its trust in a steel frame, better suited to off-road riding. Up front, nothing less than a big 43 mm diameter inverted fork, adjustable for rebound, compression and preload. The rear shock doesn't have a compression adjuster, but the knob is easily accessible. The center of gravity and weight distribution have been carefully adjusted... But the weight is still a problem. 261 kg is no mean feat. That's a handful less than a Varadero, but some thirty kilos more than in Germany or Austria.

Like many road-going machines, the Super Ténéré is fitted with a cardan drive. We won't be getting the superb single-arm drive of the Tokyo concept, but we'll take solace in the low-maintenance nature of this type of transmission. It remains to be seen whether this drive shaft will rival the GS's formidable Paralever. Spoke rims are a welcome addition, especially if you're thinking of (deliberately) leaving the road for the track. The Yam has taken care of its protection, with an aluminum engine cover (standard in 2010 with the First Edition package) and radiators raised in the side panels, as on the Honda Varadero, which itself borrowed the idea from the VTR 1000 F. Less exposed, protected by imposing covers, the heat exchangers won't fear a suicidal rock or a sleepwalking fennec.

A trail bike through and through, the XTZ 1200 is designed for both upright and seated riding, thanks to the handlebar position and the structure of the footrests. Standard handguards are of course included, and the rear of the frame is reinforced to accommodate all the necessary junk, not forgetting the annoying little essentials when they're absent: 12 V socket, height-adjustable saddle (845 to 870 mm), adjustable windscreen, and acceptable range with the 23-liter fuel tank. A larger capacity might not have been a luxury... As for luggage and accessories, you'll have to dip into the options section. The "First Edition" bonus, with a pack comprising 2 aluminium panniers, a headlight protector, an aluminium engine cover and a deco kit, was only available for the first year of sales (2010).

It was high time for Yam to offer a large trail bike in its range to rival the 1200 GS, 1000 Varadero and other Guzzi Stelvio models - the 900 TDM was neither up to the task, nor was it up to the job. This new Super Ténéré is going to have to fight in a segment where many competitors have given up (Kawasaki KLV 1000, Aprilia Caponord, Suzuki 1000 V-Strom, Cagiva Navigator... have all disappeared). To offer adventure better than the KTM Adventure, or travel like the BMS GS, or both... It's a daring gamble, but Yamaha isn't the type to play its cards close to the vest if it doesn't have a very good game to follow. And we're about to find out - the price of the 1200 XTZ has been set at 14,990 euros for our Belgian friends (the difference with France should be minimal), and they'll be seeing the first units arrive at the end of May. Belgian Oli is already in the starting-blocks.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos

The accessories department is already open for the 1200 Super Ténéré. In addition to the aluminum cases, engine protection and headlight protection included in the "First Edition" package, Yamaha offers a wide choice of accessories and equipment to further enhance the charm and possibilities of this bike.
- High bubble
- Fog lamps (can be mounted on existing headlights or on an optional bracket)
- Protective shoe
- Heated grips
- Additional air deflectors
- Fuel tank protectors
- Low seat (35 mm less than standard low position)
- Tank bag
- Aluminum top-case to match saddlebags
- Ténéré bags for saddlebags and top-case
- LED turn indicators (available in black, chrome or carbon)

Rider equipment :

- BYE Ténéré Special Series helmet
- Jacket, pants and gloves from the OFF ROAD ENDURO collection
- OFF ROAD CROSS boots, goggles and outfits