Motorcycle specifications YamahaXTZE 1200 Super Ténéré Raid Edition 2020 Around the shores

Sssccchiihhhhiiihh... It's hard to put into words the sound of sand running through your fingers. Those silky yet rough grains, slipping between the spikes, provoking an irresistible call to aridity. He's not the only one to sneak under the eyelids of some bikes.

Rock, dust, vegetation, tracks, asphalt, the tropics - all will one day or another be confronted by daring two-wheeled adventurers. For Yamaha and its love of off-roading, it was time to open up even more horizons and challenges for its big trail bike.

It was when I saw Nick Sanders' eyes, full of frontiers and spaces, that I understood what Yamaha wanted from this 1200 Super Ténéré Raid Edition. The man is adept at circumnavigating the globe, a terrain towards which this special series intends to sail on sight and in abundance. But how? By equipping it with the right gear to get out of trouble.
The basis is a 1200 XTZE, the model equipped with electronic suspension. 84 possible settings to adapt to load and desired damping dynamics. On this maxi-trail, Yamaha has added a whole series of parts to justify its name of grand Raid.

First and foremost, the rider must be protected from the sand that tickles the palms of our hands. With speed, it scratches. Here's a job for the high bubble, and a pair of side deflectors. The hands were already protected, so everything's looking up for the rider.
Let's turn to the engine. The 1200 is fitted with an alu skid plate, backed up by side extensions. The crankcases are thus protected from all manner of projections. But Yamaha should have taken the concept a step further and fitted protective bars, like the KTM Adventure R or BMW Adventure.

The rally-raid can be experienced from morning to night in the countryside... or from the starting point to the limits of the compass. It's not unusual to encounter bad weather or night-time conditions. A pair of fog lamps will be a good acolyte for this kind of difficulty. Once you've found a place to set up camp, you'll be able to take out your most delicate belongings without fearing for their safety. Completely redesigned aluminum suitcases are anchored to the hips of the Super-T Raid Edition. Reinforced by technopolymer protectors, they boast a capacity of 37 liters each.
The decoration of this version remains very close to that of the original model, with a typical dark look. So much so, in fact, that you'll have to be a little more than attentive to realize that the fairing panels here are made of carbon.

To go further than the 1200 Super Ténéré claims, the Raid Edition intends to satisfy the most discriminating of appetites. Not an easy task, given the potential of the mainly European competition. Like the other XTZ models, this special series can count on the performance of a 112 hp twin-cylinder engine, a comfortable range thanks to its 23-liter fuel tank, all-round braking and ABS, two riding modes, cruise control, traction control and cardan drive.
Yamaha's maxi-trail will continue to make its mark on the world. A number of characters illustrate this perfectly.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos