THE BEATEN TRACK IS FOR STREET-BIKES

+ Click to Enlarge YAMAHA'S BIGGEST OFF-ROADER YET: The XT1200Z Super Ténéré is built to tackle BMW's R1200 GS on its own (rough)turf.

March 1, 2010


CALL TO ADVENTURE: Watch Yamaha's promotional video on the Super Ténéré.

Yamaha has released details of its XT1200Z Super Ténéré, a go-anywhere adventure machine with spoked rims, generous ground clearance and tough engine protection.

It will be available in South Africa from the second quarter of 2010 in two versions - the standard model as shown above and a heavy-duty version with aluminium panniers, bash plate and headlight protector.

The Super Ténéré's main masses are low and central, says the maker, for low-speed balance and light, agile handling at speed.

It has an 1199cc, fuel-injected, parallel-twin engine for which the Triple Tuning Fork guys quote 81kW at 7250rpm and a 114Nm at 6000, with a 270-degree crank to improve torque and throttle response at low revs.

It drives through a six-speed gearbox and shaft final drive. A three-mode traction control system lets each rider choose the perfect balance of safety, speed and fun – and can be turned off when it's time for some rear-wheel steering on a loose surface.

Its "intelligent" combined, anti-lock brakes use rotation sensors to monitor and compare wheel speeds but go further by monitoring bike speed, rate of deceleration and slippage to predict when a wheel might be about to slide and gently modulate an infinitely variable hydraulic pressure unit, reducing braking pressure and avoiding lock-up.

The system proportions braking force between front and rear when only the front brake lever is used (for instance, when the rider is standing on the footpegs) by monitoring bike speed, front brake lever pressure and the all-up weight of bike, rider and gear.

But it doesn't interfere with the precise rear brake control needed for rough-country riding - if the rider stomps on the rear brake first the system is cancelled until the rear brake is released.

The Super Ténéré will be available in South Africa alongside the 660cc Ténéré.

SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE
Cylinders: Two.
Capacity: 1199cc.
Bore/stroke: 98/79.5mm.
Compression ratio: 11.0:1.
Valvegear: DOHC with four overhead valves per cylinder.
Power: 81kW at 7250rpm.
Torque: 114Nm at 6000.
Induction:Electronic fuel-injection.
Ignition: Digital electronic.
Starting: Electric.
TRANSMISSION
Clutch: Cable-operated multiplate wet clutch.
Transmission: Six-speed constant-mesh gearbox with shaft final drive.
SUSPENSION
Front: 43mm inverted cartridge forks adjustable for pre-load, compression and rebound damping.
Rear: Monoshock adjustable for ride height, pre-load and rebound damping.
BRAKES
Front: Dual 310mm petal discs with Sumitomo radial-mount four-pot opposed-piston callipers and anti-lock.
Rear: 282mm petal disc with twin-piston floating calliper.
TYRES
Front: 110/80 - 19.
Rear: 150/70 - 17.
DIMENSIONS/WEIGHT
Wheelbase: 1540mm.
Seat height: 845-870mm.
Wet weight: 261kg.
FUEL TANK 23 litres.