Oom Foe-rie
Race Dog
Yamaha's Super Tenere model name is set to rejoin the firms line-up in 2009, with the
launch of an all-new 1200cc adventure sports bike.
The firm revived the classic Tenere for 2008, with its new 660 single cylinder machine, and
that bike will be joined by a whopping 1200cc parallel twin-engined version at bike shows
before the end of the year.
The all-new bike is already undergoing rigorous endurance testing, although Yamaha is
not sticking to testing in Japan, where it normally puts its new machines through their
paces to keep them out of sight of prying spy photographers. The new XTZ1200 Super
Tenere is covering most of its test miles in Europe, which will be the main target audience
for the bike.
According to Yamaha insiders, the Super Tenere prototypes are currently based at
Yamaha's Italian headquarters near Milan, and are being taken in and out by truck on a
daily basis. The trucks then drip the bikes in secluded spots to allow real-world testing to
be carried out while minimising the risk of photographs being taken.
Insiders also revealed that Yamaha is serious about giving the new Super Tenere real off
road capabilities, making it a competitor for the much loved and best selling BMW
R1200GS for world travellers. As well as testing in Italy, where the bikes can easily be
ridden the Alps or to hotter climes in the south of the country, Yamaha has also taken
prototypes to the frozen wastes of Sweden, using the same facilities as the many car
manufacturers who put their new models through cold-weather testing there every winter.
Despite the bike's advanced state of development, many of its technical secrets are still
unknown. The capacity of 1200 as been revealed but little else. The engine is likely to be a
parallel twin, as used on previous versions of the Super Tenere, but its enlarged capacity
means that it is unlikely to share much with Yamaha's other parallel twin offering, the
TDM 900.
Power-wise, the water cooled motor should be more than powerful enough to compete
with every other bike in the big trailie market. Even in a mild state of tune, developed for
torque rather than outright power, the bike should easily offer 110-120bhp. And by
following the same design ethos as the single cylinder Tenere 660, weight should also be
kept to a minimum, marking the Super Tenere out as a serious, long distance off- road
machine rather than just a road based-bike with off-road looks.
The bike is likely to be officially unveiled at the Col0gne bike show this October, and go on
sale in early 2009.
Family Style
A glance at the original XTZ750 Super Tenere and the old 600CC Tenere gives a big clue
to how the new bike will look.
This year sees the revival of the Tenere name with the XT660 Tenere, which was revealed
at shows in 2007. The bigger XTZ1200 Super Tenere twin ,developed alongside it, is set to
share the family characteristics by being almost indistinguishable from the 660 single-
cylinder machine.
A larger fuel thank and, of course, bulkier twin-cylinder motor will be the giveaways, but
its set to share a distinct family look, with a similar headlight to the smaller bike, the same
style of seat, with no bodywork around it, and tough-looking plastic crash guards on the
tank, engine sides and under the sump.
Wire wheels and knobbly tyres show its off-road intentions, in comparison to other
`adventure bike' pretenders which often feature road spec alloy wheels.
launch of an all-new 1200cc adventure sports bike.
The firm revived the classic Tenere for 2008, with its new 660 single cylinder machine, and
that bike will be joined by a whopping 1200cc parallel twin-engined version at bike shows
before the end of the year.
The all-new bike is already undergoing rigorous endurance testing, although Yamaha is
not sticking to testing in Japan, where it normally puts its new machines through their
paces to keep them out of sight of prying spy photographers. The new XTZ1200 Super
Tenere is covering most of its test miles in Europe, which will be the main target audience
for the bike.
According to Yamaha insiders, the Super Tenere prototypes are currently based at
Yamaha's Italian headquarters near Milan, and are being taken in and out by truck on a
daily basis. The trucks then drip the bikes in secluded spots to allow real-world testing to
be carried out while minimising the risk of photographs being taken.
Insiders also revealed that Yamaha is serious about giving the new Super Tenere real off
road capabilities, making it a competitor for the much loved and best selling BMW
R1200GS for world travellers. As well as testing in Italy, where the bikes can easily be
ridden the Alps or to hotter climes in the south of the country, Yamaha has also taken
prototypes to the frozen wastes of Sweden, using the same facilities as the many car
manufacturers who put their new models through cold-weather testing there every winter.
Despite the bike's advanced state of development, many of its technical secrets are still
unknown. The capacity of 1200 as been revealed but little else. The engine is likely to be a
parallel twin, as used on previous versions of the Super Tenere, but its enlarged capacity
means that it is unlikely to share much with Yamaha's other parallel twin offering, the
TDM 900.
Power-wise, the water cooled motor should be more than powerful enough to compete
with every other bike in the big trailie market. Even in a mild state of tune, developed for
torque rather than outright power, the bike should easily offer 110-120bhp. And by
following the same design ethos as the single cylinder Tenere 660, weight should also be
kept to a minimum, marking the Super Tenere out as a serious, long distance off- road
machine rather than just a road based-bike with off-road looks.
The bike is likely to be officially unveiled at the Col0gne bike show this October, and go on
sale in early 2009.
Family Style
A glance at the original XTZ750 Super Tenere and the old 600CC Tenere gives a big clue
to how the new bike will look.
This year sees the revival of the Tenere name with the XT660 Tenere, which was revealed
at shows in 2007. The bigger XTZ1200 Super Tenere twin ,developed alongside it, is set to
share the family characteristics by being almost indistinguishable from the 660 single-
cylinder machine.
A larger fuel thank and, of course, bulkier twin-cylinder motor will be the giveaways, but
its set to share a distinct family look, with a similar headlight to the smaller bike, the same
style of seat, with no bodywork around it, and tough-looking plastic crash guards on the
tank, engine sides and under the sump.
Wire wheels and knobbly tyres show its off-road intentions, in comparison to other
`adventure bike' pretenders which often feature road spec alloy wheels.
