2009 Yamaha XT660Z Tenere: Good or Bad?

[samboleary]

Hi guys, Ive been looking into buying a new bike for a bit of some serious traveling for some time now where I can do a bit of on and off road, and I think I have found the right one for me. Its the new Yamaha XT660Z Tenere. All the owners reviews Ive read about them, and videos on youtube have me fecking hooked on the thing! Im thinking on Ordering it up the North and purchasing it at the end of the month / start of February. Has anyone actually got one? What is your experiance of it good or bad or both! Do you wish you bought another bike instead or is it definately the right bike for you? What are you using it for and what have you planned to use it for? Any comments and thoughts on the bike are welcome! Oh yeah, and Im thinking Black, maybe blue

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[nocent]

get a black one. they look well slick in black!

[ciderking]

Sexy looking bike. i think the red/white looks best. They haven't sold that well in the UK for some reason. Engine should be bulletproof but a little underpowered from what I've read.

tim

[bonzoid]

I,d go for the blue meself. Reminds me of the early works Dakar bikes.

[yamtastic]

Red and White...it is a yam! I'm right there with you on this, it looks great and has me hankering after a few months off work to do a proper trip!!!

[CiaoPaddy]

Here's some threads on em..

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=420389

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=265147

http://www.xrv.org.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=20303

and have a look at XT660.com

Meant to be a good bike from what I hear. If I didn't already have my AT for overlanding this'd probably be what I'd choose.

[NDMBlackBlade]

If it even has a nut on it that is the same as the old one I wouldn't touch it

[colin]

I've read a good few articles on them in mags & they all generally come to the same conclusion. A very good bike but @ 46HP, underpowered. Especially if you're planning on loading it up & doing a bit of touring. The only other negative comment mentioned in a few articles is that at motorway speeds (80MPH +) the single cylinder engine really sends vibrations through the handle bars & gives you numb/tingly fingers. They were saying that it has really good fuel range (think the tank is 19 or 20 L) @ approx 200 miles but that you'd need to take breaks more regular then it's full range to get the feeling back in your hands.

By the way, I'd go for the white/red.

[Fash]

Anyone hear anything about the 1200? Yamaha are supposed to be coming out with one soon

[samboleary]

Have a 02 & 04 one lined up at the mo! Just waiting on pics before make final decision of which one to go for! Some excited i tell ye!

[2strokey]

only if you know what yopur gettin into with a single

[turboed]

I think they look the business,well proven engine,been used in the older xts aswell
Id imagine a new exhaust,filter and remap,it is fuel injected isnt it,would bring a bit more power out of it
Dont worry about the vibe of the single you'll get used to it
You should consider the adventure 640 pretty sure theres a new one coming soon

[Fledermaus]

If you are going to be on motorways,dual carriageways for most of your riding,then there's no real point in getting a single,they tire too quickly at high speeds,and can be a real pain,not just from vibes,but the general feeling of impending doom emanating from the general direction of the motor.A twin is much better suited for this kind of riding.Maybe a v-strom 650,transalp etc.If however you use minor roads mostly,with typical irish surfaces,a dual-purpose single is almost ideal.I use an old TT500 single for local spins,and it's fine up to around 60mph,after that,you just feel like you're doing it harm.

[samboleary]

Originally Posted by CiaoPaddy

Here's some threads on em..

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=420389

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=265147

http://www.xrv.org.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=20303

and have a look at XT660.com

Meant to be a good bike from what I hear. If I didn't already have my AT for overlanding this'd probably be what I'd choose.

Thanks Paddy I found alot of them in my research leading up to making my mind up on the bike. Alot of helpful information there

Originally Posted by The Stig

I can imagine they would be very useful as a paper-weight or for propping your gate open.

You must have big sheets of paper!

Originally Posted by VTL

Never drove one . . .


Read a review of it versus the 800GS . . . .the Yammie got slated and hammered for the lack of power in the engine!!!!

And not lack of power versus a Busa or an R1 . . .but lack of power for even driving at motorway speeds on a windy day.

Prob written by a BMW fan! (tried to find it but couldnt) Ive throlled the internet searching about them aswell and read all the good and bad comments on them. I think the main bad ones are

1: Vibration in the handlebars at 80mph
2: Height of the bike in crosswinds
3: Its weight
4: Fast 1st gear for slow manouvering
5: Takes a while to break in the seat
6: Centre Stand not as standard

Good Points:
1: MPG is deadly on it so really good for Commuting and or traveling
2: Nice strong frame (reason for heavy weight)
3: Good manouravability
4: Stock suspension seems to be ok
5: Alot of accessories and parts are cheap such as the plastic's, if you drop it, its not expensive to replace. (Unlike the BMW's)
6: Bullet Proof Engine

In relation to its power, its not going to bother me because I am on a restricted licence which isnt ticking down fast enough for me here at the moment so weather i buy a 1200gs or a 660 yam its going to be 33bhp either way

Originally Posted by turboed

I think they look the business,well proven engine,been used in the older xts aswell
Id imagine a new exhaust,filter and remap,it is fuel injected isnt it,would bring a bit more power out of it
Dont worry about the vibe of the single you'll get used to it
You should consider the adventure 640 pretty sure theres a new one coming soon

Yes, it has a long lasting pedagree and by all reports it seems to have a fairly bullet proof engine. I considerd the 640 but out of my pocket range at the moment. I think for starting off in touring / off roading this will be the bike for me. Cheap and chearful and like Ronseal, does exactly what it says on the tin

Originally Posted by Fledermaus

If you are going to be on motorways,dual carriageways for most of your riding,then there's no real point in getting a single,they tire too quickly at high speeds,and can be a real pain,not just from vibes,but the general feeling of impending doom emanating from the general direction of the motor.A twin is much better suited for this kind of riding.Maybe a v-strom 650,transalp etc.If however you use minor roads mostly,with typical irish surfaces,a dual-purpose single is almost ideal.I use an old TT500 single for local spins,and it's fine up to around 60mph,after that,you just feel like you're doing it harm.

I wont be on too many motorways, not much to see there. Mainly exploring the country style roads. Im not a speed freak anyways so 60-65mph is my normal day to day unless on the back roads

[Jonny-c]

id love one
another year or two i,ll buy seond hand one

[CiaoPaddy]

If you're into speed or doing long motorway miles it wouldn't be very good. As a day to day bike it'd be grand. If you're thinking of heading off to Africa it'd be feckin ace. It ultimately all depends on what you want to do.

Eg, I've had gsxr1100's, blackbirds, fireblades and all that, but not one of them ever made me laugh or enjoy myself so much as my AT, and on the road it's a dogslow, gutless, bad handling piece of shit in comparison to them.

On the other hand that's actually part of the fun - I get great kicks thrashing the bollix out of it, bouncing through corners and sliding round on the shit suspension bringing it to it's limits while still barely breaking the law. Plus it'll cruise along ok at 80-90, carry tons of gear, is utterly reliable and cheap to run, is comfortable, plus whenever I want, I can go and feck offroad and do stuff that none of them would ever be able to do.

If you can accept the compromises, and all bikes have them in respect to something, and it matches what you'll be doing then go for it

[samboleary]

Originally Posted by jonnyconners

id love one
another year or two i,ll buy seond hand one

There are lots of nice second hand ones out there now at the moment! Wait until you see mine!

Originally Posted by CiaoPaddy

If you're into speed or doing long motorway miles it wouldn't be very good. As a day to day bike it'd be grand. If you're thinking of heading off to Africa it'd be feckin ace. It ultimately all depends on what you want to do.

Eg, I've had gsxr1100's, blackbirds, fireblades and all that, but not one of them ever made me laugh or enjoy myself so much as my AT, and on the road it's a dogslow, gutless, bad handling piece of shit in comparison to them.

On the other hand that's actually part of the fun - I get great kicks thrashing the bollix out of it, bouncing through corners and sliding round on the shit suspension bringing it to it's limits while still barely breaking the law. Plus it'll cruise along ok at 80-90, carry tons of gear, is utterly reliable and cheap to run, is comfortable, plus whenever I want, I can go and feck offroad and do stuff that none of them would ever be able to do.

If you can accept the compromises, and all bikes have them in respect to something, and it matches what you'll be doing then go for it

Well said CiaoPaddy Its the exact reason Im buying it for! Deposit is now paid Ho! Ho! I cant feckin wait!

[colin]

Originally Posted by samboleary

There are lots of nice second hand ones out there now at the moment! Wait until you see mine!



Well said CiaoPaddy Its the exact reason Im buying it for! Deposit is now paid Ho! Ho! I cant feckin wait!

Fair play to you. When are you getting it? Did you buy new or second hand?

[samboleary]

Originally Posted by colin

Fair play to you. When are you getting it? Did you buy new or second hand?

Bought her second hand. Restrictor kit should be in by the end of the week and fitted by the middle of next week. Then one of my other mates is in the same boat getting his restricted and another one is picking out a bike. Hopefully by the end of next weekend there will be three new bikes in Wexford!

[CiaoPaddy]

Wahaay, good on ya ! Don't forget to post pics

[samboleary]

Originally Posted by CiaoPaddy

Wahaay, good on ya ! Don't forget to post pics

I cant feckin wait!!!!!! She will def be entered into next months bike of the month! Anyone want to buy a 250 vagina

[zOU]

Flying to London in 10 days to test ride one (redzone Dublin don't do test ride ...wtf ?) and buy it for about 4300£ (VAT excluded).. compared to the 7300 euros Redzone are asking for ....

[samboleary]

Originally Posted by zOU

Flying to London in 10 days to test ride one (redzone Dublin don't do test ride ...wtf ?) and buy it for about 4300£ (VAT excluded).. compared to the 7300 euros Redzone are asking for ....

Looks like I could have competition for next months Bike of the month

[zOU]

I still have to see if it fits me, then do the paperwork for export/import

So maybe not next month... although I'd like it

[samboleary]

Originally Posted by zOU

I still have to see if it fits me, then do the paperwork for export/import

So maybe not next month... although I'd like it

So its looking like an open competition for myself then at the mo Hey what type helmet is that in your Avatar. Im looking to invest in a similar one over the next few months.

Sambo

[zOU]

Originally Posted by samboleary

So its looking like an open competition for myself then at the mo Hey what type helmet is that in your Avatar. Im looking to invest in a similar one over the next few months.

Sambo

it's a Arai Tour X2.
I crashed with it while riding a KTM450 in Morocco a year ago.
It wasn't damaged but I didn't want to take any so I replaced it with the newer version: Arai Tour X3.

Much better.
Got it for 350€ at the NEC in Birmingham in december ;-)

I reviewed it extensively here.

[samboleary]

Originally Posted by zOU

it's a Arai Tour X2.
I crashed with it while riding a KTM450 in Morocco a year ago.
It wasn't damaged but I didn't want to take any so I replaced it with the newer version: Arai Tour X3.

Much better.
Got it for 350€ at the NEC in Birmingham in december ;-)

I reviewed it extensively here.

Sound. Link is broken though

[zOU]

Originally Posted by samboleary

Sound. Link is broken though

ppl here don't like when we talk about "the other place".

I'll be likely banned (again) for having posted a link to them :)

Anyway, the review is on the People's Liberation Organisation for the Popular Judean Front

[Jonny-c]

how would one of these compare to a 640 adventure

[zOU]

the KTM is lighter and possibly more oriented off road I'd say.