All Tests – An African among the Bretons – Used YAMAHA

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An African among the Bretons

All Tests - An African among the Bretons - Used YAMAHA

The tracks in Africa being very far away, we set off to test the new Ténéré – from Yamaha of course – on the lush green roads and paths of Brittany. So, a real adventurer or a placid trail runner disguised as an adventurer? Test !

Ten years !

It has been ten years that fans of big monos and long-distance trips have been waiting for a worthy successor to the mythical Ténéré.

Even if it is true that the single-cylinder trails have less the wind in their sails for the past fifteen years due to the hegemony of the mid-capacity roadsters, Yamaha could not let this legendary line, more than twenty years old, die out. years…

And this is how the manufacturer with three tuning forks lifted the veil on its 2008 vintage XT660Z Ténéré at the last Paris Motor Show (read)…

The new Ténéré opts for a fairly innovative "techno adventurer" look. No more bulging shapes and round headlights of old models, the lines of the Yamaha are angular, massive and quite aggressive.

It proudly displays its double square exhaust under the saddle, its enormous fuel tank and its impressive front end which bodes well for good protection. The general finish is remarkable, both in terms of materials and finishes.

Seriousness, sure, proven !

The color of our test machine, aptly named "Competition White", is quite elegant while adding a little "factory machine" touch in the purest Dakar spirit..

The other colors further reinforce the raw side of the Ténéré with a black / gray and a sort of "Desert Storm" camouflage that almost makes the machine pass for a military prototype of the 3rd millennium. Too bad that Yamaha did not opt ​​for the famous blue / yellow color in tribute to its elders !

The new Ténéré is not revolutionary. It is a rustic machine that is satisfied with technical solutions that have proven their endurance and reliability on the tracks of Africa since the first XT 500.

Traditional fork (but adjustable in preload), large 21-inch front and 17 rear wheels, mixed and thin tires, large 22-liter tank … are all known and classic elements on single-cylinder trails.

Road equipment

The only concessions to modernism, there is a magnificent aluminum swingarm and above all, two front brake discs of 298 mm.

The Ténéré sports a dashboard that is as elegant as it is readable. On the other hand, it only distills the basic information: an odometer, two trips (and one reserve), a clock, a fuel gauge but no outside or engine temperature..

It's also a pity that Yamaha has ignored the instrumentation specific to enduro machines: distance and time trips. However, a hoop overhanging the instrumentation makes it easy to install a road-book unwinder or a GPS.

There is also a very practical luggage rack that can accommodate 30-liter metal side cases (914 € the complete kit, sic!) Or a top-case. This will be necessary if one wishes to carry a lock worthy of the name. Indeed, we regret that there is not a space provided for this purpose under the saddle.

We don't get on the new Ténéré, we climb it! The seat height of 895 mm is really dizzying. If this is classic for a real enduro machine of 100 or 110 kg and with a very thin saddle, it is otherwise problematic on the Yamaha and its 183 kg dry.

Add to this a full tank of 22 liters of fuel, a high center of gravity and a fairly wide seat: you get a delicate machine to handle and when maneuvering at low speed.

Even at six feet tall, the rider must humbly admit that he is not very comfortable on tiptoes on both sides. In addition, with its large wheels and very thin tires (90 / 90×21 at the front and 130 / 80×17 at the rear), the Ténéré requires some time to adapt to make you feel really comfortable. on his handlebars.

Lookout post

Fortunately, this crippling saddle height when stationary becomes a real asset in the city! It allows you to see far above the cars and to anticipate your driving. We are posted so high that we instinctively tend to bow our heads by borrowing certain low-ceiling undergrounds…

In addition, the general ergonomics of the bike are very good. The legs are not folded at all and the handlebars fall naturally in the hand.

While not his favorite terrain, the Ténéré handles city trips very well and can even prove to be a brilliant utility for long-legged riders. The engine is very flexible for a single cylinder, while the electronic fuel injection and the gearbox have the good taste of being forgotten…

Nowadays, any 600 roadster has 120 front and 180 rear tires, you really have to get used to riding on thin tires. But once we find certain sensations that have not been experienced for a while, the pleasure returns along with the confidence.

The front tire, just 90mm wide, gives astonishing agility that makes you forget the weight and height of the final. Cornering is quick and natural. But don't worry, because the 21-inch diameter wheel also provides unparalleled stability and heading..

The road as a formality

Of course, the new Ténéré has no sporting or "supermotardis" pretensions, but it does provide certain road approval.

Comfortable in the city, the Ténéré still prefers to cut the road … and does it very well! The 660 cc single-cylinder is more conciliatory than demonstrative. Its 48.4 hp definitely invites more for a ride than for arousal.

Over time, the switch to injection and anti-noise and anti-pollution standards, the Yamaha block no longer offers the famous kick in the ass at low speed that the mythical XT 500 used in its time. does not offer the rage in the laps of the last mono KTM either … but this is not what we ask !

If you take care not to drop too much below 2000 rpm, the Ténéré is docile and pulls without slackening up to the red zone. The first a little short – useful in off-road – quickly encourages to spend the second on the road.

The long-travel suspensions give imperturbable course holding on good as well as on bad surfaces as well as appreciable comfort. The fork dips reasonably when the calipers pinch the two front brake discs. If these do not offer an extraordinary bite (which is rather reassuring on the track), the power is there !

Devourer of kilometers

Even if large single-cylinder engines do not appreciate this kind of exercise, the Ténéré will accept without complaining the large junctions by motorway to rally as quickly as possible, for example, the African tracks..

It calmly maintains a cruising speed of 140-145 km / h meter which is equivalent to a real speed between 130 and 135 km / h. The engine speed is then between 5,000 and 5,500 rpm, i.e. 2,000 rpm from the red zone.

The upper body protection is almost perfect and the windshield hardly sends any noise or turbulence back into the helmet. However, we regret the lack of handguards and a tank that spreads the thighs too far into which the wind is engulfed.

The wide and soft saddle provides very respectable comfort. Despite everything, the hours and the kilometers passing, one feels an embarrassment. But this is more inherent in the upright position of the pilot – and therefore in pronounced pressure on the posterior – than in the shape or consistency of the seat.

The "Ténéré" equation is relentless: reasonable consumption + large fuel tank = record autonomy !

A real camel !

Indeed, the Ténéré is not very greedy with a combined consumption observed around 5.3 l / 100 km. Suddenly, with a 22-liter tank, the front reserve range is between 320 and 350 km. As the reserve contains at least 5 liters, it is theoretically possible to easily exceed 400 km for the most playful….

This is very appreciable on a motorbike and particularly in these days … Because with the soaring gasoline prices, it is very pleasant to be able to refuel when you "want" (at the cheapest stations , apart from highways, for example) and not when "must" as on many other machines !

The 2008 Ténéré was originally fitted with a Michelin Sirac. These tires are designed for mixed road and soft off-road use. Soft because the crampons are still little spaced and not very prominent.

Thus equipped, the Yamaha can calmly tackle rolling tracks where its stability and large suspension travel (210 mm at the front and 200 mm at the rear) will do wonders. But be careful, you will still need a lot of luggage in TT to tackle more technical passages such as soft sand or small steep paths.

The Ténéré is better suited for long trips than extreme enduros: the height of its center of gravity but above all its weight in running order will remind you soon enough! Fortunately, the machine is fairly well protected from small falls when stationary with its shoe and plastic guards.

Even if these machines have been less popular for ten years, we must salute the courage that Yamaha has shown in daring to bring out a new big long-distance mono trail. For sure, there will be forever a clientele on the road – always interested in this type of machine..

Yamaha had the intelligence to keep the good recipes of the past but apply modern seasonings such as braking, handling and fuel consumption. We wish a long and successful career to this adventurer reserved for giants … We will have warned you !

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