Endurance test interim balance of the Yamaha XT 1200 Z Super Tenere

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Endurance test interim balance of the Yamaha XT 1200 Z Super Tenere

Conclusion after 25,000 test kilometers

It is super-friendly to its passengers and is at the top of the wish list of the MOTORCYCLE kilometer eater. Read here what Yamaha’s Super Tenere has experienced over the last 25,000 kilometers.

It is not unusual for MOTORRAD to receive a run-in copy from the press machine pool for the long-term test. But Yamaha’s 1200 Super Tenere had already 9747 kilometers on the clock when it debuted. They were spooled on as part of tests by various magazines, driven by a number of test drivers and editors. Including MOTORRAD, because it was exactly this specimen that had to prove itself in the top test in June 2010. On October 18, 2010, the Super Tenere was then in the MOTORRAD underground car park. Ready to reel off the rest of the 50,000-kilometer marathon. And that begins for them on the annual autumn excursion that the long-term test group is taking around the northern Italian lakes this year. During the first 1000 kilometers, the test crew complained about two things: a poorly separating clutch and the hard, sometimes jagged gearshift. Immediately after the return, an experienced tour guide notes in the logbook: “The oil lamp lights up briefly, but the oil level is okay.” Without wanting to anticipate, let me say that such remarks will now be found in the other records. In these cases, however, the fear of engine damage is completely unfounded: the oil control light does not indicate a loss of pressure, but is intended to warn of an oil level that is too low. Brief flicker is loud Yamaha "completely harmless". Only when the control lamp no longer goes out should it be checked immediately and refilled if necessary. You have to know that the big Yamaha twin has dry sump lubrication, although it looks like wet sump lubrication. A self-contained reservoir is integrated in the motor housing, from which the oil pump sucks the lubricant in order to push it into the channels. Depending on the system, it can happen that after long periods of standing or even overnight there is significantly less oil in the reservoir, but the rest is in the short engine. In this state the indicator light will light up briefly. Anyone who checks at these moments – the sight glass is in the right engine cover – will be shocked and perhaps fill up too much oil. That is why Yamaha recommends warming up the engine for at least ten minutes, jacking the Tenere onto the standard center stand, waiting two or three minutes and only then checking it.

Endurance test interim balance

Yamaha XT 1200 Z Super Tenere in the long-term test

The large Super Tenere was particularly popular with passengers.

The machine was particularly sluggish to those drivers who were driving in T mode (touring). Here the 1200 does not react as vehemently to gas commands as in S mode (sport). With the right thumb you can call up the desired mode while driving. You just have to know. So it was mostly little things that pissed off the drivers. “I can’t read the speedometer properly because the accelerator is in front of it,” wrote top tester Karsten Schwers in the book. “Who designed this side stand? It just can’t be kicked out cleverly with your foot because it’s so close to the notch, ”noted the author. And test editor Gerd Eirich, who runs the Super Tenere at least once a week, remarks at mileage 28456: "The load change reactions are gradually becoming more pronounced." Liter case on the left) – a full-face helmet does not fit anywhere. And after a couple of extended tours with luggage, the suitcase locks no longer convey any real confidence, because they only close with hooks and the operation seems fiddly. After a long tour of Germany, action-team tour guide Daniel Lengwenus notes: "Torque and power are not convincing for a 1200 cc." For all owners who experience this, the Cologne-based company Off-the-Road offers a solution: One with a power commander, Stainless steel manifold and slip-on muffler by LeoVince, the Super Tenere pressed 110 hp on the MOTORCYCLE test bench and from 3500 rpm always sent five hp and up to ten Nm more torque to the rear wheel than the long-term test machine – unfortunately without TÜV approval. Tea response behavior to gas commands is also better with this measure. With an acceleration to 200 km / h in 18.3 seconds, the tuned machine is 4.3 seconds faster than the production version, and the pulling power is also better. Although there are some entries in the logbook, such as “could use more power”, the majority of drivers do not need more power.

Now we come to the costs, which have been very manageable up to now, because the Super Tenere stipulates 10,000 inspection intervals. The dealer charged 381 euros for the 20,000 series, while the 30,000 series cost 316 euros. In both cases only service work was carried out and the oil changed. A defective light bulb had to be replaced, the clutch, which was often criticized, was exchanged as part of the guarantee. The gasoline consumption fluctuated between 4.5 liters / 100 km in moderate touring use and up to eight liters / 100 km on fast stretches of the motorway with suitcases and luggage. Calculated over the total distance, this results in an average consumption of exactly six liters / 100 km. But oil consumption was also logged – and raised questions. All in all, there was only one recall concerning the carrier plate of the top case, which had to be replaced on some vehicles. In the end, all that remains is to quote a colleague who does not want to be named: “1,681 kilometers in 72 hours – and I have no age-typical complaints.” That is the best way to describe the Tenere. It is and will remain a great touring motorcycle with excellent long-distance qualities. This is not only supported by the many flattered butts of the pilots, but also by the fact that the machine covered around 26,000 kilometers in nine months without stress.

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