Trail – Test Yamaha XTZ 1200 Super Tenere: the smooth traveler! – In the saddle for the great adventure!

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Test Yamaha XTZ 1200 Super Tenere: the smooth traveler !

Trail - Test Yamaha XTZ 1200 Super Tenere: the smooth traveler! - In the saddle for the great adventure!

It was long desired but here it is finally, this new Super Tenere 1200 XTZ! Site has tested it for you on more than 1000 km of roads and tracks of all kinds between Madrid and Lisbon. Ready for the great adventure ? First test !

In the saddle for the great adventure !

As you might expect, the seat is royal! A little too much besides, because the saddle then adjusted in low position gives the feeling of being too low compared to the handlebars. So let’s opt for the high setting in order to get to know the machine in the best conditions. We will then return to the low position to allow a driver of one meter seventy-two more ease during maneuvers at a standstill, because ultimately driving is no less pleasant. The ergonomics of the controls are perfectly natural: contact !

Madrid, 8:00 am: it’s the start for the first half of the journey to Lisbon. It rained last night and the surface is wet … For the crossing of the Spanish capital, the conditions are ideal to immediately take advantage of the Traction Control, the ABS and the brake coupling. !

By switching on the ignition, the system defaults to version TCS1 (maximum effect). For peace of mind, let us also choose the "Touring" mapping, more reassuring on the slippery humidity of urban surfaces. Light pressure on the starter and the machine comes to life. A muffled and very discreet noise is heard: the 1200 lives !

In town, the motorcycle is face, very manoeuvrable and the most surprising thing is the smoothness of the engine. But beware: we quickly get carried away without wanting to and reach prohibited speeds! The windscreen is effective and the quiet low engine speed is deceptive. The bike is light to handle, very agile and easily weaves its way through traffic. Astonishing detail: the cardan transmission hardly feels, without rear lifting during acceleration. It almost feels like a transmission chain, but without the faults (jerks in the event of a slack chain or interference from the suspension otherwise).

A few "chattering" of the brakes during unfortunate stops on white stripes at red lights show that the ABS is working properly. Ditto for the Traction Control, which when accelerating on those same damn wet white bands flashes the TC operation indicator light..

We leave the city to test a few kilometers of expressways. Confirmation: the windscreen is effective, especially in low saddle which offers better protection (there is an optional high adaptable screen). In addition, the legs nestle perfectly behind the fairing, which provides good aerodynamics to the machine / rider assembly..

The excellent driving comfort, the smoothness and the interesting torque of the big twin-cylinder ensure that the kilometers are devoured in big mouthfuls! But naturally, we are not going to spend the 532 kilometers of this first stage on expressways! The Tripy electronic road book offers us all kinds of roads that will allow a full-scale test of the versatility of this big XTZ….

In Sport mode (handling is easy while driving, all you have to do is disengage the clutch, cut off the throttle and activate the "mode" command), the revs are more straightforward and acceleration more lively, but without providing any ‘jerks on deceleration or on cuts / resumes. The motor is flexible in all its widths !

Little by little, the roads become winding and the piloting of the machine remains just as pleasant. A slight inertia is still felt when changing angles: the weight of the 1200 is slightly felt but does not interfere with driving..

On braking, the UBS system works wonderfully and it is easy to forget the brake pedal: the bike sits well on a curve, no problem on that side! Small downside, however: when braking very hard, we have the impression (false?) That the fact of first activating the rear brake (which separates the brakes) allows more violent braking from the front…

On a small road like a local mountain path, the weight is still not a problem and the handling of the vessel is still just as easy! It is even possible to accelerate the pace and take a good pace while feeling safe. The impression of speed is minimal, which shows the suitability of the Super T for this kind of driving, even if it is still not a 450 WR. The pins are not exited by wheeling, even TCS deactivated, because the weight is still present and does not allow "racing" control. We stay in the functional: everything is done on this bike to optimize engine performance in complete safety.

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