handling. These optional extras are waterproof and robust, if a little fiddly to operate, but fit well and are a worthwhile addition rather than looking elsewhere.
The braking system is excellent and I like the way it works, still allowing the rear brake to be used on its own for manoeuvring in traffic. The three discs never provided any worries when the bike needed to be slowed from motorway speeds and the only time I got the ABS to work was on the trail. The fact it cannot be switched off for such use may worry some serious dirt riders, but for most this will never be an issue.
And perhaps that is the big problem with this bike. It is an excellent machine and one I have been riding in naked and panniered versions for over two months now. It does exactly what it promises on the label and does it competently as you would expect with the Yamaha badge on the tank and with some character.
But, put it up against the opposition and some of the new bikes which have just been announced and you start asking why it has such a high price of £1199.00 despite the recent reduction
of £1000.
An Italian competitor to the popular reigning champion GS has a host of electronics that adjust the suspension to mention just one thing which would justify high charges, but the Yamaha is just a basic good solid adventure bike that has nothing you would not expect from the genre. Sure it has a few accessories available, but these further add to the basic cost and do not have the same credibility as BMW’s aftermarket products. So to answer the original question; yes, they have produced some serious competition to the BMW, but it is not that obvious as it lacks ‘bling’ in the way of gadgets or funny front ends. On one hand, some people may see this as being a negative because of that, even though you will stand out from the crowd who all buy the obvious! Personally if I was going to buy a large adventure bike to go touring on this is the only one I would buy. Even more so if I was on the trip of a lifetime, because it is simple, rugged and is likely to be totally reliable because, for example, if its ABS system fails, it reverts to normal braking. That makes sense. Yamaha have also engineered it for the trail as well as the road, instead of just creating a road bike that looks like it could go off- road. Take a good look at one and you will see what I mean. Given their pedigree off-road they know what they are doing and when you are miles from nowhere, instead of Sloane Square, that fact is somewhat important to keep in mind!
Yamaha XT1200Z Super Ténéré
ENGINEType: Liquid cooled, 4 stroke, DOHC, inline 2 cylinder, 4 valve, fuel injected, twin spark engine
Bore x stroke: 98 x 79.5 mm
Displacement: 1199cc Compression ratio: 11.0:1
Max. Power: 80.9kW (110PS) @7,250rpm
Max. Torque: 114.1 Nm (11.6kgfm) @6,000 rpm Final transmission: Shaft
Transmission system: Constant mesh, 6-speed
Throttle system: Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle (YCC-T) Yamaha D-MODE: 2 modes, Sport (S) and Touring (T)
CHASSIS Frame: Steel tube backbone
Front suspension: Upside down telescopic fork, 43 mm inner tube, adjustable preload, compression and rebound damping, Front wheel travel: 190 mm
Rear suspension: Monoshock, adjustable preload and rebound damping Rear wheel travel: 190 mm
Front brake: Hydraulic Twin 310 mm wave discs, ABS/Unified Brake
Rear brake: Hydraulic Single 282 mm wave disc Rear tyre: 150/70/17 Overall height: 1,410 mm
Front tyre: 110/80/19 Overall length: 2,255 mm Wheelbase: 1,540 mm
Seat height: Adjustable 845-870 mm Min. ground clearance: 205 mm
Wet weight: 261 kg (includes full oil and fuel tank): Fuel capacity: 23 litres Oil capacity: 4.2 litres
The ROAD 29
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