Trying a 2013 XT660Z Ténéré

[JaimeV]

Ok... is not a Super Ténéré but it’s the little sister.
I had the opportunity to try it a whole weekend, and now I WANT ONE!!! :

Nice bike, really easy to ride, simple, logical, few electronics… At least in Spain (and I think in Europe) is the last authentic adventure bike in its classic concept. Probably the KLR owners could like it, similar concept.
It weights 183 kg an has 50HP so no lots of power for its weight but the engine is smooth, no vibrations at all.
With its 23 liters it can run more than 400km, is very frugal.
After riding the ST it seems light and small. Very nice and easy to ride off road and ok on road. You can ride 130 to 140km/h constantly with a decent wind protection.
I rode the ABS version witch has shorter suspension. Also like the ST there is not a switch to unable the ABS and it has road tires, so a bad combination to try it properly off road …
In general is a nice bike but is practically the same than the ’92 Tenere I had long time ago: unpowered, heavy and bad suspensions, Yamaha didn’t improve it much in all this time.
But I like it, it’s the logical bike to the ride I use to do. All the owners I know are really happy with it, very reliable. I would like to do a solo trip next year and I need a lighter bike than the Super Tenere, so it could be the Tenere 660.

I had a nice ride near where I live:

 

[Tallgears]

This is near where you live??

I hate you.

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[3putt]

Interesting bike, and very nice pictures!

 

[TenRider]

I looked long and hard at this bike but ended up buying the Super Tenere. I didn't like the seat and believed it was a little expensive for what is was. Don't mind spending the money if the value is there. I would love Yamaha to build a mid size Tenere twin with great suspension and true dirt potential but I cant see that coming. Shame really.

 

[Don in Lodi]

Twin mufflers on the 660, single for us...

 

[Firefight911]

I do hate you foreign spies! Stirring the pot with all this sparkly bike porn on bikes we just can't seem to get the mudda ship to send us. Oh, tis a fickle market in the US of A!

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[iridemotorbikes]

Very nice!!! Lucky dog.

 

[JaimeV]

This is near where you live??

I hate you.

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20 minutes from home... > ::003::

 

[JaimeV]

I looked long and hard at this bike but ended up buying the Super Tenere. I didn't like the seat and believed it was a little expensive for what is was. Don't mind spending the money if the value is there. I would love Yamaha to build a mid size Tenere twin with great suspension and true dirt potential but I cant see that coming. Shame really.

I agree with you, the seat is horrible and the suspensions too simple for serious off road but in Spain is not expensive (about 7.000€ new). I would like to have something like this:

Suspensions: The fork and front wheel could be from a Yamaha YZ, so it’s not difficult to fix. There are lots of rear suspensions available.
Weight: Not difficult to take 5 kg off with a single exhaust, the stock is really heavy. A single front brake could be lighter as well.
Power: opening the air intake and changing the exhaust the bike improves a lot. There are other options to gain about 5 HP but I don’t think it’s necessary.

A new project…. ::012::

 

[JaimeV]

Twin mufflers on the 660, single for us...

You can have twin as well : http://www.noneracing.com/en/motorbike-accesories/exhaust-systems-high-performance/yamaha/yamaha-xt1200z-super-tenere-2012/

In the 660 is not a real twin, just a big and heavy muffler under the seat with two decorative "mufflers" :

 

[JaimeV]

I do hate you foreign spies! Stirring the pot with all this sparkly bike porn on bikes we just can't seem to get the mudda ship to send us. Oh, tis a fickle market in the US of A!

::010:: ::010:: ::010::

Well... we don't have the KLR...

 

[Mark R.]

I have never understood why Yamaha has never brought the 660 Tenere to the US. Thousands of KLRs are sold here each year, so there is a big market for such a bike. 50 HP compared to 32 for the KLR, much better looking, big gas tank - I just don't get it. I would have bought one in 2008 when I got my KLR and started dual-sporting.

And the work necessary to keep my KLR up and running - Doohickey, 685 piston to cure oil consumption, footpeg mount strenghtening, etc, etc,etc. Seems I was always working on my KLR to make it reliable, or to fix things that could not stand up. Oh well, at least I have a Super Tenere now. ::26::

 

[~TABASCO~]

I have never understood why Yamaha has never brought the 660 Tenere to the US. Thousands of KLRs are sold here each year, so there is a big market for such a bike. 50 HP compared to 32 for the KLR, much better looking, big gas tank - I just don't get it. I would have bought one in 2008 when I got my KLR and started dual-sporting.

And the work necessary to keep my KLR up and running - Doohickey, 685 piston to cure oil consumption, footpeg mount strenghtening, etc, etc,etc. Seems I was always working on my KLR to make it reliable, or to fix things that could not stand up. Oh well, at least I have a Super Tenere now. ::26::

Thanks for posting all the pictures. . Mark, because of $$$$$. People would look at the 660 and then go buy the KLR. Kawasaki will kill Yamaha on the price. They know that now, so there not bringing it. Hell, we still have Yamaha dealers in the US that don't know what a Tenere is and what type, or size tires go on 'this' bike. (customer told me his experiance last week)

 

[Firefight911]

Trying a 2013 XT660Z Ténéré

Like I said above the American market is fickle and the American consumer is unlike the European and other markets.

Americans have an entitlement attitude and feel they should just get the good stuff at a cheap price, regardless. Other markets will pay for the technology offered.

Additionally, the American market won't take the time to understand and/or learn how to use the technology offered, therefore, it has no value to them.

This is a bit of a generalization but my point is that the manufacturers know that this market is all about price point. It has often bit the manufacturers in the actuarial dime to bring the good stuff here.

We call and wrote and beg to have the good stuff come to our shores. The dealer network goes to bat for us. The manufacturer brings the product. The bikes sit on the showroom floor until they are discounted heavily and then the model goes away just to have the consumer moan, groan, and complain that the model didn't last.

The WR450, the baby Tenere, and many others are all examples of stuff that won't carry a profit here as the actual number of people who will put their money where their mouth is is too small.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk which means there are more than likely spelling errors!

 

[gmtech]

you say the engine is smooth I read somewhere that the engine was like a cross between a ktm640 and a klr? did they change the engines on the new ones? that would be awesome that's one reason I rid myself of the 08 KLR I had was the viby engine

 

[Mark R.]

Thanks for posting all the pictures. . Mark, because of $$$$$. People would look at the 660 and then go buy the KLR. Kawasaki will kill Yamaha on the price. They know that now, so there not bringing it. Hell, we still have Yamaha dealers in the US that don't know what a Tenere is and what type, or size tires go on 'this' bike. (customer told me his experiance last week)

Kind of strange, when you think about how much you have to farkle a KLR to get it up to a decent level of operation. I had at least $8.5K into my KLR, and lots of hours working on it. Seems with the 660 Tenere, a bit of crash protection and suspension work, and you are done. Oh well....................

 

[JaimeV]

you say the engine is smooth I read somewhere that the engine was like a cross between a ktm640 and a klr? did they change the engines on the new ones? that would be awesome that's one reason I rid myself of the 08 KLR I had was the viby engine

This is fuel injection, in find it really smooth... unpowered. With 10HP more, 20 kg less and good suspensions it could be PERFECT!! ::008::

Think:

Tenere 660 year 1992: 48 HP, 180 kg, bad suspension
Tenere 660 year 2013: 48 HP, 180 kg, bad suspension

Tings didn't change much in 21 years... :

 

[~TABASCO~]

Kind of strange, when you think about how much you have to farkle a KLR to get it up to a decent level of operation. I had at least $8.5K into my KLR, and lots of hours working on it. Seems with the 660 Tenere, a bit of crash protection and suspension work, and you are done. Oh well....................

Ive spoke to 'upper people' at Yamaha before.. The numbers that where thrown around for the 660 in the US where in the $9's for the bike being stock.... Take this with a grain of salt, but was talked about... I wish they would bring it for sure

 

[snakebitten]

I totally agree with the comments about the American consumer.

But we are changing slowly. I suspect long term higher fuel prices and stagnate wages are starting to have their impact.

The American economy car was an entry level, cheap, basic, no-thrills product forever. If you dolled them up and added a bunch of features, we wouldn't bite. We would simply "move up" to the next model.

In Europe you could get the small chassis car stripped and cheap. Or completely loaded and much more expensive. In fact, it was the European tastes that created the C-class cars we are finally getting access to. The current Ford Focus is NOT our American Focus. It is Ford of Germany. And it can be configured for $16,000, or $28,000

Americans are finally savvy enough to appreciated a fully loaded Focus over a stripped down Taurus. That's change.

I love KLR's. They are very American. Who can argue that it is the American consumer that drives the KLR history.
Europe and Oz get the Little Tenere. It's a better package than the KLR. Someday we might actually think it is worth the higher price.

 

[caveman]

just sold my 2010 660 tenere with 50000km on it, great bike for the 50:50 use I gave it. For the last year, it really was mainly commuting to work 10kms each way, so as it was time for a change, I have just got a 2013 KLR as my taxi. It was $5000 dollars cheaper than the 660 and 4 weeks into ownership is definately $5000 less bike, I am happy with the role the klr will play, 90 tar 10 dirt. As for the 660, I will go back when I have more time in my life for the forest again, I disagree with the fact they are too heavy, it felt like a mx bike compared to the S10 and never let me down. They are a great dual sport bike but for now the S10 and I will continue our affair, it may not be able to climb a tight forest track like the 660 but for 500km plus days in all conditions and any road, she's the ants pants.