Thinking outside of the Boxer: First look at Yamaha's XT1200Z Super Tenere
Filed under: Motorcycle, Off-Road
Yamaha Super Tenere - Click above for high-res photo gallery
We first spotted Yamaha's Super Tenere Concept in October of 2009 at the Tokyo Motor Show. Back then, it was shrouded in fabric and far too polished to be anywhere close to our garage. Fast forward - it's a new year and the Tuning Fork Company has revealed that this concept has bridged the gap to reality. A good move, considering the continued growth of the adventure and dual sport motorcycle markets. But is the Super Tenere really all that super?
One look at the styling cues of Japan's plus-size model, which tips the scales at 575 pounds wet, and we know what lies in her cross-hairs. For anyone who needs a hint, it starts with a B and ends with an MW. That may not be a bad thing, though. BMW's GS lineup has been parked squarely on prime real estate in the big-boned adventure market for some time now.
The production Super T looks to have made good use of the 6.07 gallon fuel tank covers that should double as wind deflectors. A no-frills upper fairing holds a factory guarded headlight and what could be an adjustable windscreen. What may be most interesting feature is the use of an upright 1199cc parallel twin producing 108 pulsing ponies and 84 pound-feet of torque. Yamaha is using a version of their "Pulsing Power" concept as well as traction control borrowed from the development team in charge of the YZF-R1. To reach terra firma, power will be dolled out through six gears and sent down a shaft drive system.
Upon closer inspection, we noticed center-reinforced tubeless spoke wheels as well as a fully adjustable set of suspenders front and rear. A two-piece seat, which should make loading cargo convenient, will require 33 to 34 inches of clearance depending on adjustment. The guessing game will have to suffice regarding pricing at the moment, however even with the optional ABS system and some other goodies, we expect a lower price category than anything sporting a Roundel. We'll do our best to find out if a boat full of XT1200Z Super Teneres are up for the adventure of the U.S. market.
Gallery: 2010 Yamaha Super Tenere
[Source: Asphalt & Rubber]Thinking outside of the Boxer: First look at Yamaha's XT1200Z Super Tenere originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments
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