Yamaha have been making large dual purpose motorcycles under the (Super) Ténéré banner for something like 20 years now, but none of the earlier models have a lot in common with the new monster that is the Super Ténéré 1200. Clearly the crew from Iwata are dead set to seize the "big bore dualsport" crown from BMW's R 1200.
The new Super Ténéré sports its own unique high-tensile steel backbone frame and fuel injected 270-degree parallel twin engine, which work together to centralise the bike’s mass and lower its centre of gravity.
The bike features the proven YCC-T (Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle) electronic fuel injection system, with a choice of two ride modes, two-stage traction control and ABS. And, most importantly, the power is delivered via a shaft drive housed within the bike's swingarm.
At rest, the bike certainly carries an imposing presence, with its striking blue colour scheme, large 6.1 gallon tank and trick wire-spoke wheels. But once you're on the move, however, all that bulky weight seems to magically disappears, and the Super Ténéré’s exhibits the same agility as its smaller siblings. The seating position is upright and relaxed, and the handguards and small windscreen provide a reasonable degree of wind protection.
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| Official Yamaha EU photograph |
The engine and driveline though are the real standout aspect of this bike - for a big twin the bike delivers massive torque , and in top gear 75mph is reached at just 3000rpm. Shaft reaction is minimal despite the relatively simple setup (there are no paralever or CARC style linkages).
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