2015 Yamaha Shaft Drive Motorcycle Lineup

In the current model year, Yamaha Motor Co. are only offering three shaft drive machines, namely the FJR1300, the V-Max and the Super Tenere.

Let's say this again: the second largest manufacturer in the world, with a palette of some 30-odd models, offers a mere three types of shaft drive machine.

Yamaha Super Ténéré XTZ1200

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.