Author Topic: Yamaha's Tenere bike (Read 154 times)

811952 · « **on:** September 13, 2007, 11:29:27 AM »

You guys seen this yet?

http://www.yamaha-motor-europe.com/products/motorcycles/adventure/xt660z.jsp

I hope they bring it stateside...

John

kmh364 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 13, 2007, 04:35:23 PM »

Nice! They need a big-bore DP bike as they are the only one of the big four that don't offer one Stateside. Like the early-90's Super Tenere 750 twin, this one's got the Paris-Dakar repli thing going on.

Ck out the latest issue of M/C Consumer News...they did a 4-way comparo of DP bikes from Yami, Kawi, Honda and BMW.

811952 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 14, 2007, 06:12:24 AM »

It would be really interesting if somebody came out with a 450cc ~50hp dual sport bike in the 250 pound range. It wouldn't be so good on the highway at that light weight, but I could lift it!

george_wright · « **Reply #3 on:** September 18, 2007, 01:37:37 PM »

Don't mean to hijack this thread, but I thought you bike jocks might like this article (from a guy who sold a BMW R69S because he needed the cash to get married).

811952 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 18, 2007, 05:35:59 PM »

That's a good read. Of course, I don't know the answer to the problems it highlights. Common sense is often thrown out the window when it comes to vehicle purchases, and of course the high fatality rate might just as easily be from the low percentage of sport bike riders who wear helmets (at least in my neck of the woods). Of course, I've seen dealers sell sport bikes to people who've never ridden before too. Ah, to be young and invincible again?

I'd be happy with 50 hp, though 100 is fun in small doses...

John

kmh364 · « **Reply #5 on:** September 19, 2007, 10:05:31 AM »

George,

Thanks for the article. I am familiar with the skewed IIHS/NHTSA stats for older riders, myself being in the Motorcycle Safety Training Community. I wasn't aware of the growth in sportbike sales amongst that demographic, despite being firmly entrenched in that demo AND having just purchased a sportbike (my insurance agent considers EVERY bike in the Ducati line-up a sportbike). Further, despite the fact that I am an extremely experienced rider (23yrs, 3yrs as a MSF RiderCoach and well over 100,000mi in the saddle), I too am surprised at the level of performance of todays bikes...and I bought a slow 90hp, 400#, air/oil-cooled two-valve Duc (used to be called DesmoDue, now just Dual Spark, LOL).

Cheers,

Kevin

(Message edited by kmh364 on September 19, 2007)