Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke, 4-valve, single cylinder, SOHC
Compression Ratio
10 : 1
BH Power
48bhp
Torque
58Nm
Gears
5
Seat Hight
895mm
Ground Clearance
245mm
Fuel Capacity
22 Litres
Dry Weight
183kg
Front Suspension
Telescopic forks
Rear Suspension
Swingarm (mono-cross)
Front Tyre Size
90/90 - 21
Rear Tyre Size
130/80 - 17
Brakes Front
Double disc, 298mm
Brakes Rear
Single disc, 245mm
Big single cylinder thumper with better than average off road ability. Yamaha increased the price of the Tenere by £500 in April 2009 due to the weakness of the pound.
Editor review
I should have gone desert bashing
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Back in the 1970's the bike I'd have happily died for but could not afford was the Yamaha XT500. For me this was the first of the big trailies that had style, performance and heaps of desirability. However, by the time I had the cash (1989) the Yamaha Tenere was setting the pace and with a big wad in hand (it was the 80's after all) I made my way to Brierly Hill in the West Midlands and picked up a brand spanking new big thumper.
And if truth be told I knew on the ride back home I'd made a mistake, but let's put that judgement in context. At the time I was into on-road speed and performance and off road trials riding. The big single cylinder Tenere was not great nor suited for either. The lack of punch and top end speed was brutally frustrating for motorway riding and the poor comfort levels didn't help either.
As for it's off road capability I found the Yam too big, top heavy and the gearing was far too high for just about anything that resembled a technical challenge. That said, I was more into technical off road stuff than long distance desert piste bashing at the time – so my views of the Tenere would have been influenced by that. In short I bought the wrong bike, I would have been far happier with a machine that would eat road miles or a smaller more nibbler bike for enduro riding. If I valued anything about the bike then it was it's ability for nipping smartly around town and the fact that it did let me live when we flew over a hidden 10ft drop on a far too fast blast around some local fields.
That said, I reckon that these days with my focus more on the less technical off road stuff and warp speed road work a thing of the past the Tenere would be better suited for my needs. And in fairness there are many who rate this bike as one of the best dual purpose big trailies ever made and I can understand why. For example, if I were riding from the UK to Timbuktu then the Tenere would be a fantastic choice, as long as I had it shipped to the start of the desert piste.
I guess it's time to try out the new Tenere and see if I could now live with the on-road restrictions of riding a big single, though I doubt it, I still like a bit of speed and comfort.
Review Information Motorcycles
Time owned
1
I liked
Nippy around town
I Disliked
On road restrictions of a big single thumper
Would you buy again
Maybe
In one line
It's a classic and very able, I just bought one for the wrong reasons at the wrong time
I remember watching the Paris Dakar Rally as a Kid during the 80's The Yamaha Motor France Teneres ruled the roost.
I always wanted one and then they stopped making them. Then early 2007 Yamaha released photos and the speculation began. I saw one at the NEC that year and knew I had to have it.
Think of the bike as offering all the looks of a KTM but for much less money.
I tried the bike in the showroom in June 2008 and it was massively tall, but having ridden off road bikes I was not put off by this. I picked the bike up 4 days later.
Its a great looking bike with loads of road presence. Around town the height and slimness of the machine along with the punchy engine make filtering a breeze. The exhaust provides just enough bang for your bucks so people are aware you are there.
Out on the lanes this bike excels you are high enough that you can see over hedges and the suspension will soak up any pot holes.
Stretch the bikes legs out on the open road and it will happily respond to a heavy right hand and still give you great mpg of 50 plus no matter how hard you ride.
On the motorway or longer runs if you stick around 70 mph you can great economy of 60 plus mpg but the bike will happily sit at 80 mph no worries and wind it up and you can see just over the ton on the easy to read digital speedo. The analogue tacho is a nice touch.
The tank gives you a massive fuel range and you can easily achieve 300 miles before a re fuel if you keep below 70 mph.
Off road the bike is big but neutral to ride the power comes in smoothly. The tank is perhaps a little wide at the point where it meets the seat. For gravel fire roads this bike rocks.
yes some of the components are price related but everything works well. The seat is a mar mite affair you'll either love it or hate it. I use a cheap sheep skin on long runs to improve comfort levels.
There are loads of accessories available, steer clear of Yamaha's own bits as they are overpriced and under made.
Reliability is generally good. I have had a problem with the loom but this was replaced under warranty without any hesitation. Join a site like xt660.com as there is loads of info available.
Buy this bike as a do anything machine, see it as a swiss army knife, it will cut up meat but a butchers cleaver would do it better !
The bike is great for short commutes, tours, green lanning or anything else you can throw at it.
Don't but the bike if you want just a long haul tourer or for weekend scratching as you will be disappointed.
I think you will find most Tenere riders are year round motorcyclists who don't mind getting down and dirty. The bike has good crash protection as standard and with a little owner fettle is a good long term purchase.
Weather protection is good too.
Its a pity Yamaha prices have risen so steeply as its rrp is now £6499 but there are plenty of great deals on new and used bikes. I recently saw a low millage bike with warranty left for £3600. For that money you are buying a great looking reliable bike.
Would I recommend this bike yes its great make no mistake it will not set your heart on fire but it will slowly form a long lasting friendship with you that makes you always want to take the long way home, and if that includes some mud or gravel then all the better for it. Ride On
The first thing that takes hold of you is just how tall this bike is, it’s extremely daunting, at first, and can take a little while for both rider and bike to jell into perfect harmony, then, without warning the height issue seems second nature and you’re enjoying the added benefits of the 895mm seat height. With this issue of height comes a rather short OE screen and this can have the wind hitting you at chest level, and above, so a quick call to Metal Mule and one taller and convenient screen later the problem is solved.
With this bike comes a practicable fuel tank (23 litres) and can, depending on riding style and route; Motorway, A, B or minor road taken, the fuel range can vary from a pleasant 225 to a satisfying 320. This is where the (2008) XT 660z Ténéré shows both its greatness, and too, its weaknesses. Fantastic as a minor road runner but as soon as any serious motorway distance beckons it becomes flatter than a pancake and its legs feel so short of breath to the point where you feel you are certain it is screaming for you to turn to those country lanes it so loves, putting both bike and rider out of misery. Maybe the OE catalytic converter exhaust system and some tweaking in its lungs need apply here to prevent it from feeling like a rock in a monotonous wind tunnel.
Being a single here, the rear wheel cuch drive (aka bushes, damper) seem to only last some 3000 to 5000 miles (steady riding here, no off-road work and both wheels on the ground too) before they need replacing. A weakness, again, for those RTW types who may decide on this model, beware the rather quick deteriorating bushes.
The suspension, and the seat, is just beautiful and with mileage anything up to the 250 mark, in one sitting, there is very little, if any, numb bum, bliss, top marks here. As too are the brakes, they are fine, even when fully loaded with Metal Mule Skinnies and Top Box, but a replacement of the standard brake lines to a set of HEL lines also do the bike justice, and they look so much better than the OE lines.
As for the sticky stuff, I have put another set of MICHELIN SIRAC’s back on and they are superb and hold up against both sunny days to extreme Swiss thunderstorms, very pleased here.
I have had no concerns as to wiring, rectifier’s et al and as the bike is some 12, 500 miles old within a two-year period (no winter riding I.e. Salt). It’s well travelled (South of France and Switzerland) and has had to suffer rolling Alpine rainstorms, excessive Italian heat and it is still holding its own and I’d recommend it wholly as a bike of jack-of-all-trades and it certainly isn’t the master of none, but just leave the motorways to the shaft drives…
I bought one for commute and back road / green lane riding. After breaking down for the third time (repeated rectifier problems) decided it wasn't for me.
Coming from a TDM900 obviously it wasn't as powerful, and this wasn't really an issue except on motorways, and back road fast overtakes...but I could live with this. It was the rusty water puddle under the bike, where water had drained out of the centre stand. The breakdowns with legendary Italian wiring.
Good things were the tank range...240miles 60 mpg, cheap and easy maintenance. Tyres cheap to replace too. If I were doing a short commute (say 20ish miles) I might well of kept it, but I do 110 miles a day.
The suspension soaks the potholes...like they don't even exist...however of course that softness is compromised for quick handling.
Horses for Courses I guess - but the KTM 990 I have now is better suited for my use anyway.
2
