<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0">
    <channel>
        <title><![CDATA[Adventure - Adventure Bike Rider]]></title>
        <description><![CDATA[the home of adventure motorbikes and adventure motorcycles riders]]></description>
        <link>http://www.adventurebikerider.com/</link>
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                <guid isPermaLink="false">81-341</guid>
                <title><![CDATA[Yamaha XT660Z Tenere: Big grin factor and a seriously usefull bike]]></title>
                                <link>http://www.adventurebikerider.com/component/content/article/42-adventure/81-yamaha-xt660z-tenere.html</link>
                <description><![CDATA[
                                Can I start by saying , the editors review is based on a 1989 Ten,, pretty pointless really.
I bought mine new from wigan Yam, who delivered it (with Yam Panniers) and picked up my KTM 640 supermoto, Great service, I stay near Edinburgh so they did well.
I thought aboput a beemer before buying this, but the money, and the weight made me buy the Ten, and I love it, Two up touring the Hebrideas, camping off the bike for a week was superb and once I got the hang of the hight of the bugger it coped brilliantly.
Mines has been totally reliable,, no issues at all. Fuel economy is superb, handling is excellent, off road as well, copes great on the trails round my way.
I have been messing about a wee bit, fitted big ebay pegs (superb), Garmin, on a ram mount wired tothe aux outlet in the dash. XT660.com is the place to go for all advice and bits and bobs etc. Will sort out the exhaust (very heavy and restrictive) and do a fuel mod, once the 2 yrs are up.

All in all,, brilliant, would reccomend one any day.                ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[Adventure]]></category>
                <pubDate>Sat, 05 Nov 2011 19:55:46 +0100</pubDate>
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                        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">81-327</guid>
                <title><![CDATA[Yamaha XT660Z Tenere: Yamaha tenere 660]]></title>
                                <link>http://www.adventurebikerider.com/component/content/article/42-adventure/81-yamaha-xt660z-tenere.html</link>
                <description><![CDATA[
                                i own several bikes and this is my smallest capacity bike. have had this bike over mountains, on long trips and use it lots in town and on freeway. its extremely capable for its size and horsepower.

do not try to ride it like a 1200 as it is not. its extremely comfortable compared to what is out there in the market that compares. most 600 size bikes with such capability are either enduro orientated or too road orientated. i think the main review misses the boat totally.                ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[Adventure]]></category>
                <pubDate>Sun, 25 Sep 2011 17:05:04 +0200</pubDate>
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                        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">81-322</guid>
                <title><![CDATA[Yamaha XT660Z Tenere: i just love this bike    warts and all  ]]></title>
                                <link>http://www.adventurebikerider.com/component/content/article/42-adventure/81-yamaha-xt660z-tenere.html</link>
                <description><![CDATA[
                                  ive given this  bike  a year  .. i bought it  with one intention    to  do as much  off road riding  as i could   ..with a trip to  morroco   on the horizon too     

       engine  ..   well  its  a big  single  48hp  with tall gearing   ..  but  its  sprightly  and surprisingly smooth   as long as you dont bog it  down  
   it  gives its  tourque early   and   with standard gearing will lollop along  at  80mph all day   
its delivery is  great  its  soft  low down  but with a long action throttle  you can spin it up  when you want to  .not when the engine feels like it   ..so  easy to pick your way  through rocks  and stuff  without unwelcome  spin ups  ..on a bike this tall  its a  nice  plus   
  evryone has a different  take  on  what they want  ..to own this bike and get on with it  i think a certain mindset is  a good idea .
  for me  the gearing is too tall  ..a 14 tooth front sprocket  helps usability   all round  ..the payback is  75mph  criusing  on the motorway   is  where your at  shed with knobblies    this  seems  sensible enough anyway  so no big deal  
  overall  it  gives  around 65mpg    ..that can be  55mpg on  motorway slogs   and 70mpg  chugging around the back roads  short shifting  at  4k revs    
     i went on to cut the cat out of the exhaust  and  fit a fual mod  ..now the big single is  really flexible  ..between the gearing and the  breathing  mods   its  so much better all round 

              inm not a  total mug  off road but  not a great talent  ..but  bit by bit  ive got used to the tenere  and  have surprised myself  where  its gone  and how well its dealt with it 
   lowering the bike has helped  to get me feet down off road  [im  6ft 1 tall too ]
replacing the fork springs with ohlins   is a absalute  must  ..i  say that after   doing it  but  its way to0 soggy  as standard ..
 loads of suspension travel  and for a big  bus adventure  off road  its very good  as long as you  remember  your not in the dakar here the tenere  makes a lot of sense  

  the equipment   readouts  are  fine     

  the brakes  ...very very good    smooth progressive  loads of feel  no  abs  ..but i dont want it  on this type of  bike  
     
  ergos  for me is   very good    the seat  is  ok  but  me airhawk  is a great addition for that big trip  .a larger giv1 screen with a mra wing  and  the protection   is   very good  i  ride open face lid everywhere       
   raising the handlebars for standing   makes this bike fit  well  with the peg handlebar  position  spot  on   .i can literally stand  for  a hour or  more   should i want to  
    servicing  ..is  simple  easy access to everything  although the rad has to come off for the valves   ..its a simple one pot  ..locknut  adjusting affair  ..  15k  miles   no  adjustment needed   
  it  took me a while to  get it where i want it to be  .the tenere can be much   better  with a few  cheap  mods 
  it handles really  well on the road   but again with knoblies   fitted   quick to 80mph  is as much as id  like   it starts to get skittish after that  ..but  was pretty nippy  through the bends with road rubber when i first got it   ..but thats not what the tenere is about   ..that said its pleasent enough to ride on the road   ...  
  ok  so whats  bad  
well  the cush drives are poor  but can be packed out  for 50p  
the well recorded rectifier  connection  ..check and seal    
i would say the standard gearing   
low beam is ok   high beam is pathetic  ..spots for this winter  are going on  ..they are needed  

  whats good  ..well you get the idea from the report  
..some things that dont get noticed that much  ..
  mild steel brake and gear levers  [no stupid weak alloy ]  
  crank case protector for the brake lever   
   towing loop    
  ready for high fender  if you need it    
huge  suspension  movment  
the price  ..4500 quid for a 900 mile mint condition   bike   

 marking the bike    for  points  

 it will do distance  with the right mindset  and lots of it  

off road   10  its a great dual purpose bike  

town  with the right gearing  its  a breeze  

equipment    pretty much anything  is out there    

100percent reliable   

handling    its  nice to ride  

engine  ..  its a good old thumper   urber tourers and fast  boys  look elswhere  

value  ...i think im going to get arrested  for theft  everytime i ride it               

           
      
                  ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[Adventure]]></category>
                <pubDate>Thu, 01 Sep 2011 23:18:14 +0200</pubDate>
            </item>
                        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">81-268</guid>
                <title><![CDATA[Yamaha XT660Z Tenere: One of the first]]></title>
                                <link>http://www.adventurebikerider.com/component/content/article/42-adventure/81-yamaha-xt660z-tenere.html</link>
                <description><![CDATA[
                                I've owned and ridden this bike since June 2008 and it is the longest I have ever owned a bike.  I was planning a pan-European trip for August 2008 and I had a Honda Varadero all setup and ready. I went into the dealers to buy a set of pads for my TTR, and came out with a new Tenere!

A few weeks after taking delivery I was out in Europe, I covered well in excess of 8000 miles in 19 days, I serviced the bike on the roadside in Greece and she never missed a single beat. She laughed at the roads in Romania and took on the mountain roads in Greece. Happy to hussle with the Itallians and Polish dirvers without breaking a sweat (unlike her rider!)

The bike has had it's little problems, the wiring harness was over tight and a wire was worn through, there have been a few problems with the regulator assembly connection on other bikes (not mine), I've had a replacement swing arm (when the paint came off) but that's about it.  She really is the most reliable bike I've owned, even after the Honda!

The Tenere is a little rough around the edges, after a while the suspension needs a tweek. Hyperpro progressive springs turn the bike into another machine all together. Replace the airfilter with a lovely DNA filter and PowerCommander V and the bike morphs again. Ditch the twin exit single can setup with a real single can (I'll plug MTC here) and the bike changes yet again.  With each small improvement the butterfly becomes a more refined machine.  The cost of these modification is probably around £700 with the PC-V being the single most expensive item.

The brakes are pretty good, you can add a little by upgrading to braided lines. You get a little more feel but not a huge amount.

In 2010 a group of us took the Tenere into Portugal, we covered 800+ miles of off road punishment, reaching speeds of 70-80 mph on gravel roads. These bikes just love this sort or terrain and are just as stable as doing 70-80 mph on the autoroutes. They get a little more hard work on slow stuff, but the key is speed, keep it up and the bike will carry you through.

They are very tall, but at 5'10" I'm not the tallest person in the world and I have a medioca 29" inside leg. Like most things in life it's not the physical attributes, but how you apply them, and I have no issue with the balance of the bike either on or off road.  It's a matter of confidence in the bike, and this bike instills it by the bucket load.

Big singles aren't for everyone, with the Tenere you will love it, want to sleep with it or hate it.                ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[Adventure]]></category>
                <pubDate>Wed, 04 May 2011 11:22:46 +0200</pubDate>
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                        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">81-267</guid>
                <title><![CDATA[Yamaha XT660Z Tenere: The first 2 years 9 mths]]></title>
                                <link>http://www.adventurebikerider.com/component/content/article/42-adventure/81-yamaha-xt660z-tenere.html</link>
                <description><![CDATA[
                                Bought the bike for £4699 including centrestand in March 2009 and it had its 6000 mile service 4 months later thanks to a trip round the coastline of Britain, where it excelled.  Averaged 65mpg on that trip, and about 55mpg at motorway speeds.  I opted to fit Givi PLX363 panniers and a Givi monokey top plate, to which I fitted an old Givi E360 top box, rather than the aluminuim set available from Yamaha.  I also fitted Touratech handguards and Oxford heated grips, and a 12 volt socket.

Mine suffered from regulator problems stemming from the stupid design of the regulator connector, which allows water to run into the plug and corrode it.  I have had a new partial loom fitted, which I have sealed with self-amalgamating tape.  I also fitted a battery charge monitor as there is no charge light fitted.  I have had no more problems since then.

The standard Michelin Sirac tyres warm quickly and offer good grip, although they run very hot when loaded and my first rear tyre lasted only 4700 miles.  I now run Avon Distanzias, excellent tyres with a smoother on road ride than the Siracs.  The rear cush drive is made of playdoh, just stuff cut up inner tube in there and the drive will be much smoother.  The original chain was shot at 11500 miles and I have fitted an X Ring gold chain and sprockets.

The finish of the bike is not as good as my old Honda CBR 1000F, and it requires regular cleaning and dosing with ACF50 to keep corrosion at bay.  In the winter it is cleaned after every ride but I still have some furring on exposed nuts and bolts.  The spokes need some TLC as they have started to rust despite of the cleaning ritual.

The bike is no sports bike but it cruises happily at 80 mph fully laden, and I don't go touring at any speeds faster than than that, otherwise it isnt touring!!  I have done 450 mile days on it, where you realise that the seat holds you in one position leading to a numb bum.

I do love the bike but the reason I wouldn't buy another is cost.  The latest price from Yamaha of over £7000 for a new one is a joke.  It is worth £5k new but no more.

Update Dec 11 - As the bike now has 19000 mls on it and I have had no further problems with the regulator I have increased the reliability figure from a 6 to an 8.  It performed faultlessly on my summer trip to Nordkapp in some horrendous rain when I was covering up to 500 miles per day.  Average rear tyre life is 6000 mls - I have kept with the Distanzias as they grip really well wet or dry.  Now the bike is out of warranty I service it myself - all parts easy to get and reasonably priced (Yamaha oil filter £8), and from now on it will get oil and filter every 3000 mls rather than the 6k Yamaha say.  The bke still pulls really well with decent shove still available when cruising at motorway speeds, and I am still amazed at how smooth it is for a large single.                 ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[Adventure]]></category>
                <pubDate>Fri, 29 Apr 2011 19:44:21 +0200</pubDate>
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                        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">81-265</guid>
                <title><![CDATA[Yamaha XT660Z Tenere: Newish owner]]></title>
                                <link>http://www.adventurebikerider.com/component/content/article/42-adventure/81-yamaha-xt660z-tenere.html</link>
                <description><![CDATA[
                                I have had many adventure bikes and this is definately my favourite.  For price, reliability, aftermarket additions and all round usability it really does take some beating.

I have owned it 6-months from brand new and put on 5200 miles, it has been through the winter (covered in afc50) and cleaned up back to looking brand new, beleive me it got some paggering with gritted roads!

The community (XT660.COM) is also worth a mentioning - great bunch and very helpful indeed.

This bike always puts a smile on my face I love it!                ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[Adventure]]></category>
                <pubDate>Thu, 28 Apr 2011 13:02:43 +0200</pubDate>
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                <guid isPermaLink="false">81-215</guid>
                <title><![CDATA[Yamaha XT660Z Tenere: 2008 Yamaha xt660z Tenere]]></title>
                                <link>http://www.adventurebikerider.com/component/content/article/42-adventure/81-yamaha-xt660z-tenere.html</link>
                <description><![CDATA[
                                I only went into Metropolis at Vauxhall to buy some new gloves when I saw the new 2008 Tenere for the first time. 

I had seen pictures in magazines and liked it but had no plans on buying a new bike. 
I dont know what happened but I got the debit card out and paid a deposit, sorted out part-ex on my Honda CBF500 and one week later I went back to collect my new bike.

I had never owned a single cylinder bike before and when I was handed the keys and fired up the engine for the first time I was shocked at how rough it sounded. Like an old tractor. I thought I'd made a big mistake.

But after riding it home I had fallen in love with it.
The banging and cracking noise when you let the throttle off was a pleasure.  

I am 6'2 but this is a tall bike. I have dropped it twice when stopping on uneven ground. Put foot down and the floor wasn't there but no damage thanks to the hard plastic side panels. After 2 and a half years of use every day it still looks good when given a wash and polish.

Yamaha quality at its best.

It has done 23,000 miles now,never let me down and I still love riding it.






                ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[Adventure]]></category>
                <pubDate>Sat, 12 Feb 2011 20:02:23 +0100</pubDate>
            </item>
                        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">81-204</guid>
                <title><![CDATA[Yamaha XT660Z Tenere: xt660z]]></title>
                                <link>http://www.adventurebikerider.com/component/content/article/42-adventure/81-yamaha-xt660z-tenere.html</link>
                <description><![CDATA[
                                got the bike new from cmc in cannock they did a great deal for cash , it was one of the last white and red ones , the bike it self looks great but is let down by the likes of the seat and cheap coatings used on the frame and swing arm oh and the cush drive rubbers are made of cheese , with the bike being a big single you do get vibes through the bars but can be sorted , i did over 4000 miles in just two weeks in france and it turned over 65 mpg and sat at 80 mph on longer roads (105 mph flat out, dont know where 120 mph in test came from)it never missed a beat it just kept going , i wouldnt tour with a passenger it just hasnt got the power to deal with it fully loaded , talking of fully loaded the standard alloy yamaha panniers are crap , they drop to bits , my first set the locks played up and started to come apart ,they were replaced by yamaha . if the bike had the same sort of power and cc as the 800 gs it would have been a monster of a bike but yamaha made the 1200 and made it out of most people price range , shame                ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[Adventure]]></category>
                <pubDate>Wed, 26 Jan 2011 08:25:44 +0100</pubDate>
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                        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">81-71</guid>
                <title><![CDATA[Yamaha XT660Z Tenere: It's like a Trangia stove]]></title>
                                <link>http://www.adventurebikerider.com/component/content/article/42-adventure/81-yamaha-xt660z-tenere.html</link>
                <description><![CDATA[
                                Best accolade I can give my Ten is to compare it to my Trangia – it's basic, it's a really old design, it's not as fast as the competition. But it's never let me down, it'll take the knocks and keep on going and it's easy to operate and work on.

OK so the cush-drive rubbers are a bit on the soft side and seem to compress quickly – just pack 'em out with a bit of old innertube and they'll keep going.

It's never going to scorch the earth, but that level of power/torque and the way it's delivered in big thuds from that single cylinder seem nicely complimentary once the roads get twisty and turn to tracks.

I've racked up 6,000 miles on mine for the last 6 months and I have to say it's been the most fun riding I've done. It's more than happy to do long days (though I think I might invest in a sheepskin for +300 mile days in the future).

Like my Trangia, I expect this bike will become something of a cult classic. Loved by those who've owned and abused one for years, discounted off-hand by those who've never tried one to appreciate it's charms

                ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[Adventure]]></category>
                <pubDate>Wed, 29 Sep 2010 18:42:54 +0200</pubDate>
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                        <item>
                <guid isPermaLink="false">81-63</guid>
                <title><![CDATA[Yamaha XT660Z Tenere: A swiss army knife]]></title>
                                <link>http://www.adventurebikerider.com/component/content/article/42-adventure/81-yamaha-xt660z-tenere.html</link>
                <description><![CDATA[
                                Just what I think, the Tenere is underrated for how truly great it is. Everyone these days seems to want bigger and wider when simple and reliable and low maintenance cost should be factors. I wish it had a sixth gear but it's five work perfectly.                 ]]></description>
                <category><![CDATA[Adventure]]></category>
                <pubDate>Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:55:16 +0200</pubDate>
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