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Yamaha XT660z Tenere

Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 9:11 pm
by allanthompson_uk
I am currently considering buying a Yamaha Xt660z Tenere. I intend to use it fora commute of about 20 miles each way with both country roads and motorways. I also want to be able to take off road and back roads at the weekends.
I have two questions that I hope you guys can help me with before I buy one.
1. How usable are they off road

2. At 5ft 8ins approximately I not the tallest. How high is the seat.

Re: Yamaha XT660z Tenere

Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 9:55 pm
by videoman
I've also been considering one and I'm the same height at 5'8". I test rode one for an hour last year and found the seat height very high but it is easily sorted with a lowering link and drop the forks a little through the stanchions.

Still undecided and I am now looking at XT660R which has a lower seat and less weight.

Yamaha XT660z Tenere

Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 10:20 pm
by tempesc
I rode one across Africa last year. Im 6ft and it was fine for me but it's a tall bike - you might need to lower it a bit. As for off road it was capable (within limits - its a dual sport not a pure dirt bike) but very heavy. In the tricky stuff the weight was an issue as it affects confidence unless you're a riding legend, since it's hard to catch. Wheel rims are also soft - i quickly dinged a rim. All that said, I love mine. Here's a couple of vids - one on tarmac in Tanzania, one on dirt in Malawi. Should give you a feel (especially the 2nd link).

Re: Yamaha XT660z Tenere

Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 10:22 pm
by motorbike
The tenere is a much better bike than the r...but more expensive

Re: Yamaha XT660z Tenere

Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 10:52 pm
by mabawza
motorbike wrote:The tenere is a much better bike than the r...but more expensive
I have a R and a Z sitting at my door just now and Have Used both on and off road over several years now and I can safely say the R is the better of the two.
The Z is top heavy,too heavy,the seat is an instrument of torture There's absolutely no storage anywhere you can't even tuck your gloves behind the screen the buffeting from the back of the forks is hellish the list goes on.
the Z I use for nipping to the shops and the R for the real work oh the Z is good for posing :laugh:

Re: Yamaha XT660z Tenere

Posted: Wed May 17, 2017 12:17 am
by Tenere Mart
:) Hi Allan
I use my Tenere every single day for the past 8 years .as I don't have 4 wheels . The Tenere to me is great all rounder . I been off road as some on here will know ...lol and its motorway miles muncher and urban ok I commute 22 miles roughly aswell . Fuel its great 200 /250 miles on mine steady 70 -75 mph . Out the box as mine was is ... done 52 984 miles on odometer . crashes well too . I I sertainly know ;) .
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Re: Yamaha XT660z Tenere

Posted: Wed May 17, 2017 7:40 am
by motorbike
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hi ( mabawza)ichy i presume....how are you getting on..hope to see you at one point this summer...i had a r for a short while and found it much muchlumpier than the z...something to do with a bigger airbox in the z.must agree with you on the seat...what on earth were they thinking about with that design,saying that on a extended run i found i could live with it,bezzar.. .. i have owned one r and 4 z's..keep going back to them between other bikes..now on my a twin..cheers frank

Re: Yamaha XT660z Tenere

Posted: Wed May 17, 2017 8:16 am
by yoda
I've had both, both good bikes. The r is lighter and easier to manage on off road/lanes, mine was an earlier one and the fueling was a bit poor at low revs so not sure if later ones are any better, easy to handle and reasonably comfy. I still have my z, i've had it for 7 yrs now, the fueling is better on it, but not perfect, the fuel range is better, the front brakes on the road are stronger, better weather protection and better h/light. However its taller, a bit heavier and feels more top heavy, not quite so easy on the loose unless you're more confident and cabable though still ok. I had thought of getting something else to replace it, but i like the z and use it mainly for commuting to work (40 miles a day) and shorter runs and have a 1200 S10 for longer rides. Both decent bikes, worth trying both if you get chance.

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Re: Yamaha XT660z Tenere

Posted: Wed May 17, 2017 8:42 am
by -Ralph-
By the sounds of it you'd be better off with an R and just fit a taller screen. I'm 6ft with 32" inside leg and I went for an R because the Z was too tall for me. Mine was a 2012 bike and no problems with fuelling, but I'm not sure which year it got fixed.

Re: Yamaha XT660z Tenere

Posted: Wed May 17, 2017 10:06 am
by P4ulie
The Z was one I demo'd but decided against, it really is big & with that huge tank sitting high, top heavy.

We're a similar height, with my Hobbit size 11 feet I could just about tip toe, but just felt if I ever mis planted a foot I would never keep it upright. As it was going to do a lot of snarly traffic commuting, it was a no deal.

You certainly need to try & they can be lowered fairly easily but there were other bikes out there more suited to my stature. Really do like them though