Ten out of Tenere!
By TMX Archives on 20th Sep 07
YAMAHA has revived one of its most famous model names, Tenere, for a brand new Adventure Sport machine that has been launched with the 2008 range and named the XT660Z Tenere.
The Tenere name goes back to the 1980s and theoriginal Ten' was developed from the Dakar-winning factory machines ofthe day. Tenere was a by-word for tough, reliable, durable models thatcontinued successfully well into the 1990s before being discontinued.
The 2008 XT660Z Tenere, although all-new, revivesthat fine lineage and offers the best use yet of Yamaha's 660ccfour-valve single-cylinder four-stroke motor. Fuel injection ought tooffer smooth throttle response while a five-speed box is more thanenough when allied to that meaty motor.
Chassis is a simple steel semi-double-cradle frame hitched to a light, aluminium swinging arm. Long travel suspensiontakes care of rough roads, anywhere in the world that you care to findthem. Massive 298mm discs more than take care of the stopping requirements.
Touring riders will rave over the long-range fueltank which holds a generous 22 litres of go-juice. And much of theweight of the fuel is kept low down as the tank extends beneath theseat.
There's a front cowl to take the brunt of thewind-blast when whistling along the straight and narrow while thedesign also includes built-in crash protection for the bodywork and engine.
And if this is not enough for you, Yamaha willalso offer an impressive range of accessories including luggage cases,hand-guards, engine guards and a skid-plate. There will also be aslip-on Akrapovic can for those wanting to make more racket than thestandard silencer can manage.
If you are looking for a genuine go-anywhere bikealong the lines of the revered XT500 and subsequent Tenere models,Yamaha have just answered your prayers...
