The 2012 Super Tenere took its maiden voyage on American soil at the press Launch held in Sedona, AZ. Below you find just a few of the things the media had to say about this very exciting motorcycle. Excerpts used by permission from these magazines and websites.
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Big, sneaky-fast, comfortable and surprisingly capable on- and off-road, Yamaha’s transcontinental uber-tourer has the right stuff to give its most obvious competition something new to worry about. Especially for $13,900. Bolt up a few necessary accessories and it’s still a deal. After inhaling a variety pack of Arizona real estate between Prescott and Mormon Lake, the big Yamaha proved it can play this game with the best of ‘em.
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In fact, the electronics package is one of the coolest things about this bike, and that TC is awesome. Just at the moment when the rear end begins to step out of the comfort zone, traction control takes over to keep the bike on its intended line. This is just one part of the advanced rider-aid technology features on the Super Tenere. It’s really a techno-geek’s dream bike.
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Both the fork and shock gave excellent feel and compliance both on the road and over the bumps in the off-road sections (about 50 miles total), and the longer I rode, the more comfortable I became with the machine’s off-road capability, eventually charging through some fairly rough rocky sections harder than I would have initially imagined possible without worry about damaging the wheels or tires or bottoming either end.
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Rolling back through Sedona, after a long and varied day in the saddle, I didn’t want the ride to end for so many reasons. The Super Tenere had taken me back to why I became a motorcyclist; the thrill of experiencing a new landscape from the saddle. It had seduced me into lusting for the open road and instilled me with a desire to find places to explore where the tarmac ends. It just works so well for such a wide variety of applications and does so without the ego boast of being better, lighter or faster than another brand. |
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The bike’s suspension handled the rough stuff very well, adding to the motorcycle’s off-highway mettle. The road we stormed through that first day was riddled with embedded rocks, and the front forks ate up those sharp two to three inch jagged edges in stride, without transmitting any sudden jolts through the bars. The front end felt very stable, the traditional forks very predictable, and not overly stiff as is the case with some other adventure type bikes. This kept the ride comfortable, and the front wheel nicely planted.
Out on the highway is where the bike’s ergonomics really shine. The seat is very comfortable, making long stretches without breaks easy on the body. Also, the bike is a lot narrower than it looks in photos, which allows for a natural, relaxed seating position, and good wind protection, as the rider’s legs tuck in well behind the tank and fairing. This narrowness should also come in handy for shorter riders because it makes reaching the ground easier. The height of the seat can also be adjusted, sans tools, to either 33.27” or 34.25”. At five foot ten, I’m not the tallest rider, but even with the seat in the highest position I could rest both feet firmly on the ground. All in all, the riding position is quite gentlemanly, if you will. With your back straight, arms extended forward, and knees bent lightly, a long series of 300 to 400 mile days should be a breeze. |
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Those not too concerned with off-road and more interested in touring will be happy to hear the Super Tenere is a very comfortable motorcycle. The riding position should fit most people but will be well suited for even the tallest of riders. The cockpit is spacious, it’s a long reach to the bars and pegs plus the seat is very comfortable. Standard hand guards will protect you from rocks, brush and provide a measure of relief from the cold as well as saving levers in case of a tip over. The front bodywork cuts a swath through the air and seems to protect the rider’s legs fairly well. We logged a couple hundred miles on the bike and in that short period of time I found it quite comfortable and more than once it crossed my mind that this was going to become a very popular adventure bike.
With the dust settled and the notes combed over a few things start to become clear. First of all the Super Tenere has what it takes to be a great Adventure Touring motorcycle. The suspension and chassis are well sorted and provide an exciting ride both on and off road. The bike looks like it rolled right out of the bivouac at Dakar. The basic electronics package, including ABS, selectable drive mode and traction control systems are on par with the new Multistrada S Touring. And, like the GS, it is a capable off-road motorcycle.
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Whether on the street or in the dirt, the Ténéré’s suspension delivers action typical of its conventional design, as opposed to BMW’s interesting but oddball Telelever front end. On paved surfaces, the Yamaha’s long-travel suspenders nicely suck up bumps that would have R1 riders wincing. And it also performs competently on every dirt terrain we sampled, from blasting at 80-plus-mph on groomed dirt roads to hammering over rock-strewn canyon fireroads.
Yamaha’s Super Ténéré brings a worthy foe to the adventure-touring class by virtue of its versatile set of capabilities. It’s one of the rare motorcycles that can easily knock out 500-plus miles of highway travel in a day and also allow exploration of uncharted and unpaved trails off the beaten path.
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On the open road the Super Ténéré’s taller 4th, 5th, and 6th gears show greater variety in the rev/power range, which tailored well for our 200+ miles of highway touring. On the interstates of Arizona the Yamaha Super Ténéré shows its practical nature, as it leisurely sips fuel at a modest rate. About 100 miles into our trip, the fuel gauge shows only about 1/4 of the Yamaha Super Ténéré’s 6.07 gallon tank has been used. Cruising in the overdriven 6th gear, we were easily getting 60+ miles per gallon on the freeway, which means Super Ténéré owners will likely have to take a break well before the Super T needs to be refueled. This also means that the Yamaha Super Ténéré can stray far from established roads, before a would-be adventurer will have to think about refueling.
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