For you Yamaha XT600Z Tenere fans

[young1]

Just came across this test, including video clips. Just a shame it is underpowered and heavy!

http://www.raptorsandrockets.com/Reviews/2008_yamaha_xt660z_tenere.htm

And here is a link to the BMW 800 GS test

http://www.raptorsandrockets.com/Reviews/2008_BMW_F_800_GS.htm

[cooneyr]

Bugger the XT660Z - I just went for a ride on a 91 XTZ750 :drool::drool::drool: Big and heavy but heaps of fun and really really nice to ride and way cooler looking than the F800GS:niceone: Pity it's not mine and I had to give it back though :crybaby:

Cheers R

[jezzaNZ]

Bugger the XT660Z - I just went for a ride on a 91 XTZ750 :drool::drool::drool: Big and heavy but heaps of fun and really really nice to ride and way cooler looking than the F800GS:niceone: Pity it's not mine and I had to give it back though :crybaby:

Cheers R

So now you boys know what put the smile om my face at the CCA!!!!! John I think I have changed my mind ..........bugger!!!!!:Oops::crybaby:

[young1]

Bugger the XT660Z - I just went for a ride on a 91 XTZ750 :drool::drool::drool: Big and heavy but heaps of fun and really really nice to ride and way cooler looking than the F800GS:niceone: Pity it's not mine and I had to give it back though :crybaby:

Cheers R

They were smart bikes in their time, one used to park near where I worked when I lived in Wellington. For those of you who are not sure what one of these is here is a link to some pictures. I wonder if they ever raced them in the Paris Dakar? The 98 version is very smart.

http://www.bikepics.com/yamaha/xtz750/

[jezzaNZ]

They were smart bikes in their time, one used to park near where I worked when I lived in Wellington. For those of you who are not sure what one of these is here is a link to some pictures. I wonder if they ever raced them in the Paris Dakar? The 98 version is very smart.

http://www.bikepics.com/yamaha/xtz750/

I believe it won the Dakar approx 6 times from the late 80's to early 90's in varying versions including the 850 or TDM engine. A better record than the Africa Twin or BMW I might add. A very nice and easy bike to ride for it's size.

I will miss it a lot.:eek5:

[marks]

So now you boys know what put the smile om my face at the CCA!!!!! John I think I have changed my mind ..........bugger!!!!!:Oops::crybaby:

Actually - I would like to hear your thoughts on your new toy.

Does it live up to your expectations?

[jezzaNZ]

Actually - I would like to hear your thoughts on your new toy.

Does it live up to your expectations?


Where do I start......what I would say is that the XTZ was a lot easier to ride.

Fantastic on the road and pleanty of power to burn, it could do with a 16 tooth sproket up front as changing into 6th gear at anything under 115 kph creates chain chatter as you will be pulling under 4k rpm. It kindly reminds you you are not riding a big single.

Offroad its height makes it a little unstable and twitchy in the thight stuff with less traction in the rear due to the power. It has more power than you would ever need, handles bumps/rocks with ease but you do need to use its power to get to go where you want to.

On the Monkey trip I took it places it was not really designed for and it just kept going stong. I think it carries a lot more weight up front to the XTZ which makes tire choice up-front crtical. I could have done with a more aggressive front for the conditions.

In conclusion :headbang: but if you dont take command of her in the rough she will grab you by your nuts and twist hard.

Mark, if you are keen to take a look give me a call.

Jez

[young1]

Where do I start......what I would say is that the XTZ was a lot easier to ride.

Fantastic on the road and pleanty of power to burn, it could do with a 16 tooth sproket up front as changing into 6th gear at anything under 115 kph creates chain chatter as you will be pulling under 4k rpm. It kindly reminds you you are not riding a big single.


Jez

I have gone down one tooth on the front of my 990, it makes first gear far more useable.

[cooneyr]

Where do I start......what I would say is that the XTZ was a lot easier to ride.

Fantastic on the road and pleanty of power to burn, it could do with a 16 tooth sproket up front as changing into 6th gear at anything under 115 kph creates chain chatter as you will be pulling under 4k rpm. It kindly reminds you you are not riding a big single........

Speaking of singles - the DR650 had the XTZ 750 till 80kph when I ran out of puff in 2nd and had to slot 3rd. I think this is cause the single will spin up the engine faster. Above 80kph the XTZ would then just go sailing past like I was standing still. Also - spinning up the rear (when traveling in a straight line) at speed :shifty: on gravel through sheer power is kinda interesting. I was wondering what the hell was happening for a start off.

Gotta love those twins though. Silky smooth and never complained about gear selection - would happily keep chugging (spinning the rear on loose riverbed gravels) when the DR was either screaming or lugging. I'm on the hunt for a twin!

Cheers R

[NordieBoy]

Just came across this test, including video clips. Just a shame it is underpowered and heavy!

But all the people who've got one love them.

[Peril]

I like the 1VJ vs new version pic.
I have to say,I'm liking the looks of it,but am a bit disappointed in the engine side.Surely they could have designed a new engine for it instead of using the 4 year old 660 engine.It still makes the same power as my old 86 Tenere :bleh:

[NordieBoy]

I like the 1VJ vs new version pic.
I have to say,I'm liking the looks of it,but am a bit disappointed in the engine side.Surely they could have designed a new engine for it instead of using the 4 year old 660 engine.It still makes the same power as my old 86 Tenere :bleh:

The >=96 DR650 makes less power than the <96 one.

Much more torque though.

[timg]

I'm on the hunt for a twin! :msn-wink: :niceone:

[young1]

I like the 1VJ vs new version pic.
I have to say,I'm liking the looks of it,but am a bit disappointed in the engine side.Surely they could have designed a new engine for it instead of using the 4 year old 660 engine.It still makes the same power as my old 86 Tenere :bleh:

I am the same I thinnk it is a very good looking bike, would like to see one in the flesh.

[Peril]

I am the same I thinnk it is a very good looking bike, would like to see one in the flesh.

It's actually grown on me.When I first saw pics of it I thought it was hidious.
The comment going round was it looked like a transformer,which it does in a wierd way.
I still wouldn't say no to one,but I think it'll be well out of my reach for a few years.

[marks]

Just came across this test, including video clips. Just a shame it is underpowered and heavy!

Actually - its not underpowered (even if it makes less than half the power your missile makes) - its adequately powered - it has enough power to do what its designed to - as long as you don't want to take a pillion. My XT had enough power for all my needs - more power would simply have reduced my life expectancy....

[young1]

Actually - its not underpowered (even if it makes less than half the power your missile makes) - its adequately powered - it has enough power to do what its designed to - as long as you don't want to take a pillion. My XT had enough power for all my needs - more power would simply have reduced my life expectancy....

Very good point (even coming from a one eyed Yamaha rider!). Seriously how often do you use full throttle on a bike? But as a mate of mine once said "doesn't horsepower put a big smile on your face!"

[El scooto]

John I think I have changed my mind ..........bugger!!!!!:Oops::crybaby:

How does NO sound!! After the ride on sunday I see exactly what you mean. Really enjoyed it and can't wait to get out on it again :drool:

[jezzaNZ]

How does NO sound!! After the ride on sunday I see exactly what you mean. Really enjoyed it and can't wait to get out on it again :drool:

Bugger........enjoy John.

Think my next purchase wil be in the VMX class.....though I do like the sound of an XR650 ????

[Coyote]

Bugger the XT660Z - I just went for a ride on a 91 XTZ750 :drool::drool::drool: Big and heavy but heaps of fun and really really nice to ride and way cooler looking than the F800GS:niceone: Pity it's not mine and I had to give it back though :crybaby:

Cheers R
Just had a look on google images to see what you were on about. The one attached looks awesome! Do many come up for sale? I've ridden and loved the XR650R. What does or doesn't the XTZ have over the XR?

[NordieBoy]

What does or doesn't the XTZ have over the XR?

Style ?

[Coyote]

Style ?
Is that all? Cause then the XTZ wins.

I was thinking more about power, ability to handle dirt and road conditions, etc.

[NordieBoy]

Is that all? Cause then the XTZ wins.

I was thinking more about power, ability to handle dirt and road conditions, etc.

XR would win in dirt handleing and that's about it (maybe power too).

The Yammy has all the rest.

Unless you compare it to an Africa Twin of course :buggerd:

[cooneyr]

Just had a look on google images to see what you were on about. The one attached looks awesome! Do many come up for sale? I've ridden and loved the XR650R. What does or doesn't the XTZ have over the XR?

The pic you attached is a rally preped one. It is missing the "normal" fairings plus much other work. They are not that common in NZ and very rare in Ausi. Hugely popular in Europe and have a cult following now.


Is that all? Cause then the XTZ wins.

I was thinking more about power, ability to handle dirt and road conditions, etc.

The few minutes I've spent on El's suggest that it will be an awesome adventure tourer but it wont be doing any knarly tracks in the short term and possibly not in the long term. The width of bike at the front of the seat is the worst thing about the bike (annoying when standing) but I'm sure you'd addapt to this pretty quick. The twin cylinder motor was super is the best bit - very very smooth and flexible.


XR would win in dirt handleing and that's about it (maybe power too).

The Yammy has all the rest.

Unless you compare it to an Africa Twin of course :buggerd:

XTZ 750 has about 75hp, XRV 750 has about 60hp and a XR650R has about ~ 45hp (I'm guessing with this but hopefully aren't too far off).

As I said earlier the DR650 motor actually spun up faster so I could accelerate to 80kph faster than the XTZ but when I got to 80 and went to hook 3rd El would pass me like I was standing still and kept on going to ........ :D

I'm very jealous :crybaby:

Cheers R

[Coyote]

XR would win in dirt handleing and that's about it (maybe power too).

The Yammy has all the rest.

Unless you compare it to an Africa Twin of course :buggerd:
That's a beautiful machine :yes:

I'll have to test ride one to find out what's for me.

The pic you attached is a rally preped one. It is missing the "normal" fairings plus much other work. They are not that common in NZ and very rare in Ausi. Hugely popular in Europe and have a cult following now.
So the original fairings are the goofy looking ones found on the 660?

Bugger if so, but at least the 660 might be modifiable.


The few minutes I've spent on El's suggest that it will be an awesome adventure tourer but it wont be doing any knarly tracks in the short term and possibly not in the long term. The width of bike at the front of the seat is the worst thing about the bike (annoying when standing) but I'm sure you'd addapt to this pretty quick. The twin cylinder motor was super is the best bit - very very smooth and flexible.
The problem for me is a need an excellent road machine, and a decent dirt touring machine, but can't afford one of each (or either for that matter...). The XR would be awesome over Karapoti or the Napier-Taihape road but it might not handle commuting K's. And definitely sounds like a rougher ride on the way to either Taihape or Napier (Karapoti is only 5 minutes down the road for me :D). And by the sounds of these bigger bikes, I might find myself stuck in a rut quite literally :p

[cooneyr]

......So the original fairings are the goofy looking ones found on the 660?

Bugger if so, but at least the 660 might be modifiable.......

I get impression you don't realise that they stopped making the XTZ 750 Super Tenere back in about 94ish? The Africa Twin was stopped in about 03. Both the S10 and @ are not that common in NZ though there are a few around.

The S10 is nothing like the new XT660Z.

Pic of a 93 S10 attached.

Cheers R

[Padmei]

those old bikes definately ooze style but the colours??? Who picked them, Trinny & Suzzanah?

[pete376403]

those old bikes definately ooze style but the colours??? Who picked them, Trinny & Suzzanah?
I guess this means youve never seen the Barbi KLR650 (1994 IIRC

[Padmei]

Ok those who knock the 08 KlRs have never seen that 'old school ride'

[marks]

I guess this means youve never seen the Barbi KLR650 (1994 IIRC

Kawasaki generally seem to win the "hideous colour choice award" don't they...

[Padmei]

they got it right wth this years green though:2thumbsup