Xt660z tenere

**"D" FZ1** · 15th October 2009, 10:40

Just had a call from my customer who purchased the Black Tenere yesterday and rode it back up North. He traded a BMW R1150GS. He was very impressed with the power, the handling from the standard suspension (he had just fitted $3k worth of Ohlins to his BMW) and the protection from the screen. All round a very happy customer

**El scooto** · 15th October 2009, 17:22

Had a look at one in the rangiora yamaha. They look alright to me and not nearly as big as people have made out. But then again I'm used to the older S10 with upgraded syspension!

cheers

**Fluffy Cat** · 15th October 2009, 17:30

To late, bought a KTM 990 ADV which replaced my XRV750. Both good bikes. The XT looks good but would have looked nicer with upside down forks.

**pete376403** · 16th October 2009, 21:54

Thread on advrider about what happens when a new (4 days old) Tenere gets crashed. Plastic tanks are not as resilient as one would expect. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=515577

**Padmei** · 17th October 2009, 07:29

I went for a little blat on one around the yard at the bike shop yesterday. Felt nice & smooth but had a terrrible deccel pop.
An owner of one was there too & mentioned that hethought it was a tad underpowered. In saying that I'm not sure what bike he came off. I would have to take off the tow hook though - just not right.
The black rims make the tyres look bigger than what they are.

**marks** · 17th October 2009, 07:44

something about the bike just screams 'poseur' to me.

If you want a modestly powered mid sized adv bike with good wind protection buy a klr and save $6k.

If you want a serious adv bike scrape a couple more grand together and get a gs650/800 or 690e

.

its an overpriced cynical styling exercise created by some moron with a transformer fetish

**Crisis management** · 17th October 2009, 07:46

Originally Posted by marks

its an overpriced cynical styling exercise created by some moron with a transformer fetish

Should sell well then.........

**"D" FZ1** · 17th October 2009, 07:57

Originally Posted by Crisis management

Should sell well then.........

Yip. They are selling well. The guys that have bought them are really enjoying them.

**Padmei** · 17th October 2009, 08:01

Originally Posted by marks

something about the bike just screams 'poseur' to me.

If you want a modestly powered mid sized adv bike with good wind protection buy a klr and save $6k.

If you want a serious adv bike scrape a couple more grand together and get a gs650/800 or 690e

.

its an overpriced cynical styling exercise created by some moron with a transformer fetish

So all said & done you really like them don't ya....

**marks** · 17th October 2009, 08:17

Originally Posted by "D" FZ1

Yip. They are selling well. The guys that have bought them are really enjoying them.

And I really enjoy my klr as well. A mediocre bike can still be lots of fun. The klr is honest about its mediocrity and low technology and is priced accordingly. The XTZ is all flashed up and has a 60% price penalty but actually offers nothing more than a klr (except a slightly gruntier motor). $16k is only a couple of grand shy of being enough to buy a serious bike.

I suspect anyone who buys one is either new to the adv game or more concerned about how they look turning up at the cafe

Originally Posted by Padmei

So all said & done you really like them don't ya....

apart from having more power and looking like a childs toy - can you think of one thing it can do better than your $6k cheaper KLR?

**Woodman** · 17th October 2009, 08:24

Originally Posted by marks

apart from having more power and looking like a childs toy - can you think of one thing it can do better than your $6k cheaper KLR?

Polarise opinions.....?

**Padmei** · 17th October 2009, 14:36

Some people don't really care about all the specs. As been said on here before 'if it's the bike you lie awake thinking about all nite, it's the one you really want.'

If I had used my head instead of my heart I probably would have bought something different than the KLR. I didn't & still love my bike.

What if the KLR was a couple of grand dearer - would that have put you off? At what stage does the bike become not good value for money?

The other side is that unless you can travel around NZ trying to find a demo, it's bloody hard to ride a new model off the floor.

No matter what you're riding if you're having fun you're having fun

**marks** · 17th October 2009, 16:10

Originally Posted by Padmei

Some people don't really care about all the specs. As been said on here before 'if it's the bike you lie awake thinking about all nite, it's the one you really want.'

its funny - all the bikes that give me wood are hi performance ones like 950se's or hp2's - bikes I love the idea of riding but generally accept that they are not really suited to my lack of self control and modest skills. The KLR was brought because it fitted a particular set of requirements and so was the DT230. Buying the WR450 was an ill-advised choice but I loved it then and still love it - something about its 'tread gently or I'll tear you a new asshole' (although as far as serious trail bikes go - its actually pretty tame) feel really does something to me.

so from the perspective of someone who loves bikes that are exciting by virtue of their high performance - someone who lies awake at night thinking about an xt660z seems pretty damn boring.

to each their own

**Padmei** · 17th October 2009, 17:13

Fair enough.

Where does the WR fit in. Most of your pics are either DT or KLR. Do you do serious motocrossy stuff with the WR?

From all I've read (read mind you not ridden) I thought most trail bikes 250 or 450 were pretty usable until the throttle hand gets itchy.