2009 XT TENERE, with pics

**Monstaman** · 30th November 2009, 10:58

Had the privilege of having a ride on a new Tenere, interesting bike.

Suspension is better than the DR, bike is seriously tall tho.

Engine had a vibration at 4k which was enough to rattle the instruments and screen which was a put off.

Cool things were sacrificial tank protectors, beautiful seat and comfy ride, fully adj suspension, 23L factory tank and fuel injection with which the fuel mapping was magic.

Not so cool was the weight at 208kg wet (includes fuel), the engine vib and the huge muffler / toaster at the back and of course for me was the height.

My mate who owns the bike is getting the lowering kit, he has the Yamy panniers and is gonna put on bark busters and the usual crap we hang off our bikes.

Across the board with a few mods to suit me I would take the bike home in an instant, for touring and shingle roads it would put the DR to shame, for more offroad and some trails the DR would be better with its lighter weight and simplicity.

DR being aircooled gives me a better feeling too, a radiator fail in the boonies would stop your trip dead in its tracks.

**Monstaman** · 30th November 2009, 11:00

Last close ups

**crazyhorse** · 30th November 2009, 11:02

Interesting looking machine

**ducatijim** · 30th November 2009, 11:10

What a whopper!

I just wonder where the 'growing' of the 650/660 dual purpose bike is headed?

I can tell 'them' that it is not within the realms of the average buyer to produce a 650 that will tour as well as do single track, all with finess and competence.

( now, wait for the ktm devotees to flame me!!

)

**JATZ** · 30th November 2009, 12:06

Nah.... sorry.... the black ones look much better.
First impression when I saw pics here was "my god thats ugly" but seeing a couple up close now I could see myself on one(black of course).
Specs look pretty good (weight aside) and the height isn't an issue
16000 $ is though

**Waihou Thumper** · 30th November 2009, 12:34

These seem to have taken off a bit on Aussie. The ADV site has a lot of Ockers buying them. I am still a bit iffy. Give me the old lines of the Tenere of the 80's anyday me thinks.

There sure is a lot of plastic on that thing....
23 litre tank isn't bad though, gives you a range or nearly 400-450Km I presume if ridden in first gear only?

For another $1000 or less even, the 690 Enduro would be the better bet, BUT, then again, small tank, small seat etc....
There isn't much out there really, KLR or DR.....
Spend $9000 on a DR, spend another $2000 getting it back road ready, aye Jamie...Then you have a nice workhorse. Use the other $5000 and some on gas, coffee and the pleasures os life...

**XF650** · 30th November 2009, 13:20

Racing Dave's ride test in Kiwibiker is quite complementary too.
I love the look of the XT Tenere but my legs are just too short. Seat width doesn't help but great to see there is a lowering kit. The water pump still looks exposed, although I see factory crash bars & alloy bash plate are available.
Yami dealer told me last week that the new twin cylinder 1200cc (Super) Tenere is definitley going into production, so the interweb rumors must be true?

**Waihou Thumper** · 30th November 2009, 13:22

Originally Posted by XF650

Racing Dave's ride test in Kiwibiker is quite complementary too.
I love the look of the XT Tenere but my legs are just too short. Seat width doesn't help but great to see there is a lowering kit. The water pump still looks exposed, although I see factory crash bars & alloy bash plate are available.
Yami dealer told me last week that the new twin cylinder 1200cc (Super) Tenere is definitley going into production, so the interweb rumors must be true?

I thought it was going to be a TDM engine 900cc rather than a heavy 1200?

**dino3310** · 30th November 2009, 14:32

im surprised they havent made a ADV bike based on the TDM.... fantastic donkey in it

**Waihou Thumper** · 30th November 2009, 14:40

Originally Posted by dino3310

im surprised they havent made a ADV bike based on the TDM.... fantastic donkey in it

yes, I think the TDM 900 engine will be in the Super Tenere, not the 1200...Look at the ADV site, the Ockers know too...

Could be wrong though, of course it is all hype and bullshit at this stage till we see it in the flesh.....
There is a brochure out from Yamaha, so there is a Super coming, whether it is a 900 or a 1200 or just a heavier bike, topping the scales at 225Kg or something, it is coming!

**dino3310** · 30th November 2009, 14:52

fark knows why Suki stopped the Big, with modernising EFI and suspension etc she would be a most impressive machine, and lighter than the bigger donkeys out there now

**Waihou Thumper** · 30th November 2009, 14:56

Originally Posted by dino3310

fark knows why Suki stopped the Big, with modernising EFI and suspension etc she would be a most impressive machine, and lighter than the bigger donkeys out there now

The GN250....

It sold better...and a bigger market...

**Eddieb** · 30th November 2009, 15:45

Originally Posted by NZKTM

yes, I think the TDM 900 engine will be in the Super Tenere, not the 1200...Look at the ADV site, the Ockers know too...

Could be wrong though, of course it is all hype and bullshit at this stage till we see it in the flesh.....
There is a brochure out from Yamaha, so there is a Super coming, whether it is a 900 or a 1200 or just a heavier bike, topping the scales at 225Kg or something, it is coming!

My bet is it will be a 1200cc whale aimed at the high disposable income fancy themselves as world adventurer types on their trip down the cafe, the 'Harley poser' end of the market to capitalise the name and capture some of the GS buying group.

Some serious users will by them and do proper trips, but not the sort of thing the original was used for.

Call me cynical but the manufacturers in the ADV niche seem to have taken the same pill as other groups, bigger is better. The next GS is a 1250, apparently the next KTM Adventure multi cylinder is a 1050.

Would be mega sweet if they did use the TDM motor, and Kawasaki did something using their new Parrallel twin.

**Waihou Thumper** · 30th November 2009, 15:51

Originally Posted by Eddieb

My bet is it will be a 1200cc whale aimed at the high disposable income fancy themselves as world adventurer types on their trip down the cafe, the 'Harley poser' end of the market to capitalise the name and capture some of the GS buying group.

Some serious users will by them and do proper trips, but not the sort of thing the original was used for.

Call me cynical but the manufacturers in the ADV niche seem to have taken the same pill as other groups, bigger is better. The next GS is a 1250, apparently the next KTM Adventure multi cylinder is a 1050.

Would be mega sweet if they did use the TDM motor, and Kawasaki did something using their new Parrallel twin.

Yep, you are right, I seem to think the same...
In that case, I am gonna get the 1090A KTM....It might be a whale, but it will out run those Harpoons..

I might be willing to spend a tad more on a Orange piece of blubber!

**ducatijim** · 30th November 2009, 15:55

[QUOTE=XF650;1129543261]Racing Dave's ride test in Kiwibiker is quite complementary too.
QUOTE]

Wake up.......those twats are ALWAYS complimentary; they have to be in NZ as the 'field' is too small and if anyone dared to run down a test, well, they would be covering schoolboy netball 4 a free smalltown arsewipe - 'cause they and their cronies would never see another tester from any marque