Yamaha Tenere 660 XTZ adventure motorbike review
The Yamaha Tenere 660 XTZ is my first adventure motorbike after several years riding super bikes, café racers, and others – and I really love it, it’s robust, rugged, doesn’t need much maintenance, and starts every time (so far!). In 2022, I rode it over 1000 miles from the UK to Estonia, via the Netherlands, Germany, Lithuania, and Latvia, on my first transcontinental expedition, and it’s given me loads of confidence to go further, and more remote.
If you’re new to adventure motorcycling, it’s classed as ‘a middleweight adventure motorcycle’ because it has a moderate sized engine (i.e., nowhere near the size of a 1200), yet is built with strength, long-distance touring, and off-road riding in mind. If you want to ride it somewhere remote and on soft terrain, you’ll be able to pick it up if you accidentally drop it.
On the technical side, it’s powered by a liquid-cooled 660cc parallel twin engine and has 6 gears (great for keeping the torque on when you’re riding off road), and it has a light steel subframe, which provides a good balance of strength and agility for when you inevitably drop it as a beginner to adventure motorcycling (I slipped when standing on a wet manhole cover in central London rush hour).
It also features long-travel suspension and spoked wheels with knobby tires and inner tubes (important for when riding long distance), which provide excellent off-road capabilities.
It does, however, have quite an upright riding position compared to racing bikes, due to a relatively large fuel tank, but there again that does allow for a longer gap between fill-ups (I’ve read it can go up to 380 miles (610 kilometres) on a single tank of fuel, but I’ve yet to try that!).
The seat is comfortable and allows me an easy reach to the ground, but then I am 6’ 2” (188 cm tall). The bike also has a good ground clearance and a high-mounted exhaust that helps to protect it in off-road conditions (when you’re riding through water).
Good points about the Yamaha Ténéré 660 XTZ:
1. Handling: Despite having a higher-than-normal centre of gravity, the Ténéré 660 XTZ does handle well, with a balanced and agile design that makes it easy to ride on rough terrain.
2. Long-travel suspension: The long-travel suspension system provides a comfortable ride, even on rough terrain.
3. Good ground clearance: The Ténéré 660 XTZ has a high ground clearance, making it easier to tackle tough terrain (still add an aftermarket engine guard though obviously).
4. Durable construction: The Ténéré 660 XTZ subframe is built to last that can withstand tough conditions.
5. Dual-purpose tires: The Ténéré 660 XTZ comes equipped with dual-purpose tires, making it well-suited for both off-road and street riding that is a characteristic of adventure motorcycling.
Bad points about the Yamaha Ténéré 660 XTZ:
1. Price: The Ténéré 660 XTZ can seem a little expensive compared to other middleweight adventure bikes on the market such as the BMW F800GS.
2. Vibration: Some riders have reported that the Ténéré 660 XTZ can experience significant vibration, particularly at higher speeds. It feels pretty stable to me, however useful to know if you want to go fast.
3. Heavier weight: The Ténéré 660 XTZ is relatively heavy (over 200 kilograms) compared to other middleweight adventure bikes, making it less agile and more difficult to balance off-road. Because I mainly ride on roads, this wasn’t such an important consideration for me.
Summary
Overall, the Yamaha Ténéré 660 XTZ is a well-rounded adventure motorbike that is designed to handle both on and off-road adventures, and I would recommend for anyone looking to get into motorbike adventures as a starter bike.
It has a good balance of power, handling, and comfort, and it is equipped with a variety of features to make it suitable for long-distance touring and off-road riding. As an affordable second-hand option, it's a great choice for riders looking for a middleweight adventure bike that can handle a wide range of terrain.