Well, I'd been thinkin about a vstrom next year, but thats gonna look just amazin next to my blue 3AJ!

The white with speed blocks looks ace, but, I still want one in Sonauto blue!

Seriously tho, If it's a bike worthy of the Tenere name, I'll be placing my deposit as soon as possible.

Pete

I read in MCN that it uses the 4 valve engine from the new MT03 and not the 5 valver from the XT. I wonder what that new engine is like, that 5 valver has been around for ever, and it works.

Bit of a monster aint it?
 

183kg dry! My giddy aunt
My TT600R is supposed to be 134kg dry and isnt exactly light weight.
A 650 transalp is nearly 20kg lighter!

I've got to admit I'm utterly disappointed with it after what the initial drawings showed. Its not even that cheap at about £5000.

Oh well......

I want one,I want one, I want one. I regreted selling my 97 XTZ660 and now I hear that they will probably not be bringing them into Australia :censored:.

Yamaha Europe's website makes it look pretty real...
http://www.yamaha-motor-europe.com/p...ure/xt660z.jsp

Agreed Wonky. Another comparison - the 1200GS BMW is supposed to be 199 KG, so how can this Tenere be so heavy; surely someone has got the figures wrong or is telling tall tales,

My 3aj supposedly weighs 168kg dry. I wouldn't want to go much heavier for off road use (even though it looks great!).

It looks like its got 2 exhausts ... is that necessary ?

Lardy?
 

Hmm, the homologation statement for my 34L says 185kg, so on that basis this new beastie isn't any heavier that original Ten.

yer, but you would expect a weight saving after 20 years of refinement and R&D ;)

[QUOTE=wonky;150335]183kg dry! My giddy aunt
A 650 transalp is nearly 20kg lighter!

According to their figures, the Honda Transalp is 191kg dry. Just sayin...
Honda Motorcycles Models

We wanted a sturdy, well-equipped out-of-the-crate overlander - that's what we've got. The 'skidplates, luggage rack, big screen' wish-list all add weight. Ditching the cans for aftermarkets will probably save 10kgs. As would having a nice relaxing poo before leaving the house. Ride the bike, not the spec sheet, maybe?

I'm delighted to see a Japanese bike company back in the game. Good work, Yamaha.

Suerte, Dan

Weight rant
 

Not really. As far as materials are concerned (well, materials that are low cost enough to churn bikes out), steel is still steel and aluminium is still aluminium. Given that my '84 Tenere has magnesium where possible, a steel frame (easy to get welded in Ougadougou) and alloy rims, its difficult to see where the weight savings would come from. Braking expectations have increased, so the twin discs are heavier than my one disc, single piston caliper setup etc etc.

Would you really like a state-of-the-art carbon fibre framed XT which, if it broke would leave the mechanics in Mali no option but gaffa tape?

I took my 185kg across full-on Africa in 1990 with no problem, including 20 ft deep mud ruts in Zaire (OK, then I had to throw the bike on its side and drag it out) and the Sahara crossing. OK, I'm a relatively big guy, but if you're not, then just buy a smaller bike.

Give me something that's (a) over-engineered so it doesn't break in the first place (b) made of materials that Joe Bloggs can fix if it does.

Still, I wish they would ditch those stoopid trendy heavy exhausts.

The current XT660 uses a 4 valve engine.

I think it looks like a great bike, the weight is similar to a BMW F650 GS and I know which one I would rather have!
Weight issues are usually stressed about by people who are carrying about 20 extra kilos around the midriff! The only silly thing in my opinion (as has already been mentioned) is the over complicated exhaust.
Any ideas on price anybody??

>Any ideas on price anybody??[/QUOTE]

£5k. Ish.

It looks like there's some potential for a good bike there. From what I can see from the pictures on Yamaha's website the quality of the components looks better than the built-to-a-budget XT660R. It'll be interesting to see if they've put some decent quality suspension on it, or will it just be basic stuff with little or no adjustment.

As others have pointed out the biggest downer is the weight. There's no getting around the fact that 183kg is heavy for a 48bhp single cylinder bike. KTM's 640 Adventure is listed as 158kg, and has a 25.5L fuel tank.....