Quick Ride

QUICK RIDE

ROUNDUP

YAMAHA TÉNÉRÉ Street-smart super Single

LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING, AS IS the case with Yamaha’s Euro-market XTZ660 Ténéré. Ignore the Paris-to-Dakar styling, the mildly knobbed tires and the long-travel suspension, and you’ll see the XTZ for what it really is—a roadbike

capable of generating more grins than a roomful of newborn babies.

Introduced in Europe last fall as a single-cylinder version of the Super Ténéré 750 Twin, the XTZ is powered by a five-valve, liquidcooled Single solidly mounted in a steel frame.

Genesis technology filtered down from the Super Ténéré to the XTZ in the form of the five-valve cylinder head and forward inclination of the cylinder bank. Bore and stroke is oversquare at 100 x 84mm and compression is 9.2:1. A single 26mm Teikei carburetor takes care of the fuel-mixing chores.

Traditionally, most single-cylinder engines vibrate enough to shake your eyeballs loose, but the XTZ is different, thanks to a vibration-damping counterbalancer.

Vibes do seep through to the handlebar, footpegs and seat when the engine is pressed to its 7000-rpm redline, but at 4000 rpm in top gear (roughly 65 mph), the engine is wonderfully smooth.

A five-speed gearbox transmits power to the rear wheel via chain final drive. The transmission ratios are well-spaced, although a sixth

gear would be appreciated on the highway. On a deserted stretch of road, we managed an indicated top speed of 138 kph (85 mph) at 5900 rpm in fifth gear. A bit disappointing, as Yamaha’s U.S.-spec XT600 has turned a radar-indicated 94 miles per hour.

Befitting its street-going mission, the XTZ’s suspension is designed for digesting potholes rather than absorbing landings from double jumps. The non-adjustable telescopic front fork offers 8.7 inches of travel, while the non-linkage rear shock, adjustable for spring preload and rebound damping, provides 7.9 inches of travel. Few pavement irregularities reach the rider, as the plush suspension absorbs all but the nastiest of bumps. But off-road, the 660 must be ridden slowly or the softly sprung components are easily overwhelmed.

A 5.3-gallon fuel tank delivers plenty of distance between gas stops. We recorded an average of 48 mpg during our testing.

Conclusion? We like the XTZ660. It’s fun to ride and gets plenty of attention. In reality, however, there probably isn’t a market for it in the U.S. And according to Yamaha, that’s exactly why it won’t be coming here.

Matthew Miles