Yamaha Super Ténéré And Xtz660
YAMAHA SUPER TÉNÉRÉ AND XTZ660
CW RIDING IMPRESSION
Riding two of the world’s best rally bikes
FOR ALONG TIME, I'D HAVE GIVEN AN ARM AND A leg to ride a factory Paris-Dakar rallybike. When the opportunity did present itself following the Nevada Rally, the bikes were two of the best: Yamaha's XTZ850 Super Ténéré and its single-cylinder brother, the XTZ660.
Both bikes are hand-made prototypes built by Yamaha France in partnership with Yamaha Japan. The factory XTZ850 Super Ténéré is based loosely on the twin-cylinder Super Ténéré streetbike. The XTZ660 is earmarked for the production class in the upcoming Grenada-Dakar Rally, the 1995 version of the Paris-Dakar.
The XTZ850 Super Ténéré is one of the most impressive dirtbikes I’ve ever seen. Reminiscent of the works Honda motocrossers of the early ’80s, it is all but entirely hand-built. Dry weight is approximately 490 pounds, and the twin fuel tanks hold a combined 8 gallons of gas. There are 12 bikes in
all, costing $60,000 per copy. This example was fresh off a win at the 3000-mile, 10-day Tunisia Rally.
Although it develops 73 claimed horsepower, the bike does not feel as fast as the bark of its exhaust note might lead you to believe. Even so. the liquid-cooled, five-speed Twin will push the XTZ to impressive speeds. On a smooth dirt road, I saw 120 mph. The newer, six-speed models make approximately 90 horsepower. reportedly propelling Dakar-bound specials to speeds beyond that of many sportbikes.
Handling is equally amazing, especially for a bike of this size. Weight disappears with motion, though locking up the brakes or getting into too crazy a slide will bring it right back. This bike is made for high speeds; slow-speed maneuvers can be difficult. As such, stability is excellent. Ridden at a slower pace, engine heat builds quickly, activating the cooling fan. The supple suspension swallows anything that you might find on a dirt road. Rain ruts and washouts only further prove the suspension’s balance; catching three feet of air is of little worry.
The XTZ660 is a new-age rallybike, designed to make ultraexpensive factory bikes obsolete. The basis for this bike is the Euro-market XTZ660. Basically, it’s a five-valve, liquid-cooled evolution of the XT600 sold in the U.S. The XTZ is fitted with some XT, YZ and earlier TT components, while the rest, including the gas tank, is custom-made in France. The final product weighs 360 pounds and carries a $10,000 pricetag.
Compared to the Honda XR628 I raced in the Nevada Rally, (See CW, December, 1994) the 660 is a little slow, and a bit heavy. Power delivery from the five-valve Single is linear, with no surprises. Top speed is approximately 95 mph. Most impressive is its high level of comfort. As with the Super Ténéré, this bike begs to be ridden all day. Sitting or standing feels completely natural, a feature found in no other bike that I have ever ridden. The 6-gallon gas tank is slim and hardly noticeable while riding. While it doesn’t hide its weight as well as its bigger brother, the XTZ660 handles well in either fast or slow conditions. In general, the suspension was a bit soft for the Nevada desert, bottoming across washouts. Stiffer springs would cure this quickly.
The XTZ850 Super Ténéré and XTZ660 represent Yamaha’s ability to produce competitive rallybikes and serious dual-purpose machines. The question remains: Will we ever see them here? -Jimmy Lewis
