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2012 Yamaha Super Tenere Comparison Review Photo Gallery

This behemoth’s size and weight is matched only by its expectations as the sole Japanese entry to the premier ADV market.

Check out photos of the 2011 Yamaha Super Tenere adventure touring motorcycle. This Japanese bike is new to the ADV market. Read the full report in our 2012 Yamaha Super Tenere Comparison.

The XT1200Z Super Tenere is powered by an 1199cc Parallel Twin engine.

A couple thousand miles of getting acquainted and the big Yamaha definitely impresses us.

A six-gallon fuel tank adds weight, but it also increases the fuel range which is over 254 miles based on an average 42 miles-per-gallon.

Two D-mode (drive mode) settings are available, Touring (T-mode) and Sport (S-mode). Touring further tames the already moderate power delivery while Sport packs maximum performance.

The Yamaha is 63 pounds heavier than the next-closest KTM and is the only bike over 600 pounds (636).

Yamaha uses its YCC-T fly-by-wire throttle system to control the twin-bore fuel injection.

The TC isn’t as dramatic as the BMW or Ducati, and switching between two settings or disabling the system is a simple push-button affair (while stationary).

The steel chassis uses the engine as a stressed member, but weight is carried fairly high.

Off-road handling is the Yamaha’s downfall. It ranks last when the pavement ends primarily due to its heaviness, slow handling and unforgiving ABS.

The brute seems to have a mind of its own at times. It will navigate smoothly through one corner and then refuse to change direction in the next.

Though first gear could be lower, the engine’s low-end grunt helps it through slow speed obstacles.

The Super Tenere has a very flat power feel that is fast but very subdued at the same time.

On the street, body position doesn’t matter at all; it is solid, stable and poised.

It refuses to be pushed off-line and it surprised all of us with its ability to carve through twisty sections.

With a Unified Braking System, (UBS), pulling the front brake lever activates the front and rear brake.

The burly, 3mm-thick aluminum skid plate was one of our favorites as it covers the exposed engine, header pipes and oil filter.

The six-speed transmission allows the engine to lug easily in every gear. An indicated 90 mph on the speedo has the Yamaha loping along at barely over 4000 rpm in sixth gear.

The Tenere is the most affordable of the open-class bikes.

Yamaha’s accessories are a bit more expensive than some of the others. Our model was strapped up with $2569.45 worth of gear.

Yamaha joins BMW in offering shaft drive to the rear wheel, but the Tenere’s drivetrain is superior to the German’s.

Even though it doesn’t post massive peak numbers, the linear output and ability to stretch each gear allowed it to post a 1.95-second 0-60 mph time, which is better than all the rest.

Wind protection from the taller windscreen and side deflectors was a big part of the reason that the Tenere won the overall comfort category.

The Yamaha spun 90.75 horsepower on the dyno in S-Mode at 7300 rpm.