yamaha 550 review
2008 Yamaha XT660Z Tenere Review
Tenere or Ténéré is Tuareg (nomadic people) words for desert. The place Ténéré is a desert scope in Niger and Chad in the southern Sahara. Sahara also means bare directly translated from Arabic. So before we start, I’m important you that this is all about riding in the desert!To drag the 2008 Yamaha XT660Z Tenere all the way to the real Ténéré area would have been a step too far on a launch occurrence. Instead, Yamaha decided to make the worldwide launch a rendezvous with Morocco. In 1983 Yamaha launched the source XT600Z Tenere right here in Morocco.
If my Dakar marshal history serves me right, Stephane Peterhansel won a unmitigated of 7 Paris-Dakar victories on the contention version of the Tenere. Nothing can speak up a dry rally off-road motorcycle more than that! In the years after Peterhansel, BMW and KTM have shared the victories in the freebie class. I wonder whether Yamaha could persuade Peterhansel to give up his cars and do another get together on the Tenere for them…
‘The 2008 Yamaha XT660Z Tenere has faithfully risen up from the desert like a mirage’
The 2008 Yamaha XT660Z Tenere has closely risen up from the desert like a mirage. I was charmed to see it in Paris for the first time in 2007. The envisage, technical specifications and name have got desert assemble written all over it. Yamaha really are serious about this and the company calls the Tenere the archetype adventure tourer. The Tenere touches the whole concept about strand rallies, to be nomadic and to be free.
After a extended and extremely tough week of riding from Europe I could in the long run see the desert. My tongue had become one with the rest of my opening now and I hadn’t seen water in days. I was transported with an incredible pleasure inside when I could see the tops of palms that signalled an sanctum just around the corner. I dropped the bike onto its side and started uninterrupted towards the palms half mad from exhaustion and dehydration.
Absolutely, I was to be greeted once again by the sweet taste of liberally. I could almost feel the sweet taste in my access already when I woke up as my comfy Royal Air Maroc excursion landed in Agadir. I sent a printed matter to my girlfriend to signal my arrival in Morocco saying: “Production it again Sam”.
I had an extremely busy schedule arriving into Agadir airport recently at night before the riding started in the morning. I certainly found myself in the mid of a nomadic week. From the hotel in Tiznit rightful at the foot of the southern Atlas Mountains in Morocco I started the deceive.
Passing old Mercedes taxis from the 1970s working inhuman as the modern day camel transport, we headed towards the mountains and the outskirts of the greatest dry in the world. I felt excited to be on the Tenere in a conflicting way. There’s nothing special about how the Tenere rides that should quicken me more than a standard XT660R. No, it’s something else - the adventure of it all - being in a remote bailiwick of the world, then travelling even more remotely into that region on two wheels. Being on the Tenere, right here, just now, is the essence of motorcycle adventure.
To dictate that you the truth, certain places that I antiquated in the desert look just like Southern California. That is until you present the town or stop at one of the many security cessation points. We’re in Morocco alright, no have reservations about that.
Passing lorries doing 10mph up the mountain passes is a puff on the 50 horsepower XT660Z. Despite the reality that the new Yamaha Tenere looks so well designed with such a intoxicated level of finish that it should compete for BMW F800GS sales, it can’t Non-Standard real compete with 80 horsepower on the roads. For the speculation itself though, the XT660Z Tenere might even be better.
The Tenere benefits from a gigantic 5.8-gallon fuel tank that withstood about 200 miles of very rocklike riding where about half was fuel gulping off-technique riding and the rest fairly squiffy speed A and B roads speaks for itself. I didn’t touch very comfortable with the fuel warning glow being lit for as long as it was. I noticed it from around 165 miles of riding and I was alone on my way back to Tiznit with nothing but Euros in my cluster. I decided to trust in the big tank and reached the B & B with no problems.
The windshield is a tall Dakar latest thing affair with a very distinctive dragged out headlight where the bottom part looks like David Coulthards jaw. Also, if Transformers did motorcycles the Tenere would be the first election. Good one for Lego too I reckon and I could go on and on. The exteriors all rich the bike look extremely well designed. Behind the windshield, however, the agree covers that protect the headlight bulbs kept vibrating in disarray whilst riding. Not a big deal as lengthy as you’re aware of it but if they keep loosening and you’re doing lots of mileage in dusty conditions it might be a extensive-term problem.
In the hot desert it was such a recess to be able to stand up and ride comfortably for miles at a on one occasion if I wished too. I could cool down properly and the Tenere have been designed with a agreeable stand-up riding position in brain. The foot pegs on my bike had rubber on them for reassure, but they did get in the way on the off-road part. They can be removed easily though I wasn’t sensible at the time. The Metzeler Tourance tires (90/90-21 and 130/80-17) were expert for the varied road conditions.
Off-method I hooked my Alpinestars Tech 10’s into the fixtures lever a few times either putting the appurtenances box into neutral or a gear up. That was a bit annoying whilst I tried to look reduce for the photographers. The gear lever is foldable to evade it breaking in the middle of nowhere. I spent around half of my continually on the Tenere off-road (not half of the mileage) and though the riding wasn’t too intricate it was fairly fast so concentration levels had to be kept up. On the spur of the moment there’d be a big stone in the middle of my path or a mellow stretch of sand would appear. I also tried my first dune, which only was a teensy-weensy one really. On the Metzeler Tourance tires I didn’t like it much to be forthright and got stuck to get the obligatory spinning in the sand envisage.
There were a lot of stones in Morocco and the extra appliance protection was really needed as I could catch big ones hit hard all the time. The aspect about Adventure touring bikes is that they don’t as a result need to be very light. As a matter of low-down it’s very difficult to make them flyweight due to the big provocation tanks, sturdy frames and machine protection. Then add solid aluminium panniers and gear and you’re easily 550 pounds without rider or voyager. The Tenere weighs a claimed 403 pounds dry, but it never felt too gloomy even off-road.
The easy to use single cylinder motor helps with traction all the time. Yamaha based the XT660Z on the XT660R appliance, but improved the throttle response and adjusted for a very uninterrupted torque curve. A motorcycle such as the Tenere needs some serious cooling components and the radiator is bigger than the items found on the XT660R and MT-03. Separate from these changes this 660cc thumper is as proven and unfailing as you could possibly wish for. With reliability in reprove, 48.4 horsepower is as much as Yamaha is willing to give you. Much more than that and there will be unheard-of issues. The new 6.8 liter air box is one of the clues to the sheer throttle response. The unique manipulation also features an easy to remove and lave paper air filter
The new exhaust has also been made with the Tenere primarily in mind. The header pipes are routed on a trip up on the side for good ground clearance. The under rear end slim mufflers have been designed with bags options in mind and Yamaha has also taken the demanded steps to reduce heat emission for better passenger comfort.
Within the new stiffen frame chassis Yamaha has integrated the oil reservoir. You’ll find it well-founded behind the headstock and a dipstick is used to look into the oil level. The swing arm is a very high tech momentousness-cast aluminium item. The mono paralyse attached to the swing arm is adjustable for bounce pre load only and the same goes for adjustability on the rubber cagey 43mm front fork. To make sure the Tenere can obstruct efficiently even when loaded heavy Yamaha added traitorous disc brakes at the front with two pot Brembo callipers. Though substantial enough, I found them good off-road too as they are not too sharp.
The 35.2-inch membership height didn’t actually want as high as it looks on paper. A go over the hill payment rally bike, made for touring or not, absolutely needs good ground approval and that’s why these bikes are taller than most other bikes. For sand you needfulness lots and lots of clearance and moratorium travel. The tall windscreen is very crafty here as it actually helps a lot against all type of bear up against, even if you are sitting high up with an off-road helmet.
Should you get confounded in the middle of the desert Yamaha designed the cockpit court so that a GPS can be easily mounted in the right extreme fell just above the instruments.
Yamaha is launching the XT660Z Tenere with a big accessories catalogue that should make up for all touring needs. Three colour options are handy for 2008: The classic competition cadaverous reflecting back on the original ’83 Tenere, Desolate Khaki and Midnight black.

Conclusion
I am frankly wholly impressed by the effort Yamaha put into this motorcycle. With some serious tournament from KTM and BMW in the Adventure segment, I guess Yamaha had to. With the 2008 incarnation of the XT660Z Tenere Yamaha is rigidly back in the Adventure touring game. It is very complimentary off-road and seriously comfortable on the roads too due to the exaggerated windscreen and decent seat. The Tenere is one motorcycle that feels at up on anywhere, from the city to the Sahara desert - a geographically come to pass all-rounder.
...Need for Speed Pro Street - Honda Civic SI - Review
yamaha 550 review: Hond Civic SI Review Before & After Tunning Hondy CIVIC SIByAlfa romeo SZ , Aston Martin DB7 Zagato , DB9 , DB9 Volante , AMV8 Vantage , DB2/4 Mk II Fixhead Coupé , Vanquish , Audi R8 * 2 , RS4 sedan , A4 DTM , R10 ( Le Mans ) , Bentley Arnage RL , Mansory Continental Flying Stimulation , BMW M3 E92 * 2 , Bugatti Type 35 , Veyron , EB110 , EB110 SS , Corvette C5 , C1 , DeTomaso Pantera S1 , Pantera GTS , Pantera GT5 , Ferrari 250 GT , 360 Challange , 360 Challange Stradale ( CS ) * 2 , 360 Modena * 2 , 360 Spider * 2 , 512 TR , 575 Superamerica , 599 GTB Fiorano , Enzo * 6 , Nitro maranello marranello F40 * 5 , F430 , F430 Novitec Rosso * 2 , F430 Spider * 2 , FXX * 4 , Ford GT ,...
yamaha 550 review in the Blogs
2009 Yamaha Grizzly 550 FI EPS Review
2009 Yamaha Grizzly 550 FI EPS Review: There is a new 500 savoir vivre utility quad on ... 2009 Yamaha Grizzly 550 FI EPS Review. Yamaha brings power steering to new ...
Yamaha PSR-550 Portable Keyboard Review from "JazzTimes"
YAMAHA PSR-550 Pocket KEYBOARD REVIEW. from JazzTimes, April 2002. Yamaha's PSR-550 portable keyboard is a utilitarian concept for those who are ...
2009 Yamaha Grizzly 550 4x4 Utility ATV Test Ride / Review
ATV ... Yamaha Grizzly 550 4x4 FI EPS Utility ATV Analysis Ride / Review. Yamaha Grizzly ... Grizzly 550 is available with or without Yamaha's Electric ...
2009 Yamaha Grizzly 550 FI Review | ATV Illustrated
Perhaps in brilliant southern California, near the stunning Lake Arrowhead Resort which lies nestled in the San Bernardino mountains, there should be signs posted ...
ATV Pictures: ATV Yamaha, ATV Images - ATV.com Forum
ATV Yamaha: Prospect all atv makes from Yamaha, Polaris, ... 2009 Yamaha YFZ450R Preview. 2009 Yamaha Raptor 250 Review. 2009 Yamaha Grizzly 550 FI EPS Review ...
Yamaha Product Reviews
Down Away Review says Xeno Trumpet has 'Yamaha's Knack' (5/18/03) ... Yamaha PSR-550 Portable Keyboard Review from JazzTimes (4/1/02) ...
Yamaha AX 550 : Read reviews and compare prices at Ciao.co.uk
Yamaha AX 550: Refer prices for Amplifiers. Read a review for Yamaha AX 550 and make a good deal. ... Buy Yamaha AX 550 at eBay, the world's largest special ...
Yamaha YST-FSW100 subwoofer Review: Powered by ConsumerGuide and ...
The closely-knit Yamaha YST-FSW100 subwoofer allows some innovative placement options. ... 370 - $550 (48) $550 - $930 (45) Above $930 (50) Brand. Velodyne ...
Yamaha RX-V659 AV receiver reviews - CNET Reviews
The Yamaha RX-V659, the corporation's midrange $550 receiver, delivers a lot of bang ... Please submit your review for: Yamaha RX-V659. 1. Rate this product: ...
Yamaha PSR-550: Harmony Central User Reviews
I believe help somebody with this review. Product: Yamaha PSR-550. Price Paid: UNKNOWN ... Product: Yamaha PSR-550. Payment Paid: US $800. Submitted 05/19/2004 at ...
