2008 Yamaha XT660Z Ténéré - First Look

When the going gets rough, nothing is more dependable and capable than a good ol' four-stroke Single. For 25 years, Yamaha's Ténéré has been a go-to bike for adventure types in Europe, while stateside we got its close cousin the XT600 dual-purpose machine (sans the Dakar styling), but it was dropped from the line way back in 1996. Meanwhile, with the adventure-bike market swelling abroad, the Ténéré got a major makeover for 2008.

Despite being a Single, the Ténéré (approximately $9000 in Europe) is comparable to twin-cylinder competition like the new BMW F800GS and Honda Transalp. Of the three machines, the Yamaha is easily the most dirt-worthy.

A 660cc liquid-cooled four-stroke with a four-valve, sohc head and dry-sump lubrication, the engine is designed for low-down grunt. Not only does it provide excellent response in slow off-road conditions but it's equally deft in urban stop-and-go traffic. Fuel-injection was added for '08 and the system is quite good, with clean response. Power is transmitted to the rear wheel via a five-speed transmission with a voluminous 3-quart oil capacity for durability.

No question that the Ténéré looks tall and intimidating. Its 35.3-inch-seat height rivals that of a true off-roader while the very protective, high windscreen makes it look like a rally-racer. A steel frame has long-travel suspension hung at either end. The non-adjustable fork has 8.3 inches of travel, while the preload-adjustable shock allows the aluminum swingarm to move through a 7.9-inch arc.

Despite perching the rider up high, the XT carries its weight well. With a whopping 5.8 gallons of fuel on board, you'd think it would feel top-heavy but most of the fuel is carried under the seat, lowering mass. For off-roading, the cockpit is well laid out; standing on the pegs feels natural, with nice bar placement and easy-to-use hand and foot controls.

On asphalt, the Ténéré was quite an impressive corner-carver. The skinnyish Pirelli Scorpion Trail 90/90-21 front and 130/80-17 rear tires allowed the bike to handle far better than expected. Ridden like a big supermoto bike, it ran out of steam early, but with high corner speed and a good twin-caliper front-brake system (two pistons each) grabbing 298mm discs, a fast pace could be maintained.

This versatile bike can do it all, from light off-road to adventure-touring. A pile of accessories and aftermarket parts allow it to be fine-tuned to your tastes and needs. Now, there's only one problem: convincing Yamaha to bring the Ténéré to the USA.