Yamaha XTZ 1200 Super Tenere Worldcrosser 2014 — Specifications

In an era of overpowered maxi-trails flirting with 150 horsepower, the 2014 Yamaha XTZ 1200 Super Tenere Worldcrosser adopts a more sensible, almost anachronistic positioning. With its 112 horsepower delivered at 7250 rpm and 116.7 Nm of torque, its inline twin does not aim for the sprint record. The bet is elsewhere: to offer reassuring progressivity, a tractor-like flexibility that appeals to the rider seeking regularity more than brilliance. Faced with a BMW R 1200 GS of the time, more nervous and lighter, the Yamaha plays the card of robustness and a less demanding character.

The real subject is this Worldcrosser kit. For around €15,500 at the time, Yamaha offered this factory preparation aimed at transforming the grand touring bike into a potential adventurer. One received a clever mix of aluminum protections for the frame and crankcase, as well as carbon fiber covers for the transmission shaft and rear brake. The idea was clear: to protect the expensive mechanics from the hazards of a rocky path or a somewhat ambitious TT. It's serious, well thought out, even if one can question the real audacity of a rider setting off to face the tracks of the Sahel with its 257 kg fully fueled and its original road tires. The kit also had an aesthetic function, drawing a more aggressive and technical silhouette.

So who is the rider of this machine? Certainly not the extreme adventurer. The weight, the 845 mm seat height and the overall dynamics rather destine it to the demanding touring rider, the one for whom adventure begins at the end of the paved road, on these stabilized dirt tracks that lead to an isolated guesthouse. It is the ideal companion for those who travel long distances on the highway, thanks to its maintenance-free shaft drive and 23-liter fuel tank, but who want to have the option of branching off without too much worry. It is an intelligently compromised motorcycle, the opposite of radical specializations.

With hindsight, this Worldcrosser embodies a philosophy that is now somewhat faded: that of an affordable, less technological maxi-trail, based on proven mechanics and simple ergonomics. Its front dual 310 mm disc braking is effective without being brutal, its 43 mm inverted fork provides good stability. It does not seek to impress with the specifications sheet, but with its ability to be a reliable and versatile partner. A machine for those who think that the spirit of adventure also resides in the serenity of driving, and that the best equipment is sometimes the one that makes you forget it is there.