Yamaha XTZE 1200 Super Ténéré Worldcrosser 2015 — Specifications

Does a maxi-trail really need a flashy kit to justify its name? That's the question posed by the 2015 Yamaha XTZE 1200 Super Ténéré Worldcrosser. Yamaha, with this 1200 cm3 parallel twin, threw itself into the arena of large trail bikes with a clear ambition: to seduce demanding globetrotters who dream of distant horizons. Under the hood, the twin cylinder delivers 112 horsepower and 116.7 Nm of torque, figures that announce suppleness more than frenzy. Behind the handlebars, you feel this available force, this engine that pulls without ever getting agitated, a reliable partner but a little too refined for those seeking raw sensations.

The Worldcrosser version adds a touch of adventurous aesthetics, with carbon fiber protections on the sides, the fork and the frame, as well as an aluminum engine guard. This is serious for protecting the mechanics from the hazards of the road. Yet, one can’t help but find the approach a little cosmetic. Where are the off-road tires, the sporty exhaust and the visible anti-foggings featured in the promotional photos? At nearly 17,500 euros, one would have liked a more complete, more committed equipment, rather than stickers and anodized parts. The 23-liter tank and overall comfort remain major assets for travel, but this kit leaves a feeling of incompleteness.

Where the Super Ténéré impresses is in its technological equipment. In version E, it inherits the electronic suspensions from the FJR 1300, offering no less than 84 settings to sculpt its damping. Add to that the switchable ABS, linked braking, three-level traction control, cruise control and two engine maps, and you have a motorcycle that ticks almost all the boxes of high-end equipment. The steel frame, the shaft drive and the seat adjustable to a height of 845 mm complete a picture very focused on long-distance travel. But all of this weighs, literally: 265 kg fully fueled, a weight that is felt as soon as you move away from the asphalt.

Facing competitors such as the BMW R 1200 GS Adventure or the Triumph Tiger Explorer, Yamaha plays the card of robustness and serenity. Its engine is less temperamental than the Bavarian flat-twin, its road handling is exemplary, but it lacks that spark, that grain of madness that transforms a journey into an adventure. It is aimed at the methodical globetrotter, who prioritizes comfort, reliability and autonomy over extreme sensations. It is a competent, reassuring machine, sometimes too wise, but which fulfills its mission with remarkable efficiency. For those who see the world as a succession of roads to devour, it remains a serious option, even if its Worldcrosser kit could have had more bite.