Yamaha XTZE 1200 Super Ténéré 2016 — Specifications

Can a 265-kilo trail still claim the status of a true adventurer? By unveiling the E version of its Super Ténéré 1200, Yamaha answers in the affirmative, but with a significant nuance: it’s a highly comfortable explorer, laden with electronics, that targets distant paved roads more than slippery single-tracks. With its 112 horsepower at 7250 rpm and its torque of 116.7 Nm, the inline twin is not a nervous powerhouse. It deploys its power with reassuring progressiveness, perfect for swallowing endless national roads or stabilized tracks without ever surprising. The question "how many horsepower does the Yamaha XTZE 1200 Super Ténéré have?" finds its answer here: enough to be effective, not enough to rival the brutality of a KTM 1290 Adventure. It’s an engine built for the long haul, reliable like a jackhammer, which blends perfectly with the shaft drive, clean and durable.

The real argument for this E version is its electronically adjustable suspension. Forget screwdrivers and twelve-point wrenches; a button on the handlebar allows you to choose between 84 combinations of preload and damping. The system is borrowed from the FJR 1300, it is effective and allows you to adapt the behavior to the load and the type of road in seconds. We are far from the semi-active suspensions of the latest generation BMW GS, but the progress is real. Combined with the switchable ABS, the three-level traction control and the linked braking system, this makes the Yamaha XTZE 1200 Super Ténéré a very complete machine, ready for demanding touring. The rider is pampered with heated grips, cruise control and a wide seat, even if the 845 mm height may intimidate those of smaller stature.

Facing the competition, the Super Ténéré E embraces its character. It is heavier and less powerful than a BMW R 1250 GS, less radical and sporty than a Ducati Multistrada. Its asset? A form of serenity and robustness, a simple mechanical design that inspires confidence to venture into areas where dealerships are scarce. With its 23 liters of fuel, its robust tire and its protective fairing, it is the ideal machine for the autonomous globetrotter, the one who prioritizes endurance over pure performance. The optional Worldcrosser kit, with its carbon fiber protections and aggressive look, attempts to give it a more rugged soul, but we remain in the aesthetics. The true playground of this Yamaha is the rocky track, the rutted road, not the mountain trail.

At 15,999 euros, it positions itself as a serious alternative for those who find the GS too omnipresent and the KTMs too demanding. It requires a significant budget, especially once options like auxiliary lights or the Akrapovic exhaust are added. It is an investment for years of trouble-free travel. In summary, the Yamaha XTZE 1200 Super Ténéré is not the craziest, nor the lightest, nor the most technological of the large trails. But it possesses an integrity and an ability to eat up asphalt with complete ease that still earns it a certain respect in the world of adventurers. It is the machine of the patient and methodical explorer, not the hurried adventurer.