After the Kawasaki KX250F and KX450F road test from Sky’s MotoTV program in Italy, the team turned its hand to testing the Yamaha XT660Z Ténéré.
A quick overview of the chassis and engine components reveals an off-road bike with a high seat and a tank with a significant capacity of 22 litres.
Some fine tuning was perhaps needed in this recall to dreams of African off-roads, with a heavier chassis (103kg), and the already-mentioned saddle height at 895mm.
The testing team also had problems with the heat emitted from the engine, with the cataliser working overtime and the heat felt particularly on the legs during summer.
The disc brakes are effective but take some getting used to, and while the bike has less off-road characteristics, this is transferred into a good road companion with plenty of space for a passenger.
The handle vibrations are a reminder that this is a single-cylinder bike, and tyre choice is essential when switching to off-road use.
It retails for about 6,995 euros, which is an excellent price for Yamaha quality.