Yamaha has launched this entirely new machine in Europe this week (Feb. 25), placing it in direct competition with BMW’s big bore market leader R1200GS and middleweight leader F800GS.

Photo: Yamaha

In addition to great looks and Full Monte adventure credentials – 19- and 17-inch spoked rims, sit-down/stand-up riding ergonomics and the like - the bike features a bespoke 1199cc parallel twin putting out 108.5hp at 7250rpm and 84.2 lb-ft of torque at 6000rpm, with presumably a nice and flat torque curve from, say, 25000rpm up to 6000. The crank throws are set 270 degrees apart, to ”Neutralize inertial torque and give a more direct torque feel at the throttle”, the same technobable used for last year's R1 with its crossplane crank.

As was demonstrated on the R1 in 2009, the layout does work marvellously well, as it did on the older TR 800 vertical twins from Yamaha. In the old days, we used to say that setting the crank throws 90 degrees apart meant that there was an exchange of energy between one piston slowing down as it approaches top dead center (TDC) or bottom dead center (BDC) and the other one accelerating away from TDC or BDC. Say it how you want to – it work great!

The engine is mated to a six speed gearbox and chain final drive, with ratios that provide long-legged efficiency on the road as well as shorter gearing for the technical stuff.

Yamaha really laid it on with the electronics on the new machine, with ABS and a selection of 3 levels of traction control, from none for calm riding to allowing much slipping for energetic riding on slippery surfaces.

The YCC-T throttle-by-wire throttle is combined with Yamaha’s D-Mode to provide a “Sport” mode with snappy throttle response and a “Touring” mode with a more gradual behaviour for relaxed rides.

The ABS braking system on the Super Ténéré uses some additional logic to help spread the braking effort between both wheels and ensure more effective retardation, a first implementation on a Yamaha of the intelligent braking systems now available from Honda, Kawasaki and BMW.

Photo: Yamaha