660r or 660z Tenere???????
 

HI guys!

I need your expert xt660 owners' advice!
Im super excited! Im back aching to ride again. 10 years ago they stole my beloved xt600e out my yard (sad) but now the bike bug has bitten me again. Hard. Im looking to buy a second hand 660r or 660 Tenere. Ill mostly be doig road with a good helping of dirt roads, not so much pure off-roading. I am looking for a bike that has a high(er) cruising speed first of all. That is my biggest criteria. HELP!!!!!!

1) Ive heard that the Tenere has a cruising speed of around 120km\h. Is that correct, and can the bike do that all day long? Is it possible to tune the R to cruise like that too?

2) Why is the Tenere 30kg heavier and how does that make a difference on the road and light trails? Does fitting a single pipe make a noticeable weight difference?

3) Is it worth it to mod an R to make it a "Tenere"?

4) Which one is lighter on fuel?

Thanks for your advice!!!!


****BTW Im also looking at a second hand KTM 950 Adventure for the same price but I dont know KTM that well and Im also worried about how expensive its parts may be...

Hmm
 

From what you say, I'd say you might prefer the Z rather than the R. It has more wind protection, a little more road presence and will be the better road bike for the high-ish speeds you say you want to do, which it will do happily all day long.

The R version is smaller, lighter and more agile and that comes in to its own off road and is more playful. You can throw it down in to corners more easily. But the Z will do the same terrain and in some ways is slightly more off road ready out of the crate, but I'd not worry about that too much.

On both bikes a single can will save a tonne of weight (not literally of course), and when combined with the Kev mods and a decent air filter, will transform the bike.

I went for the Z. My friend went for the R. We just did a 1300km trip together on road and off and both bikes did brilliantly. I wouldn't swap from mine, but neither would he from his. I'm almost 6 foot tall and came from a GS1200 and wanted a bike with road presence and touring capability and was happy to accept more weight and a little less agility off road for that. He is shorter and wanted to focus more on lower seat height, lower weight and the ability to ride more aggressively off road. (He's an ex national level moto x racer, so has lots of ability to ride hard and fast off road.)

I hope that helps...?

Hi Mb

Thanks. I do have my heart set on the Z as I want something different from the xt600e\xtr "feel" too, but I can be persuaded. A few more questions though.....

1) Is it true that the Ten vibrates like crazy at higher speeds? I have also heard that buffeting happens often on the Z.

2) Which one is easier to maintain?

3) And quite importantly, how is the Z's seat?

4) Lastly, since Ill be buying second hand what is the "highest" km's on the clock thats still worthwhile to buy? There are a few 25000km, 30000km and 40000km and even 56000km, all still in good shape exterior wise.....

Answers (or at least some)
 

Answer - I'd buy the newest, lowest km bike you can, but none of the kms you list will be a particular problem. I have a 2009 Z with 16,000km and a friend has a 2009 Z with 30,000km + and his bike is no better or worse than mine. Just look for good service history, as you would with any second hand bike.

I've had lots of bikes over a 20+ year motorcycling career, and even having just come from an all singing, all dancing BMW with all the extras, the XTZ is one of the most fun bikes I've ever had. Try and get a test ride if you can and budget some money for the Kev mods.

Good stuff,

The bikes Im looking at all have stock everything really (dealer bikes). Is a better exhaust or better front suspension the priority?

I also checked out the BMW 650G. You didnt like it as a BM fan?? Says something about the Z Tenere....

Also, what do you know about the KTM 950\990 other than that they are faster and heavier :) ?

I went for the XTR mainly being lighter & carrying it's
weight lower... less destructable...
By the time yer fuel the XTZ add a bit of gear you
have near a 1/4 tonne dirt bike to toss around..
The XTR is not a lot lighter but it carrys it's weight
lower so it dose feel a lot lighter than the 30 odd kgs..
Yamaha make a good high screen for the XTR..

Just moved from an 1150GS and 600 Transalp to XTZ. I was surprised at how comfortable the seat was especially after the German armchair! Also rode home after buying it (2009 one) partly on motorways which I thought might be a struggle but it was very happy at 120Kmh+ only bit more susceptible to side winds than the other two bikes. I looked at the 650 Beemers (F, G and Dakar/Sertao) but didn't do it for me this time. I had an F650 some years back, no problems with fuelling etc. great engine much less vibration than Tenere but too low ground clearance and the Dakar/Sertao are a bit weird ;-)

:hello: and :welcome: to :660:

:006: Welcome on board mate.

Everybody, thanks for your advice, this is the stuff Im after. Real owner insights.

Petenz, I could go for the R anytime too. I take it you go off-road quite a bit? Good point about the weight, especially on dirt, gravel roads and rocky hills.

ChrisHx, "much less vibration than Tenere". That's what I was afraid of. My xt600e could vibrate a bit at high speeds and I didnt like it, hence. Isnt it better to just remove the windscreen off the Tenere to eliminate the turbulence?? Better exhaust or front suspension though?

Captmoto and Pleiades, THANKS I feel welcome and home already! Great site!

Pepsi, nice bike! Are the KTM parts affordable? I imagine they are much more expensive than the Tenere and Im always on a budget.

Didn't find turbulence/wind buffeting bad at all on the Tenere, no worse than on the other bikes but there's a bit of vibration through the bars that's all, although not too bad at speed.

Hi and welcome to the forum

after owning both r and z I'd go for the z again, it's better for the adventure riding but if you where just doing smaller runs with more off roads I'd say r with a high raised can. Each have there strengths and weaknesses but it depends what you get use to, can live with/tolerant

Pepsi, thanks for making my choice harder...... :)

But isnt the 950 much heavier\bulkier to maneuver offroad than the Z? I think that could also be a slight deal breaker for me. Im sorta looking at a 2006 950 with a number of mods and 65000km on the clock for US$6000. A good buy??

Maxwell, hi and thanks. You dont own the Ten anymore?

Still got a tenere but don't get to use it as much due to changes in work but I still llove to get out on it, off road, two up, wee few hour rides

A lot has been said and I would like to add few bits:
The Ten for me looks better, has better front brake due to the double disc, has larger tank - here it will be important to answer yourself how you are going to use it? For long trips or for few days fun. The R's tank is enough for between 300 and 340 kms while the Ten will easy cover more than 400. But..... the Ten is heavier due to the mentioned double front disc, larger steel tank and probably few other things. The R, with few mods, can achieve 160-165 kg wet weight which is very good for this type of bike.
Check this out: http://www.twobikesrunning.co.uk
And this: http://horcamoto.com
Both of the above will give you some insight
The engine is practically the same but the Ten is almost surging free which might be an advantage
The R has on board diagnostics while for the Ten you will have to buy a tool.
The list can go long but to sum up I would suggest get the one you like as both are magnificent bikes.
And last but not least - the engine is really bulletproof and the longest running without a problem, here in the forum, is more 190,000 kms a respectful result for a single cylinder.
Would I buy again the R, he'll yes, but I also wouldn't mind a Ten in my garage also :D it is that bad

The Tenere tank is plastic, the R/X's are steel.

As both R and Z weights are quoted wet, you can take off 6Kg from the Z (if you carried like for like amounts of fuel) to make a true comparison, making the Z 19Kg heavier than the R.

Some of the extra weight is indeed in the front hub/discs, the big tank, the fairing assembly and protective plastics, but also the Z has been designed with a much more substantial (and heavier) subframe to support the weight of the Yamaha accessory panniers and top case.

I'm in Oz and we are lucky enough to get access to a lot of big single adv bikes. I currently have an XT660Z Tenere, prior to that I had a 2011 G650GS and prior to that a 2011 KLR. I have bought and sold each of these bikes in rapid succession looking for the "right one".

KLR: Tall and heavy, but has a carbie and therefore no surging and easy to live with. It's old skool but I would have another if I had to. Hardly any vibes. Didn't have the "wow" factor

g650GS: Good allrounder for me. Commuted beautifully, lower seat and hardly any vibes. Had no buffeting problems but head was always in the wind. Didn't have the "wow" factor

Tenere: Vibrates like a ******* but only had 2100km on it when I bought it. Has over 3000km now and seems to be getting smoother!? Throttle is surgy and annoying but I am getting better at rolling on and off to smooth it out. Very tall and heavy with a full tank but I am surprised how more balanced it is than the KLR under same conditions. Newer design and technology than the other two. Looks as sexy as hell and definitely has the "wow" factor. I am really starting to love this bike and look for reasons to ride it, even around the neighbourhood. The screen is very good but wind comes up through the forks and buffets your helmet around. I had to sell my AGV AX-8 because its flimsy peak vibrated right through the helmet, through my earplugs and into my brain. Didn't have this problem on the other two bikes but I also don't get as wet because of its better wind/rain protection. Solved the vibration/buffeting by getting a Fly Trekker helmet. Will also put a bar bag on to break up the funneling wind a bit more

I am a 177cm 5'10" tall very new rider so the Ten is a bit threatening to me with it's size and weight but I love riding it and while I do almost all road riding I do get out and enjoy dirt roads and smooth tracks. Not skilled enough to go any harder but that's why I bought a 660 single - so I could ride for ages and check stuff out at a leisurely pace, while still pick it up if I went arse over. Sits on highway speeds all day long.

Get the Ten. You'll love it and it won't break down. Farkin' expensive though for a single here in Oz because it's made by you highly-paid Europeans and not in a Japanese factory. Every time I look at it I go "phwoar that's a nice bike."