Hey All,
I'd like to take my wife on my trips out more often this year but as we found out last year the 'r just isn't up to it not without improvement to the brakes and seat. Thing is I'd like to stick with a big single can anybody tell me how the XTZ performs two up. I noticed in the Yamaha brochure the Z makes less torque higher up the rev range and with the extra weight does that make it too slow espically with a passenger. Otherwise its off to Transalp/Tiger/TDM land for me!

Hi, I wouldn't know about riding two up and fully loaded but one easy (obvious??) way of increasing effective torque would be to fit a larger rear sprocket (cheaper/simpler than engine/exhaust mods). What you lose in top speed is made up for with increased acceleration.

Cheers, Rick

It has been stated here in the past the Tenere is not ideal when loaded up for 2 up riding/touring power wise. Its got the same engine as the R so you basically you already know what it will feel like bearing in mind the Tenere weighs more. Braking wise the Tenere has a double front disc so it should be better than the R on road. The seat looks ok to me for the pillion as well, ironically the riders section of the seat IMHO is poor so a reprofiling may be needed but may affect the pillions section.

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Get a proper seat sorted and you're good to go. I've done many trips with my mrs, including a 5000km jaunt around Turkey, without a hitch. Dazzer went around Europe IIRC.

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Personally, I won't put the missus on the back of the Tenere, it's a good few inches higher than the rider. But my missus is a wuss and doesn't like anything over 60mph, so don't let that bother you.

Stoic Bloke rides his Tenere with his missus on the back (she's about 20Kgs soaking wet through) and you wouldn't even know he has a pillion.

I guess what maters is how good a passenger the pillion is, the sizes/weights and what you expect.

The bikes you are suggesting, other than the Tenere are different alltogether, in fact I wouldn't want to take any of them off the sealed road! They are more road orientated than the Tenere, having lots more power and smoother engines. If you are looking at the Tiger, then you should also consider the Varadero - these will eat the miles like nothing else and in lots of comfort too.

If it's road's you want then I would say that the multicylinder bikes are better for two up riding (in comfort) than the Tenere - however for long distance adventure type riding then I would choose the Tenere, it's the best value for money bike out there with huge versatility.

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Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

I dont know what size weight etc you and your mrs are but, Im 5'8 n 16 stone and mrs stumpyd is same height and only a couple of stone lighter, she is however a good experienced pillion but we dont have any great problems on the road on my R. I know its not the fastest off the mark or the sharpest at stopping but with a few alterations to my riding style weve been fine. Still thats my opinion and obviously not yours.

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I'm always in the sh1t, only the depth varies

The Tiger is a well proven bike which I have seen on many a trip overseas loaded with two up no problems. The Tenere will do it but at a more relaxed pace.

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Previous bikes:TS50 - RD125LC - XT250 - ZXR750L3 - BMW 650 Funduro - BMW 1100GS - XT660Z Tenere

I was going to write my missus luvs going 2 up, and then I read it back :O so I re phrase to love going pillion.. anyways she has no compliants on the ten though commented it wasnt that fast. Of others she absolutely loved the 1150GSA and didnt like the Katoom950A as the grab rails were narrow and uncomfortable..

The main problem is I'm 6 foot 4 and weigh 15st and I tend to take a lot of the seat. I found moving foward towards the tank made it a bit difficult to change gear. I'm not worried about speed I like to see around me nor do I venture off road but I love all the little B roads we have round here as does the r, so I'll think about testing the Z sometime this summer (providing the current economic climate gets better and we both still have a job).
As always thanks for the wide range of advice.

T.

Ive an R so dont really know what size the Z is two up but im 6ft4 and 15stone and i know what you mean you need to seat back in the seat. Ive taken my dad/mate on the back both about 6ft and 14-15stone and you did have to give the bike some to keep it going and over takes etc.

My dads got a tiger and its got plenty of power and can cope with the 2 up but my mum finds the pillion seat slopes forward too much causing her to constantly to slide back etc.

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Plough on