Hi everyone!

Being a newbie (only had a morcycle driving course) and still on the search for a first bike, the choice stands now between the Yamaha XT 660 Z Tenere. Normal version vs ABS version.

Last January I went to my local dealer and had the opportunity to have a seat, feel the weight and height of the bike, unfortunately no chance to ride it. The version I ''tested'' was the non ABS version of the Tenere, and those 890mm of seat height it really impressed a bit while standing still, reaching only the floor with the tip of both my feet. I could only get one foot fully on the ground with the bike a bit tilted.

After a bit of conversation with the representative of the Yamaha dealer he told that although it was tall it rode like a ''dream'' bla bla bla.
When I told him that it would be my first bike and asked if the ABS was really necessary, he promptly replied that it was one more thing to rely on from a safety point of view (In the traffic, city ride, rainy weather, emergency stops). It convinced me at the time, but after a while and seeing that the ABS version loses some cm in suspension travel, well is that loss of travel negligible?

Now In a search for more opinions, I know that riding a bike always has its risks, but does it really matter on a 200Kg (plus or minus) bike the ABS? Thinking forward to eventually take the bike in some off road tracks (large roads nothing too technical) does the ABS version (loses some cm on suspension travel) still got what it needs for some adventures off the road and on the road?

Hope you can help.
Kind regards!!

I'm looking for a Z at the moment too and it seems some of the bolt-ons (high front mudguard for one) only fit the non-ABS version, something else to think about maybe.

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I agree with the salesman :-)

Do you remember the time when ABS became available for cars ? In the beginning nobody thought it was necessary but today everybody agrees that ABS is a good thing.

Back to bikes - If you are a race driver and goes around in circles on a surface with predictable traction you don't need it - but because you will be riding close to the edge you will still crash from time to time ...

If you only ride/race offroad only the best abs systems gives you an advantage over an non abs bike. But you will still ditch it from time to time when you interpret the conditions wrongly.

Most of us spend most of the time on tarmac and in traffic where even a low speed crash easily can be fatal when you are hitting or getting hit by a car.

Even when riding very alert you risk that someone/something gets into you way and you'll have to brake as hard as possible to avoid collision. Murphy law dictates that the surface will probably have less than ideal friction or very changing friction like braking onto spilled diesel. This is the time where ABS makes a difference.

If you lock up your front wheel a skid is very difficult to save - and even if you save it your braking is less than efficient and that could be the difference of an accident or just the need for clean pants.

Now that you have decided on a new xt660z i think the choice is easy.

Unless you go very fast or very technical green laning the suspensions is good enough on the ABS version. And yes some aftermarket parts will not fit but there is still a lot of choice in parts

If on the other hand you were on a strict budget and looked at 5year olds you might not be able to get an ABS version or if you fell in love with a motorcycle that was not available with ABS.

I don't really ride offroad (like deep mud or big rocks) but like to get away from the tarmac like on the small video clip below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRwdDCB5LRM The pony handles that just at well as my old super tenere.

Until I bought the pony last year I had looked more than a year for what should replace the super tenere and ABS was a priority so excluded all KTMs in by budget. In the end it stood between the bmw f800gs and the small tenere. Last august i then saw a low mileage tenere at a reasonable price and bought it.

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2011 Yamaha XT660Z ABS T�n�r�.

• Puig +8cm dark screen, Garmin Zumo 220, Scottoiler eSystem v2
• Barkbusters Storm with external weights, Noname 30mm bar risers & EzMoto alu. levers
• Kev's O2 Controller, Mccoi stepless controller with Hein Gericke heated grips
• TT +4cm seat, Pivot Pegs, Altech stainless sprocket cover

Like I mentioned on ADV, there�s a difference in suspension height and seat height between the standard Tenere and the ABS Tenere:
ABS: suspension front 160mm, rear 150mm, seatheight 860mm;
Standard: suspension front 210mm, rear 200mm, seatheight 895mm.
Make your choice depending on your own priorities.

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XT rules! Make the world beautiful, get a tattoo. Nick Curran R.I.P. '77-'12

XT660Z Tenere '08 http://dallastx.smugmug.com

visit: www.hank3.com

SRV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NU0MF8pwktg

Thank you all for the feedback.

Must see if I can arrange a test drive on the Yamaha dealer.
Last time I wen't there to see the bike it took them almost an hour to get one, just to see it (apparently the stock here at Portugal is just on request, and after the bike is paid ??).

the only benefit of xt660z with ABS is the lower seat on that version...

It is not a benefit since the reason it is lower is that it has lower suspension ...

You can easily lower a standard one or replace the seat if needed...

I'm still considering spending the money to have the seat reupholstered without the pillion lump so i can move my butt a bit forward/backwards for comfort and have it made with a higher density foam. If the Kahedo was cheaper i had already bought the +4cm version, but it is a bit expensive ....

The only benefit of the ABS is the ABS :-)

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2011 Yamaha XT660Z ABS T�n�r�.

• Puig +8cm dark screen, Garmin Zumo 220, Scottoiler eSystem v2
• Barkbusters Storm with external weights, Noname 30mm bar risers & EzMoto alu. levers
• Kev's O2 Controller, Mccoi stepless controller with Hein Gericke heated grips
• TT +4cm seat, Pivot Pegs, Altech stainless sprocket cover

The other benefit is the ABS.

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Ronald Reagan '84: "My fellow Americans, I pleased to tell you today, that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in 5 minutes."