If you still go back once in a while to your closet and grab the Long Way Round DVD, plonk it in and switch to a day-dreaming mode; here’s something that will make you yearn for some cross-continent exploration even more. Yamaha calls it the 2010 Yamaha XT1200Z Super Tenere. The old XT 660 was quite a motorcycle, but Yamaha had its sights on a big name in the game – the BMW GS1200 Adventure. This XT gets a 1200cc parallel twin with a 270-degree firing order that delivers more usable power to the rear wheel. You’ve also Yamaha’s Chip controlled throttle with 3-stage traction control, adjustable seat and suspension, low centre of gravity, combined braking system with ABS, aluminum rims, shaft drive and a 261 kg wet weight. Phew! It’s loaded to the gills with technology (check out the video which neatly explains all of them). Some panels on this XT are built to take a beating when the motorcycle falls, which they do pretty often on the loose stuff. And as if that wasn’t enough, Yamaha gives you a D-mode engine map selector as well, giving you SPORT and TOURING modes so that you can ideally setup the motorcycle for your environment on-the-fly. Basically, Yamaha’s new big dog thumper has the firepower to spoil BMW’s long running adventures. Bet Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman are raring to have a go…
