motogp at Laguna Seca – qualifying 23 July 2011

motogp at Laguna Seca – qualifying bikes ‘n pitboards

Some of our favourite pitboards…

Guess who we were following…

 

A Texan (he was VERY popular…)	…and a Spaniard

…and another Texan…

Really? Just one of Rossi?

motogp at Laguna Seca – qualifying 23 July 2011

motogp at Laguna Seca 2011 – scenes around the Mazda Raceway    

The view from the bleachers at the Mazda Raceway, Laguna Seca for Saturday motogp qualifying

The legend that is Wayne Rainey…

That pair get everywhere…			WTF?

Melissa Paris’ bike. Find out more about her at: follow Melissa Paris on twitter like Melissa Paris on facebook

Hallowed…err…tarmac…

Poole Motorcycles Celebrate 50

Poole Motorcycles Celebrate 50

Saturday 28 May 2011

Celebrate 50 years of Yamaha Grand Prix racing at Poole Motorcycles. Grab the chance to win a one-off money-can’t-buy YZR-R1 or VIP motogp passes or WSB clothing.

 

FIRST PRIZE
YZF-R1 in 50 year graphics

A very unique anniversary YZF-R1 painted by Altamura and fitted with Akrapovic silencers. PDI and registration charges paid.

If you win, you collect your prize from Poole Motorcycles. You must arrange insurance.

OTHER PRIZES FROM YAMAHA...

• 2 pairs of VIP passes to the British motogp at Silverstone on 12 June
•  50 of the latest Yamaha WSB T-shirts
•  25 pairs of 3-day grandstand tickets to the British motogp at Silverstone

...PLUS...POOLE MOTORCYCLES GIVEAWAYS

• Two 3-day General Admission tickets to the British motogp at Silverstone
•  Poole Motorcycles goodie bags
• T-shirts for the first arrivals on the day

FOOD AND DRINK AVAILABLE ALL DAY

Join us...we'd love to see you!! 

More info at www.poole-motorcycles.com  

 
    
 

Poole Motorcycles eBay

Poole Motorcycles eBay bargains
http://www.poole-motorcycles.co.uk/Poole_Motorcycles_Links.html

Honda VRF750 F Service Manual
Yamaha FJ1100 FJ1200 Service Manual
Yamaha YZF750 R Left Fairing Panel with Stickers
Yamaha YZF-R1 1998 Petrol Fuel Tank
Yamaha YZF-R1 2008 Petrol Fuel Tank   
Yamaha YZF750 R Brand New Front Wheel
Yamaha YZF750 R Brand New Rear Wheel
Yamaha YZF750 R Brand New Fuel Petrol Tank
Yamaha 50 - 125 RD TZ FS1E Polisport Sports Fairing Suzuki GSF 1200 Bandit Mudguard & Side Panel
Suzuki GSF 1200 Bandit Petrol Fuel Tank
SixSixOne 661 Flight Nouveau Motocross MX Boot UK8
SixSixOne 661 Flight Nouveau Motocross MX Boot UK10
SixSixOne 661 Flight Weave Motocross MX Boot UK10
SixSixOne 661 Flight Weave Motocross MX Boot UK9
SixSixOne 661 Flight Weave Motocross MX Boot UK8 
Nolan N43 AIR motorcycle crash helmet full/open-face Shoei motorcycle leathers one piece race suit
Yamaha Enduro Jacket textile jacket
Alpinestars Tech Race motorcycle back protector
White Brothers E2 exhaust silencer Yamaha YZ450 Yamaha Motorcycle Enduro or ATV Textile Jacket Yamaha Motorcycle Enduro ATV Textile Trousers Yamaha Motorcycle Enduro ATV Jersey
Yamaha Speed Block Casual Motorcycle Jacket
Yamaha Venturi S2 Textile Motorcycle Riding Jacket
Yamaha Venturi S2 Textile Motorcycle Riding Jacket Racer Vento Motorcycle Textile Jacket
Racer Wild Man Motorcycle Textile Jacket
Yamaha Motocross MX Boots Blue / White Size EU45 UK10
Yamaha Motocross MX Boots Blue / White Size EU46 UK11
Yamaha Motocross MX Boots Blue / White Size EU46 UK11
 

Super Ténéré Worldcrosser

Yamaha Inspires Adventure Travel with conceptual motocrosser



The Super Ténéré Worldcrosser* shows globetrotting explorers a new way to travel throughout the world.

Fully-equipped with an exclusive range of lightweight chassis components, this high-specification machine is designed for adventurous riders who want a supremely capable motorcycle for the toughest global challenge.

By creating the Worldcrosser concept model, Yamaha has underlined the true spirit of the Super Ténéré. With the addition of a few specialist components and the replacement of some of the standard parts, this rugged adventure bike is ready for the most exciting off road adventure.

*The Yamaha Worldcrosser is a concept bike displayed at Intermot to inspire adventure world travelers and will not go into production.

Yamaha XTZ1200 Super Tenere in video

Videos of Yamaha XTZ1200 Super Tenere

• From Yamaha: Yamaha official video
• From MCN: Yamaha Super Tenere first ride

And another Yamaha XTZ1200 Super Tenere test

Yamaha Super Ténéré

Yamaha’s new go-anywhere machine is inspired by the Sahara. Our writer appreciates its talents in rather cooler conditions

The name Super Ténéré is supposed to evoke images of sand dunes and scorching sunshine — the Ténéré being a particularly inhospitable area of the Sahara. Right now that seems a bad joke: on a mountain pass in France’s Massif Central, the weather has taken an unseasonal turn for the worse and snow is sticking to my visor.

It’s early afternoon on the second day of the Yamaha’s launch. The 18 riders in our group are on identical XT1200Z Super Ténérés, and up here on the 4,039ft Col de Légal the dry heat of the desert is far from anyone’s mind.

At least, if I have to be riding a new bike, the Super Ténéré is not a bad choice. It is truly a bike for all seasons. This is a rugged, go-anywhere machine, inspired by the 1990s model of the same name, which conquered the Sahara’s Ténéré region and took seven wins in the gruelling Dakar rally.

This 1199cc Super Ténéré, much bigger than its 750cc predecessor, was created to compete with BMW’s R1200GS, familiar to bike enthusiasts as a kind of two-wheeled Range Rover. Like the BMW, the Yamaha has twin cylinders. Unlike BMW’s air-cooled, horizontally aligned boxer engine, the Yamaha’s cylinders are arranged vertically and cooled by water.

The Yamaha is as tough as a three-day-old baguette, especially when kitted out with sturdy aluminium pannier cases, matching the bash-plate that protects the underneath of its engine. Handguards on the wide handlebar add to the indestructible feel. And although the Yamaha is tall, and heavy at 261kg, it’s a doddle to ride.

Its 108bhp motor is excellent: powerful, flexible and with an engagingly sweet-revving character that you don’t always get with parallel twins. As we headed south on the autoroute from Paris, the Super Ténéré chugged along effortlessly at 80mph, with plenty of acceleration towards a top speed of 130mph. At motorway speeds you are thankful for the small screen that keeps the bitter wind off your chest.

Despite its hard-man image the Super Ténéré is a sophisticated bike. Its frame is made from simple steel tubes but the bike’s list of high-tech features includes an adjustable traction control system to reduce the chance of rear-wheel slides. There’s also a choice of fuel maps, allowing you to alter engine performance by changing the mix of fuel and air: “sport” for hard riding or “touring” for a softer throttle response.

Off the autoroute and onto winding roads and the bike’s handling comes under scrutiny. It carved through the turns in response to gentle pressure on the handlebars, feeling lighter and more agile than I’d expected from its statistics. Under hard cornering, though, its long-travel suspension felt rather soft and vague.

One thing the Yamaha lacks is the R1200GS’s option of electronically adjustable suspension, which allows instant fine-tuning from the saddle. Although the Super Ténéré’s remote rear-suspension adjustment knob was useful, it was a poor substitute. But I had no complaint about the bike’s powerful linked disc brake system, which, backed up by antilock braking, was reassuring when rain made the roads slippery.

Normally I’d be glad of the 23-litre fuel tank’s generous range of almost 200 miles. Instead, I was counting down the miles until we stopped at a service station to wring out sodden gloves and warm fingers on hand-dryers. Fortunately, the Yamaha’s broad seat is as comfortable as a chaise longue, so it didn’t add to the pain of an 11-hour day.

It is off the tarmac that this bike really shines. On bumpy, potholed dirt tracks, the Yamaha’s suspension and tyres ploughed through with impressive ease. Any machine this big and heavy is bound to be unwieldy off road, but the Super Ténéré’s blend of flexible engine, capable chassis and tough character made it fun on the dirt tracks — until the mountain fog turned to snow.

In Britain the Super Ténéré comes with a range of optional accessories including a bigger screen and heated handlebar grips. The aluminium bash-plate and panniers are standard on this First Edition version, which can be ordered now from Yamaha for £13,499. A cheaper, basic model will be available through dealers next year.

For that price I’d expect hot grips as standard, especially as the proven R1200GS can be equipped with those plus other useful accessories for less money. But Yamaha’s newcomer is a fine and distinctive machine that gives the BMW serious opposition as a commuter, tourer or globe-shrinking all-rounder. Yamaha has donated five of these bikes to Riders for Health, which provides healthcare by motorbike in several African countries. This two-wheeled camel should prove ideal.

Yamaha XT1200Z Super Ténéré First Edition

• Engine 1199cc, parallel twin cylinder, eight-valve, four-stroke
• Power 108bhp @ 7250rpm
• Torque 84 lb ft @ 6000rpm
• Acceleration 0-60mph: 3sec
• Top speed 130mph
• Wet weight 261kg
• Price £13,499

Rating 4/5

Original Article in The Sunday Times In Gear magazine and Times Online (very similar to his article in Motorcycle Monthly)

(n.b. bold emphases not the author's)