YAMAHA XT1200ZE RAID
Yamaha’s overlooked adventure bike gets a bumper accessory pack and a fancy name. Is that enough to tempt buyers away from European alternatives?
Yamaha’s overlooked adventurer gets a bumper accessory pack.
YAMAHA LAUNCHED THEIR XT1200 Super Ténéré adventure bike in 2010. In 2014 it got a light tweak and the ZE version, with electronic suspension adjustment was introduced. Unfortunately high price, lack of power (‘just’ 110bhp) and the cult of the BMW GS meant the Super Tén never sold in strong numbers. Now Yamaha have added an accessory package comprising 37-litre panniers, an ally bash plate, spot lights, bigger screen, wind deflectors and carbon fibre tank panels to create the Raid Edition. This could be construed as a desperate attempt to flog a few bikes that no-one is very interested in, but let’s not leap to conclusions. The route from my house to Donington Park involves 50 miles of badly surfaced, single carriageway A and B-roads, that wiggle across the English midlands. It’s a great test of a bike and perfect for my first ride on the Raid Edition. And while the big Yamaha might not be excessively powerful, it can’t half cover the ground. That electronically adjusted suspension floats across austerity Britain’s pock marked tarmac. The Bridgestone Battlewings have a tyre profile that doesn’t compromise road grip for faux knobbly style. The steering on a 19-inch front wheel is predictable and stable. The big screen, heated grips and plush saddle (with two height positions) provide relaxed comfort and control. The headline numbers about engine output may not be impressive, but it delivers peak power at 7250rpm and peak torque at 6000, so you don’t need to thrash it, or waste effort flailing on the gear lever. I arrived at Donington shortly after setting off, and ready for my breakfast. This bike is much greater than the sum of its parts.
‘If we’re looking for positives check out the build quality. The double flange spoked wheels are lovely’
The Raid Edition is based on the ZE model. As well as electronic suspension it also gets two riding modes, three stage traction control, cruise control and heated grips. It doesn’t have 2018 gizmos and options like quick-shifters, LED headlights or TFT screens with integrated sat nav options. Funny, but I didn’t miss them. If we’re looking for niggles then the screen adjustment is fiddly and you can’t do it on the move, the heated grips are controlled from a sub-menu rather than a stand-alone switch. It’s mildly irritating. I’m also not sure why carbon fibre fairing panels are fitted to a bike that weighs 265kg (on Yamaha’s scales), and isn’t a matt paint finish for budget bikes, not something that costs £16,000? The blue paint scheme looks better, and has a gloss finish. But if we’re looking for further positives, then check out the build quality. The double flange spoked wheels (to allow for tubeless tyres) are lovely things, the alloy castings are superb, the fasteners on the engine are quality items and the dash (common to other Yamaha models) is clear and neat. The panniers look decent too. So the Super Tén is a good bike. The problem is when you compare it with the opposition. BMW’S 1200GS is more agile, KTM’S 1190 is more off-roadable, the Ducati Multistrada is much faster and the Triumph 1200 Tiger is more whooshy. But if I could have any of those bikes to ride two-up to Istanbul tomorrow, I think I’d take the Super Tén. And if I was going to pile abuse and big miles onto any of those bikes over a few years, and expect a trouble free life, I think it’d be the Super Tén. It’s a great package.
‘The Super Tén is a good bike. The problem is when you compare it with the opposition. BMW’S 1200GS is more agile… ‘