Yamaha XTZ660 Tenere 1991-1999 Service Manual

Named for the Ténéré desert stage of the Paris-Dakar Rally, the XTZ660 traded on Yamaha's genuine off-road racing pedigree — a reputation earned through strong Dakar performances across the 1990s. Motorcycle News summed up the appeal bluntly: "retro desert rally cool, getting better with age," while simultaneously warning that the seat ranks among "the most uncomfortable ever created outside of the Inquisitions of 15th-Century Spain." Early 1991-1993 models wore a distinctive rectangular single headlight; from 1994, styling shifted to twin round headlights that echoed the larger XTZ750 Super Ténéré, Yamaha's Dakar-winning big-bore sibling.

Power comes from a 659cc liquid-cooled single, SOHC with an unusually sophisticated 5-valve head and dry-sump lubrication (oil carried in the frame rather than a conventional sump), delivering a claimed 46-48 hp and around 42 lb-ft of torque through a 5-speed gearbox. Later restyled models saw a slight power reduction to meet tightening emissions standards. Reviewers found the motor genuinely strong in the midrange for easy urban riding, though it struggled with low-rpm response and felt strained much past 75 mph.

The chassis pairs a steel frame with genuinely long-travel suspension: a 43mm telescopic fork and a preload-and-rebound-adjustable monoshock, though contemporary reviews flagged the front brake as notably weak, compounded by significant fork dive under hard braking. A tall, commanding riding position with wide bars gave confident visibility and easy cornering despite the imperfect stopping power. Dry weight sits around 377 lbs, with a 20-litre fuel tank and 34.1-inch seat height. Sales were genuinely strong in some markets — reportedly 4,500 units in Germany alone — riding the wave of Yamaha's Dakar success, though demand fell sharply after the 1994 restyle, forcing a production pause in 1995 before resuming for a final run through 1999.