Best motorcycle for Highway 1?
Good for 200 to 400 mile days on the Blue Ridge or Highway 1 if you rate comfort above sharpness. It is a calm, stable big bike, not a quick one.
Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
2018–2020 · Adventure · Buyer's Guide
XT 1200 ZE Super Ténéré Raid Edition (MY2018)
Suspension That Eats Miles
The Machine's Character
Yamaha built the Raid Edition to leave the showroom ready for a continent. The 1199 cc parallel twin makes 112 hp and 86 lb-ft and sends it through a shaft, so chain upkeep never enters the conversation. Electronic suspension is the center of the package, adjustable front and rear across 84 settings for solo, loaded, or two-up work. ABS, traction control and ride modes are standard, and so are cruise control, an adjustable windscreen, adjustable seat height and the luggage system. The Raid trim adds aluminum panniers, a wide sump guard, a taller screen and its own graphics.
On the road it behaves like a big bike that has been sorted rather than softened. The weight distribution is good enough that 575 lb stops being a topic once you are rolling, and the twin pulls from low revs instead of asking you to chase the top of the tach, where it runs out of interest fairly early. This is a machine for riders who cover states, not sections. The honest caveat is dirt: 7.5 in of travel at both ends and a 19-inch front wheel put it at the touring end of adventure, and with no off-road ABS mode, gravel and graded desert roads are within reach while technical trail work is not.
Hard Numbers
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
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| Power | 112 hp (82 kW) @ 7,250 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 86 lb-ft (117 Nm) @ 6,000 rpm |
| Displacement | 1199 cc |
| Engine | Parallel twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Shaft |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 310 mm |
| Front tire | 110/80-19 |
| Rear tire | 150/70-17 |
| Wheelbase | 60.6 in (1540 mm) |
| Ground clearance | 7.5 in (190 mm) |
| Front travel | 7.5 in (190 mm) |
| Rear travel | 7.5 in (190 mm) |
| Seat height | 33.3 in (845 mm) |
| Wet weight | 575 lb (261 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 6.1 gal (23.1 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
- Electronic Suspension Standard
- Front Suspension Adjustable Standard
- Rear Suspension Adjustable Standard
- Cruise Control Standard
Comfort
- Heated Grips Optional
- Adjustable Windscreen Standard
- Adjustable Seat Height Standard
- Luggage System Standard
Safety
- ABS Standard
- Traction Control Standard
- Ride Modes Standard
The Voice of Experience
The test ride
Swing a leg over and the 33.3 in seat feels tall until the bike settles under you. The bars are wide and close, the screen stands high in the Raid setting, and the switchgear sits where a long day wants it. At a standstill you know exactly what 575 lb means, and below walking pace the fuelling doesn't help: in Sport mode the first crack of throttle can arrive with a jolt. Once rolling, the picture changes completely. The twin runs smooth enough that your hands stay quiet on the grips at highway speed, the shaft takes up drive without slop, and with 6.1 gal on board the fuel light stops dictating your schedule. Wind noise is the one thing that keeps reminding you how much motorcycle is underneath you.
The Truth on the Street
None of this comes from a press kit. It comes from years of listening: riders at rallies and gas stops, owners at club nights, and the messages that land in my inbox after a season on the bike. On this one the chatter is unusually consistent, in the praise and in the complaints.
Where the miles disappear
The loudest theme is distance. Owners describe days that end without the usual aches, and they credit the plush suspension, the unhurried engine and a riding position with room to move. Heat management gets named too. Reliability runs alongside it, with riders reporting examples past 50,000 miles (80,000 km) and nothing of consequence going wrong. Composure is the third note: the bike holds its line and stays settled at high speed.
The complaints that keep coming back
The engine draws the most criticism. Riders value the low-down pull but describe the twin as coarse and short on charisma, with vibration creeping in as the revs rise and no real rush waiting up top. Wind is the other constant: buffeting and roar that owners blame for headaches, which sends plenty of them shopping for deflectors. A smaller group questions the price, arguing the finish and equipment don't match what rivals offer for the money.
Known issues
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ABS cannot be disabled for off-road use
Unlike rivals, the ABS has no off-road mode and cannot be switched off without pulling the fuse. On loose surfaces the rear-brake intervention limits control, forcing riders to disconnect the system manually before leaving the pavement.
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Irritating low-speed throttle snatch
Some riders report jerky, on-off throttle response in Sport mode and imprecise fuelling at parking-lot speeds, making smooth low-speed riding difficult. Throttle-body synchronisation may reduce the effect.
The Expert Benchmark
Where this Yamaha XT 1200 ZE Super Ténéré Raid Edition pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
What kind of bike this is — character vs. the class
The shape of the Yamaha XT 1200 ZE Super Ténéré Raid Edition — numbers and character vs. the average Adventure
Head-to-head: Yamaha XT 1200 ZE Super Ténéré Raid Edition vs. its rivals
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
The Long-Haul Verdict
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the XT 1200 ZE Super Ténéré Raid Edition is actually built for.
Best touring motorcycle for long distance?
This is your bike. Loaded or two-up, you dial the suspension in for the weight, the shaft asks nothing of you, and 6.1 gal keeps Beartooth-sized days simple to plan.
Made for Beartooth Highway · Blue Ridge Parkway · Going-to-the-Sun Road
Alternatives to the Yamaha XT 1200 ZE Super Ténéré Raid Edition
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Yamaha XT 1200 ZE Super Ténéré Raid Edition. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
