2012 YAMAHA XTZ12 Complaints

The ABS module on the Super Tenere is known to fail in such a way as to leave the rear brake inoperable (the brake pedal can be bottomed out without any resistance and without applying any pressure to the rear caliper). This happened on my 2012 Super Tenere, and has been discussed considerably among multiple other Super Tenere owners who have experienced the same failure. This is a significant safety risk, as any ABS module failure should fail in such a way as to leave both front and rear brake operable. It is believed amongst Super Tenere owners that the failure occurs largely due to the Unified Braking System (a subsystem contained within the ABS module which applies rear brake when the front brake is applied). It is believed that moisture penetrates the system through a vent hole, causes corrosion on moving internals, and damaged seals and corroded pistons allow air to be sucked into the system. Pictures of the corroded internals of a failed unit can be provided upon request.

VEHICLE INTERMITTANTLY WILL NOT IDLE, STALLS OUT WHEN DECELERATING TO A STOP, WHEN IN BETWEEN GEARS, WHEN RESTARTED, WILL IDLE BELOW 700 RPM AND STALLS REPEATEDLY. AT OTHER TIMES, IT WILL IDLE AT 3000 RPMS, SOMETIMES BACK FIRING, WHEN CLUTCH IS PULLED IN THE RPMS WILL DROP BUT MOST TIMES, IT'S A ROUGH IDLE, BOUNCING BETWEEN 700 AND 1300 RPM'S. WHEN IT IS COLD, IT OFTEN IDLES FINE UNTIL IT GETS WARM... THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE NEW. IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM...

LOSS OF HEADLAMP LIGHT DUE TO FAULTY/INFERIOR WIRING/CONNECTORS GOING TO THE MAIN BULBS IN THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. THE HEADLAMP HARNESS WAS GRAY IN COLOR FROM OVERHEATING AND THE CONNECTORS TO THE BULBS HAD MELTED. WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY WITH THE SAME PART # AS THE ORIGINAL WIRING HARNESS. THIS REPRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD DAY OR NIGHT AS MOTORCYCLE HEADLAMPS ARE A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN DAYTIME VISIBILITY OF THE MOTORCYCLE, AND THE HAZARDS OF LOSING HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION DURING NIGHTTIME RIDING ARE OBVIOUS AND MANY. *TR

DEFECTIVE HEAD LIGHT HARNESS. MELTED WIRING TO LAMP CONNECTION CASING LOSS OF HEADLIGHT(JUST ONE THANK GOD) DURING NIGHT TIME DRIVING. APPEARS YAMAHA IS USING DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT LAMP CONNECTORS THAT MELT EVENTUALLY CAUSING LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS. PLEASE SEE THE BELOW THREAD FOR FURTHER INFO: HTTP://WWW.YAMAHASUPERTENERE.COM/INDEX.PHP?TOPIC=2707.600 CHECK YOUR CONNECTORS REGULARLY IF YOU HAVE THIS MODEL BIKE! *TR

SPOKES IN THE REAR WHEEL CONTINUOUSLY GETTING LOOSE TO THE POINT THE SPOKE NIPPLE FALLS OUT AND THE SPOKE IS SENT FLAPPING AGAINST THE SWINGARM OR COMPLETELY OUT OF THE WHEEL. I HAD THIS ISSUE FOR THE ENTIRE FIRST 14 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. MANY TIMES A SPOKE WAS LOOSE AFTER A SHORT PERIOD. THE MOST RECENT CHECK REVEALED 10 SPOKES LOOSE AT ONE TIME RENDERING THE WHEEL UN-TRUE. I HAD TO REMOVE THE WHEEL AND CARRY TO A WHEEL SPECIALIST TO GET THE WHEEL BACK TRUE. YAMAHA WAS NO HELP WHAT SO EVER. THE MOTORCYCLE IS OUT OF THE 12 MONTH WARRANTY. I KNOW OF AT LEAST 10 OTHER CASES ON A INTERNET FORUM(WWW.YAMAHASUPERTENERE.COM) WHERE THESE SPOKES WHEELS ARE GIVING PROBLEMS. OF COURSE YAMAHA SAYS THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM. THERE IS A BRIEF MENTION IN THE OWNERS MANUAL ABOUT SPOKE MAINTENANCE. YES I AM AWARE OF THAT SINCE I HAVE OWNED OFF ROAD MOTORCYCLES FOR MANY YEARS WHICH HAVE SPOKE TYPE WHEELS. THOSE OFF ROAD MOTORCYCLES RARELY EVER NEEDED A SPOKE TIGHTENED. THIS YAMAHA XT12 SEEMS TO HAVE IT'S REAR WHEEL SPOKES LOOKED AT BEFORE AND AFTER EVERY STREET RIDE. TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. YAMAHA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS REAR WHEEL SPOKE ISSUE ON THIS MODEL. IMO THE WHEEL IS UNDER DESIGNED FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE MOTORCYCLE IT'S DESIGNED TO TOTE. *TR

TWO REAR WHEEL SPOKE NIPPLES FOUND TOTALLY LOOSE AND ABOUT TO FALL OFF. ONE SPOKE NIPPLE WAS SLIGHTLY LOOSE ON THE FRONT WHEEL. THIS MOTORCYCLE HAS MOSTLY STREET USE. *TR