[1] It featured a 660 cc (40 cu in) single-cylinder engine manufactured by Minarelli, which was also used in the XT660R, XT660X, MT-03 ( 2006–2014), Jawa 660 Sportard, Jawa 660 Vintage and Aprilia Pegaso 650 Trail (post 2007) models.

Though not sold in the US or Canada and some 40 kilos heavier than the original, air-cooled Ténéré from the early 1980s, many fans saw the 660Z as a return to form for Yamaha, following the demise of the air-cooled Teneres and the less popular 5-valve iteration which replaced them.

The low-rpm electronic fuel injection glitches present in previously listed machines using the same, 660 engine were ironed out and the 660Z could reliably average 4 L/100km (72mpg Imperial, 60mpg US)""user averages closer to 55MPG imperial"".

Other notable qualities included its strong rear subframe, 23-litre tank and effective fairing.

At the EICMA 2016 the concept bike T7 was unveiled – a dirt-oriented enduro,[2] and an official press release indicates additionally the coming of a more street oriented supermoto.