28 Sep 2011

Increasing numbers of riders are saddling up and heading out on adventure rides across the globe. Since the re-introduction of the Ténéré and Super Ténéré models, interest in long distance off road riding has soared, with many riders new to the dirt.

In order to help introduce new adventure riders to the off road experience in Australia, Yamaha’s Academy of Off Road Riding continues to offer adventure rider training courses as well as trail and enduro rider training.

Adventure riders can bring their own bikes or hire an XTZ660 Ténéré from Lyndon Heffernan who offers a sensational introduction to adventure riding at his property near Batemans Bay, NSW.

Riders wishing for a taste of adventure further afield may wish to contact Welsh enduro legend Geraint Jones. Jones and his sons Dylan and Rowan recently launched the Yamaha Ténéré Experience located on their farm deep in the Welsh countryside. They keep a fleet of WR250R, XTZ660 Ténéré and XTZ1200 Super Ténéré adventure bikes that they hire for one and two day rides in the Welsh hills. The terrain is remarkably similar to what Australian adventure riders would encounter with dirt roads and the occasional technical sections. But the rolling green scenery is vastly different.

“We want it to be enjoyable and we can also tailor the ride if people want a bit more adventure,” explains Jones, who hires all equipment as well as the bikes and can cater for complete novices to expert riders.

The Ténéré Experience is an offshoot of the Jones family’s main business, the Yamaha Off Road Experience which offers enduro and trail rider training. The Jones family maintains around 40 bikes in total, ranging from WR450F to TT-R125.

Jones and his sons Dylan and Rowan have been offering the Yamaha Off Road Experience to enduro riders for 15 years now, starting out with a fleet of WR200 and 250 two-strokes back in the day. They estimate 15,000 riders have passed through their farm based training centre located deep in the Welsh countryside. Geraint has groomed countless future stars, among them enduro legend David Knight.

Closer to home, Andrew Clubb is running the second Yamaha Ténéré only adventure. The first event in March 2011 was called ‘Run to the Rocks’ and focused around the Flinders Range in SA. This year’s event is titled the ‘Mountain to Mountain Run’ and takes riders from Bathurst to Jindabyne between March 5 and 9 2012.

Over in WA, the Staines family have added an adventure bike element to their popular trail tours and are planning to expand their big bike coverage. They offer an adventure bike training course on 5 and 6 Nov 2011.

Across the ditch, Britton Adventures is running another instalment of the increasingly popular Yamaha New Zealand Safari event specially tailored for adventure bikes. This year the event moves to the North Island on the remote East Coast and takes place from 21 to 23 January. Meanwhile, Robbie Crickett continues to run adventure rides on his High Country Trail Tours of the awe inspiring South Island.

This is just a snapshot of some of the upcoming Yamaha supported adventure bike initiatives. It does not include trail/enduro bike rides such as the Trailbikerallys organised Watagans and Bulahdelah rallies, the Heffo run Detour trail bike rides based around the South Coast and Snowy Mountains areas and the Boris Everson Detour rides based out of Dorrigo in northern NSW.

//Editor’s note: More about the Jones clan//
Multi ISDE gold medallist and British enduro champion Geraint Jones is the Welsh Geoff Ballard and the driving force behind the Yamaha Off Road Experience. He was the poster boy for the 1983 Welsh ISDE – handily located in his back garden.
In addition to his 10 British Enduro Championships and 8 ISDE gold medals, Geraint is the ACU’s international enduro coach.
Dylan Jones competed in British, European and World Enduro Championships from 2002 to 2009 with his last major event being the Portugal ISDE in 2009. Dylan has four gold and three silver medals and offers effortless, natural instruction.
Rowan Jones still finds time to race at top level. Since his debut in the British Enduro Championships in the mid 1990s he has won numerous national titles including British 250 4 stroke Enduro Champion plus a fourth in the World Junior Championship. Rowan has won numerous Gold and Silver ISDE medals.

2011/2012 Yamaha adventure bike calendar

Yamaha Academy Courses, AUS
22 and 23 Oct  Merton Adventure Bike course
19 and 20 Nov   Batemans Bay Adventure Bike course
Contact
Lyndon Heffernan (02) 4232 4580
Email: heffo@bigpond.net.au
www.offroadriding.com.au

West Coast Trail Bike Safaris & Riding Park, AUS
5 and 6 Nov     Big Bike Coaching Weeked
Contact
John and Georgina Staines
Mob: 0429 825 775
Email: ride@westcoastsafaris.com.au
www.westcoastsafaris.com.au

Ténéré Tragics Mountain to Mountain Run, AUS
5 to 9 March 2012 Bathurst to Jindabyne, NSW
Yamaha Ténéré models only
Contact
Andrew Clubb
Ph: (02) 9905 ZONE (9663)
Fax: (02) 9939 0690
www.trailzone.com.au

Yamaha Ténéré Experience, UK
• Two days £450 - Included bike hire, instruction, insurance (under 25s must provide own insurance), fuel, lunch, refreshments
• One day £250 – as above
• OR two days own bike £230 - All bikes must be fully road legal, adequately silenced, and you must supply your own fuel
• OR one day own bike £130 – as above
• Kit Hire $20 (boots are provided free of charge)
Contact
Yamaha Ténéré Experience, Glynhafren, Old Hall, Llanidloes, Powys, SY18 6PS, Wales
Ph: 01686 413324
Email: info@yamaha-offroad-experience.co.uk
www.yamaha-tenere-experience.co.uk

Yamaha East Coast Safari, NZ
21 to 23 January 2012  Gisborne
Contact
Mike Britton +64 7 8556132
Email: mike@adventurerides.co.nz
www.adventurerides.co.nz

High Country Trail, NZ
• 28 Nov to 1 Dec 2011 Back from Burt –. Three day adventure in the far South. Starts from Invercargill.
• Feb 24 to 26 2012 Far South East Adventure Tour –. Three day Otago adventure. Starts from Alexandra
Contact
Robbie Crickett on + 64 3 448 9582 or 0274 354 267
Email: robbie@highcountry.co.nz
www.highcountry.co.nz/High_Country_Trail_Yamaha/High_Country_Home.html