There seems to be no end in site for the booming adventure motorcycle market. Just about every single manufacturer has one or two in their lineup. Some have made it their bread and butter, like BMW with their ever-evolving, super-popular GS lineup of bikes. But if you were to look at Yamaha's stable, you'd notice they're somewhat limited in that regard. Sure, they have an unlimited supply of dirt and dual-sport bikes, but when it comes to true ADVs, there's only really a couple. But when one of those bikes is the Ténéré 700, you don't really have to worry all that much about selection.
The Yamaha Ténéré 700 is an adventure bike that values ability over complication and is all the better for it. Even though it might be somewhat basic, it is a brilliant middleweight adventure bike that takes the fight to all the other contenders in this crowded category of motorcycles.
Updated April 2023: Now that the Ténéré 700 has been making its mark on the adventure bike market, Yamaha can get down to business by updating and making it better. Because every year a new version is released, we'll be updated this article periodically to keep our readers up to date on all the latest changes and upgrades.
Yamaha's Long Gestating Adventure Bike
Yamaha was a bit late to the skyrocketing ADV market. But at the 2016 EICMA show they finally pulled the covers off the T7 concept. Named after the Ténéré stage of the Dakar Rally, the Ténéré 700 didn't actually show up on the market until 2019, and only in Europe.
Upon seeing the well-designed, beautifully specced machine, the rest of the riding world was naturally anxious to see when it would be available to them. For the US, that meant a release window of 2020.
The Wait For The Ténéré Was Worth It
If we had to wait a long time, then the wait was definitely worth it. The Ténéré 700 may be simple to the point of starkness, but Yamaha obviously put a lot of thought into the design and configuration of the T7. All the elements gel perfectly - the chassis, engine, and suspension work in harmony to make complicated (and expensive) electronics superfluous.
It's fairly light for your average ADV, running at 452 lbs (wet). The fuel tank fits 4.2 gallons of fuel. And the ergonomics are off-road forward, with the bike's narrow body, slim tank and flat seat allowing the rider greater control, regardless of whether the ride is on or off asphalt. Some adventure bikes like to pretend they can handle all terrain, but the Ténéré 700 has no need for such pretense.
The Versatile CP2 Engine
The 689cc parallel twin CP2 as first seen in the MT-07 street bike was also in the Tracer 700 and now the newer R7 sport bike that recently replaced the R6. In the Ténéré 700, it has been re-tuned to give a broader torque curve via revised engine mapping and a new airbox and exhaust muffler. Peak horsepower sits at a claimed 72hp and 44.1 foot-pounds of torque is generated. The engine is smooth, free-revving, and delivers its power in an engaging manner.
Solid On-Road Performance
Despite being an off-road focussed design, the Ténéré 700 has excellent road manners. The tall suspension is on the soft side but, with full adjustment front and rear, it can be set up to perfection for road use. The switchable ABS brakes have a soft initial bite for better control off-road, but still have enough power to inspire confidence.
Seat comfort, which is often slightly compromised on such bikes, if perfectly good for a couple of hours in the saddle at a time. You'll also get the full benefit of quad LED headlights that will let you see much farther ahead than typical halogen lights, which is a must when putting long miles well into the evening.
Off-Road Is Where The T7 Comes Alive
The Yamaha engine’s smooth, low-down torque coupled with perfect gearing in the excellent transmission make the Ténéré 700 incredibly good off-road. The soft suspension has all the travel and compliance you could ever need and helps the bike deal with any terrain you could ever want to throw at it.
The softness of the suspension, coupled with the torquey engine, gives the bike incredible traction out of muddy or sandy conditions and, overall, the bike is so easy to ride, it belies the idea that, without electronics, it is for expert riders only. The biggest telltale sign that Yamaha had off-road aspirations with this bike is the 21-inch front and 18-inch rear spoked wheels. Combine that with switchable ABS and the touring bike transforms itself into a very capable dual-sport.
The Electronics Are Sparse
When designing the Ténéré 700, Yamaha had to choose between making it an uncompromising, yet all-day comfortable adventure bike, or a bloated sport tourer with dual-sport tires, the likes of which are many. In order to make this bike accessible to lots of people, they chose to keep the costs down, and therefore the electronics had to take a back seat. There's no six-axis inertial measurement unit or traction control. There is no quick-shifter, semi-electronic suspension or color TFT dash. Creature comforts are also fairly sparse, with cruise control and heated grips missing. All you get is ABS, and the bike is all the better for it.
Modern electronics have become necessary on large 1000cc+ adventure bikes as the weight is such that no rider could ever control it without disaster lurking around every corner. But, the Ténéré 700 is light at 452 lbs, so it can do without excessive electronic assistance. And it's this lack of complexity that makes it cheaper (at $10,499) than most of its opposition. Don’t forget, also, that less complexity means less to go wrong and leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere.
A Handsome Adventure Bike
Yes, this is subjective, but the Ténéré 700 looks like it means business. There are no vulnerable plastic parts and the whole design is simple and effective. The Ténéré 700 has that perfect Dakar Rally je ne sais quoi. If you're a fan of that race, you may see traces of the designs favored by the motorcycles that tackle that event. The upright windshield, tall stance and narrow body are all designed to echo Dakar. And it's only fitting, considering T7s ties to the race.
It Is Very Economical
The gas tank of the Ténéré 700 holds 4.2 gallons, which is good for around 200 miles of mixed riding. And real world numbers from actual owners claim that it can achieve anywhere between 50-58 miles per gallon. But if that’s not enough, then Yamaha recently announced the Ténéré 700 World Raid model which, among other changes, adds a 6.07-gallon gas tank for an even more impressive range - a claimed 300 miles.
The Ténéré 700 World Raid Edition
Yamaha
Yamaha responded to criticisms of the base Ténéré 700 by launching the World Raid version. This not only has the above-mentioned larger fuel tank, but also a taller and revised suspension front and rear. The damping has been revised to give the rider much more control. It also has a revised motocross-style seat, that gives the rider more seating position options.
The engine remains the same, though it now has to pull more weight and overcome a larger frontal area from the revised fairing and screen. It should, however remain brilliantly flexible, pulling well from low revs, making the T7 easy to manage off-road. There are still no fancy electronics but at least now there is a full color TFT dash.
A Crowded Field Of ADVs
In creating a middleweight adventure bike, Yamaha is playing in an ever-growing sector of motorcycling. In no particular order, there is the Aprilia Tuareg 660, Triumph Tiger 900, Suzuki V-Strom 650XT Adventure, Ducati DesertX, KTM 890 Adventure, and Husqvarna Norden 901 Expedition. Oh, and let’s not forget the Moto Guzzi V85TT, BMW F 850 GS Adventure and the Honda CB500X, not to mention a slew of up-and-coming and inexpensive Chinese bikes and that ever-persistent rumor of a 650 version of the Royal Enfield Himalayan.
All of that is to say that there is a lot of very good competition out there for Yamaha's affordable ADV. But the Ténéré 700 seems to be up for the challenge. And though it is limited when it comes to rider aids, its tasteful design, off-road focus and just-right price point make it a very attractive package for those riders seeking to explore the world both on and off the beaten path.
FAQ
Q: Is the Ténéré 700 worth the money?
Yes, definitely. It might lack the electronic sophistication of other adventure bikes on the market, but it is still a very good adventure bike. costing less than most of its rivals.
Q: How is the Ténéré 700 on the highway?
It's OK. With just 72 horsepower, it's not the most powerful adventure bike and you'd be better riding on non-highway roads but if you have no choice, then it will cope with it well.
Q: What is the range of a Yamaha Ténéré 700?
With the 4.2-gallon tank, you should see around 200 miles and 300 miles with the 6.07-gallon tank of the World Raid model, 300 miles should be available.
Q: Is the Ténéré 700 seat comfortable?
Despite appearances, yes, the seat on the Tenere 700 is comfortable. it is also narrow at the front to help with bike control when riding off-road.