Yamaha are releasing two new versions of the popular Tenere 700 for 2023, the Explore and Extreme Edition, both presented at the 27th Two-Wheel show in Lyon, France. The names sound promising, and so does the list of added features. With these new bikes, it seems that Yamaha really want to stay ahead of the competition.
Yamaha Tenere 700 Extreme Edition
If you are looking to get your adrenaline pumping, and you want a motorcycle ready to take you anywhere, look no further. With this edition, the changes make it even more off-road capable.
The Tenere 700 gets a new high-mounted hard enduro front fender. To match the new look, the suspension has also been upgraded. At the front, it has a 43mm fully adjustable KYB fork, with 9 inches of travel (an inch more than standard Tenere 700). It comes covered in durable Kashima coating, so it won't let you down, even on the hardest of terrain. The rear KYB shock absorber is a fully adjustable, competition-ready unit with around 8.5 inches of travel.
To help with all that off-roading, Yamaha gave this Tenere new titanium foot-pegs. They are also wider to help alleviate the pressure when standing up. On top of that, it also has a one-piece flat saddle, made for rally-racing that should provide more comfort with extra padding. Another great feature is the 5-inch TFT dash. Riders can choose between three different display themes, dynamic ‘explore,’ analog ‘street’ or rally-inspired ‘raid.’
Yamaha Tenere 700 Explore Edition
While the ‘Extreme’ edition is meant for those looking to do more off-road riding, the ‘Explore’ edition leans more toward the touring side. It was designed to help you travel the world in comfort, so the added features all improve comfort and maneuverability.
New suspension was installed in this version as well. At the front, the Explore Edition is equipped with a more road biased setup, with 43mm KYB fork that has 7.5 inches of travel (an inch less than standard Tenere). This should provide a more comfortable and stable ride. At the rear it also has an adjustable KYB unit, with 7 inches of travel. With this new suspension, Yamaha managed to lower the seat height by almost an inch compared to the standard version.
To help with long trips on the highway, the ‘Explore’ edition has now added wind protection in the form of a taller and wider windshield. It also gets a quick-shifter which offers faster gear changes and specifically developed settings, which all makes for a more comfortable ride. This Tenere wouldn’t be travel equipped without luggage. You can choose between soft or aluminum side cases, which are available in black or silver.
The rest of the bike is pretty much the same. It has the 689cc engine from the regular Tenere 700 which cranks out 73.4 horsepower at 9000 rpm and 50 foot-pounds of torque at 6,500 rpm. Those specifications are already pretty awesome for a mid-size adventure bike, so, why change it? The price for the ‘Extreme’ edition is $12,642, and $12,536 for the ‘Explore’ edition… in France, that is. We are not sure when exactly they will hit the U.S. market, but we’ll keep you posted.