Yamaha Ténéré 700
I think it is fair to say Aussie adventure enthusiasts are quietly impressed at today’s news that Yamaha are launching the all-new Ténéré 700 at $15,499 +ORC.
That means that Yamaha’s long awaited, and my, how we have waited, 689 cc parallel-twin adventure bike should be on the road for around 17k.
We are going to have to wait a bit longer though as the release date is still almost nine-months away, with Yamaha indicating that Australian deliveries of the machine are not expected until December, 2019.
The CP2 engine is now well proven in the XSR700 and Yamaha’s extremely popular MT-07. From the first time I rode an MT-07, almost five-years ago, the first thing that went through my mind was wow, how good would this engine be in an adventure bike? I can’t wait to see just how good!
Producing maximum torque of 68 Nm at 6500 rpm in Tenere guise, and 72 horsepower at 9000 rpm, Yamaha claim that this engine offers the ideal balance of performance and controllability. While a 16-litre fuel cell should give the Tenere a touring range approaching 300 kilometres.
Yamaha have failed to put a claimed weight in the technical specifications they have provided us (bottom of page), but overseas sources suggest the Tenere 700 will tip the scales at 205 kg wet, for the European specification model.
Yamaha Continue…
During the development of the Ténéré 700 one of the key goals was to achieve a slim,
agile and light feeling chassis that would be equally suited to both road and off road
riding. To satisfy these requirements Yamaha’s designers have developed an all-new
light-weight double-cradle tubular steel frame that combines a low weight with
immense strength, making it ideally suited a variety of riding conditions.
Featuring a compact 1590 mm wheelbase and a slim body, this rugged chassis delivers
responsive handling characteristics, and with 240 mm of ground clearance the Ténéré
700 is designed to tackle the roughest terrain.
The ability to shift your body weight forwards and rearwards to suit the terrain ahead
is crucial when you want to maintain full control in off road riding situations, and so
the Ténéré 700 is equipped with a flat 880 mm high seat and slim body that allows
maximum rider agility. The compact bodywork and narrow fuel tank also enable you
to grip the tank with the knees whether sitting or standing, giving added confidence
and control in every situation.
The new Ténéré 700 is equipped with a distinctive looking headlight assembly that is a
direct spin off from Yamaha’s latest factory rally bikes and the T7 concept machine. A
total of four LED headlights project powerful beams of light that can light up the
darkest wilderness. Stacked in a 2 + 2 layout and protected by a clear nacelle – and
with two LED position lights at the base – this strong face gives a purposeful look that
matches this new adventure bike’s imposing character.
When you’re riding in the dirt you need the best possible suspension systems, and the
Ténéré 700’s long travel forks are undeniable evidence that this is a serious adventure
bike with class-leading off road capabilities. The flex resistant 43 mm forks stay in
shape over the most extreme terrain to give precision steering and smooth
suspension action – and with 210mm of suspension travel, this high specification front
end enables you to attack the most challenging off road terrain with confidence.
Offering full damping adjustment, these rally-specification front forks ensure high
levels of comfort with lightweight handling performance when you’re on the road,
making the Ténéré 700 one of the most capable and enjoyable long distance tourers.
The Ténéré 700 is equipped with a rally-bred link-type rear suspension system that gives smooth and progressive action for maximum riding comfort and enhanced levels of
control. Featuring a lightweight aluminium swingarm for low unsprung weight, this high specification rear end offers 200 mm of travel which, like the front suspension system, is designed to be able to handle the most severe off road riding conditions as well as giving
a comfortable ride on the road. Another significant feature is the remote adjuster that lets you fine tune the preload settings while you’re on the go, making it quick and easy to dial in the shock to suit the riding conditions.
The compact rally screen and nose fairing give you excellent protection from the wind while maintaining the slim and lightweight character of the bike, and the competition type tapered handlebars give a relaxed riding position, whether you’re seated or standing.
Just like the high specification front and rear suspension, the 21-inch front and 18-inch rear spoked rims clearly demonstrate that this bike is built for serious off road riding.
With their ability to efficiently absorb the continuous impacts experienced when riding in rough terrain, these lightweight wheels give you optimum handling performance and control. Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres are a popular choice with Australian ADV riders and fitted as original equipment.
Throughout the development of this new generation adventure bike, Yamaha’s key
goal was to ensure that the Ténéré 700 would deliver class leading off road
performance together with outstanding on road abilities and offer a genuine long
range potential. The slim design of the fuel tank belies its 16-litre capacity, and
narrow rear section offers plenty of rider mobility and excellent knee grip. Whether
you’re sitting down or standing up, the compact dimensions of this long-range fuel
tank enable you to shift your weight around effortlessly – and thanks to the excellent
economy of the twin-cylinder engine, 16-litres of fuel will give a potential riding range
of over 350km which gives the new Ténéré 700 a high level of year-round all-terrain
versatility.
Another example of how the new Ténéré 700 has been developed using rally-bred
technology can be seen with the compact rally style instruments. Located centrally
behind the screen for great visibility, this lightweight instrument panel displays a wide
range of information that can be absorbed without having to take your eyes off the
road or track. The multi-function LCD display features comprehensive information
including gear position, fuel level, two trip meters and estimated fuel range, as well as
average and instant fuel consumption and more.
The cockpit is designed to accommodate the fitment of aftermarket navigation devices,
enabling you to add extra equipment to suit your own requirements, including GPS, road
book readers and smart phones.
The braking system consists of dual 282 mm wave front discs and a 245 mm wave rear disc that gives high levels of stopping power with plenty of feel at all speeds on the highway or in the dirt. When you’re riding off road you have the option to temporarily disable the ABS whenever required by activating the kill switch while stationary. With the ABS turned off you can take full manual control, and in particular you can choose to lock the rear wheel deliberately in certain situations – such as very tight turns or on steep descents.
Yamaha has developed a full range of genuine accessories to create your own Ténéré
700 including aluminium side cases and top box, a lower seat, suspension lowering kit,
high screen, bar risers, rack, full Akropovic exhasut system and grip heaters.
Yamaha Ténéré 700
Key technical features
- High-torque 689cc 4-stroke CP2 parallel-twin engine
- New lightweight double cradle tubular steel frame
- Slim, compact and ergonomic body and seat
- Aggressive rally-bred face with four LED headlights and two LED position lights
- Adjustable long-travel 43mm upside down forks with 210mm travel
- Remotely adjustable link-type rear suspension with 200mm travel
- Compact rally style cockpit with tapered handlebars
- 21-inch/18-inch lightweight spoked wheels with adventure tyres
- Slim long-range fuel tank with 16-litre capacity for 350km+ range
- Compact rally-style multi-function instruments
- Switchable ABS for on the fly adjustment
- Screen and handguards give good rider protection
Yamaha Ténéré 700 specifications
- Engine type – Twin cylinder, 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 4-valves
- Displacement – 689 cc
- Bore x stroke – 80.0 mm x 68.6 mm
- Compression ratio – 11.5 : 1
- Maximum power – 72 hp @ 9000 rpm
- Maximum torque – 68 Nm @ 6500 rpm
- Lubrication system – Wet sump
- Clutch type – Wet, multiple disc
- Fuel management – Fuel injection
- Ignition system – TCI
- Starter system – ElectricTransmission system – Constant Mesh, 6-speed
- Final transmission – Chain
- Frame – Double cradle steel tube chassis
- Front suspension system – Upside down telescopic fork, travel 210mm
- Rear suspension system – Swingarm (link suspension), travel 200mm
- Front brake – Hydraulic dual disc, Ø 282 mm
- Rear brake – Hydraulic single disc, Ø 245 mm
- Brake system – Switchable ABS
- Tyres – 90/90 R21 (F), 150/70 R18 (R)
- Wet Weight – 205 kg (This figure has not been put out by Yamaha Australia but is what we have gleaned from overseas sources)
- Overall length – 2365 mm
- Overall width – 915 mm
- Overall height – 1455 mm
- Seat height – 880 mm
- Wheel base – 1590 mm
- Minimum ground clearance – 240 mm
- Fuel tank capacity – 16L
- Warranty – Two years, unlimited kms
- Colours – Ceramic Ice, Competition White, Power Black
- Availability – December 2019
- RRP inc GST – $15,499
