After years of teasing the motorcycle world with the T7 prototype Adventure bike, Yamaha finally turned out the production-ready Ténéré 700 at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan. Here’s what Yamaha says are the highlights of the middleweight off roader with a 350km (217m) range.

Ténéré 700 Details:

689cc, 4-stroke, CP2 engine with Adventure settings

The new Ténéré 700 is equipped with the689cc parallel-twin engine.  The key characteristic of this compact CP2 engine is its strong and linear torque output that gives instant throttle response and what Yamaha says is outstanding acceleration. Producing maximum torque at 6,500rpm, Yamaha says that this motor gives excellent fuel economy.

New lightweight double cradle tubular steel frame

Yamaha’s designers have developed an all-new lightweight double cradle tubular steel frame that combines a low weight with  strength, making it ideally suited a variety of riding conditions.

Featuring a compact 1,590mm wheelbase and a slim body, the chassis delivers responsive handling characteristics, and with 240mm of ground clearance the Ténéré 700 has plenty of ground clearance too.

Slim, compact and ergonomic body and seat

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 880mm high seat and slim body that allows maximum rider agility. The compact bodywork and narrow fuel tank also let the rider grip the tank with the knees whether sitting or standing.

Aggressive rally-bred face with four LED headlights

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.

Adjustable long-travel 43mm upside down forks

The flex resistant 43mm forks stay in shape over the most extreme terrain to give precision steering and smooth suspension action – with 210mm of suspension travel.

Remotely adjustable rear shock absorber

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 200mm 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.

21-inch front & 18-inch rear spoked wheels

Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres are fitted as original equipment, and because the Ténéré 700 features a competition type 21-inch front wheel/18-inch rear wheel combination, you have the possibility to fit a wide choice of tyres to suit your own requirements – ranging from a pure enduro pattern for predominantly off road use, through to dual sport pattern tyres for year round on/off road versatility.

Slim long-range fuel tank with 16-litre capacity

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 its 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 2-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.

Compact rally style multi-function instruments

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.

Switchable ABS for easy adjustment

The braking system consists of dual 282mm wave front discs and a 245mm 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.

Good rider protection

On long journeys the screen and front cowl give good protection from the wind and weather, and because of the bike’s slim and compact body you are able to tuck in tightly to the chassis and keep out of the main airflow. As well deflecting wind and rain, the tough plastic handguards also help to prevent damage from rocks and stones kicked up by vehicles in front of you, and they offer added protection from branches and foliage when you’re in the wilderness. And if you do take a tumble in the dirt, they help to protect the levers and throttle from accidental damage.

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

Availability 
The new Ténéré 700 will be available in the second half of 2019 at Yamaha dealers across Europe.

Colours        Ceramic Ice
Competition White
Power Black

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Tony Carter

Tony has been riding motorcycles for over 35 years and he's been a motorcycle writer for over 25 of those. He's ridden almost every motorcycle you can think of at most places around the world and he's partial to some racing, too. A Taurus, Tony doesn't believe in horoscopes (but then that's exactly what a Taurus would say!) but he does believe in Mandalorians and their right to earn a living.

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