The result of long-term construction. Yamaha Tenéré 700 Review

Yamaha Tenéré 700 touring enduro model

was first presented as a concept in 2021, and official sales started in 2021 (2020 model series).
The main target market is Europe. The model will become available in North America closer to 2021. Factory name - Yamaha XTZ690
. The predecessor of the model is the Yamaha XT660Z Tenere.

The model was based on an engine from the MT-07 series - an in-line 2-cylinder liquid-cooled unit with a volume of 689 cm³, producing a claimed 73 hp. power and 68 Nm of torque. The main feature of the engine is the 270° crankshaft, which is why its operation is very reminiscent of V-twins.

The chassis is represented by a steel duplex frame, long-stroke adjustable suspension in the form of an inverted fork at the front and a monoshock absorber at the rear, spoked wheels measuring 21′ and 18′, front 2-piston and rear 1-piston brakes with switchable ABS and a 6-speed gearbox.

Overall, the Yamaha Ténéré 700 is very reminiscent of desert rally racers, and the overall styling is very similar to the Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin, for which the new Ténéré 700 is likely to be a more affordable competitor.

By 2021, Yamaha has offered a new version of the motorcycle on the European market - the Yamaha Ténéré 700 Rally Edition

. It is distinguished by exclusive colors, saddle, LED turn signals, Akrapovič exhaust system and additional equipment in the form of radiator protection, chain, enhanced crankcase protection, grips, etc.

Specifications

Technical characteristics of Yamaha Tenere 700:

YAMAHA Tenere 700: FULL TEST

Sometimes you just know it. Sometimes you can look at photos, check the wind direction and temperature, and predict when a bike will be a big hit. Yamaha Tenere 700 is like that. This is the bike we have been waiting and wanting to ride for a very long time, even before the bike was officially announced at EICMA last year. Yamaha has been strangely quiet in the world of adventure motorcycles lately, so we felt the next big thing had to be something special. This.

Yamaha is the second most successful winner of the Dakar Rally. There are people in the company who remember this and still want to make money from it. Expect more Tenere adventure bikes in the future.

LOTS OF MOTOR, GOOD SUSPENSION

WIND

In the world of adventure biking, there are both believers and non-believers. Believers point to increased sales of ADV bikes, increased attendance at rallies and increased occupancy of adventure bike trails as evidence that people are indeed taking big, multi-cylinder motorcycles on long off-road excursions. Non-believers say people buy the image, not the practice. We were beginning to think that Yamaha had fallen into the latter group, despite the fact that the company won the very first Dakar Rally and is still the event's second-most successful winner. This heritage is not reflected in the products of American Yamaha dealers.

The T7 is proof that Yamaha believes adventure bikes are truly suited to dirt.

Apparently, Yamaha now believes. The T7 could only be dreamed up by people who really love adventure bikes. However, it's not the suspension or power that makes the Tenere 700 so innovative; this is the price. The manufacturer's suggested retail price is barely less than the $10,000-20,000 mark. The cost of most premium cartoons is what really saves people from the dirt. There just aren't many people who want to put their 500$7 investment at risk of being damaged. Sooner or later, the prospect of dropping a XNUMX-pound motorcycle into the mud is obvious. Priced lower than many two-seater sports bikes, the TXNUMX opens the door to adventure for a whole new social class.

Our test bike came with an engine guard ($330) and a Rally seat ($220). Both ideas are good.

There are, of course, other inexpensive ADV bikes. These are, without exception, budget bikes outsourced from Vietnam, China and India. Tenere 700 is not one of those. It is made at the Yamaha factory in Japan. There's nothing quite like it. The motor is based on the MT07 motor, a popular naked bike. To turn it into an adventure bike, Yamaha created an all-new chassis with a more upright riding position, long suspension (8 inches), Brembo brakes, a larger fuel tank and a small fairing. What it didn't get tells you a little more about Yamaha's positioning for this bike. It doesn't have traction control, ride modes, hill hold, wheel steering or electronic suspension. Other than starting the engine, the only thing the bike's computer has to think about is the anti-lock braking system, which you can disable with the touch of a button. This is a bike for purists who don't want to worry about being stuck with the wrong settings, three menus deep in a complex e-portfolio. You put it in gear and go. It has a cable-actuated mechanical clutch and a six-speed gearbox. The instrument panel hints at some electronic complexity, but it's still a fairly simple black-and-white LED display.

Yamaha is the second most successful winner of the Dakar Rally. There are people in the company who remember this and still want to make money from it. Expect more Tenere adventure bikes in the future.

LOTS OF MOTOR, GOOD SUSPENSION

The truth is, if you have a really good motor, the electronic ride controls aren't that important. The Tenere motor is outstanding. It combines the best features of a small displacement engine with those of a large bore engine. Low-end torque is very strong. In most situations, you have a choice of three different gears in which to operate. It pulls so well that you can put it in high gear and have your own traction control. We often complain that adventure bikes don't have a low enough first gear to tackle really tight technical terrain. In this case, we found that we almost never used first gear. It doesn't stall and there is very little engine braking. The engine has a 270-degree crank, which Yamaha calls a transverse twin-cylinder configuration. This is the same recipe that Honda uses for the Africa Twin. The reason for the 270 degree offset between the crank arms is that it results in a more even distribution of power strokes than a traditional 180 degree crank. Performance-wise, the 700 is impressive. It will easily pull out of any big single-coil like a KTM 690, and will probably hang with most four-cylinder street bikes of similar displacement.

Yamaha clearly wants the Tenere to be used off-road. It comes with Pirelli Rally tires, which are very big-block off-road oriented tires, and they allow you to push the bike quite hard on rough dirt roads littered with rocks and ruts. Riding any 500-pound dirt bike requires a tune-up period, but on the Tenere it happens quickly. We dropped the tire pressure to about 27 psi and cranked the suspension wherever we could find a clicker. Standard fork settings are 11 clicks of compression and 17 clicks of rebound. You can go to 7 and 7 with no problem. In the rear you can get 15 to 7 clicks of compression and 13 to 5 clicks of rebound. The preload can be increased depending on the weight of the driver and luggage. Don't be afraid to go 10 turns. The suspension is another factor that confirms Yamaha's intentions. The T7 is comfortable on dirt roads. Rocks and washboard are no problem.

With an MSRP of $9,999, Yamaha has priced the Tenere 700 cheaper than many dual-sport motorcycles.

ALL ABOUT COMMITMENTS

When standing, the riding position is normal, with wide, flat bars and well-placed footpegs. However, when you sit, you fall into a hole from which it is difficult to get out. The solution here is to simply not sit down unless you need to. Yamaha also offers an optional rally seat that is significantly thicker. Not only does this make it easier to transition from sitting to standing, but it also positions you well. Most adventure bikes don't allow you to sit - ever. Fuel tanks are often so large that they push the rider too far back and the bike won't turn. With its thick seat, the Tenere 700 feels more like a giant dual-sport sports bike when the rider is seated. However, standing in the mud is always better.

Like many adventure bikes with good off-road capabilities, seat height is a big issue, especially for less experienced riders. Even before you install the Rally seat, the Tenere is tall enough to be intimidating. The center of gravity of the bike is definitely higher than most bikes in this category. The engine has a large oil pan that pushes the crankshaft higher for ground clearance. This, in turn, increases the capacity of the 4.2-gallon fuel tank. If you have a full tank, the T7 can be difficult to handle at super slow speeds and in rocky areas. Honestly, high CG isn't that bad. This actually contributes to the bike's excellent stability at speed. This is why a broom is easier to balance on the palm of your hand than a toothpick. Riding a big bike like this SUV is all about commitment; The more confident you are, the better. Overall, this bike tops the list of adventure bikes with real off-road flair. You can tell Yamaha's testing department took its time with this.

Tenere 700 comes with spoked wheels and tubed tires. The Pirelli Rally tires are a sign that Yamaha expects the bike to be capable of off-road adventures.

STREET TIME

Obviously, if you plan to ride on dirt most of the time, there's no advantage to a bike like the Tenere; you are more of a two-sport enthusiast. However, when you need to pave the ground, the T7 earns its way. The motor is smooth, sweet and nimble. Top gear is high enough that you can cruise on the highway and feel like the engine is just idling. Wind protection is also good. The windshield is too small to see through, but it keeps the airflow away from your chest. The standard equipment is quite good, with decent handguards and a large skid plate. As always, people can and will get more stuff when they buy a bike. Yamaha offers the Rally Pack with crash bars, center stand, larger skid plate and other accessories for an additional $1,549. The Tour Pack has many of the same parts, with the addition of aluminum saddlebags for $2,265. However, the price is what makes the T7 so attractive in the first place. Nothing else in this category offers so much for such a small amount. He opens the gates of adventure and lets everyone in.