The Yamaha Ténéré 700 is a purist middleweight adventure motorcycle, built by a company steeped in Dakar and Africa raid history and refined for anyone who wants genuine off-road ability without a wall of electronics standing between them and the terrain. It sits apart from the bloated adventure-tourer crowd, built to be light, narrow and honest rather than laden with features nobody uses on a green lane.
Power comes from the 689cc CP2 parallel twin, liquid-cooled with DOHC and four valves per cylinder, tuned here for a broad, tractable spread rather than outright top speed. It produces 54kW, 73.4PS, at 9,000rpm and 68Nm of torque at 6,500rpm, with the crossplane crank giving a strong, characterful pulse through the six-speed gearbox that helps traction on loose surfaces as much as it flatters the rider’s ear. A wet multiple-disc clutch and chain final drive keep the drivetrain simple and easy to maintain, exactly as a bike meant to be ridden hundreds of miles from a dealer should be.
The double cradle steel tube chassis carries a 43mm upside down fork and a single shock with a remote preload adjuster, both tuned for genuine trail use rather than showroom looks, while 240mm of ground clearance and a 27 degree rake keep the geometry stable at speed and manoeuvrable at walking pace over rocks and ruts. Twin 282mm front discs and a 245mm rear provide progressive, easily modulated stopping power, and 21 inch front, 18 inch rear wheels shod in dual purpose rubber are the correct sizes for serious green laning, not just styling. At 208kg and an 875mm seat height, it asks the rider to stand up and work with it rather than simply sit back.
Nothing has been fitted purely for the sake of it, switchgear, dash and rider aids stay deliberately uncomplicated, leaving an honest, analogue machine that rewards genuine riding skill over gadgetry, which is exactly why it has become something of a cult favourite among middleweight adventure owners. It suits riders who want to cover proper distance and then leave the tarmac behind without hesitation. Available now at GT Motorcycles, your Yamaha dealer in Plymouth, serving adventure riders across Devon and Cornwall, with finance and test rides available.
Explore GT Motorcycles
