Yamaha has a rich history in rally racing which goes back to the mid ’70s. The Ténéré 700 has reaped the rewards from all that racing history and Yamaha packaged it into a lightweight go-anywhere adventure motorcycle that doesn’t break the bank.
ENGINE/PERFORMANCE
Yamaha has always been known for their reliable, low-maintenance four-stroke engines and the Ténéré follows this same engineering discipline. First valve check isn’t until 24,000 miles. The Ténéré uses the new Cross-Plane 2 Cylinder (CP2) engine which was pioneered back in 1996 with the production TRX850 and they continue to use this technology in multiple models of their line-up.
The super-compact, low-vibration CP2 engine features a bore and stroke of 80 x 68.6mm with an 11.5:1 compression ratio that produces ultra-smooth and torquey power output. Even though the engine is basically the MT-07, the Ténéré 700 has its specific ECU settings, exhaust system, air box, cooling system, and final gear ratio of 46/15 that allows the engine to work perfectly in both on- and off-road situations.
This engine is a blast to ride, with more than enough power and torque on tap to suit almost any rider. Riding offroad, you can ride a high gear if you feel like getting lazy. Just roll on the throttle and it builds power as you keep rolling on more. I know some of you horsepower heads will think that the numbers on paper won’t satisfy you. But, trust me, the Ténéré 700 has more than enough to power to wheelie offroad and blast light-to light racing with your buddies.
CHASSIS
The Ténéré uses an all-new steel perimeter frame with double braced steering to handle the rigors of off-road abuse. Lower frame rails are removable for easy engine maintenance. I was hoping for a removable sub-frame like its YZ siblings. But Yamaha decided to go with a welded, triangulated sub-frame. Out back we have a lightweight YZ-style aluminum swingarm designed to stand up to off-road bashings. All this translates to a 27° rake and 105mm trail, which is almost identical to the 2020 YZ450F. So, yes, the Ténéré absolutely does well in the off-road department.
SUSPENSION AND HANDLING
Yamaha has a long history with the KYB family so it’s no surprise that the new Ténéré comes fitted with KYB front and back.
Front forks are 43mm, with 8.26 inches of travel and fully adjustable compression and rebound damping. The range of clicks is impressive, with 0–22 clicks for compression and 0–24 clicks for rebound. For the rear, a piggyback KYB with full linkage is used with 7.87 inches of travel, offering full compression, rebound, and pre-load adjustability. Range for compression is 0–18 clicks with rebound 0–23 clicks while the pre-load offers 24–0 clicks to balance out your payload.
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In the age of electronics, hyper-communications, and convenience, it’s untrue that the world’s youth have lost the taste for adventure. There will always be an element within the human spirit that demands and grows from new life experiences—an instinct as old as Mankind. And you don’t have to look far to find it.
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For the last 25 years I’ve been riding off road on everything from a 450cc lightweight to a heavily laden 1200cc adventure motorcycle. Although I was usually able to handle anything through rough terrain at slower speeds, I struggled at higher speeds on loose surfaces. And the biggest pucker moments occurred while approaching tight turns on gravel roads at high speed—barely navigating them safely.
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I’m no expert endurance rider or a professional fitness instructor, but what I can do is ride my motorcycle continuously for five long days and feel physically content at the end of the trip. Okay, maybe after the celebratory beers, I might not feel as good on the morning of the sixth day, but at least my muscles will be relaxed. So, what can you do to prepare for an upcoming off-road adventure to stay strong, enjoy the ride and be able to dismount at the end of the day without calling friends over to pry you off your bike? Here are a few tips from personal experiences that will help you succeed.
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Touratech has a long history of taking great helmets and adding their own features to make them stand apart. Their newest offering, the Aventuro Traveller Carbon, is no different. It’s built upon the Nexx X.Vilijord, a helmet not sold in North America but one that sits at the pinnacle of the Portuguese brand’s line-up. The Aventuro Traveller becomes its own with a full carbon shell, signature Touratech look, and easy accommodation for just about any communication system available.
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