Yamaha's Ténéré 700: now that's more like it!

Having tempted Fast Bikes’ Charlie Oakman away from his sportsbike norm with BMW’s F900 XR, we now throw him a little deeper into the off-road sector with the celebrated Yamaha Ténéré 700.

- Charlie Oakman

Editor Mikko is sending me on a real journey of discovery that I enthusiastically signed up for due to a passion for any two-wheeled ride. Up to this point that has predominantly been in the form of sportsbikes, given my association with MSL’s sister title, Fast Bikes magazine. Of course, I have the knowledge I need to understand the adventure market but have not totally submerged myself into it until being offered this awesome opportunity. After three months of testing the quite brilliant BMW F900 XR it was returned to be replaced by this, Yamaha’s Ténéré 700.

I suppose it depends on how you define the term ‘adventure’ as to what you may expect to be riding. In truth the BMW did not quite fit into my thinking of adventure, though there are plenty of adventures to be had on the tarmac on board a bike with the capabilities of the F900. But as the T700 was wheeled out of Yamaha it immediately ticked the boxes of what was my initial expectation of this project – a bike that is simple in form but with a wealth of capability both on and off-road.

Before I had even swung a leg over the bike I knew that things were about to change and that there are numerous considerations to running a bike like this. The ride will be completely different from what I am used to with the high seated position and centre of gravity, larger wheels changing the dynamics of the ride and even my choice of riding gear. As he handed the keys over to me, Jeff from Yamaha stated that I would have to change those for a start, pointing at my trusty sports boots. Not to mention a helmet designed for your chin to be nearer the tank as opposed to upright and partially shielded behind a Dakar styled screen.