Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1122949
YAMAHA TENERE 700 FIRST REVIEW P104 wind without looking like a snow shovel in front of you. Their styl- ing is modern, but somewhat of a throwback to the baddest dirt bikes ever created. Inside the fiberglass, composite fairing sits an ultra-cool four-LED headlight with an LED marker light under- neath. We never know how these things work out when they come to the U.S. with the DOT laws and such, but we're hoping it's unchanged because it's damn- near perfect looking to us. Sitting in the cockpit you can really see how simple this machine is. It's down to the essence of motorcy- cling, and if you're not spoiled by rider aids, you'll be right at home. Complaints We've mentioned the soft-ish braking performance and bit of need for more suspension vitality for the more aggressive off-road- ers inside us. But what about all our other complaints? We'll put them here. First, we are super bummed we have to wait another year to try this bike again. Couldn't let that go. Second, we wish the footpegs were longer. They're actually plen- ty wide, but we could use them to clear away from the frame a few more mm's. The clutch housing on the right side of the engine really pushes your leg out when standing, and the peg platform real estate simply runs out. We inspected the skid plate coverage while crawling around on the ground under the bike, and while it's nice, it could use some more protection to the oil pan and protruding oil filter—both of which sneak below the lower bolt-on frame rails a bit. That's about it for the boo birds on this one. Wrap-Up Yamaha teased us with the epic T7 and again with the World Raid. All the while, they did an outstanding job of not ruining the rally-inspired look and, it seems, performance of a middleweight adventure machine with real off- road potential. Now that we've tasted Europe's first flavor of the Tenere 700, we're even hungrier. This is a bike with incredible potential in the North American market. It's sim- plistic and seems to be fighting above its weight class with a fun, nimble and sporty ride. If it comes in at the right price, it will win at dealerships as a big-time upgrade to the dual-sport stalwarts and truly entry-level models and can compete on performance poten- tial with more premium offerings. If we get anything close to what we rode in Europe, and we should, adventure customers will have a few color options and host of useful accessories to make these bikes perfect for them. We highly recommend the taller "Rally" seat—it adds some space for your legs to stretch out when sitting—if your inseam allows it. There's also a lowering setup for shorter riders. But we still have to wait and see on those. While we don't know exactly what we're going to get when the Tenere 700 lands in North America, we know we can't wait to find out. Again. CN 2021 YAMAHA TENERE 700 ENGINE: Liquid-cooled, DOHC, Parallel Twin 4 valves per cylinder BORE X STROKE: ............80 x 68.6mm DISPLACEMENT: ..........................689cc COMPRESSION RATIO: ..................11.5:1 HORSEPOWER (REAR WHEEL, CLAIMED): .......... 72.4 hp @ 9000 rpm TORQUE (CLAIMED): ... 50 lb-ft @ 6500 rpm TRANSMISSION: .............. 6-speed, wet multi-plate clutch FINAL DRIVE: ................................. Chain FRONT SUSPENSION: .........KYB 43mm inverted fork, fully adjustable REAR SUSPENSION: ........... KYB Single shock, adjustable preload (w/remote adjuster) and rebound damping FRONT WHEEL TRAVEL: ...............8.3 in. REAR WHEEL TRAVEL: ................. 7.9 in. FRONT BRAKE: .....Brembo, dual 282mm hydraulic disc; selectable ABS (on/ off) REAR BRAKE: .............Brembo, 245mm hydraulic disc; selectable ABS (on/ off) FRONT TIRE: .............. 90/90R21 Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR REAR TIRE: 150/70R18 Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR RAKE/TRAIL: ....................27.0°/4.13 in. WHEELBASE: ............................. 62.8 in. SEAT HEIGHT: ........................... 34.6 in. CURB WEIGHT (CLAIMED): ...449.7 lbs. FUEL CAPACITY: ........................4.2 gal. COLORS: ............................. Ceramic Ice WARRANTY: Warranty 1 Year (Limited Factory Warranty) S P E C I F I C A T I O N S