It's official - Yamaha is finally ready to unleash the all-new XTZ700 Ténéré adventure bike on the world!
This morning NZ Time, Yamaha-Motor pulled the covers off the production Ténéré 700 after what seems like years of waiting and teasing. The production bike will officially go on sale in Europe in the second half of 2019, with Yamaha Motor New Zealand confirming the bike will go on sale in New Zealand in late 2019 with a yet to be announced price.
Here's some quick facts on the new Ténéré 700 as per Yamaha's official press release.
Ténéré 700 model overview • Rally-bred T7-inspired dual sport design with pure Ténéré DNA • Light, compact, nimble • Outstanding off road performance • Year-round on road capabilities • Go-anywhere long distance potential, 350km+ fuel range • Powerful, smooth and economical high-torque engine • Switchable ABS option for off road riding • Effective screen and hand guards for excellent weather protection • State of the art long-travel suspension • Available in 3 colour variations
Yamaha hasn't had a mid-sized Ténéré for a couple of years now in the New Zealand market after the long lived XTZ660 Tenere was discontinued. The brand now says that the time has come to re-establish Yamaha as a leading force in the Adventure segment. With the introduction of the all-new Ténéré 700 it looks like they are about to do just that.
The new Ténéré has been designed as a lightweight no compromise Adventure model with one of the highest specifications in its class, and one of the most exciting and significant new Adventure models to be launched for many years.
Equipped with the successful CP2 689cc parallel-twin engine from the MT07HO (no word yet on whether Australasia will get a LAMS variant) and a completely new chassis, the Ténéré 700 is designed to deliver class-leading handling and agility in the dirt - combined with high speed long distance performance on the road - making it an extremely capable and versatile Adventure bike.
Power figures for the Yamaha Ténéré 700 sit at 54kW at 9,000rpm and 69Nm produced at 6,500rpm. Yamaha says this engine offers the ideal balance of performance and controllability - and with its excellent fuel economy, it contributes towards the Ténéré 700's ability to cover long distances between fuel stops.
To cater for the unique requirements of Adventure riders, the final transmission is optimised, and together with a range of model-specific fuel injection settings, these features contribute towards the bike's outstanding versatility and remarkable performance in different riding environments.
Suspension comes in the form of 43mm long-travel USD forks up front which Yamaha boasts are "rally specification". The flex resistant 43mm forks are designed to stay in shape over the most extreme terrain to give precision steering and smooth suspension action - and with 210mm of suspension travel, this high specification front end enables you to attack the most challenging off road terrain with confidence. That sound a lot like one of the improvements Yamaha Motor NZ National Manager, Alan Petrie mentioned at the recent MT ride day was ordered by our mates accross the Tasman to take the new Ténéré from Soft-Roader to competant Off-Roader.
Offering full damping adjustment, these rally-specification front forks ensure high levels of comfort with lightweight handling performance when you're on the road, making the Ténéré 700 one of the most capable and enjoyable long distance tourers.
Out back is an adjustable rear shock with remote adjustment with a decent amount of travel. Featuring a lightweight aluminium swingarm for low unsprung weight, this high specification rear end offers 200mm of travel which, like the front suspension system, is designed to be able to handle the most severe off road riding conditions as well as giving a comfortable ride on the road. Another significant feature is the remote adjuster that lets you fine tune the preload settings while you're on the go, making it quick and easy to dial in the shock to suit the riding conditions.
Wheels are 21-inch up front with an 18-incher out back, which should allow the new Ténéré a wide selection of off-road rubber while also giving the bike excellent off-road handling traits.
Unlike the previous mid-sized Ténéré, the XTZ700 runs a sub-20-litre fuel tank, with just 16-litres carried on board. However, Yamaha assures us that this is ample to provide a long range for the new adventure steed.
"Thanks to the excellent economy of the 2-cylinder engine, 16-litres of fuel will give a potential riding range of over 350km which gives the new Ténéré 700 a high level of year-round all-terrain versatility", the official press release stated.
The braking system comes in the form of dual 282mm wave front discs and a 245mm wave rear disc that gives high levels of stopping power with plenty of feel at all speeds on the highway or in the dirt.
When you're riding off road you have the option to temporarily disable the ABS whenever required by activating the kill switch while stationary.
Sadly when it comes to the cockpit the new Ténéré misses out on a TFT screen, which would have been a very nice addition, however instrumentation comes in the form of a comprehensive LCD unit, including gear position, fuel level, two trip meters and estimated fuel range, as well as average and instant fuel consumption and more.
Yamaha says the cockpit is designed to accommodate the fitment of aftermarket navigation devices, enabling you to add extra equipment to suit your own requirements, including GPS, road book readers and smart phones.
Yamaha Ténéré XTZ700 Key Technical Features
• High-torque 689cc 4-stroke CP2 parallel-twin engine • New lightweight double cradle tubular steel frame • Slim, compact and ergonomic body and seat • Aggressive rally-bred face with four LED headlights and two LED position lights • Adjustable long-travel 43mm upside down forks with 210mm travel • Remotely adjustable link-type rear suspension with 200mm travel • Compact rally style cockpit with tapered handlebars • 21-inch/18-inch lightweight spoked wheels with adventure tyres • Slim long-range fuel tank with 16-litre capacity for 350km+ range • Compact rally-style multi-function instruments • Switchable ABS for on the fly adjustment • Screen and handguards give good rider protection
Ténéré 700 full specs
ENGINE
Engine type 2-Cylinder, 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 4-valves
Displacement 689 cm³
Bore x stroke 80.0 mm x 68.6 mm
Compression ratio 11.5 : 1
Maximum power 54.0kW @ 9,000 rpm
Maximum torque 68.0Nm @ 6,500 rpm
Lubrication system Wet sump
Clutch type Wet, Multiple Disc
Carburettor Fuel Injection Ignition system
TCI Starter system Electric
Transmission system Constant Mesh, 6-speed
Final transmission Chain
CHASSIS
Frame Double cradle steel tube chassis
Front suspension system Upside down telescopic fork
Front travel 210mm
Rear suspension system Swingarm (link suspension)
Rear travel 200mm
Front brake Hydraulic dual disc, Ø 282 mm
Rear brake Hydraulic single disc, Ø 245 mm
Brake system ABS
Front tyre 90/90 R21 M/C 54V M+S - Spoke wheels with Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR
Rear tyre 150/70 R18 M/C 70V M+S - Spoke wheels with Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR DIMENSIONS
Overall length 2,365 mm
Overall width 915 mm
Overall height 1,455 mm
Seat height 880 mm
Wheel base 1,590 mm
Minimum ground clearance 240 mm
Wet weight (including full oil and fuel tank) N/A
Fuel tank capacity 16L