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ADV NewsSpied: New Long-Range Yamaha Tenere 700 Caught Out Testing?

Spied: New Long-Range Yamaha Tenere 700 Caught Out Testing?

New spy photos reveal T7 variant testing out in the wild.

Published on 10.16.2020

With so many “spy shots” of future bikes hitting the news lately, some have been prompted to question their origin. Take this latest sighting: a divergent Yamaha Tenere 700 cruising rather conspicuously on a road. True test mule or marketing device? If you’re like us, the answer is: who cares! Especially when the “secret” model, so crudely shrouded in black canvas, hints of something potentially awesome. 

In this case, the undisclosed bike, rolling on those tell-tale blue wheels, seems to be a travel-intended version of the Yamaha Tenere 700 with an oversized fuel tank under the shrouding. The standard T7 and Rally edition both use a 4.2 gallon (16 liter tank), while this tank by the looks of it could hold somewhere in the region of 20 liters, or 5.3 gallons. Judging by the stock bike’s fuel range of up to 200 miles, we could be looking at a range of over 250 for this variant. 

Spied photos new Yamaha Tenere 700 long-range model

The engine appears to be the standard 689cc, 4-stroke, CP2 parallel-twin that powers the T7 and T7 Rally Edition, though a tweaked exhaust manifold may indicate emission changes to meet new, tougher Euro 5 regulations. The radiator is also either larger or may be repositioned lower to accommodate the larger tank.


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The prototype Tenere 700 in the photos seems to also be sporting a new fork, which may signal suspension improvements coming. The spied bike also features a larger skid plate that is at least as burly as the plate featured on the Dakar-inspired Rally Edition, yet more modular, appearing to wrap around the new manifold and CP2’s bottom end. 

Spied photos new Yamaha Tenere 700 travel model

From what we can tell, the rear of the bike appears to be straight from the base model, wearing the stock exhaust as opposed to the Akrapovič slip-on muffler found on the Rally Edition. We assume the seat, shrouded in these photos, will be designed for longer stints seated on the bike.

Interestingly, those pannier racks aren’t Yamaha ware, but instead are the GIVI racks and backing plates that fit the GRT709 soft pannier system. Whether it’s a forthcoming collaboration or just a place-holder for proprietary bags, this new model will likely come with factory luggage. 

A best case scenario would involve this new model incorporating some of the much-appreciated off-road features found on the ready-for-the-rough Rally Edition, which offers a higher standard specification than the base model, and is equipped with a number of exclusive, useful components such as tank grip pads and off road grips. 

Spied photos new Yamaha Tenere 700 travel model

But even without the upspec’d rally-inspired goodies, a new long-range travel model that has the T7’s adjustable, long-travel suspension, switchable ABS, 21/18 inch spoked wheels and knobby tires sounds like a pretty tasty option. 

Whether it’s a marketing stunt or some poor bloke who actually got caught by the bike paparazzi while he was putting miles on Yamaha’s latest adventure bike project, we’ll keep you posted on fresh sightings or updates regarding the latest adventure mount potentially headed for the Tenere 700 stable.

Photos: Autoevolution

Author: Jamie Elvidge

Jamie has been a motorcycle journalist for more than 30 years, testing the entire range of bikes for the major print magazines and specializing in adventure-travel related stories. To date she’s written and supplied photography for articles describing what it’s like to ride in all 50 states and 43 foreign countries, receiving two Lowell Thomas Society of American Travel Writer’s Awards along the way. Her most-challenging adventure yet has been riding in the 2018 GS Trophy in Mongolia as Team AusAmerica’s embedded journalist.

Author: Jamie Elvidge
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Eric A.
Eric A.
October 16, 2020 11:06 am

This would cool. Those forks definitely look different imo.

Wes Mills
Wes Mills
October 16, 2020 2:54 pm

Why road test an unladen adventure motorcycle in a high density area?—Pile on the gear and get it dirty!

rtw-trip
rtw-trip
October 17, 2020 1:39 am

Wow this would be awesome. Yamaha is getting closer to the perfect RTW-bike.

Robert
Robert
October 18, 2020 9:00 am

The word is the 700cc Tenere “travel” will weigh about as much as an 1100cc Africa Twin manual trans but make less power.

Jezza09
Jezza09
October 20, 2020 8:13 am

It would wan’t to have a min of 25L more like 30L fuel tank to justify it. These new fuel injected machines don’t get as high m.p.g as the hype would have us believe.

Also be able to carry a huge amount of luggage with stronger subframe etc

anthonyportell
anthonyportell
October 26, 2020 10:39 am

Wow, very interesting

Thank you sharing……

Patrick McBrien
Patrick McBrien
August 30, 2021 3:39 am

Wrong direction, Tubeless rims and loose some weight for me.

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