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Yamaha’s new Ténéré 700 ‘Rally Edition’
Yamaha’s best-selling middleweight adventure bike, the Ténéré 700, has now become even more attractive with the Japanese firm’s introduction of this new, heritage-inspired special edition version – the Ténéré 700 ‘Rally Edition’. Read all about it here.
Words by: Auto Trader
Published on 2 July 2020 | 0 min read
Launched last year, the Ténéré, the name of the Sahara desert region Yamaha has given to its adventure-style bikes since 1983, is a more affordable, middleweight adventure machine based on the firm’s already hugely-popular 700cc twin cylinder MT-07 roadster and Tracer 700 sports-tourer.
Genuine off-road ability comes via a new chassis with larger, dirt style wire wheels (21in at the front and 18 at the rear), longer-travel suspension and engine ‘bash plate’ to suit, all rounded off with bespoke adventure bike styling and ergonomics including a slim dual seat and half fairing with tall screen. The punchy 689cc parallel twin, meanwhile, is retuned slightly but still gives a lively and grunty 73bhp, enough for novices and more experienced riders alike.
Genuine off-road ability comes via a new chassis with larger, dirt style wire wheels (21in at the front and 18 at the rear), longer-travel suspension and engine ‘bash plate’ to suit, all rounded off with bespoke adventure bike styling and ergonomics including a slim dual seat and half fairing with tall screen. The punchy 689cc parallel twin, meanwhile, is retuned slightly but still gives a lively and grunty 73bhp, enough for novices and more experienced riders alike.
The result is a brilliant combination of light but effective Tracer-style road performance, albeit with lighter steering and a taller, narrower seat, plus genuine off-road ability that, thanks to being a relatively lightweight 700, is far more accessible and less daunting than on full-size 1200cc+ adventure bikes. That, plus a temptingly affordable £9K price tag, helped make the new Ténéré a big sales hit at the end of 2019 with over 8000 sold Europe-wide.
Now Yamaha has added to that appeal even further with the introduction of this special ‘Rally Edition’. It’s been inspired by the company’s first production Ténéré, the XT600Z of 1983 that in turn was effectively a road-going version of its then factory Paris-Dakar Rally racers, which won the event in 1979 and 1980. The new Ténéré 700 Rally Edition thus shares the 1983 bike’s blue, yellow and black colourscheme, gets an assortment of off-road protection and ‘rally-style’ extras and a generally improved spec.
Now Yamaha has added to that appeal even further with the introduction of this special ‘Rally Edition’. It’s been inspired by the company’s first production Ténéré, the XT600Z of 1983 that in turn was effectively a road-going version of its then factory Paris-Dakar Rally racers, which won the event in 1979 and 1980. The new Ténéré 700 Rally Edition thus shares the 1983 bike’s blue, yellow and black colourscheme, gets an assortment of off-road protection and ‘rally-style’ extras and a generally improved spec.
There’s a more heavy duty ‘bash plate’ made from 4mm thick aluminium which also includes a rally style toolbox mounting point; new, laser-cut aluminium chain guard and new, black-finished aluminium radiator guard.
Improved off-road ability also comes via a new, one-piece ‘Rally’ seat which is 20mm higher, shaped to better suit off-road riding and comes with heritage-style white ‘Yamaha’ logos on its flanks. Plus there’s also a performance Akrapovic silencer fitted as standard, more compact LED indicators, rubber knee pads on the tank and hand guards. The new Ténéré 700 ‘Rally Edition’ arrives in UK dealers mid-July priced £10,299 inc VAT (compared to the stock bike’s £9147) or £10,447 on the road. Search new and used Yamaha Ténéré 700 bikes for sale on Auto Trader
Improved off-road ability also comes via a new, one-piece ‘Rally’ seat which is 20mm higher, shaped to better suit off-road riding and comes with heritage-style white ‘Yamaha’ logos on its flanks. Plus there’s also a performance Akrapovic silencer fitted as standard, more compact LED indicators, rubber knee pads on the tank and hand guards. The new Ténéré 700 ‘Rally Edition’ arrives in UK dealers mid-July priced £10,299 inc VAT (compared to the stock bike’s £9147) or £10,447 on the road. Search new and used Yamaha Ténéré 700 bikes for sale on Auto Trader
