Yamaha Tenere 700 2020
The Tenere, as it stands today, has a long and interesting history, starting in 1982 at the Paris Motor Show, where the XT600 Tenere was shown. The first Yamaha Tenere was based on the XT500 rally model and followed the growing speed and size trends of rally motorcycles of the time. Development was headed by Jean-Claude Olivier, who in those days not only competed in Paris-Dakar himself, but also worked for Sonauto, which represented Yamaha in France, and was later appointed to Yamaha Motor France.
Jean-Claude appreciated the potential of Tenere not only in the sports arena, but also on the international market, because motorcyclists all over the world in those days dreamed of rallies and unusual, powerful and extremely reliable rally motorcycles that could literally reach the horizon. Being an extremely passionate person, Olivier could be said to have laid the cornerstone for the entire Yamaha touring enduro segment.
Yamaha Tenere
The word Tenere comes from the North African languages - Berber and Tuareg - and means simultaneously “Desert”, “Wildness” and “Loneliness”. Yamaha chose the name after the Sahara Desert region, which spans Niger and Chad and was part of the original Paris-Dakar Rally route. The vast, dry, sandy area was notorious in early rallies for its sandstorms and difficult terrain.
Yamaha Tenere
Modifications
The model did not live up to the hopes of the developers, so modifications based on it were not released.
Sports model Yamaha SZR 660.
CEV instrument panel.
But at the same time, in 1995, the Yamaxa SZR 660 . The same engine was installed in it as for Tenere 660 , no special updates were made. The sportbike lived on the assembly line for 2 years, and was also not sold in Japan.
Yamaha Tenere 700 2022
The original Tenere was a completely all-climbing model, and the modern Tenere 700 is designed to match it. Yamaha says the goals for the new mid-size touring enduro are light, sporty and fun. I was lucky enough to test the Tenere 700 both on and off-road, and learn first-hand the value of Yamaha's claims, and of course tell readers what the much-anticipated 2022 Yamaha Tenere 700 will be like.
Yamaha Tenere 700 2020
Engine Yamaha Tenere 700 2020
The 689cc inline-two is taken from the highly successful MT-07 and XSR700. Even from the first tests of these motorcycles, it was clear that their engine is a real hit, ideal for touring. The excellent low- and mid-range thrust of these models captivated not only buyers: Yamaha left the CP2 engine completely unchanged.
But the changes affected the engine's power supply and breathing system: the air filter, exhaust system, and fuel maps were adapted for even greater traction at medium speeds, while at lower speeds the engine retained its tractor character. This engine is comfortable to drive at higher revs, knowing that powerful and smooth acceleration is available even from the lowest revs.
The off-road portion of our press ride took place on large and small gravel roads with rocks of varying sizes sticking out of them. And blind blind turns of 180 degrees followed by an unexpected rise did not pose any problems for the Tenere engine.
Engine Yamaha Tenere 700 2020
Even revved up to the top, the CP2 engine produces powerful and smooth thrust. Therefore, Yamaha explains, they decided not to install traction control or any other electronic assistants on the Tenere 700 motorcycle, except perhaps ABS, which can be switched off. After 500 km on the Tenere over varied terrain, I don't see any problem with the lack of traction control: powerful and well-modulated traction is much more useful for the upper-intermediate riders for whom this model is intended. After all, the more electronics you have away from civilization, the higher the likelihood of problems. But less experienced riders will probably find the lack of traction control or riding modes odd.
Yamaha Tenere 700. Test in the desert
Yamaha Tenere 700 transmission
The vertical six-speed transmission works excellently. Shifting is crisp, and the only time it didn't work was when I pressed the paw half-heartedly. Like the MT-07 and XSR700, the Yamaha Tenere 700 doesn't come with a slipper clutch or anything like that, and while a regular clutch gives a little more of a sense of connection to the bike, a slipper would be safer. The gears are quite spaced apart, and in combination with the high-torque engine, they don’t need to be clicked very often. The stars (15/46) are oriented more towards torque, and despite the more or less smooth characteristics of the engine, there is some jerk when opening the gas, which has to be smoothed out with the clutch on a bad road.
Chassis and suspension Yamaha Tenere 700
The frame of the Yamaha Tenere 700 is completely redesigned. It's thin, light and durable, providing intuitive steering and a comfortable riding position. The frame, made of high-strength steel, has removable lower elements that protect the engine and can be easily replaced if damaged. It would be nice to also have a separate subframe that can be replaced if the rear is damaged, but it doesn’t exist yet.
Yamaha's long-standing relationship with KYB provides the Tenere 700 with a 43mm fork with 210mm of travel and adjustable compression, rebound and preload. KYB shock absorbers have a stroke of 200 mm and are equipped with an external spring preload adjuster, which is convenient to use, as well as rebound adjustment, but they do not have compression damping adjustable. The Tenere's suspension customization options will be sufficient for most riders. The suspension behaves well on asphalt, rocky dirt roads, and small jumps.
Overall, I would call it comfortable, not too sporty (on and off road), but suitable for most situations.
Of course, like any motorcycle based on a rally model, the Yamaha Tenere 700 rides on spoked wheels: 21” at the front and 18” at the rear. The bikes we rode were shod with Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR, but we were immediately told that shops may supply other tires with the bikes. In any case, the 21/18 wheel formula provides the widest choice of tires from asphalt touring tires to evil toothy ones.
Brake system
Yamaha Tenere brake components front and rear are from Brembo. On pavement, the two front 282 discs work quite well in combination with the twin-piston calipers, and although they're hard to compare to the perfect superbike brakes, they do the job quite well. But off-road is a different matter.
Perhaps it's the pads or the lines, but the braking sensation is somewhat indistinct, while the machine lever reacts quite sharply to pressure. This combination does not particularly inspire confidence. And there is also a rear brake, which regulates braking force worse than an electric switch: lightly pressing the pedal is enough for the large single-piston caliper to lock the rear wheel. Of course, this happens if ABS is disabled, but it only has two modes: fully on and fully off. And to turn it on and off, you need to stop the motorcycle, press and hold a special button on the dashboard for about 5 seconds.
This is all well and good when you need to turn it off, but I would like to be able to turn on ABS on the go. Oh yes. To do this, just turn the key: after turning on the ignition, ABS is always turned on.
Flaws
The model has few disadvantages.
- Vibrations . Especially at high speeds. It is interesting that this is not reflected on the mirrors. According to mechanics, the reason is the 1-cylinder layout.
- High center of gravity . This is a common enduro disease. It will not be easy for a tall person to feel comfortable on a motorcycle; for a light pilot, keeping the bike on a given trajectory in turns or at low speeds will be very problematic. That’s why experts call it “not a model for beginners.”
- Some users noted high oil consumption, strong brakes on the front wheel - “they are activated by light pressure with one finger,” and even people whose height is above 185 cm that at stops “you don’t always immediately feel the ground under your foot.”
and dignity
The advantages include good engine power, equal traction at all speeds, and large suspension travel, which allows you to drive at a consistently high speed even off-road.
The Yamaha Tenere XTZ 660 is a good choice for those who need an inexpensive touring motorcycle.
If you tune the windshield (some models came with a high one from the factory) and install hand protection on the steering wheel, then you won’t feel the rain for 120 km.
Ergonomics and design of Yamaha Tenere
The Yamaha Tenere looks beastly. In my opinion, it looks even better in real life than on the concepts (well, except for the spikier tires and rally stuff in the promotional pictures) - and is very similar to the World Raid prototype that famous athletes around the world tease us with.
The Yamaha Tenere 700 motorcycle has a slender and sporty appearance, breathing the spirit of a real rally machine into the production model. From the body kit and large clear windshield to the long, flat seat, the Tenere 700 definitely looks like a Dakar-ready bike.
In person the motorcycle is nimble and light, but not as light as it looks. It has a completely neutral fit, providing comfort for long rides, and surprisingly good wind protection from the tall but narrow windshield. The seat, although it looks like an enduro bench, is soft and wide enough for multi-day runs. But where the ergonomics are worse is in the rack.
Overall the riding position and controls are where they need to be, but the width of the bike around the tank and engine was an unpleasant surprise. On a touring bike, I like to go through difficult parts in a standing position, steering with my body weight on the pegs and loading the front wheel. And although there is room to move your body on the Yamaha Tenere 700, the width of the 16-liter tank does not allow you to push your knees far forward in the stance. Moreover, there is a cover and a protective cover for the clutch drive near the right leg, and they interfere with the control of the rear brake pedal in the stance.
Perhaps a pair of rally footpegs would be my first purchase for this motorcycle, followed by an extended rear brake pedal.
2020 Yamaha Tenere 700
Despite my quibbles, a number of parts on the Yamaha Tenere 700 are extremely well thought out and functional. Starting with a crossbar just above the LCD instrument panel, allowing you to mount your sat nav, phone, or anything else you'd like to see with your eyes down slightly. Below the tidy on the left is a 12-volt cigarette lighter socket, which allows you to power any equipment.
We go lower along the fork stays and we will see large bolts connecting the fork guard and the front fender. They allow you to adjust the height of the wing for different off-road conditions. There are a ton of little shrouds all over the bike to protect vulnerable components - like the side stand sensor, which I somehow managed to break on a Kawasaki Versys while climbing large rocks (I had to twist the wires right on the rocks, otherwise it wouldn't start), and Aluminum footpeg mounts protect underlying electronic components
It's hard to overestimate the protection of the hand levers and engine protection, as well as a comfortable grip near the rear fender (which is very necessary when rolling the motorcycle by hand).
Yamaha Tenere 700 2020. Test
Driving characteristics, fuel consumption
For enduro, maximum speed is not the main indicator, so the Tenere 660 can reach only 167 km/h.
The XTZ 660 Tenere motorcycle is a representative of the class of true touring enduros, for which off-road conditions are not a serious obstacle.
- Acceleration to 100 is also not surprising - 6 seconds .
- Consumption depends on the quality of the canvas and driving style, but does not exceed 6 liters .
Separately, it must be said that the driver needs to be prepared for increased oil consumption . This disease, common to Yamaxa, takes on special dimensions here. Experienced users check the level before each trip.
