2021 Yamaha Ténéré 700 | First Look Review

The Ténéré 700 will be coming to the U.S. in the second half of 2020. Images courtesy Yamaha Europe.
The 2021 Yamaha Ténéré 700 will be coming to the U.S. in the second half of 2020.

Yes, the long-awaited Ténéré 700, or T7 for short, will be coming to America…but be prepared to wait just a while longer. As of now, Yamaha is saying we won’t see it here until the second half of 2020, as a 2021 model.

Here’s what we learned about this new adventure bike during Yamaha’s presentation at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan today:

The T7 will be powered by the 689cc CP2 parallel twin used in the FZ/MT-07. Exactly what changes have been made to increase its off-road-ability are scarce at this early juncture, but Yamaha does say that it will produce maximum torque at 6,500 rpm (the same as the MT-07), its final transmission ratios are “optimized for both road and off-road,” and it will have model-specific fuel injection settings.

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The Ténéré 700 will be coming to the U.S. in the second half of 2020. Images courtesy Yamaha Europe.
2021 Yamaha Ténéré 700

This engine is housed in a new tubular steel double-cradle frame, and the T7 sports a 62.6-inch wheelbase and almost 9.5 inches of ground clearance. A fully adjustable USD 43mm fork offers up 8.3 inches of travel, while the remote preload-adjustable rear has 7.9 inches.

Wheels are spoked, 21 inches at the front and 18 at the rear. Dual 282mm front brake discs and a 245mm rear feature switchable ABS for off-road use.

A 4.2-gallon gas tank, designed with a narrow rear to facilitate standing and gripping with the knees, should deliver a claimed 217-mile range. The seat is long and flat, again aiding in the rider’s ability to move around when riding off-road.

Wrapping up the T7’s design are a rally-style fairing and windscreen, a multi-function LCD with two tripmeters, gear indicator, fuel level, range, and average and instant consumption data, and plastic hand guards.

The 2021 Ténéré will be available in a Ceramic Ice color scheme, with MSRP and exact availability TBD.

Check out Rider’s Guide to New/Updated Street Motorcycles for 2019

3 COMMENTS

  1. I have been waiting for years for a mid SIZE ADV bike. I am 70 and really don’t want to wait any longer. It looks a lot better than a KLR and I have had two of them and three Versys. Speed it up Yamaha.

  2. Why waste my breath? The motor has been around for 4+ years… Yamaha has been teasing us for 2+ years. KTM will deliver spring of 2019, if they build enough they will saturate the market. By the time Yamaha gets here few that don’t already have a KTM will still want a mid-size ADV bike, and Yamaha will wonder why it doesn’t sell that many.
    I bought my 2008 KLR because BMW delayed the 800GS entry to the US.
    I bought my 2015 Tiger 800XCx because Honda delayed the AT.
    I will likely by a KTM 790 Adventure because Yamaha has delayed the T7.
    And like Buz, I am not getting any younger.

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