Ever since Yamaha brought out the Ténéré 700 back in 2019, it’s consistently been one of the most popular choices for adventure riders serious about riding off-road.
With a stripped-back approach to electronics, punchy engine, and trail-bike geometry, the Ténéré 700 hasn’t changed too much since its initial release.
However, Yamaha has given us a few variants of the bike over the years, including the World Raid, the Rally, and now the new Ténéré 700 Extreme.
We’ve just tested the Extreme off-road in Wales and it proved to be the most off-road capable Ténéré 700 yet. But there’s just one catch…
You can read the full review of the Yamaha Ténéré 700 Extreme in the latest issue of Adventure Bike Rider magazine, available HERE.
But first, what makes the Ténéré 700 Extreme so good?
The Extreme builds on the already proven Ténéré platform with a few useful upgrades.
Most importantly, it inherits the premium KYB suspension that the top of the line Ténéré 700 World Raid uses.
Elsewhere, it has wide titanium pegs, a one-piece rally seat, an aluminium radiator guard, and other accessories to help it stand up to the rigours of off-road riding.
What it doesn’t have, however, is the long-range fuel tank found on the World Raid, which means that not only is the Extreme much slimmer, it’s also 15kg lighter.
Unless you’re desperate to carry 23l of fuel, we found that the 16l tank on the Extreme made the bike more agile and nimble, and therefore easier to ride off-road.
If most of your riding consists of gnarly single track trails and greenlanes, it’d be our choice of Ténéré.
So, what’s the catch?
With the high-spec suspension comes longer travel and higher ground clearance, which is perfect for hopping over logs and absorbing hits from rocks.
But there’s a drawback. It’s a bloody tall bike.
If you’re short in the leg, you’ll need to be a confident rider to be able to handle the 910mm seat height and avoid toppling over, particularly on adverse cambers and technical terrain. Paddling the bike around your driveway may also prove a challenge.
Shorter riders can opt for the standard Ténéré 700 seat, which brings the seat height down to a still tall 890mm.
You can also reduce this further with the low seat option, bringing it down to 875mm, which will be more approachable for many riders.
If that’s not enough, you could even change the height of the suspension with a lowering link, but then you’re beginning to negate the benefits of having the Extreme in the first place.
If you’re not sure if you’re tall enough for the Ténéré 700 Extreme, you can take one for a test ride at the ABR Festival 2024. Limited tickets remain so get yours today HERE.
Read the full review
We tested the Yamaha Ténéré 700 Extreme off-road in Wales for the latest issue of Adventure Bike Rider magazine and it surprised us in a few ways.
How does it stack up to the rest of the Ténéré 700 line-up? And would it be the Ténéré we’d choose for overall adventure riding?
Read the definitive review in the May/June issue of ABR magazine, which is packed with all the inspiration, knowledge, and entertainment you need to get the most out of your motorcycle this summer.
Get your mag today with free UK postage by clicking HERE.
