Sean Finley | January 12, 2024
The Yamaha Tenere 700 hit the U.S. market at the end of 2020 as a 2021 model and quickly became a popular choice for riders looking for a midsize ADV motorcycle. The relatively low price point of just over $10,000 combined with solid off-road and on-road performance has made it the most popular 651-900cc ADV bike in the U.S. In fact, the Tenere has been so popular that most dealers were charging a premium over that $10k MSRP when the demand outstripped the supply. The MSRP on the 2024 model crept up to $10,799. Aiming to maintain the strong demand, Yamaha has made a few minor updates to the 2024 model, and we got to spend a day testing it out to see if it will be enough to fight off new challenges from the Honda Transalp and re-launched KTM 790 Adventure that are also under $11k.
Photography by Joseph Agustin
I am a fan of the Yamaha Tenere and bought the 2021 model. I like the simplicity of the lack of electronics (just a single button to turn the ABS on or off), the capable motor, and the decent suspension. There are certainly more powerful ADV bikes with high-tech electronics packages and higher-performance suspension, but for most people who use a midsize ADV bike, the Tenere 700 is hard to beat in bang-for-the-buck.
The 2024 Tenere gets a new five-inch TFT dash, LED turn signals and ABS system with three setting options. The new dash has a rally-inspired vertical mounting position with two graphic themes from which to choose (Explorer and Street). You can now connect your smartphone via the Yamaha Y-Connect app, enabling you to monitor fuel consumption history, the last parking location, maintenance-interval alerts and a riding log. You can also see incoming calls and text notifications. The new ABS system now has three different settings: front and rear on, rear-wheel ABS off/front on, and front and rear ABS off. The new dash options and ABS are controlled by a new right-side handlebar thumb scroll switch. There is also an “ABS ON” button next to the TFT dash that lets you quickly turn the ABS back on when you arrive at a highway section (but you must stop to activate that).
Another notable update is an optional quickshift device that can be added for $200. The 2024 model wiring harness has an added plugin to utilize that, so it is unfortunately impossible to add this to the prior generation Teneres. Speaking of options, I have used the optional Rally Seat on my bike, which is slightly taller, flatter, and cushier, and I chose to use that for our test ride on the 2024 model. Yamaha also offers a shorter seat, lowering kit (longer rear suspension pull-rods), skid plate, radiator guard and side crash bars via their accessories department.
The Yamaha Tenere has topped the sales charts for ADV bikes between 651 and 900cc due to its great bang-for-the-buck. Can a few upgrades hold off the new competition in the sub $11k MSRP range?
2024 Yamaha Tenere 700 Quick Spin on the Dirt and Pavement
Yamaha organized a roughly 200-mile loop with plenty of dirt to allow us to test out the new updates and invited Yamaha ambassadors Damon Bradshaw and Ryan Villopoto to join us and show just how capable the Tenere’s are.
The new TFT color dash is a massive improvement over the one-color unit on the 2021-2023 models. It is easier to see and displays more information. The two themes are also a nice feature to change things up, but most people will probably just pick one of the two and stick with it (I preferred the explorer theme). The Y-Connect app is also a nice upgrade, with the maintenance interval alerts and riding log being handy. I personally don’t think the phone and text indicators are that useful. I tend to ignore my phone when I’m riding.
The Tenere has proven to be a very capable bike, and the new upgrades mostly improve on that.
The updated ABS settings will likely be more polarizing in their perceived benefit. I like the simplicity of the single button to turn the ABS on or off on the previous generation bikes. I like the options to have the front ABS on and rear off, although I would mostly just ride with the ABS on the street and off for dirt. And like other bikes (due to safety and legal regulations), the ABS gets turned back on whenever you turn off the key or hit the kill switch. So, you must use the new thumb wheel to get to the ABS settings, scroll to the desired setting, click it, and then hold it for three seconds to activate the desired setting. That is far more difficult and irritating than the old button. At least the new dash button to just turn the ABS back on makes that simple like it was before.
It’s just an aesthetic change, but the new LED turn signals look much better and bring the Tenere up to date compared to the units on the old bikes that looked left over from the ’90s.
The new five-inch TFT dash is larger is greatly improved. There are now three modes of ABS settings compared to just front/rear on or off of the old model. Some may not like the increased complexity of making those changes.
Our test bike was fitted with the new optional quickshifter, which only works for upshifts, and that is something I wish I could install on my personal Tenere. I am a big fan of quickshift on the street because it is just plain fun to bang through the gears when you accelerate up the road.
As for the carryover items, the 689cc CP2 motor is still a dream to ride off-road. It is predictable and manageable and does not need the multiple electronic maps found on most other ADV bikes to make it ridable in the dirt. The flip side is that it is not as powerful as some of the alternative midsize ADV bikes, so it is not as fun for those of you who like to rip on the road. I favor limited road miles to connect the dirt sections, so that is not a problem for me.
A new right-handlebar thumb wheel operates the menu.
The adjustable KYB suspension with 8.3 inches of front-wheel and 7.9 inches of rear-wheel travel is good even in chunky terrain. If you really want to get rowdy in the dirt, you may feel that a suspension upgrade is necessary, but most people will find it plenty capable.
The 4.2-gallon fuel tank will safely get you 200 miles and a bit more if you are off-road, but some people find this a little limiting, and unfortunately, we don’t have the Europe-only rally raid version of the Tenere that includes more fuel capacity. In my experience, the 4.2 gallons of fuel is plenty for off-road exploring but can come up a little short if you are burning a lot of road miles, especially if you are riding with friends with larger-capacity tanks. For comparison, the KTM 890/790 Adventures carry 5.3 gallons, the Aprilia Tuareg has 4.7 gallons, and the Honda Transalp is closer to the Tenere with 4.5 gallons.
The T-7 is as accommodating as ever on the pavement.
After living with my personal Tenere for the last couple of years, my only complaint is the weak performance of the rear brake (we have noted this in our previous tests of the Tenere). It uses a Brembo caliper and master cylinder that is just mushy and has a lot of throw at the pedal. Unfortunately, the updated ABS options on the 2024 Tenere did not address this weakness. I finally bought an aftermarket Camel ADV pedal with a different ratio, dramatically improving performance.
The new Tenere has an optional quickshifter (up only) that is fun for banging through the gears when you accelerate. It will set you back $200, but we think it is worth it.
I have put thousands of miles on my Tenere, and it still makes me smile every time I ride it. All the reasons that I originally bought the bike still stand. It is competent and fun off-road and allows me to explore the endless miles of dirt roads near my house in Northern Arizona. I can venture off into the more technical trails with confidence, and it is fun and comfortable on the road, as well. Damon Bradshaw echoed my feelings on the Tenere, describing some great adventures that he has enjoyed exploring the expansive terrain near his home in Idaho, and let’s not forget the crazy stuff that Spain’s Pol Tarres has done on a Tenere, including competing in some Hard Enduros. The Tenere has proven to be a very capable bike, almost like an oversized dual sport bike, and the new upgrades mostly improve on that.
The Yamaha Tenere 700 is still all about simplicity.
We look forward to comparing it to the new Honda Transalp and re-released KTM 790 Adventure, which boasts sub $11k suggested retail price points, to see if the Tenere can continue to top the midsized ADV sales charts.CN
VIDEO | 2024 Yamaha Tenere 700 First Ride
2024 Yamaha Tenere 700 Specifications
| MSRP: |
$10,799 |
| Engine: |
Parallel Twin |
| Displacement: |
689cc |
| Bore x Stroke: |
80 x 68.6mm |
| Valvetrain: |
DOHC, 8 Valves |
| Fueling: |
EFI |
| Horsepower (Claimed): |
72.4 hp at 9000 rpm |
| Torque (Claimed): |
50 lb-ft at 6500 rpm |
| Transmission: |
6-Speed |
| Clutch: |
Wet, Multi-Plate |
| Frame: |
Tubular Steel, Double Cradle, Single Unit |
| Handlebars: |
Tapered Aluminum |
| Front Suspension: |
KYB Coil Spring, Fully Adjustable |
| Rear Suspension: |
KYB, Single Shock, Linkage, Fully Adjustable |
| Front-Wheel Travel: |
8.3 in. |
| Rear-Wheel Travel: |
7.9 in. |
| Front Brake: |
Brembo, 4-piston calipers, dual 282mm discs w/selectable ABS |
| Rear Brake: |
Brembo, 2-piston, 245mm disc w/selectable ABS |
| Front Wheel / Tire: |
Spoked / 90/90R-21 in. Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR |
| Rear Wheel / Tire: |
Spoked / 50/70R-18 in. Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR |
| Rake: |
27.0° |
| Wheelbase: |
62.8 in. |
| Seat Height: |
34.6 in. |
| Fuel Capacity: |
4.2 gal. |
| Weight (wet, claimed): |
470 lbs. |
