Yamaha’s Ténéré 700 Rally tackles The Trails Terrifically

Take on the trails with the terrific Tenere 700 Rally from Yamaha, an Adventure bike that loves being off-road. Designed to tear up off-road terrain with ease, it is light, punchy, and agile. Road tests and reviews take the Yammie to Wiltshire, tackling the Salisbury plains.

My first Yamaha was a DT100, and I rode it off-road after my uncle ridden us both to the location. The machine was brilliant for tackling the Dirt Trails and the tarmac, but it was limited to dry conditions as the tyres were road-focused and not knobblies. As I progressed riding off-road, I yearned for a more powerful machine with enduro or full knobblies capable of tearing through mud and gravel. I bought a KTM 250 Enduro as it was the bike of the time, winning the worldwide Enduro Competitions. I wish there had been a Yamaha model like the Ténéré then, but there is one now. Wow, what a machine.

The Yamaha Ténéré 700 Rally is constructed to tackle severe off-roading conditions but is also a competent road bike. Both front and rear suspensions provide 20mm more travel than the standard Ténéré 700. The front forks are higher-specification KYB ones with reduced internal friction and lighter internals; you can adjust them. The suspension and handling are supported by the impressive Michelin Anakee Wild tyres, which provide plenty of grip on the road.

The rider gets a spacious riding position and an incredibly comfortable saddle when not on the pegs. Off-road is the natural environment for the Yamaha Ténéré 700 Rally, and the premium-specced bike lights up, putting the increased travel through its paces, which it copes with admirably.

It easily soaks up bumps, berms, and broken-up ground, and the rider can hold a line with confidence and delight in the grip.

Although I consider the Yamaha Ténéré 700 Rally an enduro, it is considered a middleweight adventure bike. Based on its capability, handling, and performance, it is one of the leading players in the sector.

The Yamaha Ténéré 700 Rally has a CP2 motor, which is 698cc and elegant in its power and torque delivery via the ride-by-wire throttle. The throttle always provides a smooth delivery, meaning it is easy to ride the machine at slow speeds and a delight when pushing on and riding more robustly.

The torquey engine is fine for twisties and short blasts but does lack the power for true on-road adventures, especially if you want to carry luggage and eat up motorways.

The Yamaha Ténéré 700 Rally, priced at £11,404, looks gorgeous and is a proper trailblazer. Its blue colour is from the era of American IT enduro bikes. Sleek yet rugged, it is totally fit for purpose. The price comes under some of its rivals but quite a few thousand more than the Chinese competition of Kove with their 800X pro £8499 and CFMoto 800 MT/X £8000. Ducati’s DesertX Rally is £19295, then you have Triumph with their Tiger 900 Rally Pro for £14495, and the KTM 890 Adventure R for £13999.

Yamaha has kept the Ténéré simple regarding technology and rider aids. It has two riding modes: traction control and ABS. When the bike is stationary, you can turn the rear ABS off or the front and rear ABS off by pressing a button.

If you are serious about off-roading as a preference to road riding then the Yamaha Ténéré 700 Rally is the model to choose over the standard machine which is excellent on and off-road. The 700 Rally handles the natural obstacles you face when tackling trails better than the standard bike, and the rider feels more confident. It is also happy on the tarmac although it lacks the power for long stints on motorways and when carrying luggage.

The Yamaha Ténéré 700 Rally has to be considered if you want a bike that will conquer green lanes, bridleways and the likes of Salisbury plains.

£11000