First Look: Yamaha Tenere 700 2022 – Rally and Raid Prototype editions
Yamaha has revealed new editions to the hugely popular Tenere 700 Adventure bike model for 2022 – a Rally Edition and Raid Prototype editions stacked with of GYTR goodies and developed in Europe by Pol Tarres and Alessandro Botturi.
The huge international showcase that is the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan this week has seen Yamaha present its new Tenere 700 ‘family’. The renewed model range is now accompanied by two special versions, the Rally Edition, with the Heritage White colours, and the exclusive Raid Prototype, a new concept developed by Yamaha Europe in collaboration with its two ambassadors – Pol Tarres and Alessandro Botturi.
It’s the right time of year to present adventure and “heavy trail” riders with a gift sprinkled with GYTR (Genuine Yamaha Technology Racing) components like this – although it might be hard to fit under any Christmas tree.
Yamaha have boasted the Tenere’s off-road capabilities right from the start but in the last year or so, have been developing their own prototype, the Tenere 700 Raid. Taking advantage of two ambassadors, Pol Tarres and Alessandro Botturi, this saucy chunk of adventure bike is an eye-catcher.
Tenere 700 Raid Prototype specs:
Engine
- Full titanium Akrapovič race exhaust
- GYTR ECU
- High performance airbox and filter
- 48 teeth final drive sprocket !"Oversize radiator
- Dual cooling fans
- New water pump cover
- New oil cooler
- Rekluse heavy duty clutch
- Two-piece clutch cover
- New clutch lever
Suspension
- 48 mm long travel front forks – 270 mm
- CNC triple clamps
- New long travel rear shock – 260 mm
- New rear suspension linkage
Brakes
- High specification single front disc – 300 mm
- Racing brake pads
- Upgraded front brake master cylinder
- New front brake lever
- Oversize 267 mm diameter rear disc
- New caliper mounting bracket
- Steel braided front and rear brake hoses
Updated Yamaha Tenere 700 standard and Rally Edition
Yamaha has always presented its Tenere as “the motorcycle that changed the world”, and there is no shortage of reasons. Look that the first XT500 that won the Paris-Dakar with Thierry Sabine in 1979 and 1980. “An overwhelming success that it inspired Yamaha engineers and designers to develop the first Tenere in 1983”, according to the Japanese brand.
It is a model that over the years and throughout more than four decades of history, has evolved to become the medium displacement off-road king that it is today. Since its presentation in 2019, the latest incarnation of the Yamaha Tenere has become one of the most successful models in the adventure market. In Europe alone around 20,000 units have been sold, according to Yamaha.
Basically, that was because it helped massively cement the ‘middleweight’ adventure bike as a thing. Less weighty, more agile bikes and with a friendlier but still distance-capable twin-cylinder engines proved popular – who would have thought it?
For 2022, the Yamaha Tenere 700 standard model gets very few updates except the Icon Blue colour scheme option, which is the unmistakable hue of its official racing bikes. That stands alongside a Midnight Black option, more sober but attractive with the black bodywork and matching wheels.
New for 2022 Tenere 700 Rally Edition
The new Tenere 700 Rally Edition shares most of the components with its standard trim sibling, although with some extras such as the Akrapovic slip-on silencer, LED turn signals, aluminium skid plate, radiator guard and knee grip pads, which give this T7 Rally Edition model a distinctive look.
Yamaha Tenere 700 Rally Edition specs:
- Dedicated Rally seat, dual material, Yamaha logo, 895 mm height
- Akrapovic slip-on silencer, carbon heat shield and removable Db killer
- Black handlebars
- Off-road hand grips, better controllability in muddy or dusty conditions
- Heavy duty skid plate, 4 mm thick aluminium with toolbox mounting points
- LED flashers, 9 LEDs per unit
- Knee grip pads, rubber textured design for added grip during stand-up riding
- Chain guard, laser-cut aluminium
- Radiator protector, aluminium mesh cover helps prevents damage from debris
- Heritage White colours and graphics with red speed block
- Red/black seat
- Gold coloured wheel rims
- A selection of seat height lowering parts are available as genuine accessories
Yamaha Tenere 700 specs (shared with the 700 Rally Edition):
- 689cc 2-cylinder CP2 EU5 4-stroke liquid-cooled DOHC engine
- 270° crank with uneven firing sequence
- Strong linear torque, peak output 68 Nm @ 6,500 rpm
- Steel backbone frame with double cradle
- 43 mm KYB inverted forks, adjustable, 210 mm travel
- Link-type rear suspension, adjustable, 200 mm travel
- Quad LED headlights, LED taillight
- Position adjustable (5 mm) front mudguard
- 282 mm dual wave front discs, Brembo calipers, ABS
- 245 mm rear wave disc, Brembo caliper, ASBS
- High tensile steel tubular backbone/double cradle frame
- Gravity cast aluminium swingarm
- 36-spoke lightweight aluminium wheels
- Tapered aluminium handlebars
- Pirelli Scorpion Rally tyres, 90/90-21 front, 150/70-18 rear
- A selection of seat height lowering parts are available as genuine accessories.
New Yamaha accessories and MyRide app
The launch of the new T7 is accompanied by a range of original Yamaha kits and accessories to customize the bike (all of which you can configure through the MyGarage app). That includes aluminium side cases, a headlight protector, waterpooof tank bag and Akrapovic exhaust system.
Add Adventure clothing, both for men and women, which includes jackets and pants, hooded sweatshirts, T-shirts, gloves and many more items that will be added to the catalogue during the season.
Finally, all Tenere 700 models incorporate the MyRide app which allows the rider to have detailed information, such as driving statistics, distances travelled, altitude, maximum and average speeds, acceleration and lean angle, so you can track and save routes, add images and share them on social networks through your iOS or Android device.
Both options, Icon Blue and Midnight Black, will be available from December 2021 at Yamaha's European dealers and their prices will vary depending on the countries, so it is recommended to contact your nearest Yamaha dealer to learn more about all the details.
More information: Yamaha Motor Europe
Photo Credit: Yamaha
