SECOND OPINION
WORDS: MATHIEU DAY-GILLETT
Excitement was high when the invite
to attend the five-day launch of the new
Yamaha Tenere 700 came through. Finally
I would get a chance to swing a leg over
the replacement for the XT660Z, the
bike I learnt to ride gravel on in 2016.
But my excitement came crashing down
as I read through the email. We would be
“testing the versatility of the new Tenere 700
in a wide variety of scenarios with a strong
emphasis on Australia’s unique off-road
conditions - including sand, single track, dirt
roads and hills. Please note: The test route is
not recommended for novice off-road riders
– the route reflects the type of riding a typical
Tenere 700 customer will be seeking on their
new machine and involves five full days of
riding. Appropriate riding attire is a must.”
Not recommended for Novice off-road
riders? I wasn’t quite sure where I fitted
46 KIWI RIDER
into the mix, but personally I don’t rate
my off-road riding skills all that highly, so
after making Yamaha Motor NZ assure me
I wouldn’t be in over my head I decided
to suit up and head to Port Macquarie.
If anything, this was going to show whether
the new Tenere, with its near complete
lack of electronic safety nets, would be
appropriate for a rider in the early stages
of their adventure riding career.
While the engine is exactly the same as the
MT-07 apart from the intake and exhaust,
Yamaha currently has no plans to make a LAMS
version of the Tenere 700. So if you’re still
licence restricted this isn’t the bike for you.
If, however, you’re after a bike that is both
capable and unintimidating, then the Yenere
700 isn’t a bad place to look. With control being
a paramount part of the design and that CP2
engine from the MT-07 being an absolute gem,