There's something to be said for a motorcycle company that doesn't try to reinvent the wheel every year. While some manufacturers chase headlines with flashy features and bold redesigns, others focus on building machines that simply work. Yamaha falls squarely in the latter camp, and nowhere is that philosophy more evident than in their adventure bike lineup.
Image credit: Yamaha
The Japanese manufacturer took inspiration from the grueling Dakar Rally, named their creation after a vast desert spanning Niger and Chad, and engineered it so well that it's become the go-to choice for riders seeking a capable off-road adventure bike that won't overwhelm them. The Tenere 700, first introduced a decade ago, has quietly earned a reputation as one of the most dependable middleweights in the segment.
Finding the Sweet Spot Between Race and Comfort
Today's adventure riders want bikes with racing pedigree, but they're not willing to sacrifice comfort for bragging rights. Nobody wants to feel like they've gone ten rounds with a prize fighter after a day in the saddle. The Tenere 700 hits that middle ground perfectly for anyone looking for a one-bike solution in the adventure category.
Yamaha's development team had a singular focus when creating the Tenere 700: make it more capable off-road than anything else in its class while maintaining genuine touring ability. Comfort isn't just an afterthought—it's baked into the bike's DNA. The result is a machine that walks a fine line between premium comfort and proven reliability, managing to excel at both without compromising either.
Image credit: Yamaha
At $10,999, the Tenere 700 sits right in the middle of the middleweight adventure segment pricing-wise. Some might look at the spec sheet and think it lacks features compared to more expensive rivals. But that misses the point entirely. This bike's selling proposition isn't a long list of electronic gadgets—it's rock-solid reliability and genuine off-road capability. Sure, there are other products available at similar price points, but none of them can match the Tenere's goat-like ability when the pavement ends and the real adventure begins.
Power Where It Counts
Under the fuel tank sits a parallel twin engine with a 270-degree firing order. Yamaha calls it the 'CP2' crossplane engine, designed to deliver an optimal blend of power and torque. The 689cc mill produces 72.4 horsepower at 9,000 RPM and 50.2 pound-feet of torque at 6,500 RPM, courtesy of an 11.5:1 compression ratio. On paper, the Tenere gives up displacement to many competitors, but numbers don't tell the whole story. This is a light motorcycle, and in real-world riding, the power deficit isn't nearly as noticeable as the spec sheet suggests.
The 2025 model year brought significant refinements. The addition of ride-by-wire throttle transformed the Tenere into a more civilized machine, adding two ride modes and switchable traction control to the package. The six-speed gearbox was already a smooth operator, but the electronic throttle enabled Yamaha to offer a two-way quickshifter as an optional extra. This isn't some half-baked system either—it's the current-generation unit that handles upshifts and downshifts whether the throttle is open or closed.
Built for the Rough Stuff
The Tenere 700 employs a double downtube frame, the same basic architecture found on the Honda Africa Twin. There's a reason both bikes use this design—it's exceptional for off-road work. Yes, it adds weight compared to other frame types, but it's no coincidence that these two adventure bikes consistently rank among the best when the road turns to dirt. Yamaha paired the chassis with the right wheel sizes: a 21-inch front and 18-inch rear, both running spoked wheels with tubeless tires.
Image credit: Yamaha
KYB provides the suspension components. Up front, 43mm inverted forks offer full adjustability, while the rear monoshock allows for preload and rebound damping adjustment. The braking system features twin 282mm discs with axially mounted calipers at the front and a 245mm disc at the rear. The ABS is switchable, but here's where the Tenere stands apart from mainstream adventure bikes: riders can disable ABS at both wheels or only at the rear wheel. This flexibility is invaluable when navigating challenging terrain where wheel lock can actually be an advantage.
Dimensions That Make Sense
The Tenere is a tall bike—there's no getting around that fact with its 34.4-inch seat height. But that height translates directly to 9.4 inches of ground clearance, essential for tackling obstacles on the trail. What sets this machine apart is its remarkable lightness for the class, tipping the scales at just 459 pounds wet. The narrow waist helps riders manage that weight more effectively when standing on the pegs. At 93.3 inches long with a 62.8-inch wheelbase, the Tenere's proportions are typical for the segment.
Form Follows Function
When the Tenere 700 launched ten years ago, nothing from the major manufacturers looked quite like it. The four-pod headlamp gives the bike an otherworldly yet purposeful appearance. The same functional aesthetic extends to the vertical TFT screen—a large 6.3-inch unit that was among the first to use vertical orientation. This design choice wasn't arbitrary; it's a nod to the navigation towers found on rally raid bikes competing in events like Dakar. The system includes Bluetooth capability and navigation. There's an even more hardcore version called the Tenere 700 World Raid, though unfortunately it's not available in the United States.
The Competition Landscape
Finding true competitors for the Tenere 700 at its price point isn't easy. The CFMoto Ibex 800 undercuts it at $10,299 and boasts more features than any other middleweight bike, offering impressive value for money. However, the Ibex's long-term reliability and genuine off-road capabilities remain unproven—only time will tell if it can match the Tenere's track record.
The BMW F 900 GS represents the only real alternative if a rider wants a similar combination of comfort and reliability. But there's a significant catch: the BMW carries a $14,395 base price, making it considerably more expensive than the Yamaha. And that's just the starting point. Once a rider adds the necessary upgrades to make the F 900 GS tackle off-road conditions as confidently as the Tenere, the price climbs into territory typically reserved for full-size adventure bikes. In many ways, the Tenere occupies a class of its own.
The BMW does bring more power to the table with its 895cc parallel twin producing 105 horsepower at 8,500 RPM and 68.6 pound-feet of torque at 6,750 RPM. It's also slightly heavier at 482 pounds wet. Both bikes offer optional quickshifters and share the 270-degree parallel twin engine layout. But when weighing price against capability, the Tenere makes a compelling argument for itself.
The Quiet Achiever
In an industry obsessed with the latest technology and eye-catching features, the Tenere 700 represents a different philosophy. It's not the flashiest option. It doesn't have the longest list of electronic rider aids. What it does have is a decade-long track record of reliability, genuine off-road capability that rivals more expensive machines, and a price that makes sense.
For riders who want a dependable adventure bike that can handle serious off-road work without requiring a second mortgage, the Tenere 700 delivers. It proves that sometimes the best approach is to focus on doing a few things exceptionally well rather than trying to be everything to everyone. In a market crowded with compromised machines that claim to do it all, the Tenere stands out by actually living up to its promises.
The bike isn't perfect for everyone. Taller riders will appreciate the seat height, while shorter riders might find it challenging. The power output won't impress anyone looking for highway bragging rights. But for those who understand what this bike was designed to do—namely, eat up dirt roads and trails while remaining comfortable enough for long-distance touring—the Tenere 700 hits the mark perfectly.
Yamaha's approach with the Tenere might not generate the same buzz as competitors constantly chasing the next big thing. But there's something refreshing about a manufacturer that builds a solid motorcycle, proves its worth over a decade, and resists the urge to fix what isn't broken. In an age of planned obsolescence and endless model year updates, the Tenere 700's consistency is its own form of innovation.
For American riders who want a capable, reliable adventure bike that won't break the bank and can genuinely handle whatever the road—or lack thereof—throws at it, the Tenere 700 remains a smart choice. It's not trying to be the fastest, the lightest, or the most feature-packed. It's simply trying to be the most dependable and capable middleweight adventure bike you can buy. A decade in, it's still succeeding at that goal.
