Since its release in 2019, the Yamaha Tenere 700 has been a dominant force in the mid-size adventure segment. Bridging the gap between capable dirtbike and comfortable road tourer, the T7 struck a chord with Aussie riders looking for simplicity, durability and performance at a reasonable price. But the Tenere story goes back much further – all the way to 1983, when Yamaha introduced the XT600Z Tenere, a big-tanked, Dakar-inspired single that quickly earned cult status. In 1991, the XTZ660Z arrived with a 60cc bump in capacity and proved a hit with the Aussie off-road crowd. By 2010, Yamaha had gone full-fat with the XTZ1200Z Super Tenere – a powerful twin-cylinder machine aimed more at bitumen-focused adventure riders. But the Tenere 700 marked a return to the platform’s off-road roots. In just six years, it’s helped revive the adventure scene with its stripped-back design, accessible performance and proven reliability. It’s also been a major sales success for Yamaha Australia.

The 2025 Yamaha Tenere 700 was treated to a handful of key updates aimed at improving rideability and comfort both on and off the road. To put the refreshed model through its paces, we joined Yamaha on a two-day loop from Mangrove Mountain to the Hunter Valley, with an overnight stop at Potters Brewery. The route included everything from sealed roads and singletrack to fire trails, creek crossings and even a few jumps – giving us a solid chance to test the new suspension in a mix of real-world adventure terrain.

WHAT’S NEW?

While the Tenere 700 hasn’t been overhauled for MY25, Yamaha has focused on smart updates in all the right areas. The big news is the addition of a ride-by-wire throttle, which brings with it new ride modes, plus revised traction control and ABS settings. A new switchblock layout includes a dedicated button to adjust or disable ABS and TC, giving riders more control on the fly.

Although there’s no change in claimed power output, the airbox gets a shorter intake duct, and the gearbox has been reworked for smoother shifts. Gears one to three now feature an extra dog tooth for better engagement, while the upper gears have revised tooth angles to reduce lash when rolling on and off the throttle. Yamaha has also rotated the clutch actuator forward by 35 degrees and added a protective cover to stop your boot snagging on it in tight terrain.

The dash grows to a 6.3-inch full-colour TFT (up from 5.0 inches) with smartphone connectivity, allowing turn-by-turn nav via the Yamaha app. It now features two layout themes – Street or Explorer – and a new five-way joystick on the left-hand switchblock makes toggling through menus a breeze. The USB port is upgraded to USB-C with a waterproof cap, and the indicators are now self-cancelling, complete with a three-flash lane-change function.

Yamaha has also refined the ergonomics for MY25, shifting the fuel tank slightly forward and lower to bring it closer to the bike’s centre of gravity – a move aimed at improving balance and handling. The old two-piece seat is gone, replaced by a new one-piece, rally-inspired perch that makes it easier to move around on the bike. Revised side panels are slimmer and less prone to catching on boots or pants when standing on the ’pegs. Up front, the new LED headlight setup features four lamps housed in a distinctive Y-shaped aluminium bracket, while the rally-style tower remains. The handguards have been updated too – now tougher and better integrated for a cleaner, more modern look.

Up front, the MY25 Tenere 700 now runs a 43mm fully adjustable KYB fork offering compression, rebound and 15mm of preload adjustment. It’s clamped by a new triple clamp setup featuring a forged lower and cast upper for a balance of strength and weight savings. Down the back, Yamaha has fitted a revised shock with updated linkage geometry. The shock features compression and rebound adjustment, and now includes a remote preload adjuster – a welcome addition for riders regularly switching between solo and loaded touring setups.

The steel double-cradle frame carries over but has been reinforced in key areas, and the accessory mounting points for luggage have been beefed up. Yamaha has also relocated and redesigned the sidestand switch to better protect it from trail damage. Wider ’pegs – borrowed from the Rally Raid model – are now standard, offering a 10mm increase in width for better grip and control when standing.

New

  • New bodywork
  • New headlight
  • New front suspension
  • New 6.3-inch TFT display screen
  • New electronic throttle
  • New ABS and TC button
  • New switchblocks
  • New handguards
  • New footpegs
  • New rally style seat
  • New clutch actuator
  • New ride modes
  • New ride settings
  • Updated sidestand switch
  • Revised gearbox
  • Revised rear shock settings
  • New rear linkage

HOW DOES IT GO?

The 2025 Yamaha Tenere 700 feels comfortable from the moment you throw a leg over it. We kicked off Day One with a bit of road work in chilly conditions, so I took it easy on the new tyres over cold tarmac – if someone was going to lose it on the bitumen, I didn’t want it to be me. First impressions? The CP2 engine is smooth, tractable and surprisingly punchy. A 700cc twin might sound like a handful in the dirt, but Yamaha’s fuelling and power delivery make it super manageable and easy to trust.

That said, the Tenere hooks up quickly and builds speed fast, so you’ve got to stay sharp on corner entry. The clutch has a consistent friction point and a nice, progressive feel in the dirt, making low-speed work easy. Better still, it holds up well under heat and abuse – Yamaha’s clearly engineered it to cop some off-road punishment without fading.

 The Tenere 700 delivers plenty of stopping power thanks to its twin front discs, but what stood out was the lever feel – progressive and predictable, even in the dirt. Managing front brake input off-road was surprisingly easy, with good feedback and no tendency to lock up under pressure. Out back, the rear brake had ample bite and control, but I did find myself wishing for a dual-position brake pedal tip. While the height was spot-on when seated, it was awkward to reach when standing. A two-position tip would offer the best of both worlds without needing constant adjustment.

The new KYB suspension is well tuned straight out of the box, offering a good balance between on-road stability and off-road compliance. It’s plush enough to absorb trail chatter but still holds up well under braking and cornering on the blacktop. I found the ride improved noticeably after adding a bit more preload to both the fork and shock, though I’d still like a touch more bottoming resistance. On bigger hits – or when I launched the Tenere off something decent – the suspension tended to blow through its stroke unless I landed heavily rear-first.

The new 6.3-inch TFT display is big, clear and easy to navigate, and being able to disable ABS and TC is a big plus – especially off-road, where both can cause more troubles than they prevent. There’s a dedicated ABS/TC button on the dash, which makes it quick to switch the systems back on, but turning them off still requires diving into the ride mode settings. Frustratingly, that process has to be repeated every time you cycle the ignition. The dash button is a step in the right direction, but it would make more sense if it allowed full control – including switching both systems off with a single press.

The Tenere 700 is a seriously comfortable and capable off-road machine – it’s easy to see why so many riders gravitate towards it. Despite tipping the scales at over 200kg, the weight never feels overwhelming thanks to its well-balanced chassis. The front end doesn’t behave like a trailbike though – you don’t get the same bite or steering feel from the front wheel as you would with a 21-inch knobby. Instead, you’ve got to rely more on the throttle and rear wheel to steer, which takes a bit of confidence to get used to. But once you dial it in, sliding the Tenere through corners is incredibly rewarding – and a hell of a lot of fun.

LIKES AND DISLIKES

We Liked

  • Easy to use interface
  • Large easy to read display screen
  • Comfortable seat with more ease to move
  • Slimmer bodywork
  • Strong brakes with consistent feel
  • Easy to use switch blocks
  • Comfortable standing position
  • Well balanced and tuned suspension both on and off road
  • Powerful engine but smooth and controllable in the dirt

We Didn’t Like

  • Pillion ’pegs get in the way while standing up riding off road
  • Single position brake pedal tip
  • Suspension bottoming resistance

YAMAHA TENERE 700

ENGINE

Type: Two cylinder, DOHC, four valve, four stroke

Displacement: 689cc

Bore & Stroke: 80mm x 68.6mm

Cooling: Liquid cooled

Compression Ratio: 11.5:1

Fuel Metering: Fuel injection

Tank Capacity: 16 Litres

Transmission: Six speed

Clutch: Wet multi-disc

DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase: 1595mm

Seat Height: 875mm

Ground Clearance: 240mm

Claimed Weight: 208kg wet

SUSPENSION

Front: Upside down telescopic forks with 210mm of travel

Rear: Link type monoshock suspension with 200mm of travel

BRAKES

Front: Hydraulic dual discs, 282mm, ABS

Rear: Hydraulic single disc, 245mm, ABS

RUNNING GEAR

Handlebar: Tapered

Front Tyre: 90/90-21

Rear Tyre: 150/70-18

PRICE & CONTACTS

RRP: $21,299.00

Browser: www.yamaha-motor.com.au

Colour: Icone Blue, Frozen Titanium, Sky Blue

Blower:

Warranty: Three years