2022 Yamaha Ténéré 700 World Raid Unveiled

[Hugh Janus]

The new Ténéré 700 World Raid takes the standard model and bulks it up with longer-travel suspension, more fuel capacity, and new bodywork. (Yamaha/)

With adventure bikes fast becoming motorcycling’s dominant species, every new entrant to the market seems destined to spawn multiple variants. Yamaha’s Ténéré 700 is no exception, with a newly revealed spinoff model from the standard bike designed to cater to more hardcore adventurers. It’s called the Ténéré 700 World Raid.

While it was first seen as the Ténéré 700 Raid Prototype at last year’s EICMA show, we got a better look at the showroom-ready version back in January when Yamaha’s official design patents for the styling leaked. Given the detail that those patent renders revealed it’s no surprise that the finished version of the bike is exactly the machine they depicted.

Related: 2021 Yamaha Ténéré 700 Buyer’s Guide

The Ténéré World Raid’s twin-tank arrangement and new front bodywork makes the bike wider but also accommodates 6 gallons of fuel for added range. (Yamaha/)

Although the Ténéré 700 World Raid clearly caters to riders who want to look like they’ve just ridden off a stage of the Dakar Rally, there are some genuine practical improvements in this version of the bike. While immediately recognizable as a Ténéré 700, sharing the same headlight and tail unit as the standard bike, the World Raid looks like it’s been on steroids, gaining a bulked-up tank that makes the original look like a skinny weakling in comparison. It’s actually a twin-tank setup, with a separate section hanging either side of the frame and engine, fed by a duo of side-by-side filler caps on top that play perfectly into that Dakar-inspired look. Although the side-mounted tanks don’t hang as low as those on KTM’s 890 Adventure, they’re actually bigger, capable of carrying 6 gallons (23 liters) of gas. That’s a full 1.8 gallons (7 liters) more than the stock Ténéré 700, giving it a potential range of up to 310 miles between refills.

The World Raid’s added width is most noticeable from the front; shared elements from the standard bike include the headlight and tail unit. (Yamaha/)

While the side-mounted tanks make the Ténéré 700 World Raid far wider than the normal version, they have the advantage of actually lowering the top section, where the two connect, to allow a motocross-style seat to be fitted. That means there’s more room for the rider to shift fore and aft, adding control when riding off-road. Using two 3-gallon tanks rather than one large one also means there’s less space for fuel to slosh around, promising to give better control over the bike’s weight distribution while cornering.

The now-lower tank makes room for a new, two-piece motocross style seat that gives pilots more positioning options. Back portion can be removed to fit luggage if necessary. (Yamaha/)

The new seat, with its long, flat shape, sits 35 inches off the ground, only around half an inch higher than the base model, and despite looking like a single piece it’s actually made of two panels, which means the rear section can be removed and replaced with luggage if you’re traveling solo.

A new 5-inch TFT display offers three layout options, with smartphone connectivity via Yamaha’s app. (Yamaha/)

On board, you’re greeted by a new 5-inch color TFT display, mounted in portrait orientation rather than the usual landscape layout and including the usual 2020s array of tech including cellphone connectivity via Yamaha’s own app to display calls and messages on the screen. Three screen layouts can be selected; Explorer, Street, and Raid each feature different graphics and instrument readouts. There’s also a USB socket to the right of the dash as power for accessories.

Related: Yamaha Ténéré 700 Raid Prototype First Look

Three-mode ABS can also be configured from the dash to suit rider preferences or switched off altogether. (Yamaha/)

Suiting the bike’s off-road intentions, there’s three-mode ABS, configured via the dash, with a road-oriented standard setup joined by two off-road settings. Mode 2 works only on the front wheel, allowing the rear to be locked, while Mode 3 turns the system off altogether. You have to be stationary to switch from the standard Mode 1 to either of the off-road settings, but can return to the road-biased, full-ABS setting on the fly.

A fully adjustable KYB fork delivers 9 inches of travel up front, while an included Öhlins steering damper offers a wide range of settings. (Yamaha/)

Suspension for the World Raid comes in the form of a new 43mm KYB fork with 9 inches of travel, up 0.8 inch on the standard Ténéré, and with preload, compression, and rebound damping adjustment. An Öhlins steering damper is also added, with 18 possible settings. At the back there’s an aluminum piggyback shock with 8.7 inches of travel—also a 0.8-inch increase over stock—and again with a full range of adjustment for preload, compression, and rebound.

The Ténéré 700 World Raid’s 689cc parallel-twin engine is carried over from the standard model unchanged. (Yamaha/)

There’s no change to the 689cc parallel-twin CP2 engine, but the World Raid’s front bodywork is new, with a 0.6-inch-taller front screen and new, detachable side deflectors. The front panels either side of the radiator are made of glass fiber composite, as is the panel in front of the rider, as the material is reckoned to be tougher than the normal plastic. A new under-engine bash plate, made of aluminum, helps protect the oily bits if the bike’s 9.8 inches of ground clearance turns out to be too little.

Protective bits include composite panels bracketing the radiator and an aluminum skid plate. (Yamaha/)

The bike is set to reach European Yamaha dealers in May, with prices yet to be revealed but sure to be somewhat higher than the standard Ténéré 700. Yamaha USA says that it’s a model “designed for, and produced in the European market” (Yamaha’s factory in France manufactures the Ténéré 700) and won’t speculate on whether it will reach North American shores at the moment.

The new model’s twin-tank setup is accessed via two side-by-side filler caps up to, giving it a Dakar-like vibe. (Yamaha/)
Although the new Ténéré 700 World Raid will reach European dealers sometime in May, there’s no word yet on a North American debut. (Yamaha/)
The 2022 Yamaha Ténéré 700 World Raid gets some air. (Yamaha/)
The 2022 Yamaha Ténéré 700 World Raid viewed from the left. (Yamaha/)

Source

[Pedro]

Great, two filler caps! Old school!

they couldn’t resist the tft screen though!

[boboneleg]

So they've made it fatter , heavier and stuck a bloody tv on it 

The wannabe's will be all over that...............

[Pedro]

7 minutes ago, boboneleg said:

So they've made it fatter , heavier and stuck a bloody tv on it 

The wannabe's will be all over that...............

I like that it’s now 23 liters…

[boboneleg]

It'll sell loads cos it looks dandy but why would you want a heavier bike with the same amount of poweras the standard bike , they've done nothing to the engine

 

[Pedro]

Just now, boboneleg said:

It'll sell loads cos it looks dandy but why would you want a heavier bike with the same amount of poweras the standard bike , they've done nothing to the engine

 

The bigger gas tank and longer travel, that’s why I bought mine.

[Pedro]

Just now, Pedro said:

The bigger gas tank and longer travel, that’s why I bought mine.

Also it would be the same price as a normal one after adding the (much needed) wire wheels and a couple of things, but the point being that a big gas tank is cool to have.

[boboneleg]

20 minutes ago, Pedro said:

The bigger gas tank and longer travel, that’s why I bought mine.

Yebbut, your bike probably has more power and a fair bit more torque ?

[Pedro]

8 hours ago, boboneleg said:

Yebbut, your bike probably has more power and a fair bit more torque ?

Same as a normal GS, though

[boboneleg]

What I’m to say is it should have been a 800/900 then it would have had the power to go with the other upgrades

[Pedro]

17 minutes ago, boboneleg said:

What I’m to say is it should have been a 800/900 then it would have had the power to go with the other upgrades

Do you find yours a little limited on the road? I never rode one, but suspect it might be.

 

[boboneleg]

2 minutes ago, Pedro said:

Do you find yours a little limited on the road? I never rode one, but suspect it might be.

 

Not really, it goes nearly as well as my 950 KTM’s and it’s sooooooooooooo smooth

 

[Buckster]

I’m getting one and some white mx boots, I’ll be the king of cool.

[Pedro]

I don’t get it, though, why the two fuel caps? Surely both tanks work as one? 

[Buckster]

1 hour ago, Pedro said:

I don’t get it, though, why the two fuel caps? Surely both tanks work as one? 

Two are hella cool.

[Buckster]

It’s probably because the balance pipe is fairly small bore so filling would be too slow if the cap was one side only.

[Pedro]

2 minutes ago, Buckster said:

It’s probably because the balance pipe is fairly small bore so filling would be too slow if the cap was one side only.

I got it before asking, still not a difficult thing to get past when designing the thing, though. 

[Buckster]

8 minutes ago, Pedro said:

I got it before asking, still not a difficult thing to get past when designing the thing, though. 

Two are still hella cool though, tell the chicks that one is for petrol and the other for turbo juice.