Verdict

This is a great bike. At under ten grand the Ténéré’ is a really compelling, entertaining, mid-capacity, entry level adventure bike, and a clear class leader. Though in this category it’s worth pointing out that it is significantly more expensive and more focused (with a taller seat) than rivals such as Suzuki’s charming but dated V-strom 650 or Yamaha’s own, road only Tracer 700. And will you really ride off-road?

But the appeal of the Ténéré goes beyond the obvious class boundaries. It is also a compelling package for experienced solo adventure bike riders, who want to swap the power, weight, complexity and autoroute ability of a bigger, more expensive machine for something that is lighter and will be more agile on Peak District B-roads or European trails. Something on which one can be more, er… adventurous.

3000 mixed miles on our long term test bike, as well as other test Ténérés we have ridden in the past 12 months, have only reinforced our belief in the bike. The only real issues have arisen from the encouraging off-road ability of the bike, combined with the inability of its rider. Plastic and paintwork scuffs and scratches, a popped fork seal and lightly dented wheel rim are more the result of a lack of talent from me, rather than the Yamaha.

Now, where’s that map of Greece?

‘At under ten grand a really compelling, entertaining, midcapacity, entry level adventure bike, and a clear class leader’