Yamaha Ténéré 700 World Raid
A huge success from the moment it plopped into dealers, the giant-slaying 700 is now available in pumped-up, puffed-out, round-theworld form. And that makes it better… right?
While the prospect of marauding around the globe is obviously exciting, today’s ambitions are more in-line with our abilities and the time limits on pass-outs from domestic management. So, we’re taking the new World Raid on a Welsh raid. It’s a no less tantalising prospect. Our ride to Snowdonia is four hours of motorways, scything A-roads and jumbled B-roads, and once there the mountainous landscape and minimal traffic promise some of the UK’S best riding. With summer in full effect, why would you want to head anywhere else?
To make matters all the more exciting the new Yamaha is in some compelling company. We’ve assembled the cream of mid-size ‘proper’ adventure bikes, by which we mean trail-ready wheel sizes, proper grunt and riding engagement, balanced out with usability, all-day comfort and a splash of desirability. Which means: Aprilia’s slender Tuareg 660; Ducati’s bold new Desertx; the striking Husqvarna Norden 901; high-tech Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro, plus Moto Guzzi’s V85 TT (under special wheel-size dispensation).
We made a similar trip a few years ago when Yamaha’s Ténéré 700 first went on sale, and the modest 689cc parallel twin won us over despite being pitched against larger, faster and more high-tech opposition. So, with its distance-devouring 23-litre fuel capacity, upgraded suspension and swankier TFT dash, we’re expecting fresh levels of brilliance from this £11,800 Ténéré World Raid. Maybe we’ve overestimated what a splash more fuel and new springs will do. ‘I don’t want to have to say this, but I’m a bit disappointed,’ says Bike subscriber and guest tester Nathan Simpkin.
He’s owned a regular Ténéré for a couple of years and is fully sold on adventure bikes, as evidenced by his goggles and trendy smock jacket thing. ‘I think it looks great and was excited to ride it. But the tank’s horrible – it’s pushing my knees out at too much of an angle and makes the chassis feel more top heavy than my bike.’
The additional seven litres of unleaded might only be an extra 5.25kg, but it makes the tank a bit bloaty and messes with the Yam’s balance. One of the base Ténéré’s pleasing features is how it seems trim and light, and the Raid’s not got quite the same air. Yamaha have tried to keep the centre of gravity in the same place but with a full tank the handling isn’t as neutral, the bike dropping into corners a little. It’s also a faff when you eventually chomp through the bike’s 300-mile range. Despite a solenoid valve and balance pipe between the two outboard parts of the tank, the Raid has twin fillers – and you can’t fill both sides from just one. Sure, it looks all Dakar, but it’s a tad tedious. We’re not convinced with the suspension either. The Raid uses KYB forks with fathoms of travel and full adjustability, the rear shock has tweaked linkage for increased movement, and you float around on stiffer springs. Except you don’t float. The changes are obviously to increase the bike’s off-road capability, but on the A4212 from Bala towards the coast the Raid feels overly stiff. It isn’t as agile as the Aprilia Tuareg or luxurious as the Ducati Desertx. ‘The suspension’s
‘Spot-on fuelling, genuine flexibility and a convincing sense of grunt’
not as bouncy in fast or bumpy corners as my standard Ténéré but I feel a bit disconnected from the road,’ muses Nathan. ‘You need to ride harder than on my bike before the suspension starts to feel nice.’ All this sounds quite negative. But over two days of Welsh finery we realise the Raid isn’t really better or worse than the base 700, just different. And underneath the swollen tank it’s still very much the über-popular Ténéré.
This means the same cuddly-yet-perky engine, which makes up for what it lacks in power next to the Triumph, Husqvarna and Ducati with spot-on fuelling, genuine flexibility and a convincing sense of grunt. And at nine quid a gallon its 59mpg average is more than welcome. The Yam’s screen is still far more effective than its looks suggest and not as noisy as the Husky or Ducati, switches and controls are pleasing, ergonomics are still good (splayed legs for tall riders aside), and the new TFT dash is clear to read (there’s connectivity too, but unfortunately no navigation). Become all playful on dancing Welsh hillside roads, get the suspension really working and its high spec delivers greater outright handling potential, too. The Raid is also fine quality – yes it’s £1500 cheaper than the Triumph Tiger 900 but it’s just as nicely finished.
‘For a ride like this the Yamaha is still right up there,’ says Nathan. ‘All it’s really missing is cruise control.’