YAMAHA

End of the World : Yamaha Ténéré 700 World Raid

If I had to name an '80s Yamaha that had a huge impact on the entire industry, I would say Ténéré. For many adventurous motorcyclists, the dream of reaching other continents has come true for the first time with this machine. This line is represented by the Ténéré 700's latest World Raid design, available since 2019, which is styled for Dakar Rally starters, most notably with its distinctive Icona Blue livery.

The 15mm taller windshield with side deflectors is a striking differentiator from the base model, and the other is the 3-piece aluminum block protector, which protects the technique from damage from rocks, stones and other landmarks. The tank design is one of the most interesting features of the novelty, as the World Raid has two separate fuel tanks, with a capacity of 23 liters (+ 7 liters), the range can reach 500 kilometers. An important feature of the new arrangement is that the highest point of the dual tanks is lower than the top of the Ténéré 700 tank in the field, thus reducing the height difference between the tank and the seat. According to Yamaha, this design increases the motorized maneuverability in the saddle and makes it easier to change weights in the field - larger footrests also serve this purpose. On the seat we find two different leather coverings, with a rougher surface in the middle, while the material is softer and smoother on the sides.

While both the dual-cradle frame and Brembo braking system remained unchanged from the baseline, the chassis had to be tuned to higher expectations. The newly developed 43mm diameter Kayaba fork features a 20mm longer spring path of 230mm, and unlike the base model, the spring preload can also be adjusted. If all that wasn't enough, Yamaha uses a friction-reducing Kashima coating on the telescopes, but we can also mention the state-of-the-art Öhlins steering damper. To make the tangers even better with the engine, a new energy-absorbing rubber stopper also appeared.

The field of application is also indicated by the fact that 2 of the 3 ABS programs are for off-road use, and one of them was developed directly for World Raid: the driver can even set the anti-lock brakes to be active only on the front wheel.

The new instrument panel is also different, the simple screen of the Ténéré has been replaced by a monitor in static format, but much more modern and customizable, which switches to itiner style in Raid mode and can start up to two independent countdowns to see exactly the distance to the next destination or the turning point in the desert. As you'd expect today, the 5-inch screen can use MyRide to display incoming messages on your smartphone, and there's a USB connector on the right side of the instrument panel that can charge your navigation devices or your phone.

Like the base model, the World Raid is powered by Yamaha's compact inline twin, with over 220,000 motorcycles produced by the Japanese company with the CP2 block proven in many other models. With a distinctive sound and 270 degree crankshaft characteristics, the 689 cm3 unit puts out 73 horsepower and 68 Nm in line.

UNDERSTANDING THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME TÉNÉRÉ...The region of Ténéré is located in the southern part of the Sahara desert and is one of the smallest areas on Earth. Ténéré's climate is extreme, with temperatures often above 40 degrees Celsius in summer and annual rainfall of just 25 mm. As there is really no vegetation there, the Ténéré tree, referred to as the loneliest tree in the world, was a real curiosity as there were no other larger woody plants in the desert within a 400 kilometer radius. The Palestinian acacia, which reaches a depth of 35 meters, was demolished by a Libyan truck driver in 1973, and the remains of the tree have been kept in the National Museum of Nigeria. 

Autonews