2022 Yamaha Tenere 700 offers lighter alternative to adventure riding designed to satisfy your curiosity for the road less travelled

Life on two wheels offers so many options. Solo or partnered. Cruisers, sport bikes, superbikes (race), dirt bikes and if you want to ride on and off-road, there are adventure bikes.

Most adventure bikes have been marketed to load up like an elephant on a safari and there are many road warriors who have done just that and written about it. The serious adventurers planning to navigate unforgiving terrain have typically gone with 1200cc rides. Yamaha first introduced the Super Tenere 1200 when entering the adventure market.

However, a 1200 adventure model is not always what you need to get where you want to go. In the Okanagan Valley, for example, we have a plethora of backwoods exploration that will see you off in the morning and return to you the comfort of your own bed at night. Needless to say, the power of a 1200cc isn’t necessary – nice to have for sure, but not 100% necessary. Maybe that is why the 2022 Yamaha Tenere 700 has become one of the most sought-after dual-purpose motorcycles.

Aesthetically, the Yamaha Tenere 700 looks like a large dirt bike with a better seat. It is lightweight, slim, has a standard skid plate and hand-guards to protect the rider. It comes in two colors, signature Team Yamaha blue and Raven black. Add in the mirrors, windscreen, LED headlights, additional LED position lights, a digital cockpit, on the fly switchable to ABS brakes plus a 16 Litre fuel tank offering an exceptional 350 km of travel and you are road ready.

All adventure rides are tall and the 2022 Yamaha Tenere 700 falls in line with a seat height of 875 mm (34.4”) however, it can be adjusted and lowered to suit the rider. I stand 5’11” with a 34” inseam so I was basically standing over a motorcycle. The significance of the height is longevity in the saddle and the ease of getting around off-road obstacles with a nearly 10″ ground clearance. The positioning allows the rider to stand up and manoeuvre the motorcycle just like a dirt bike. Not only that, standing up allows the body an opportunity to stretch, thereby extending time and comfort in the saddle.

There is plenty of room on the seat for operational adjustment. Move forward or backward until you get that perfect position and handy when off-road for smooth operation in changing terrain. On-road you can slide back to that perfect position while off-road, move your weight forward for corners and to maintain control of the bike.  

Upon my initial departure, the height was noticeable as I was a bit wobbly trying to adjust to the operation of this 689 cc twin engine adventure model. Figuring out the clutch to acceleration ratio was not at all graceful as the Tenere 700 delivers instant torque, perfect for changing terrain off-road while adding a bit of a thrill on-road.

Each time I test a new model motorcycle, I tend to baby it as I figure it out initially. However, the Tenere 700 is not a bike you baby. With the instant power at the twist of the wrist, I decided to ride a bit more aggressively and then bike handled like it was designed.

The Tenere 700 is the perfect dual-purpose ride. It is a great introduction to adventure riding and for the ladies, a manageable option to exploring the back-country.  MSRP $12,799.