When Yamaha first released the Tenere 700 back in 2019, it flipped the ADV world on its head, offering what was essentially an oversized dirtbike with an engine loved by stunters and hooligans alike. Naturally, this thing would spark a revolution in the ADV scene, with manufacturers rolling out their own interpretations of what a true off-road-capable adventure bike should be.
You can bet that in the boardrooms of most other manufacturers, the Yamaha Tenere 700 was part of the discussion when it came to designing their own respective ADV bikes. And now that bikes like the Aprilia Tuareg 660, Suzuki V-Strom 800 DE, Honda Transalp XL750, and Husqvarna Norden 901 have all leaned fully on the off-road lifestyle, it’s in Yamaha’s best interest to bring something new to the table.
Well, for the 2025 model year, Yamaha’s sort of doing this, but not really. It hasn’t really given the Tenere 700 a quantum leap forward like it did with the MT-07, but the updates on the new T7 are substantial nonetheless and could make this thing even more capable than ever before. Oh, and it’s a tad more accessible for riders of all sizes, too.
More on that in a bit.
In the suspension department, the 2025 T7 gets a fully adjustable fork with 8.3 inches of travel resulting in 9.4 inches of ground clearance. Out back, a new shock has been fitted with a progressive linkage and remote preload adjustment knob. This provides the bike with 7.9 inches of rear suspension travel.
Now, in order to really make the most of the Tenere 700, you had to be a rather tall individual. For reference, I stand at 5’7”, which is by no means tall, and I can barely reach the ground on the standard Tenere 700 thanks to its rather tall 34.6-inch seat height. And so, for the 2025 model year, Yamaha’s introducing a lowered version of the bike with a slightly reduced front suspension travel of 7.5 inches. This reduces ground clearance to 8.9 inches, which isn’t bad at all. And thanks to its 33.9-inch seat height, it’ll be easier for shorter riders like me to gain confident footing on this thing.
Suspension aside, the 2025 Tenere 700 gets a new ergonomics package, too. A new seat makes it easier to shift your weight while riding. The 16-liter fuel tank has also been redesigned to sit lower and further forward into the frame. The bike’s footpegs are also a bit wider for a more commanding off-road riding position.
And then comes the tech. Like all other manufacturers in the market, Yamaha’s given the T7 a sizable 6.3-inch TFT display mounted vertically for a more rally-esque feel. All of the bike’s electronics can be toggled via the display, such as switchable ABS and traction control. Lastly, the headlight’s also been reworked to look a bit more modern, but Yamaha somehow managed to retain the T7’s unmistakable look.
Now, for folks who find the regular T7 to be lacking in the off-road-capability department for some reason, Yamaha has also launched the Tenere 700 Rally. This thing goes big on off-road goodies rocking a KYB fork with a whopping nine inches of suspension travel and a rear shock with 8.3 inches of travel. This results in an acrophobia-inducing 35.8-inch seat height, so yeah, this thing is pretty much out of the question for me.
Of course, the Rally gets, well, rally-inspired goodies like a beefy aluminum skidplate, titanium footpegs, and a high fender for that rugged look. All these upgrades come at a cost, though, and that’s weight. The Rally tips the scales at 473 pounds wet (for reference, the standard T7 weighs in at 459 pounds), so yeah, not exactly the lightest ADV out there.
What do you think? Do Yamaha’s updates to the 2025 T7 do it justice, and give it enough oomph to blast past the competition? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Yamaha
