This Middleweight Makes Bigger Adventure Bikes Feel Unnecessary
For a time, it seemed as though adventure motorcycles were getting bigger all the time. But, the introduction of several capable middleweight alternatives has brought this particular battle of the “bulge” to an end. Bigger, more powerful ADVs have since taken a back seat to these lighter, altogether more versatile options.
The Quest For Ultimate Versatility
Over the past few years, we have seen the adventure bike market continue to grow, while pretty much every other segment has shrunk. More and more riders have turned to ADVs, largely thanks to how versatile they are. Within this versatile segment, middleweight bikes promise the most versatility.
They are fairly competent off-road, yet comfortable enough to tour on, and nimble enough to be used as a commuter throughout the week. Naturally, every motorcycle is a compromise, and adventure bikes are indeed some of the most compromised vehicles on the road. Pretty much every middleweight adventure bike on the market offers a different balance between performance, comfort, and off-road capability. But, the bike in question is able to do everything remarkably well.
The Yamaha Tenere 700 World Raid Offers Incredible Value To Riders Who Want It All
MSRP: $12,999
Ever since the Tenere 700 first came out, enthusiasts have been modifying the platform. Initially, it offered riders on a budget a more back-to-basics option, leaving room for minor improvements here and there. The World Raid is anything but a “back-to-basics” offering. Yamaha has effectively thrown the kitchen sink at the model, pretty much answering all the criticism leveled at the bike in one fell swoop. It might cost $2k more than the base model, but with all the features added, it actually seems like a bargain, and makes all the bigger ADVs seem a little overpriced.
The Tenere 700 World Raid Has The Legendary CP2 Engine
Power: 72 Horsepower
Over the years the Yamaha CP2 has been in production it has proven to be one of the most reliable motorcycle engines ever produced. While reliability is one thing, rider engagement is another. In this respect, the CP2 is also able to excel thanks to how much midrange punch it has to offer. On paper, 72 horsepower may not seem all that exciting for a middleweight, but most of its torque is readily available from around 2,000 RPM. With this midrange punch, it offers a level of tractability that will entertain experienced riders, both on and off-road.
Peace Of Mind Is Part Of The Deal
Modern motorcycles don’t often have any mechanical reliability issues, so the fact that the Tenere is mechanically reliable doesn’t necessarily make it exceptional. It is the fact that these bikes have been subject to untold amounts of abuse over the years, and they still keep going. Most of us won’t ever want to “abuse” our new ADV, but the peace of mind that you get by knowing a bike will get you home no matter what is hard to put a price on. It is one of those little things that nobody really considers a feature, but if you have ever been let down in the middle of nowhere, it suddenly becomes non-negotiable.
The World Raid Adds A Wide Selection Of Impressive Features
In an effort to keep the weight down, the original Tenere 700 kept electronic features to a bare minimum. The World Raid, on the other hand, has pretty much every conceivable adventure-related feature you might ever want. It comes with an IMU-enhanced electronics suite, so both lean-sensitive traction control and cornering ABS are present. Ride modes, cruise control, and a big TFT dash are also there, but the quickshifter is left optional. Although several modern ADVs come with a quickshifter, it is still an ADV, and not a sport bike, so we feel this is understandable.
Yamaha Gave Us exactly What We Asked For, And Some
While the additional electronics are great, the biggest, and in our opinion, best, upgrade is the suspension. The original bike was heavily criticized for being undersprung from the factory, and even though this was resolved in a recent update, the fully adjustable KYB suspension the World Raid gets is on an entirely different level. It also gets a steering damper and dual fuel tanks which help extend the range. Naturally, there is a weight penalty to pay for all these additional features, but it is not nearly as severe as it may seem at first glance. With a wet weight of 485 pounds, it is 26 pounds heavier than the base model, but over half of that additional weight is fuel. For most explorers, that is a penalty well worth paying.
Back when the Tenere was first released, it won praise from all corners. As the bikes eventually made it into the wild, owners obviously eventually ran into the weak points of the platform, none of which were ever deal-breakers, but niggles nonetheless. Over the years, Yamaha has proven that they are willing to take customer feedback on board, but the World Raid is undeniably the most comprehensive answer. It addresses pretty much every issue anyone has ever had with the Tenere, transforming it into a rather incredible exploration tool that makes bigger adventure bikes twice its price seem rather unnecessary.
At this price point, the World Raid makes for a rather enticing option. The $2k added to the base model looks like a bit of a bargain when you look at the price of aftermarket suspension components. That alone would cost more than $2k, and it is an upgrade several Tenere owners were quite happy to do. The addition of a long range tank, and all the electronics come as something of an added bonus. While no motorcycle is perfect, this certainly comes pretty close to being the ideal ADV that covers almost every base. It offers an almost ideal balance between comfort, off-road performance, and everyday practicality. For those looking for a bike that can do it all, we can scarcely think of a better option.
Source: Yamaha Motorsports
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