The Tenere name carries serious weight in adventure motorcycling circles, and the modern T7 has earned iconic status in its own right. But can the significantly updated 2025 model maintain the simplicity that made it so beloved while adding the refinements riders have been asking for? We took the latest Tenere 700 into the bush to find out.
Earlier this year, Yamaha announced the most significant update to the Tenere platform in some time, sparking concern among loyalists that the changes might compromise the bike’s straightforward, robust character. After spending quality time thrashing the 2025 model off-road, we can confirm those fears are completely unfounded.
The familiar Tenere silhouette has been subtly modernized with a one-piece rally seat, resculpted fuel tank that’s been moved forward and sits lower for improved weight distribution, and an updated one-piece windscreen and headlight unit. The 16-litre fuel capacity remains unchanged.
Yamaha has clearly been listening to feedback. Quality-of-life improvements include sturdier accessory brackets on the pillion seat, a reinforced exhaust bracket, upgraded foot pegs now fitted as standard, and modifications to the previously problematic kickstand switch.
The proven 689cc CP2 parallel-twin engine carries over with minor updates to meet Euro5+ emissions regulations, delivering slightly more responsive throttle off the bottom. Two new color schemes are available: Frozen Titanium (tested here) and Icon Blue, with the former now offered in a lower seat height option for improved accessibility.
Suspension gets a meaningful upgrade with fully adjustable inverted forks featuring simple top-mounted adjusters, plus a completely new rear linkage design and revised shock absorber maintaining 200mm of wheel travel. The lower seat height option drops travel to 180mm.
The most significant changes live in the cockpit, and they’re the source of all the hand-wringing. A new 6.3-inch TFT screen in portrait format dominates the rally tower – it looks fantastic and suits the styling, even if landscape orientation might be more practical.
The move to ride-by-wire throttle enables two power modes (Explorer and Sport), switchable traction control, and adjustable ABS via new joystick-style switchgear. Here’s the clever bit: hold down a large tactile button and the bike reverts to your last ABS and traction control settings when you restart it, rather than defaulting back to full-safe mode. Brilliant.
The new switchgear also includes self-canceling indicators. Turn-by-turn navigation is available through Yamaha’s MyRide application.
Running big knobbies for our test, the Tenere proved it remains one of the most entertaining adventure bikes to punt off-road. The ergonomics – slightly different to what some riders might prefer with bars that could be taller and wider – take a moment to adjust to, but the setup makes perfect sense once you’re comfortable.
The neutral handling characteristics that made previous Teneres so confidence-inspiring remain intact. Yamaha has invested significant effort into making this bike exceptionally practical on the dirt, and it shows. The big foot pegs, now standard equipment, provide excellent purchase when standing.
With proper off-road rubber fitted, the Tenere transforms into something genuinely capable in the bush. Yes, those knobbies make it less pleasant on tarmac, but that’s the compromise you make when building a bike that is actually ridden off-road.
The notion that the 2025 Tenere has gone all high-tech is ridiculous. This bike still doesn’t have a standard up-down quickshifter, cruise control, heated grips, or a six-axis IMU. And that’s entirely the point.
Yamaha has made purposeful changes that bring the Tenere up to spec with its rivals while retaining everything that makes it special. It’s still dependable, simple, versatile, and an absolute weapon in the bush. The refined ergonomics, improved geometry, and fully adjustable suspension only enhance what was already one of the best middleweight adventure bikes for serious off-road work.
The 2025 Tenere 700 remains true to its roots: a genuine do-it-all adventure bike built on the proven CP2 platform, with legitimate off-road capability and the simplicity that makes it reliable when you’re miles from anywhere. The updates haven’t diluted the formula – they’ve refined it.
Watch the full off-road review on the INFO MOTO YouTube channel.
Editorial Director at infomoto.com.au. Loves Rally bikes.
