Yamaha Ténéré World Raid: Rally Heritage for Road Buyers

Yamaha has unveiled the Ténéré 700 World Raid, a factory-prepared variant that brings rally-style equipment and capability to buyers who'd rather purchase than build. The World Raid adds €3,200 to the standard Ténéré's price while fitting equipment that would cost substantially more to source aftermarket: a 23-litre fuel tank, Öhlins fully adjustable suspension front and rear, aluminium bash plate, rally-style footpegs, higher screen, and improved seat foam. For riders planning serious expedition use, the value proposition appears strong.

The Öhlins suspension represents the headline improvement. The standard Ténéré's KYB units are competent but limited, with adjustment restricted to preload that doesn't address damping characteristics. The World Raid's Öhlins components offer full compression and rebound adjustment, with valving suited to loaded touring rather than the compromised street-focused settings of stock equipment. Initial reviews from European press launches describe transformation rather than incremental improvement—the World Raid handles serious off-road terrain that overwhelms the standard model's suspension.

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Fuel capacity increase addresses the most common criticism of the original Ténéré. The standard 16-litre tank provides approximately 300 kilometres of mixed riding before reserve warnings appear—acceptable for European conditions but limiting for remote travel. The World Raid's 23-litre tank extends range beyond 400 kilometres without changing the motorcycle's visual proportions dramatically. The tank's shape maintains ergonomic compatibility with standing riding positions, suggesting genuine development attention rather than simple capacity increase.

What's not changed matters as much as the additions. The CP2 engine remains untouched—the 689cc parallel twin with its characteristic pulse and 72 horsepower output that balances capability with accessibility. Weight increases modestly to 220kg ready to ride. The instrument cluster and electronics carry over from the standard model. Yamaha has resisted the temptation to add complexity that would inflate pricing beyond the model's market position, maintaining the Ténéré philosophy of essential equipment without excessive technological intervention.