Perfect Tén! Standard Yamaha Ténéré 700 and Rally get engine and styling updates for 2025

Yamaha have thrown their hat into the ring for middleweight adventure bike supremacy with a revised Ténéré 700 twin for 2025.

You now get the choice of an updated low and standard Tén, plus a more rugged Rally option – each offering a differing set of riding characteristics around the same Euro5+ 698cc CP2 parallel twin engine.

The original Ténéré 700 arrived for 2019 and now, almost six years on, it gets its first real styling update. Although the same overall adventure silhouette remains, Yamaha’s designers have made subtle changes – including moving the 16-litre fuel tank forward and down to create more balance and reduce any top-heavy feel.

There’s also a new seat design for greater movement around the bike, and up front you’ll find mild revisions to the stacked bodywork and LED lighting.

• Related: Yamaha Ténéré 700 World Raid review

This rugged look is combined with new suspension. On the standard bike, this consists of fully adjustable upside down 43mm forks with 210mm of front travel. The lower seat version (860mm, down from 875mm) gets slightly less travel at 190mm. 

Ground clearance sits at a decent 240mm, with a lesser 225mm available for the shorter machine. The yokes are new too – with a forged aluminium lower clamp and cast aluminium upper said to provide additional strength.

As you might expect, the rear shock is new too, with a new progressive linkage increasing the stroke while retaining the same 200mm of wheel travel as before (180mm on the lower bike). Made of aluminium, there’s also a remote adjuster for easier changes – handy when winding on a little extra for a pillion or luggage.

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Sticking with the chassis components, the motor remains housed in a double cradle tubular steel frame, with other subtle tweaks including a stronger exhaust silencer bracket, and luggage rack mounts. The side stand switch is also redesigned and relocated, following customer feedback.

Ten-millimetre wider footpegs, first seen on the World Raid edition in 2022 will now also come as standard.

Away from the chassis, the twin-pot motor has also been updated and paired with a ride by wire throttle to allow for multiple riding modes. You get a choice of either Sport or Explorer, with the latter being the softer of the two.

A shorter air intake duct is also said to help provide thicker torque curve, with other tweaks including new gearbox internals for smoother shifts, and a new clutch cover to reduce contact with the riders’ leg.

• Related: CP2 powered Yamaha MT-07 updated for 2025

Other tech upgrades include a 6.3in colour TFT dash, which sits vertical like a rally book. This should help with cycling through the modes, as well as activating and de-activating the ABS system.

Mobile connectable, you’ll find a USB-C charging port as standard, plus the option of two different data displays and new switchgear for operation.

Yamaha’s Rally raider

Those wanting to take their Ténéré to the next level can do so with the Rally version, which is immediately distinguished by its heritage blue paint scheme and high front mudguard. There’s also a more upright riding position with a lofty 910mm seat height.

The colour dash gets an additional Raid layout to look like rally roadbook, and the footpegs are 228g lighter, with a larger contact patch for your boots.

The biggest changes come in the suspension though, which is inspired by the rugged Ténéré Extreme. Here, the fully adjustable KYB forks get 230mm of travel, with 255mm of ground clearance under the bike plus a 4mm aluminium sump guard to protect against nasty knocks.  

Watch MCN’s original Yamaha Ténéré 700 video review: