The new Yamaha Tenere 700 is a phenomenal bike for how little it costs ($16,999) compared to other bikes in the class, but like most things, there is room for improvement via the extensive official accessory list.
Yamaha has launched the new Tenere with a long list of accessories to help you tailor your bike to your needs, but which mods are worth your hard-earned dollar and which are not?
We recently spent five days riding the new Tenere 700 around New South Wales in Australia, and with Yamaha kitting most of the bikes out with accessories to improve the off-road experience, we think we’ve got a good handle on what owners should be spending their money on.
Want to know what is available in NZ for the new Tenere 700? Click here for the full Tenere 700 accessory list and New Zealand Pricing.
Note: As we have only been exposed to a small range of Yamaha’s Full Tenere 700 accessory list do our opinions are based on our experience on the epic 5-day media launch in Australia.
Akropovic Exhaust
We start our list with one of the most expensive items on the official accessory list for the Tenere 700, the carbon fibre clad Akrapovic Titanium Slip-on Muffler.
Helping boost performance to the tune of 1kg in weight saving and about 1hp in extra power, sadly the Akropovic doesn’t really bring a lot to the table for its $1404.91 asking price.
That is due to it being compliant with the stringent European emissions standards, and as a result, the Akro exhaust is still quite strangled and doesn't give you the boost in power or sound you would expect from an aftermarket muffler.
With the factory exhaust sounding similar and only mildly quieter at idle, we really think your money is better spent elsewhere on the Tenere 700 accessory list if you want more than a really cool looking bit of bling.
Rally Seat / Lowering Seat
Next up its the seating options for the Tenere. Spoiler alert, depending on your stature these are very good value.
Out of the box the Tenere 700 has a seat height of 880mm. Not bad considering Yamaha's history of producing very tall off-road bikes, but it is still out of reach of those short in the leg department.
The factory lowering seat drops the seat height to a more comfortable level and costs $349.95. Add the optional lowering kit at $151.30 and the Tenere 700 becomes even more accessible. For a regular-sized rider, the fully lowered bike feels more akin to a roadster than an adventure machine.
On the other hand if you are over 6ft tall and need a taller seat to ensure comfort, the Rally seat is a good option also. This replaces both the rider and pillion seats with a single unit and raises the height with the addition of extra padding and grip to boot.
There is also a replacement comfort seat available for the pillion seat, but while it does add thickness to the pad it doesn’t offer and more real estate for your pillion and at nearly $300 you really need to consider whether it is worth it for your needs.
Skid Plate
Now if you’re only entering the adventure class for the comradeship at the local coffee bar and won’t be heading deep off road then the upgraded skid plate will probably be overkill for you. Made of aluminium and about twice as thick as the factory item, it is designed to take on some serious punishment.
Priced at $425.04, the accessory Skid Plate is both much thicker and offers more overall protection than the slim factory unit. The best part is the added width of the accessory unit, which stretches out to the sides of the engine further to help add protection for the side cases.
While $425 isn’t cheap, it is cheaper than a new engine.
Barkbusters Handguards
While these are technically an aftermarket option and not sold from the Yamaha Shop, since Yamaha Motor Australia included them on our press launch bikes we're including them here.
Right off the bat, these are worth the investment. With the factory handguards being glorified windbreakers, they’re not up to the task of dependably protecting your controls from drops (trust me, I know from experience). With the ability to customise the plastics and the only minor increase in weight from their aluminium construction the added protection for your levers is well worth the investment.
Crash Bars
When it comes to crash bars there is always a tradeoff between the added bulk they bring along with the added protection.
Yamaha has done a great job of designing their crash bar options to be strong and sleek, without adding too much in terms of weight.
Not only do they protect the bike on a drop, but they also come in handy for picking it up again. Trust me when I say that you want all the help you can get when you’ve got a 204kg Tenere and gravity fighting you.
Priced at $416.77, it is another protection accessory worth considering if your budget allows.
Adjustable Levers
While I absolutely rate the adjustable levers available for the Tenere 700 for being both very comfortable and also functional, looking at the price of each lever - which is set at over $220 EACH - I actually find it hard to recommend them as a must-have.
Sure, they make life a lot easier on your hands - particularly if you have a short reach on your clutch hand – and feel beautiful to wrap your fingers around thanks to their tailored shape that price is quite painful on the pocket. To replace both the factory levers will set you back a grand total of $454.86 but with the factory brake lever already adjustable and the clutch not unpleasant to use once it’s angle is set correctly it really is a lot of money for a couple of small bits of aluminium.
Aluminium Adventure Side Cases
With the travel aspect of the adventure category being one of the selling points of the class Yamaha has come to the party with a set of decent factory luggage options.
The side cases themselves are prices at $625 each (so $1250 for both) but you’ll also need to invest in the stay set to mount them on which comes in at $402.98. So if you’re wanting to deck out your T7 with the official luggage you’re looking at $1652.98 for the set and that is before you start adding waterproof liners. It definitely doesn’t sound cheap but keep in mind you’ll be spending roughly the same on decent quality luggage options in the aftermarket.
Also Worth Considering
While we didn’t use these items, in particular, we definitely reckon they’re worth a look.
First up we continue the luggage theme with the rear rack. Priced at $370.44 it adds plenty of utility to the Tenere without breaking the bank like the side cases.
The main stand is also worthy of consideration thanks to its utility as well. At $379.63 it gives you the option to easily lube your chain or pull off the rear wheel to replace a puncture with ease. Just keep in mind it adds weight and will increase the chances of both the bike as a whole and the suspension bottoming out.
We round things off with the Radiator Protector from Yamaha. After seeing multiple bikes on a road ride puncture their radiators this is definitely something you’ll want. While it isn’t particularly cheap, it is worth the $225.33 for the peace of mind that a rogue stone won’t ruin your ride.