It arrives a year later than expected, but Yamaha made sure the new Tenere 700 is here to stay and dominate the middleweight trail and adventure segment. The Tenere is just one of five new models Yamaha presented at EICMA Milan motorcycle show, with the Japanese manufacturer showing something new in almost every model range.
But let’s start with the new Yamaha Tenere 700.
We knew this bike was in the pipeline since Yamaha shown the T7 prototype at EICMA in 2016. At the time, the Iwata factory said the bike would be arriving in late 2017, but it took a whole extra year for us to see the final production version of this adventure model. And it was worth the wait!
The Yamaha Tenere 700 gives a different use to the CP2 (Crossplane) engine we’re used to seeing powering the naked MT-07. Although Yamaha doesn’t quote a final power figure and given that the torque arrives at the same 6500 rpm like on the MT-07, we expect the Tenere 700 to develop at least the same 75 hp. Yamaha says the bike has a new injection system and final transmission ratio for the off-road use.
The CP2 engine is fitted inside a new frame, tubular steel, developed to give the rider a better feeling even on tough terrain. Adding to this, the Yamaha Tenere 700 has a ground clearance of 240 mm, while the seat height reaches 880 mmm with the seat fusing with the fuel tank so that the rider has better control of the bike while seated, but also while riding standing on the foot pegs during off-road riding.
Specific to the Yamaha Tenere 700, and working as a distinctive feature, the front fairing integrates the rally-inspired style headlight unit. With no less than four LED lights behind a transparent casing, the Tenere will surely light the darkest trails so you can ride in total safety.
Suspension, of course, is tuned for off-road riding, and the front fork is fully adjustable while the rear shock only lets the rider fiddle with preload. At the front the 21’’ wheel has a travel of 120 mm, while at the back the 18’’ spoked wheel travels a bit more, 200 mm to be precise. Covering the wheels are a set of Pirelli Scorpion STR tyres.
The rally-inspired LCD dashboard gives the rider a full set of information’s about the Tenere 700, while the ABS system can be turned off while standing still, perfect for some off-road riding without any limits.
Yamaha says the new Tenere 700 will be available in the second half of 2019, so those riders looking for a new adventure bike will need to wait a bit more before they can get their hands on this new Yamaha.
The second biggest new model that we will be able to ride on the road, is the Niken GT, a touring oriented variant of the three-wheeled Niken we know since last EICMA.
Available in Yamaha dealers from March 2019, the Niken GT, as the name may indicate, receives a few touring upgrades from the factory. The windscreen is taller and wider for better aerodynamic protection, the seat is the comfort version for those longer journeys, and saddlebags, heated grips and centre stand, as well as a secondary 12V socket, are all part of the standard equipment of the 2019 Yamaha Niken GT which can only be bought through an online reservation system.
Continuing with the retro theme, Yamaha once again appears to be able to create new versions of the XSR 700, and at this year’s EICMA, the Iwata based brand showed up with a special XSR 700 version dubbed XTribute.
Yes, the capital “XT” might tell you something about this new model, because it’s a direct homage to the desired Yamaha XT500. The XTribute gives the XSR 700 a flat track flavour that riders are looking to get from the big factories, and although it’s based on the stock XSR 700, the XTribute gets Pirelli block to tread MT60RS tyres, perfect for the occasional off-road ride.
Other tweaks include fork gaiters and a flat, scrambler-style seat, wider bars and off-road-style footpegs, along with a paint job that replicates the 1981 XT500 colour scheme.
The next bike in Yamaha surprise lineup at EICMA, is the track only version of the YZF-R1 superbike. Dressed in historical red and white colours, the R1 GYTR is the replica bike of the one used by Yamaha factory team at the famous Suzuka 8 Hours race, a bike that handed Yamaha an unprecedented fourth win in a row!
Well, in 2019 Yamaha will let 20 lucky riders to own the replica R1 GYTR. Yes, you read it right, only 20 machines of this will be built worldwide.
You likely won’t be able to get your hands (or bum!) on one of this R1 GYTR, but it doesn’t hurt to feast your eyes on the photos of the bike displayed at EICMA, and also to know what Yamaha installs on this special limited version: racing wiring harness, ECU and throttle, plus Ohlins FGRT 219 forks and a TTX36 GP shock, a steering damper and a titanium Akrapovic Evolution 2 exhaust system. Yamaha’s own racing team will assemble each bike, complete with carbon fibre fairings in the Suzuka replica colours. They’ll also set the chassis and break the engine in on the dyno before it’s delivered to its new owner, with Yamaha engineers making sure the Crossplane engine of the R1 GYTR will be able to perform as expected. And we expect the engine to put a lot more power to the ground than the stock 200 hp of the YZF-R1. Also worth mentioning that the 20 lucky owners will also be automatically admitted to the 2019 Yamaha Racing Experience race school.
Not bad… but the money you’ll need to pay for one of these isn’t for everybody, so it makes sense Yamaha gives you the ultimate experience.
Last but not least, Yamaha rolled into the stage a new concept called 3CT Prototype.
Using the engine found on the X-Max 300 maxiscooter, Yamaha created this three-wheel concept that when transformed into production form, will sit between the Tricity 125 and the Niken.
The 3CT Prototype adopts the same style front suspension unit of the Tricity, with the tilting mechanism on the inside of the wheels, not outside like it happens with the Niken system. For ease of use in city traffic, Yamaha has added a “Tilt Lock System”, that will let the rider ride along town without the need to put the foot down when at a stop. Sure, the 3D-printed seat and the LED lights that surround it won’t make the cut to the production version, but given that the style and engine are already based on elements that Yamaha produces nowadays, we expect the 3CT to show up on the Japanese lineup as a 2020 model.
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