Yamaha seems to have it the sweet spot with its middleweight trail. The Ténéré 700 has been a huge success since its introduction. Sales for this model have been great in the different countries.
The Ténéré 700 is a great bike, but there’s always space for improvement.
According to the Ténéré 700 large project leader, Takushiro Shiraishi, the Japanese manufacturer is able to sell a more hardcore version of this bike. But Yamaha needs to see market demand for that to happen.
In an interview with Italian magazine Motociclismo, he said that “Some of our engineers, product planners, and even the marketing people believe a bike like that would be interesting for a percentage of clients”.
But will we see a Yamaha Ténéré 700 “Adventure” at the Japanese dealerships?
On one hand, Yamaha might feel tempted to create a more off-road focused version of the Ténéré 700. Improved suspension and the twin-cylinder engine can give this trail the off-road features it needs to beat the competition.
On the other hand, Yamaha has to make sure that their clients are seeking such a bike. Many riders like the idea of going for an off-road adventure. But in reality, many won’t ride their bike outside asphalt roads.
Is there enough demand from riders to justify creating a Ténéré 700 “Adventure”?
We will need to wait a little more to know that answer. It certainly is a good starting point that Yamaha is already thinking about it. Now it’s up to the market to create the demand. And we will get a Ténéré 700 with more off-road capabilities.