The best Yamaha Ténéré 700 upgrades protect the bike, sharpen the brakes and suspension, and fix a seat that most owners find hard work. It is one of the most proven middleweight adventure bikes there is, simple to maintain and well built, but it is heavy for a lane bike and Yamaha left plenty of room for the aftermarket. We don't own one, so this list draws on long-term tests by MCN and Rider Magazine plus what Holloway riders on T7s tell us.
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Most common Ténéré 700 mods
Roughly in the order we'd fit them for green laning.
Hand guards
Barkbusters are the usual choice. One long-term tester said they had already saved a lever. At over 200kg, the T7 will go over at some point in a lane, and a snapped lever ends the day.
Crash bars
They protect the radiator and bodywork in a drop. Buy strong ones and check the mounts: one tester found a crash bar moved about an inch towards the bodywork after a simple garage drop.
A stronger bash plate
The stock plate is light. Owners replace it with a full plate and linkage guard, such as AltRider's, for proper protection on rocky lanes.
Better brake pads and a bigger rear brake pedal
Owners find the brakes underwhelming and the rear pads wear quickly. Semi-metallic pads, such as Galfer's, made a big difference for one owner. A wider rear brake pedal tip is also among the first upgrades new owners make, because it is easier to find standing up in boots.
Suspension work
The stock suspension is soft for heavier riders or a loaded bike. A fork and shock service with uprated internals, such as K-Tech's, gave one MCN tester smoother tip-in and much more composed handling.
Wider footpegs
Wider pegs such as Pivot Pegz grip better in the wet and spread the load when standing, which you do a lot on a heavy bike in a lane.
A better seat
The stock seat is the most common comfort complaint. Sargent and similar seats were described as a big improvement by long-term testers.
Extra fuel capacity
The 16 litre tank gives roughly 200 to 225 miles. That is fine in the UK, but owners heading abroad add an auxiliary tank or a fuel bladder. The World Raid version solves it with a bigger tank.
A steering damper
Several owners fit one for stability over ruts and at speed on gravel. It is optional on UK lanes, where speeds are low.
A throttle lock
One tester fitted a throttle lock to relieve a cramped right hand on long road sections. It is a cheap fix for days with long road links between lanes.
Known Ténéré 700 weak points and fixes
How easy the Ténéré 700 is to live with
- It is simple and well built. MCN's long-term test bike showed no corrosion at the end of its test, and the only problems came from accessories.
- Valve checks are a long way apart, and the CP2 engine is shared with Yamaha's road bikes, so parts and know-how are easy to find.
- It feels heavy off-road, especially when loaded. A good tyre and strong protection matter more on a T7 than on a light trail bike.
Ténéré 700 mods to skip
- A loud exhaust. Noise is one of the main reasons lanes get closed. If you change the exhaust, keep it road legal and quiet.
- Lowering it too far. Lowering helps shorter riders reach the ground but cuts ground clearance, which matters on rutted lanes. Try a lower seat before you change the suspension.
- Hard luggage on a lane day. Big aluminium boxes make a 200kg bike wider and heavier where it hurts most. Soft luggage is lighter and safer when it goes down.
Then find somewhere to ride it
Plan a day of green lanes across England and Wales on the Holloway map, with each lane's difficulty and legal status.
Open the mapSources: Rider Magazine, Ténéré 700 long-term review part 2, MCN Fleet, Ténéré 700 long-term test round-up, MCN, Ténéré 700 review and later updates.