[TusharK]

Yamaha is reportedly considering the Tenere 700 for the Indian market. It could be introduced by late 2025.



According to media reports, Yamaha India has already commenced the groundwork for this project. Pricing will be one of the biggest hurdles for the company as most premium ADVs in this segment are imported from Thailand and benefit from the import duty waiver, unlike the Tenere 700, which is likely to be brought in from Japan.

The Yamaha Tenere 700 uses a 689cc, parallel-twin engine, which produces 72 BHP and 68 Nm. The engine is mated to a 6-speed gearbox. The bike maker is already working on the next-gen model, which is expected to get incremental updates while retaining the same basic formula.

The enduro-style ADV could compete with the Honda Transalp XL 750 and Suzuki V-Strom 800 DE.

Source: Bikewale

Link to Team-BHP News

[ambarkhan]

I know a lot of people including me, who have parked money and would either buy a street legal 450 enduro or Tenere 700 nothing else. While I don’t trust click bait media houses, I want this to be true.
The only way I can imagine Tenere not be sold out in first couple of days after launch is , they launch the old model after updating it elsewhere (like what Isuzu is doing with Vcross).

[maddy42]

Originally Posted by ambarkhan

I know a lot of people including me, who have parked money and would either buy a street legal 450 enduro or Tenere 700 nothing else. While I don’t trust click bait media houses, I want this to be true.
The only way I can imagine Tenere not be sold out in first couple of days after launch is , they launch the old model after updating it elsewhere (like what Isuzu is doing with Vcross).

Thats why the Isuzu is selling in droves

Just curious if either the 450 or the 700 can be flatfooted by a 5 feet 8 person?

[100Kmphormore]

They should stop considering and start releasing, not with prices like the R3 or MT03 though. It is a legendary bike, made more famous by Pol Tarres, who makes it look like a fricking Xpulse! Honda burnt their hands with the 6.87L exshowroom price on the CB500X and learnt a lesson, they should price it around 13L on road maximum, that competes with the VStrom 800DE.

[Axe77]

Price them decently and watch them fly. IMO, even if they charge 1 - 1.5L more (in on road terms) than the Transalp it will still sell plenty units.

[Sudarshan42]

Does Yamaha have the dealers to pull this off though? They seem to have botched even the Aerox, with low availability, no test rides, poor service. And that's for a premium scooter for sub 2L- How can one trust them to handle a 10L+ ADV? (I realize that the same argument holds for Suzuki India too).

[b16h22]

Knowing Yamaha and their history with recent CBU pricing (R3/MT03/MT09/R1) I wouldn't get my hopes up. Suzuki and Honda priced their middleweights very well and T7 should be priced around the same 10-12L mark. It is a really tall bike (860mm seat height) and that is a major hindrance to the average ADV buyer here.

[Axe77]

Originally Posted by Sudarshan42

(I realize that the same argument holds for Suzuki India too).

And for Honda BigWing. There are people who are actively looking to buy this as a direct import with zero support (I agree thats not at retail scale but still).

Even with 4 dealers across India (one in each region) they’ll manage to pull off decent sales. It’s a relatively (by big bike standards) simple bike too to maintain long term. Of course, service quality ought to be good - that’s something anyone and everyone looks for, even in a mass market offering, certainly so for premium segment.

[advitiyan]

Originally Posted by ambarkhan

I know a lot of people including me, who have parked money and would either buy a street legal 450 enduro or Tenere 700 nothing else.

... and the Tuareg 660, as well, if it wasn't for the unfortunate pricing. There simply aren't any options for people who are looking for a middleweight motorcycle that's roughly in the 200kg wet weight range. After years with a nearly 250kg INT650 (with accessories) in BLR traffic, a lighter middleweight is all I wish for.

Originally Posted by Sudarshan42

Does Yamaha have the dealers to pull this off though? They seem to have botched even the Aerox, with low availability, no test rides, poor service. And that's for a premium scooter for sub 2L- How can one trust them to handle a 10L+ ADV? (I realize that the same argument holds for Suzuki India too).

Going out on a limb here to say that the reputation of the Aerox/Yamaha from yesteryears may no longer hold true (apart from the service aspect). Here in BLR, every single Yamaha Blue Square has Aerox readily available for test rides with deliveries being promised within 2-4 weeks if stocks are not available. The situation may be different in smaller cities, though.
However, according to hearsay, service of the Aerox does seem to be a hit-or-miss with services being more expensive than usual and spare parts taking a week or more to arrive.

[Nilesh5417]

Not holding my breath for this one. Sorry to be sounding so negative but the Japs are clearly struggling in India. Be it 2 wheels or 4! I don't know if the thought of launching a blockbuster product (read what people want at a price close to what it would sell for) even crosses their mind!

[VellVector]

Originally Posted by TusharK

According to media reports, Yamaha India has already commenced the groundwork for this project. Pricing will be one of the biggest hurdles for the company as most premium ADVs in this segment are imported from Thailand and benefit from the import duty waiver, unlike the Tenere 700, which is likely to be brought in from Japan.

Yamaha launching the Tenere launching in India has to be the biggest “Lucy and the football” gag running in the big bike market. Every year there seems to be some media report based on a reliable source and everyone gets excited only for us to never hear about it again - till the cycle repeats.

At this point, I would only believe it once Yamaha brings them to the showroom floor.

[ambarkhan]

Originally Posted by maddy42

Just curious if either the 450 or the 700 can be flatfooted by a 5 feet 8 person?

I don’t think so.
Even Xpulse with rally Kit can’t be flat footed by a 6feet 1 inch person. But it doesn’t matter, you just get used to sliding your butt while stopping.

[V.Max]

It all adds up. The T700 must be inbound! And so is the MT09, early next year (Autocar says so)

See this article - https://auto.economictimes.indiatime...BnbWFpbC5jb20=

There is a strong sense of commitment coming in from Yamaha Japan after the Chennai exported Ray ZR scooters started doing well in Europe! Apparently, the India made ones are cheaper than the Vietnam made ones. Yamaha are understandably ecstatic!

As mentioned by Shumi in MotorINC, the new chairman Mr. Eishin Chihana seems super optimistic of making India a global CKD line!

[praful]

Originally Posted by maddy42

Just curious if either the 450 or the 700 can be flatfooted by a 5 feet 8 person?

Not unless one has disproportionately long legs

I'm 5'10" and I could barely tiptoe the standard Ténéré with its 875mm seat height. When comparing with the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro which has a 880mm seat height, I still had to tip-toe, but it was more comfortable than the Ténéré. It depends a lot on how the seat is designed, how the suspension is sprung and how the bike carries its weight.

Which brings me to the issue with how the Ténéré carries its weight, which is very very high. Which makes it complicated when the bike is tipping over and one needs to control the bike.

Seat height should not be a blocker for a skilled and strong (talking about physical strenght) for shorter riders, but the Ténéré can be challenging with its high CoG. Which is why the Tiger Rally Pro despite its +23 kgs over the Ténéré could be easier for some riders to manage.

It needs to be seen which variants Yamaha intends on bringing to India. The Explore edition has 860mm seat height which can make it a bit more approachable to slightly shorter riders, but that comes at a cost of reduced suspension travel. If memory serves me well, its 190mm & 180mm for the explore edition. The standard edition is 210mm & 200mm which isn't best in class anyway.

The other editions such as Extreme, World Raid, etc. which have more suspension travel, but their seat heights are 890mm and 910mm which makes it tough even for 6 feet+ tall riders.

I'm not trying to say Ténéré is not good bike, its a legend no doubt about it and I'm very excited that its finally coming to India. The mid-weight ADV segment with the T7, Vstrom 800DE, Transalp750 & the Tuareg 660 are purrrfect for the Indian tourer. But the T7 needs a certain level of skillset + build (of body) that could manage the seat height + high CoG.

[Darkcloud]

If Yamaha price the Ténéré as Aprilia did the Tuareg will it still have its appeal?
At that price one can buy the Tiger 900 RP and the Desert X, both of which are more premium and in a higher segment than the Ténéré.

And how many in India will buy the Ténéré for 23-24lakhs and ride it where it excels the most - in the dirt? Wouldn’t it make sense to get the Tiger or the Desert X which are better road bikes than the Ténéré and can do all the off road that the average Indian rider will usually do.

The Ténéré makes sense only if it’s priced somewhere around the Transalp.