Yamaha Ténéré Raid 700 Breaks Cover in New Patents

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Yamaha Ténéré 700 Raid patents show a new fairing and other elements from the prototype, but running gear seems to be the same as the stock bike. (Yamaha/)

Yamaha’s Ténéré 700 is already a huge success in the middleweight adventure class, but the upcoming Raid version that the firm previewed in prototype form last year promises to elevate it to a new level of ability and practicality. Last year’s Raid prototype unveiled at the EICMA show in Milan envisioned what the Ténéré might look like if the large, twin-cylinder bikes that ruled Paris-Dakar during its ‘80s and ‘90s heyday were still in use. The prototype was loaded with high-end suspension and race-oriented bolt-on parts, but the production machine—seen for the first time in these newly published patents from Yamaha—takes a more modest approach, focusing on major bodywork changes and leaving it up to customers to decide if they want to upgrade the rest of the bike.

Related: First Look: Yamaha Ténéré 700 Raid Prototype

The Ténéré Raid will also have longer range, courtesy of larger twin fuel tanks. (Yamaha/)

Just as the Adventure versions of BMW’s R 1250 GS and F 850 GS are defined by their larger tanks and greater off-road ability, as is the Adventure Sports version of Honda’s Africa Twin compared to the base model, the Ténéré 700 Raid gets more range thanks to a vastly larger fuel capacity. Where the stock Ténéré 700 has a 4.2-gallon tank, the Raid gets twin tanks, each with their own individual filler cap, placed ahead of the rider. Last year’s Raid prototype also had a seat-mounted reserve, like many Dakar bikes, but that’s missing on the production version, which carries over the stock Ténéré tail unit. Although the exact size of the tanks is unknown, Yamaha has probably taken its lead from BMW’s F 850 GS Adventure, which has a 6.1-gallon tank. Seen either head-on or directly from above in the patent images, the Ténéré Raid is certainly wide enough to carry a lot more fuel than the normal version.

New seat extends further up the tank and the belly section is also new, but the stocker’s front fender remains. (Yamaha/)

The bodywork updates continue with a new seat, which extends much further up the fuel tank than on the base model to give riders more options when it comes to shifting weight around. New footpegs, wider than the standard Ténéré 700′s and lacking the rubber insert, are heavily serrated to grip muddy boots.

On either side of the new tank, the fairing extends further down, almost meeting the new brush guard around the oil pan and exhaust. Crash protectors appear to be built into the side panels, bolting to the frame and hopefully saving the more extensive bodywork from harm if the Raid is used as intended. While the fairing is similar to the design seen on the Raid prototype, on which it was disguised by camo paintwork, the production version’s belly section is new, with a more sculpted shape than the rather industrial-looking part on last year’s show bike.

Up front, the Raid gets a wider nose around the stock Ténéré headlight, with wind deflectors on either side and a taller screen above, but it lacks the high-mounted front fender that the Raid prototype sported, replacing it with the stock design. No doubt Yamaha’s accessories catalog will be packed with components to bring the production Ténéré Raid more into line with the original Raid prototype.

The tailsection, suspension, and wheels also carry over from the stock Ténéré and the exhaust is likewise unchanged. (Yamaha/)

The wheels, brakes, and suspension, which were uprated on the prototype version, appear to be the same as the stock Ténéré 700, with no visible increase in ride height. The bike also lacks the CNC-machined engine covers of the Raid prototype. However, it does look like Yamaha is updating the instruments—with a tall, portrait-oriented display ahead of the rider that appears to be a more modern screen than the simple monochrome LCD of the base Ténéré 700, probably a color TFT, in line with so many other new machines. The exhaust, which was an Akrapovič on the Raid prototype, is the stock Ténéré part on the production version, suggesting there’s no change to the engine’s spec or performance.

The tall screen seen in the cockpit in front of the bars suggests the instrument panel will be updated for the Ténéré 700 Raid. (yamaha/)

Yamaha has always been fairly clear that the Raid prototype was heading for production, saying, “The Ténéré 700 Raid prototype will soon be racing for the next horizon, and write a new story that is sure to reinforce the Ténéré legend in the eyes of a new generation of adventure riders.” As such, it’s pretty clear that a showroom version isn’t far away, and with the Ténéré 700 Raid’s designs now patented it’s come a step closer still.

The patents are a clear sign we’ll see a production 700 Raid fairly soon. (Yamaha/)

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