Yamaha’s latest World Raid edition of their popular Ténéré 700 adventure bike is coming to town—if your town is in Europe. Unfortunately for US riders this longer-range, electronically tricked out Ténéré won’t be on your dealer’s floor. Nor will they be stocking the standard T7’s other stablemate, the 700 Rally. Let’s take a look at what we’re missing.
Power to the Ground
The World Raid inherits the T7’s tried-and-true 689cc CP2 engine, although with some improvements. While meeting the EU5+ emissions regulations, Yamaha managed to create a more linear powerband and increase torque to a claimed 47.2 pound-feet at 6,500 rpm. The company claims 72.4 horsepower at 9,000 rpm for the oversquare twin.
Cycle World squeezed 44 pound-feet and almost 64 horsepower out of the inaugural 2021 model on their dyno. As the owner of a ’21, I consider it a workhorse, not a racehorse, with plenty of power for both road and trail.
World Raid: Long Ranger
At first look, it’s obvious from the twin gas caps and wider tank that the World Raid carries more fuel. Judging by the 50-mpg average and the 4.2-gallon tank on my T7, the Raid’s 6-gallon fuel load should take it around 300 miles. That should satisfy a lot of RTW and other long-range riders. I know I’d like to have a full 5 gallons aboard, but the aftermarket has ways around that.
Bulking Up
The World Raid also gains another 15 pounds, for a claimed wet weight of 485 pounds. A suspension upgrade was in order to handle the extra weight and whatever cargo an owner might add for crossing continents. It materialized as a 46 mm KYB front fork, up from 43 mm, and adding 20 mm of travel. The rear KYB shock is still a linked unit, but with a longer stroke that also travels 20 mm farther. And to the envy of owners of older T7s, the suspension on both ends is now fully adjustable.
Electronics
This is an area where the US 2025 T7 has caught up with its Euro counterparts. Of course, the World Raid still goes beyond. The centerpiece is a full-color, 6.3-inch TFT display with three “themes” entitled Street, Explorer, and Raid. Each gives a different view of the bike’s status.
Another feature is phone connectivity with Yamaha’s MyRide app, which enables calls, navigation, music, and more. The Raid also gets the YCC-T electronic throttle manager (Yamaha’s ride-by-wire system), enabling two ride modes: Street and Explorer. Cruise control and a speed limiter take the pain out of the long pavement stretches.
Ride Control
The World Raid’s six-axis IMU keeps track of the bike’s movement and angle, speed changes, and traction, supporting a full package of safety functions. The Traction Control and Slide Control system us it to detect when to engage, and how much.
Traction control can be set for Street, Off Road, or turned off completely. ABS has its own three options—On (both front and rear), Rear Off, and Off. The Raid’s Brake Control function can be engaged to supply cornering ABS while in the On mode. A 16-step adjustable steering damper keeps the front end stable.
Odds and Ends
Breaking the wind on the World Raid is a new windscreen with side deflectors, said to provide “excellent weather protection.” Fat footpegs with removable rubber buzz killers meet the feet, and a single-unit flat seat is where your seat will rest. Note that the top of the saddle is a hefty 35 inches up, less than an inch higher than the standard T7.
All Is Not Lost
Sadly, we can’t have the World Raid here in the States, but our standard 2025 T7 has upped its game since my ’21 hit the streets. It now sports the big TFT with two themes, phone connectivity and navigation. Ride-by-wire is standard, supporting Sport and Explorer modes and traction control selection. The fuel injection has been tweaked to refine power delivery, and it sports a redesigned air intake, likely the same one as the World Raid. So the future is not bleak, but you will have to carry some extra gas if you want that long range.
Specifications
Engine type: 689cc liquid-cooled, fuel-injected 4-valve DOHC twin-cylinder 4-stroke
Engine performance: 72.4 horsepower @ 9,000 rpm; 47.2 pound-feet @ 6,500 rpm
Fuel capacity: 6.0 gallons
Transmission: 6-speed constant mesh; wet, multi-plate clutch
Suspension/Front: Inverted 46 mm fork; 230 mm travel
Suspension/Rear: Monoshock with linkage; 220 mm travel
Brakes/Front: Single 282 mm dual disc, 4-piston caliper ABS
Brakes/Rear: Single 245 mm disc, single piston caliper
Tire/Front: 90/90-21
Tire/Rear: 150/70-18
Seat height: 35.0
Ground clearance: 10.0 inches
Weight: 485 pounds
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Images: Yamaha
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