2024 · Adventure · Buyer's Guide
Stripped Down, Built Tough
The Extreme takes the Ténéré 700 idea and pushes it further into the dirt. Power comes from Yamaha's 689 cc CP2 parallel twin, 73 hp at 9,000 rpm and 50 lb-ft at 6,500, running through a six-speed box and a chain. What actually defines this trim is the chassis wrapped around it: fully adjustable KYB suspension with 9.1 inches of front travel and 8.7 inches at the rear, 10.2 inches of ground clearance, a 21-inch front wheel and an 18-inch rear. The electronics list stays short on purpose. ABS, a TFT dash with phone pairing, USB power, LED lighting, and that is it.
This is a machine built for riders who measure a good day in trail miles, not highway miles. At 452 lb wet with that much travel underneath it, the Extreme feels like a serious dirt tool that happens to wear a plate, and the simplicity pays off over years: reliability is its strongest asset, running costs stay genuinely low, and aftermarket support runs deep enough to spec the bike almost any way you want. The honest part: 35.8 inches of seat height rules out a lot of riders, the 4.2-gallon tank writes your day's plan for you, and there is no cruise control, no heated grips, no center stand.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 73 hp (54 kW) @ 9,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 50 lb-ft (68 Nm) @ 6,500 rpm |
| Displacement | 689 cc |
| Engine | Parallel twin |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 6-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front tire | 90/90-21 |
| Rear tire | 150/70-18 |
| Ground clearance | 10.2 in (260 mm) |
| Front travel | 9.1 in (230 mm) |
| Rear travel | 8.7 in (220 mm) |
| Seat height | 35.8 in (910 mm) |
| Wet weight | 452 lb (205 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.2 gal (16 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Connectivity
Drivetrain
Lighting
Safety
The height is the first thing you deal with. Getting aboard is a deliberate move, and once you are up there the bike feels tall and narrow rather than heavy, with a flat seat that lets you slide around freely. Stand on the pegs and everything lines up without argument: the bar reach, the knee grip on the tank, the room to move your weight fore and aft. The twin has that low, offbeat thrum you feel in your palms more than you hear, and at a steady 70 mph a fine buzz settles into the pegs and mirrors. Front-end feel is airy and long-legged, the 21-inch wheel and high fender out ahead of you at the edge of your vision. The TFT sits low and close, easy enough to read at a glance without taking your eyes far off the trail.
Clutch recall – dragging and potential unintended motion
Yamaha recalled certain 2023–2024 CP2-powered models, including the Ténéré 700, to replace clutch steel and friction discs. Symptoms include clutch dragging, squealing when cold, and in extreme cases unintentional forward movement, posing a safety risk.
Where this Yamaha Tenere 700 Extreme pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Tenere 700 Extreme is actually built for.
This is the closest thing to a plated enduro that still gets you home on pavement. Long travel, a 21-inch front, and 10.2 in of clearance let you ride Moab-grade terrain to your skill ceiling.
Made for Bar M / Kane Creek · Imperial Sand Dunes · Johnson Valley OHV Area
Built for exactly this. Reliability and low running costs make multi-day BDR sections a logistics problem, not a gamble. Plan around the 4.2 gal tank and you will not be the one waiting for a truck.
Made for AZBDR — Arizona Backcountry Discovery Route · California BDR South · COBDR — Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route
It will hold a highway line and cover scenic days, but no cruise control and a 35.8 in seat make pure pavement touring work. Worth it only if your favorite routes include dirt detours.
Made for Black Hills · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Yamaha Tenere 700 Extreme. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2023–2024
Road Bike In Adventure Skin
Roughly $1,300 cheaper used than this bike at 2 yr
Competitor · 2022–2024
The Middleweight That Disappears Under You
Roughly $1,100 cheaper used than this bike at 2 yr
Same Platform · 2021–2024
Built to Beg for More
Roughly $1,700 cheaper used than this bike at 2 yr