2026-on Yamaha Ténéré 700 World Raid review

The World Raid has had to meet the latest emissions standards, and part of the measures is the switch from cable-actuated throttle to ride-by-wire: your command at the twist grip is a demand for torque, and the ECU works out the cleanest way to deliver that drive. There are two throttle modes – one to temper response a little for off-roading or poor weather – but the default setting should be manageable enough for anyone. If anything, it’s lost a little of the crisp pickup you got from the previous version.

Part of the T7’s appeal was its simplicity, but Yamaha have conceded some riders want anti-spin assists. There’s an Inertial Measurement Unit informing the traction and slide control systems: there are two settings for each, plus the option to turn them off if you’re happy to control your own destiny.

The R1-derived system is OK, though it’s reactive rather than proactive, as some are; it'll temper and rein the bike in rather than predict the moment the tyre will break free and gently taper the power up to that point. We’re being picky, though – others do it better, but it’s far from crude, and the menus make it easy to set it as you want it.

The front end is new: KYB forks gain 3mm of diameter (now 46mm) for a more rigid construction, with revised settings meant to resist bottoming-out better. They’re certainly supportive, and out of the crate some may find both ends too firm – it jolts you sometimes and requires speed to get them working and get the best of its ride.

For more gentle road and trail riding, winding a click or two off may help. It’s good, but not outstanding, and the gains aren’t obvious. The steering damper used to be Öhlins; it's now unbranded, and claims of a greater range amounting to nothing: winding it from fully off to fully on does nothing of note.

It’s still a great dirt-ready tourer. But it also hasn’t moved forward a great deal: if you own the previous model outright, there’s little to justify the trade-up. Only the cruise control and TC have the potential to improve your riding life.

Similarly, if you own a competitor, or are leaning towards one of the World Raid’s increasing number of rivals, it’s hard to see how the updates would swing your vote. The original platform is six years old, and a bigger update wouldn’t have been premature. A lustier motor and more meaningful chassis would have been very welcome.