I own a Yamaha Ténéré 700, and I love it. After spending three days riding the new Ténéré 700 World Raid through the Idaho backcountry, however, my standard T7 suddenly feels like it's missing a few things.The World Raid takes nearly everything riders love about Yamaha's middleweight adventure bike—its bulletproof simplicity, torquey CP2 engine, and genuine off-road capability—and addresses some of its biggest weaknesses. A larger 6.1-gallon fuel capacity stretches estimated range beyond 300 miles, beefier fully adjustable KYB suspension transforms its handling, and long-awaited additions like cruise control make covering serious highway miles considerably easier.There's an awful lot of country to experience in the U.S. The World Raid couldn't have gotten here sooner. Courtesy ImageThose upgrades feel tailor-made for the United States. We have more than 4 million miles of public roads, huge stretches of unpaved country, and enough empty space to make fuel range matter. An adventure motorcycle designed to disappear into that landscape for days at a time makes an awful lot of sense.AdvertisementAdvertisementAfter riding the World Raid from Boise into Idaho's mountains, hammering it down highways, fast gravel roads, rocky two-track, and technical trails, I came away convinced of two things: This is the best Ténéré Yamaha has built, and it may be one of the best long-distance adventure bikes you can buy at any price.What Sets the Yamaha Ténéré World Raid Apart?We love the Ténéré here in the U.S. It's dumb reliable, makes great torque, isn't overly complex, and eats up highway miles and off-road trails alike with abandon. The folks at Yamaha say the Ténéré formula is so effective it became the best selling middleweight ADV in the country last year, and I believe it. This is no minor refresh: The World Raid stands mightily apart from a standard T7.Courtesy ImageThat being said, as a long-distance adventure touring machine, the standard Ténéré has always had a few shortcomings best solved in the aftermarket. Yamaha's aim with the World Raid is to give serious long-haul adventure riders everything they want and need right out of the box. That starts with better suspension, a common complaint among Ténéré owners who like to push their machines faster and harder than your average joe. The World Raid upgrades the standard model's fully-adjustable 43mm KYB fork to a beefier 46mm unit. It also gets an extra inch of travel, as well as improved internals for a better ride and more bottoming resistance on big hits. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe rear shock also gains an inch of travel, as well as full adjustability for preload, compression, and rebound. Yamaha says the upgraded shock improves both small and big bump absorption while also giving riders a more progressive ramp-up through the stroke. Twin fuel tanks ooze rally-inspired cool while also boosting range and centralizing mass.Courtesy ImageThe other big ticket improvement for the World Raid is range: Twin rally-style fuel tanks with a whopping 6.1 gallons of capacity replace the standard 4.2 gallon tank, boosting estimated range to over 300 miles per fill-up. No more Acerbis tank or auxiliary fuel cell required. Yamaha equips the World Raid with a more sophisticated electronics package than the standard T7 as well, adding convenience and flexibility to the overall experience. Electronic cruise control, which is glaringly absent from the standard model, comes standard for the World Raid, as do 6-axis IMU-enabled settings for both on and off-road traction control and slide control at the rear wheel. Other highlights include improved wind protection, a larger skid plate, beefier footpegs, and a 16-step adjustable steering damper for better stability in rough off-road conditions. Yamaha Ténéré World Raid On Road ImpressionsOn-road manners are vastly improved on highways and twisties alike. Courtesy ImageI own a standard Ténéré myself, and while I love the bike, I didn't buy it for its on-road handling. It's always been a riot on a twisty piece of pavement, but it also feels a bit top-heavy/tippy when leaning into corners and the front end gets a little vague when pushed. That's no longer the case with the Ténéré World Raid. AdvertisementAdvertisementHere we have a bike that loves to be flung into corners, and feels as confident as you could ask for on the side of the tire. There are two clear reasons for this. The first is that new, beefier, 46mm KYB fork I mentioned, which is an absolute delight on pavement. Everything you do feels stable and controlled, whether we're talking about brake dive headed into a sharp bend or hold up at the apex. The World Raid slows, leans, and holds a line exceptionally well, end of story. The World Raid's 46mm fork is beefier than most modern fire-breathing sportbikes. Courtesy ImageThe second, believe it or not, is that new two-piece fuel tank. Yes, there's more overall fuel weight on the bike, but because the split tank setup moves that weight lower and further to the sides, transitions between corners are now fluid and sure-footed, with no initial tipping sensation to work around. And while the beefier suspension is noticeably firmer, comfort and ride quality on the road remain outstanding. Small bump compliance over road imperfections is great, while a comfortable one-piece seat, solid wind protection, and dialed ergonomics make for an all day comfortable machine right off the showroom floor. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe first day of our three-day test was mainly interstate travel, getting from downtown Boise and out into the backcountry as efficiently as possible. I'm happy to report the World Raid cruises at 80 mph with minimal vibes and great wind protection, and thanks to the now-standard cruise control, you can give your right hand a break from highway drudgery with the push of a button. In the Dirt With the Ténéré World RaidUnfaltering stability is a constant on everything from fast fire roads to technical trails. Courtesy ImageOur friends living overseas have had multiple versions of the Ténéré to choose from for years. There's the base model T7, the off-road-focused Ténéré Rally (or Ténéré Extreme, depending on the year), and the mile-munching, travel-focused Ténéré World Raid I tested that's finally coming to the U.S. this month. And while the World Raid is, with its massive fuel tanks and added creature comforts, certainly the most touring-friendly T7 of the bunch, don't be fooled into thinking it's any less capable in the dirt than either of its stablemates. It's quite the opposite, in fact. Once again, the beefed up KYB suspension absolutely transforms the bike in the dirt. Where the standard Ténéré often feels a bit soft or bouncy on gnarlier terrain, the World Raid is as firm and ready to rip as a fella could ask for. Loose, rocky, silty, whatever: The World Raid takes it all in stride. Courtesy ImageSo much so, in fact, that even smaller rocks on flat gravel roads or two-track trails can feel a bit harsh in the factory configuration. Assuming you aren't looking to huck any big jumps or crush 80mph G-outs, you'll want to take advantage of that fully adjustable suspension, which becomes much more plush and compliant when softened up a few clicks front and rear.AdvertisementAdvertisementOnce you've got those clickers dialed in, the bike is an absolute peach that floats confidently over small bumps but still holds plenty of travel in reserve for big hits. Over three days of riding, I dropped the World Raid down a few dozen rock shelves and even hit a few improvised jumps, and I never once managed to blow through the stroke or hit a harsh bottom. Put simply, the stock suspension is good to go regardless of how hard you ride, which is a big deal considering Ténéré owners often drop anywhere from $3,000-$6,000 on aftermarket suspension from brands like Rally Raid and MX-Tech. I was also pleasantly surprised at just how well the World Raid handled more technical terrain. On downhill corners strewn with loose, baby head rocks, the Ténéré's well-sprung fork and adjustable steering damper kept the front end tracking surprisingly well, even under hard braking with a fully locked rear wheel. Speaking of braking, I also can't exaggerate just how many times the World Raid's off-road ABS saved my bacon. Like all the electronics on the Ténéré, the ABS functionality is straightforward: you can leave it fully on and lean-sensitive for the street, independently switch off the rear for off-road, or turn both front and rear off entirely for full analog control. The KYB fork is so well sorted that upgrading suspension may become the last thing on your list. Courtesy ImageThe end of our final day of testing was marked by a series of steep, loose, descents which, more often than not, ended in some pretty gnarly hairpin turns. And while more skilled riders have no issue braking hard in the loose stuff on a bike this tall and heavy, weekend warriors like myself need all the help they can get to keep the shiny side up. AdvertisementAdvertisementBeing able to confidently grab a handful of front brake on a gnarly, technical descent without fear of losing the front end is a godsend for just that reason. I'd be sweating this stuff on a proper enduro with properly knobby tires, but even on the World Raid's fairly street-biased Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR rubber, I managed to make it out the other side without dropping the bike once. I wouldn't go so far as to say the World Raid is beginner friendly, as you're reminded you're on a tall and fairly heavy machine every time the going gets slow and technical, but if you're the type of rider that's willing to tackle some tech, the World Raid is a willing companion. Complaint DepartmentI think it's fair to say that the Ténéré World Raid is, objectively, the best T7 Yamaha has built to date. It's got the best street manners of the bunch, a much more off-road capable suspension package, and more electronic bells and whistles than any Ténéré before it. That being said, like all adventure bikes, the World Raid still makes some compromises. Everyone's least favorite brake pedal regrettably survives for another generation.Courtesy ImageThe first and most glaring issue I'll note is that the World Raid still suffers from the same rear brake woes of every Ténéré 700 that came before it. These bikes have all shared the same rear brake lever since the first one rolled off the showroom floor, and the fact that the lever is both squishy and requires far too much articulation before it engages has been a well documented complaint, especially when standing on the bike off-road. AdvertisementAdvertisementThat means prospective owners should still plan on sending $150 to the fine folks at CamelADV in exchange for their now infamous "the fix" rear brake pedal. This hilariously simple solution consists of a slightly reshaped pedal and linkage clevis, which leaves new generation T7 owners wondering why Yamaha has yet to implement this basic fix themselves. Next on my wishlist would be another 10 to 20 horsepower, another common request of every T7 owner since time immemorial. Yes, the CP2 engine delivers the same grin-inducing torque and outrageous reliability it always has, and yes, I still love it in a borderline unhealthy fashion, but the added weight of the World Raid trim has those 689cc's working harder than ever to do what's expected of them.The factory skid-plate leaves something to be desired, and the outstanding quickshifter will cost you extra.Courtesy ImageFor off-road enthusiasts, I'll also note that while the upgraded KYB suspension is a bonafide godsend, the larger/wider tank will interfere with your ability to get up and over the front of the bike somewhat. It's not a glaring issue, and Yamaha says it's an improvement over the previous European World Raid, but if you're the type that likes to dig your heels in and put some power to the ground, you can expect to find your knees bumping up against the tank from time to time. Lastly, I'll say I wouldn't mind seeing a few accessory improvements for the price. The World Raid comes with a fairly thin three-piece aluminum skid plate rather than the beefy one-piece protection offered in the Yamaha accessory catalog ($389), and the excellent up-down quickshifter I had on my test bike is still an optional ($199) accessory as well. Should You Buy A Yamaha Ténéré World Raid?This is going to be an emphatic "yes" from me, and I'd say that even if the only improvement were the upgraded fork and shock. Considering the fact that the World Raid only commands a $2,000 premium over the standard model (and most T7 owners spend a lot more than that sorting out their suspension), the value is difficult to overstate here. AdvertisementAdvertisementIn terms of quality-per-dollar, the World Raid rides circles around all of its middleweight Japanese competitors while also undercutting the price of its premium European rivals by a fat margin. Some riders may see its lack of endlessly adjustable electronics as a shortcoming, but I'll wager just as many view it as an advantage. The World Raid is the perfect bike for the U.S. market. If you live here, you should want one. Courtesy ImageI started this review with the proposition that the Yamaha Ténéré World Raid is the best long distance adventure touring bike currently on the market, and I'll close it by driving that point home. When your goal is to go as far and wide as possible, reliability and capability are the two most important features any adventure motorcycle can offer. If you can't trust your bike to simply get you out there and back without some catastrophic engine or electronic failure, how far will you really be willing to go? And if that same bike can't deliver the goods when the road turns into a rocky, sandy, downhill hellscape, how far can you really expect to make it? The Ténéré World Raid delivers on both fronts, backing the most reliable power plant on the market with the uber-capable chassis it's always deserved. Add to that 300+ miles of range, cruise control, and a genuinely comfortable place to sit, and you've got a machine that couldn't be more at home anywhere on the map. 2026 Yamaha Ténéré 700 World Raid SpecsEngine: Liquid-cooled DOHC parallel-twinDisplacement: 689ccTransmission: 6-speed; wet multiplate clutchHorsepower/Torque: 72 hp/50 lb-ftWeight: 485 pounds (wet)Fuel Capacity: 6.1 gallonsSeat Height: 35 inchesPrice: $13,000AdvertisementAdvertisementThis story was originally published by Men's Journal on Aug 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the Gear section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.