Let us face it. India gets two types of adventure motorcycles. The affordable entry-level ones which can do a bit of trail or off-road riding and then there are the full blow big ADVs with all the top-spec gadgets and cycle parts.
While the former has allowed a lot of motorcyclists to get into the world of ADV riding, the latter has made most of the well to do riders explore the country with ease and comfort. Unfortunately, right now, the entry-level ADV riders don’t have an option to upgrade to a bigger ADVs (except the Benellis), unless they have the resource to spend 10x of their current ADV value. We think this is where the Yamaha Tenere 700 could fill in a big gap. And we tell you why.
It’s all about the looks
Let’s agree to this that the Tenere 700 is probably the best looking adventure bike in the market. And it’s not about how well the components have been designed. It’s all about the stance and how adventure ready it looks. The long travel front suspension, the Dakar-style fairing that houses an alien-looking headlamp unit, the single long seat and that large ground clearance. These traits makes one ogle at the bike, even if it is just a wallpaper now.
Powaaaaa!
698cc, 72bhp, 60Nm – these figures are honestly the most practical ones in the segment. After riding some big ADVs over the last few years, we have realized that a middle-weight 70bhp motor is more than enough as it can do all the difficult job. For example, the Africa Twin 1100 churns out 102bhp, whereas the KTM 390 Adventure is at 42bhp. So this clearly suggests a place for a no non-sense bike like Tenere 700 in India. Even on the highways, the Tenere 700’s motor is likely to do 150kmph all day and because it’s a Japanese motor, it will be refined and reliable.
Electronics –not a lot of it
Now all manufacturers are embracing the use of top-spec electronics. In fact, Yamaha does it too for its other big bikes. But with the Tenere 700, the story is different. This ADV gets only one safety aid – ABS. No traction control system. No riding modes. No lean angle sensors. Just an ABS, which can be switched off. 72bhp is a lot of power, but with minimal safety intervention, things could be much more exciting and adventurous with the Tenere 700. I like to switch off traction completely on trails as it gives me more control. So I definitely like the concept of just ABS on an adventure bike. Also, this will bring the price down.
The problem!
The Indian arm of Yamaha has different priorities. It wants to increase its market share in the country and the only way to do it is by launching motorcycles and scooters in the affordable segments. It has been following this strategy since many years. That’s why we haven’t seen the new R3 or the upgraded MT-09. The Tenere 700 won’t bring volumes to Yamaha India but it is likely to create a niche for itself, if the bike is priced aggressively. For example, the Africa Twin 1100 costs Rs 11.86 lakh in UK and Rs 15.3 lakh in India whereas the KTM 390 Adventure retails at Rs 5.15 lakh in UK and Rs 3.03 lakh here. The Tenere 700 on the other hand, costs about 8.55 lakh in UK. Even if Yamaha prices it around Rs 9 lakh in India, the Tenere 700 is bound to get a lot of traction.
There’s another reason Yamaha India might not be interested in launching the T7 in India – it needs to be homologated and that’s an expensive affair. The cost of getting the bike homologated will cost them a few months of Tenere 700 sales.
Lastly, Indians want a good middleweight adventure bike that won’t burn a big hole in the pocket. The TRK502 is heavy, slow performance and lacks aspiration. The Yamaha Tenere 700 is a perfect product to plot that big gap we have in India. Hopefully, Yamaha India sees this opportunity and makes the investment.
