- Ride-by-wire throttle, IMU, and traction control bring the Ténéré 700 into the modern adventure era.
- Upgraded KYB suspension, new ergonomics and tech make it more capable than ever.
- Having ridden the previous version at the Yamaha Rally NZ, we know this update will raise the bar.
If you’ve followed our ride reports (yes, we had this bike roaring across the NZ trails on the Yamaha Rally New Zealand last year), you’ll know the original Ténéré 700 World Raid delivered serious adventure bike credentials. Rugged, capable and genuinely fun in the wild. For 2026, Yamaha isn’t just polishing the package — they’ve gone deep with upgrades designed to make the bike even better off-road and more comfortable for longer on the road. With lots of the changes already seen on the new Tenere 700, the World Raid is still going to be the premium choice, especially if you like to go long distances without fuelling up.
Familiar engine, smarter systems
At its heart, the 689 cc CP2 parallel-twin hasn’t changed dramatically in displacement — but Yamaha has tweaked the intake and mapped the engine to comply with Euro 5+ emissions, while improving low-rpm torque for technical terrain or urban stop-start.
As we saw on the 2026 Ténéré 700, the World Raid has also gained a ride-by-wire throttle via Yamaha’s YCC-T system, enabling selectable power modes like “Sport” and “Explorer” for sharper or smoother delivery depending on conditions. The difference was dramatic on the standard T7, with Sport giving the sort of snappy response that Ténéré owners have been after for ages, making it much easier to steer from the rear wheel.
Step-up in electronics & chassis control
A full six-axis IMU integrates lean-sensitive traction control, slide control and cornering ABS bringing the World Raid into line with the rest of the adventure segment. Riders can pick Street and Off-Road modes for the aids or simply switch them all off if that’s their preference and the ABS can be disabled at the rear only or entirely for the more committed dirt day. And the process of doing this is much more straight forward, with a push of the large button next to the dash much easier than diving into menus.
Braking gets upgraded with steel-braided lines feeding high-spec Brembo-style calipers and large 282mm discs—aimed at giving consistent feel whether you’re on sand or tar.
Suspension & ergonomics for real adventure
The World Raid always had the better suspension than the standard T7 and for 2026 Yamaha has continued the theme: the front forks are larger 46mm fully adjustable KYB units while the rear gets a new KYB Monocross shock with increased stroke and improved linkage for more progressive travel. Wheel travel has been increased (230 mm front, 220 mm rear) and ground clearance claimed at 255 mm. The World Raid has always been tall and that probably means that hasn’t changed with the new version, so look elsewhere if you’re vertically challenged.
The fuel tank assembly remains dual aluminium with two separate fillers (23L combined), but it’s lighter and repositioned lower and closer to the centre of the bike for better mass centralisation and easier standing on the pegs. One‐piece rally-style seat and narrower tank tops give you more freedom to move.
Comfort, connectivity & long-haul capability
Since our ride on the previous version across New Zealand’s gravel and forest tracks, we found long days in the saddle start to show their hand. Yamaha’s upgrades here matter. Cruise control and a speed limiter are now standard, and there’s a 6.3-inch full-colour TFT display with themes “Street”, “Explorer” and “Raid”. The display pairs with the MyRide smartphone app (which is seriously easy!) and includes USB-C charging.
Improved rider touch points include larger footpegs, repositioned side-stand switch, a redesigned windscreen and LED headlight assembly—important for those dawn starts and dusk finishes.
Why this matters for Kiwi riders
Having ridden the previous version on the Yamaha Rally NZ, we can confirm the original Tenere 700 World Raid already delivered the versatility we love, with a lean more to off-road performance than big bike adventure touring. With the 2026 improvements, the package looks to become significantly more polished and capable while retaining the off-road roots of the T7.
In short
The 2026 Yamaha Ténéré 700 World Raid retains the character, go-anywhere spirit and engine that made it a standout — but adds smart tech, refined suspension, improved ergonomics and long-haul friendly features that lift it into true modern adventure-bike territory.
Keep an eye on your local Yamaha NZ dealer for arrival and pricing details.
