Yamaha is taking the adventure scooter concept to another level with two all-new models, including a 689cc CP2-powered machine with automatic gear changes, gravel riding modes and genuine off-road ambitions. And the RW700 Explore is heading to New Zealand.
- The RW700 Explore uses Yamaha’s 689cc CP2 parallel twin, a six-speed gearbox and a specially developed Y-AMT automated transmission.
- The RW350 gets a new 327cc single-cylinder engine, conventional CVT automatic transmission and a clever chassis layout designed to improve handling.
- Both are confirmed for New Zealand, but neither model has local pricing or arrival dates yet.
Yamaha has revealed two rather unusual new scooters for 2027, and if you thought the adventure scooter concept was little more than rugged bodywork and chunky tyres, these might make you think again.
The new RW700 Explore and RW350 aim to combine the everyday practicality of a scooter with the ability to venture off sealed roads, and Yamaha has gone to considerable lengths to make the concept work.
The big news for New Zealand is that Yamaha Motor NZ has confirmed the RW700 Explore and smaller RW350 are designated for our market, with local pricing and arrival timing still to be announced.
And while both models share a similar adventure-inspired appearance, they’re actually quite different motorcycles underneath.
The big news for New Zealand is that Yamaha Motor NZ has confirmed the RW700 Explore and smaller RW350 are designated for our market…
RW700 Explore: A Ténéré with scooter practicality?
Well, not quite. But there are certainly some interesting similarities.
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The RW700 Explore is powered by Yamaha’s familiar 689cc CP2 parallel twin, the same basic engine architecture used in the Ténéré 700, MT-07 and several other Yamaha models.
It’s an engine we’ve experienced many times over the years, and its strong low- and midrange performance should make it a particularly good fit for this sort of motorcycle.
But rather than using a conventional manual gearbox, Yamaha has equipped the RW700 with its Y-AMT automated manual transmission, which has been specially adapted for off-road riding.
Unlike a traditional scooter’s continuously variable transmission, the RW700 has a proper six-speed gearbox.
You can let the electronics take care of shifting or change gears manually using a switch on the handlebars. There’s no clutch lever or conventional foot-operated gear selector.
And that’s where things get particularly interesting.
Yamaha has developed a dedicated Gravel Shift system that changes how the gearbox behaves when riding on loose surfaces.
In Gravel mode, the system delays upshifts following throttle inputs or when the rear wheel is sliding, allowing the rider to maintain more consistent drive and traction. That should mean lots of sliding fun!
There’s also a strategy to reduce the risk of stalling when braking hard or locking the rear wheel. It’s an unusual amount of attention to give to off-road riding on something Yamaha is officially calling a scooter, so they must see these adventure scooters as having a serious chance of being used off-road.
It’s an unusual amount of attention to give to off-road riding on something Yamaha is officially calling a scooter.
Five riding modes and serious electronics
The RW700 Explore also gets a comprehensive electronics package.
A six-axis IMU supports traction control, slide control and Yamaha’s Brake Control System, while Yamaha Ride Control allows the rider to select from five riding modes.
There are three road settings — Sport, Street and Eco — along with two gravel modes called Explore and Explore+.
Explore+ is customisable, allowing riders to adjust the electronic assistance to suit their preferences.
Rear ABS can also be switched off when using Gravel mode, something that should be particularly welcome when tackling loose descents.
Cruise control is standard, along with a variable speed limiter, heated grips and a heated rider’s seat.
A five-inch TFT display provides smartphone connectivity and Garmin StreetCross navigation, while smart-key operation adds another level of convenience.
It’s a level of equipment you’d normally associate with an upmarket adventure motorcycle rather than a scooter.
Built for gravel, not just looking adventurous
Of course, giving a scooter off-road riding modes is one thing. Making the chassis capable of coping with rough surfaces is another.
Yamaha has equipped the RW700 Explore with a 41mm inverted fork offering 160mm of travel, while the rear monoshock provides 155mm.
The Explore version also gets adjustable front preload and rebound damping, along with rear preload and rebound adjustment.
Ground clearance is a respectable 170mm, while the 810mm seat height should make it accessible to a wide range of riders.
The wheels are particularly interesting. Rather than using conventional scooter castings, Yamaha has developed cross-spoked wheels that accept tubeless tyres.
They’re fitted with Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR rubber which we already know as a capable tyre for dry off-road riding, with a 17-inch wheel at the front and a 15-inch rear.
That smaller front wheel is one area where the RW700 differs significantly from a conventional adventure motorcycle, and it’ll be interesting to see how it copes with ruts, potholes and rough gravel.
There’s also an aluminium skid plate, substantial hand protection and footpegs that can be adjusted into four positions.
Rubber inserts can be removed for greater grip when standing, while additional fold-out footboards provide a more relaxed feet-forward riding position on sealed roads.
The RW700 also retains something you’d expect from a scooter: storage beneath the seat, with Yamaha claiming sufficient room for a full-face helmet, depending on its size.
At a claimed 224kg wet, it’s certainly no lightweight, but that’s comparable with some middleweight adventure motorcycles.
For riders who spend most of their time commuting or touring but enjoy exploring gravel roads, it could be a very interesting proposition. And imagine the surprise you’d get from other riders when you pass them on a stretch of excellent Kiwi gravel on a scooter!
RW350: A different approach
The smaller RW350 might look similar, but Yamaha has taken a different approach underneath.
It’s powered by an all-new 327cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine, driving through a conventional automatic V-belt transmission.
However, Yamaha has developed an interesting system called Yamaha Dynamic Ride.
Unlike a traditional scooter, where the engine and transmission often move together as part of the rear suspension assembly, the RW350 mounts its engine rigidly within the chassis while allowing the CVT unit to pivot around the crankshaft.
The idea is to reduce unsprung weight, improve chassis rigidity and give the rear suspension a better opportunity to do its job.
It’s a clever solution that could potentially make a significant difference to the way the RW350 handles rough roads.
Suspension consists of 37mm inverted front forks with 140mm of travel and twin rear shocks providing 105mm.
The smaller scooter also gets 16-inch front and 14-inch rear wheels, wearing specially developed Dunlop D615 tubeless tyres.
Interestingly, the RW350 has slightly more ground clearance than the 700 at 185mm, although it has less suspension travel.
It weighs 192kg wet and shares the bigger model’s 810mm seat height.
There’s also a useful amount of technology, including Street, Explore and Eco riding modes, traction control, cruise control, smart-key operation and a five-inch TFT display with navigation connectivity.
For riders who don’t need the performance or complexity of the larger CP2-powered machine, the RW350 could make a useful everyday scooter with a bit more versatility than usual.
Are these really adventure motorcycles?
That’s probably the question most riders will be asking.
The RW700 Explore certainly has some serious equipment, particularly the gearbox with dedicated off-road settings, adjustable suspension and ability to disable rear ABS.
But with a 17-inch front wheel, 170mm of ground clearance and 224kg wet weight, it’s clearly not intended to replace a Ténéré 700 when the going gets particularly difficult.
Instead, Yamaha seems to be targeting riders who want the convenience of automatic gear changes, useful weather protection and scooter practicality, but who don’t want to turn around every time the tarmac ends.
And when you think about the amount of sealed-road and gravel-road riding available throughout New Zealand, that actually makes quite a bit of sense.
The RW350 takes the idea a little further towards everyday commuting, with enough adventurous equipment to make exploring unsealed roads an option rather than an afterthought.
Yamaha seems to be targeting riders who want scooter practicality without having to turn around every time the tarmac ends.
NZ pricing and availability
Yamaha Motor New Zealand has confirmed that the RW700 Explore is the version of the larger scooter designated for our market and it will be offered in three colours: Forest Green, Sage Blue and Midnight Black.
The RW350 will come in Sage Blue, Arashi Sand, Extreme Yellow and Midnight Black colour options. Yamaha hasn’t announced pricing or arrival dates for either model.
With the growing popularity of adventure motorcycles and automatic transmission technology, it’ll be interesting to see where Yamaha positions these machines in the local market.
And while the RW700 Explore might be a rather unconventional way to enjoy New Zealand’s backroads, we reckon there could be plenty of riders interested in finding out just how adventurous a scooter can really be. Judging by the comments on BRM’s socials when we announced the new model release at EICMA, there is actually a bit of interest from Kiwi riders in the new way to go off-road.
Quick Facts — Yamaha RW700 Explore vs RW350
| Specification | RW700 Explore | RW350 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 689cc parallel twin | 327cc single |
| Transmission | Six-speed Y-AMT | CVT automatic |
| Front suspension | 160mm travel | 140mm travel |
| Rear suspension | 155mm travel | 105mm travel |
| Front wheel | 17-inch | 16-inch |
| Rear wheel | 15-inch | 14-inch |
| Wet weight | 224kg | 192kg |
| Seat height | 810mm | 810mm |
| Ground clearance | 170mm | 185mm |
| Fuel capacity | 14 litres | 13 litres |
| Cruise control | Yes | Yes |
| NZ arrival date | TBC | TBC |
| NZ price | TBC | TBC |
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