If there is a motorcycle today that can stake the claim of changing the game for not just its maker but also its segment, we would argue the Yamaha Tenere 700 takes the cake. What pro rider Pol Tarres has been able to achieve with the middleweight adventure bike is simply unfathomable by most ADV owners. So it only makes sense for Yamaha to introduce a bigger, more potent Tenere, no? Well that’s what the internet thinks is on Yamaha’s agenda, and we could see the arrival of the Tenere 900 very soon.
Currently, the Tenere 700 is the only adventure-focused motorcycle in Yamaha’s stable since it discontinued the bigger XT1200Z Super Tenere a few years ago. The XT1200Z was big, heavy and hard to sell in a market dominated by the BMW R 1250 GS. However, this time around Yamaha isn’t looking to punch that far up, and can simply repurpose its existing 890cc, triple-cylinder engine from its Tracer family to build a Tenere 900. The same formula as the Tenere 700 could help them take the fight to rivals like the Triumph Tiger 900, BMW F850 GS, Ducati DesertX, KTM 890 Adventure and MV Agusta Lucky Explorer 9.5.
The Tenere 700 costs GBP 9,900 (roughly Rs 9.47 lakh, before taxes) and commands a premium of GBP 1,450 (Rs 1.38 Lakh) over the sports touring Tracer 700. By that pricing strategy, the Tenere 900 could cost somewhere around GBP 12,700 (roughly Rs 12.16 lakh, before taxes). Unfortunately we might not see either of these motorcycles make their way to our shores, but as enthusiasts, we’ll be secretly praying, ‘Please Yamaha!’.
