Yamaha has a long history of competing at the infamous Dakar Rally, dating back to the inaugural race which was won on a Yamaha XT, before the feat was repeated the following year (at which point BMW debuted its mighty R80G/S). The XT then served as much of the basis for the Tuning Fork Company’s first production Tenere model in 1983 — a range that continues today with the Tenere 700, aka T7 (and 1200). And Yamaha is now celebrating the adventure bike’s Dakar roots with a special throwback-liveried Tenere 700 Rally Edition.
Adorned in a classic yellow and blue Yamaha Speedblock livery — which appeared on the first-ever Tenere model in ’83 and was partially inspired by the Gauloises-backed XT 1980s Dakar racers — and riding on retro-style gold rims, this special edition Tenere also sports tank knee-grips paired with a rally saddle that increases the seat height by 0.8” (to 35.2”), as well as a beefier skid plate, radiator and chain guards, LED indicators, off-road handgrips, and an Akrapovič slip-on muffler. The T7’s tubular steel chassis, 689cc CP2 parallel-twin engine, and its 72.4 hp 50.2ft-lbs of torque all go unchanged. The 2020 Yamaha Ténéré 700 Rally Edition will hit European dealerships this July, where it’ll be priced at approximately $12,985 (or £10,447).
