POWER AND CONTROL
The heart of any bike is its engine, and the one that powers the 2026 Ténéré 700 World Raid is nothing short of legendary. The latest iteration of Yamaha’s widely acclaimed 689cc CP2 twin engine now offers even more linear and useable torque and precise control to make it better suited to adventures both on- and offroad. The engine has been updated to meet the latest Euro5+ emissions regulations, but rather than reducing performance, thanks to the redesigned air intake, this has resulted in an added boost of low-rpm torque for better slow-speed pick-up – particularly useful for low-speed offroad riding.
To make the best use of the power from the CP2 engine, the Ténéré 700 World Raid does away with throttle cables and adopts the Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle (YCC-T), and with it come two power modes: ‘Sport’ mode for dynamic power delivery on spirited road rides, and ‘Explorer’ for smoother throttle reaction, for negotiating offroad sections or wet surfaces. Riders can switch between the power modes on the go, with closed throttle, using the ‘Mode’ switch on the right handlebar.
No matter how perfectly delivered, power is only useful when it’s controlled, and to make sure that the right amount of power is transferred to the ground at any given time, the Ténéré 700 World Raid is equipped with a 6-axis IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit). It constantly measures the machine’s acceleration and angular velocity in the pitch, roll and yaw directions to determine the forces affecting the bike. This data works in sync with the lean-sensitive Traction Control System (TCS), Slide Control System (SCS) and ABS/Brake Control system of the machine, and helps new or less experienced riders to gain confidence quickly, and experienced riders to get the most out of the machine with control and comfort.
The lean-sensitive TCS and SCS both use data from the IMU to adjust the engine power and control the amount of traction and slide the rider has selected to use. Both systems feature three modes – STREET, OFF ROAD and OFF – to give riders the option to select the level of system support, and to achieve optimum levels of traction and slide whether riding on- or offroad. The modes can be accessed via the pop-up menu, using the MODE button on the right handle switch.
For ABS/Brake Control, there is a dedicated button to select between ABS modes. When ABS is switched ON, Brake Control can be enabled to provide cornering ABS, while the offroad focused REAR OFF and OFF modes allow either the rear or both wheels to lock for full offroad control. Strong stopping power and excellent braking consistency are achieved with the new steel-braided brake lines that run to the Brembo front callipers biting into the large 282mm brake discs.
Other updates include the new clutch actuation position, which has been moved forward (35°clockwise), and the new clutch cover now allows more room for the rider’s right leg, whether sitting or standing, offering more freedom and flexibility to move on the bike.
Shifting gears is now smoother with transmission updates where the number of convex dogs and concave dogs has been increased from five to six for gears 1 to 3. For gears 4 to 6, the dog angle has been changed for a smoother reaction to throttle opening and closing. The gear ratios and final ratio (46/15) remain unchanged to maintain the bike’s dual-purpose performance and comfort.
The Ténéré 700 World Raid is also ready to be fitted with the optional up and down quickshifter.