Yamaha are about to unleash an affordable and funky new MT-07 adventure bike. Yamaha showed the T7 concept at last year’s Milan Show, claiming it was imbued with the Ténéré spirit and these spy pictures suggest it’s not far away from hitting a showroom near you.

The 689 cc parallel-twin puts out an accessible 74 bhp and the engine’s free-revving nature makes it a lot of fun and it should work well in an adventure bike. The T7 has also borrowed the LCD dash from the MT-07, which is a good thing as the dash is clean, clear and simple to use. 


It’s also clear from the design that the T7 has been built for genuine off-road use rather than this just being a cynical styling exercise. For starters, the bike appears to have a 21in front wheel matched to an 18in rear wheel both of which are shod with Pirelli Scorpion MT90 tyres, which is an off- road focused dual-sport tyre. The big wheels, combined with the longer travel suspension, should give the T7 ample ground clearance for heading off the beaten track. Further off-road features include wide, upright handlebars and enduro footpegs boasting removable rubber inserts.

While the engine and electronics are likely to be very similar between all the MT-07-powered models, the new Ténéré’s rolling chassis is notably different. The swingarm, while still cast, is now a straight dual-beam affair, supported by a monoshock on a conventional looking linkage. The main chassis looks largely similar, but has been complemented by a cradle- style set of down-tubes that wrap around the leading edge of the engine to provide more crash protection, and mounts for a bellypan and radiator shroud. Meanwhile, the conventional fork has been upgraded to an inverted unit that’s likely to boast some adjust- ability. The sidestand has a large foot for off-road security, but there’s no obvious provision for a centrestand.


It’s not all hardcore rally parts though, as the single-piece seat seen on the original T7 concept has given way to a two-piece seat complete with pillion perch. And the rider’s seat on the production bike also looks considerably lower, making it more user-friendly.


While Yamaha haven’t confirmed the bike’s price or availability, we expect it to be a wallet-friendly model like the MT-07 (£ 6199) and be unveiled officially in November.