Yamaha XTZ 690 Tenere 700 Protection Parts & Upgrades

AS3 Performance parts to protect your Tenere 700 in tough adventure conditions

Introduction to the Yamaha XTZ 690 Tenere 700

The Tenere 700 is an adventure motorcycle manufactured by Yamaha since 2019. It is named after the Tenere Sahara desert section of the Dakar rally. Featuring a 689cc liquid-cooled, 4-stroke 8 valve parallel-twin engine with crossplane crank shaft, in the adventure community it is also known as the XTZ 690 or more simply, the T7. Below we feature a selection of AS3 performance parts that are designed to protect the vital and exposed areas of the bike, some performance enhancing upgrades and of course some accessories that just look better than the OEM parts.

Crash Bars

Crash bars are a vital protection part if you are doing a lot of off-road riding. Our crash bars for the Tenere 700 were originally designed for the 2020-2023 Euro 4 model but have since had minor tweaks and modifications to allow for fitment on the 2021-2023 Euro 5 model and the Rally Edition. We also offer a different set of crash bars for the Tenere 700 World Raid which we will highlight later in this feature. Our crash bars for the Yamaha T7 are manufactured from 25mm wide tubes of aluminium that are 3mm thick. The total weight of the crash bars and mounting components comes to 2.7kg. Adventure bikes can be very heavy as standard so this combination allows for maximum protection without any unnecessary weight gains to the motorcycle.

 

Skid Plate (Euro 4 model)

This was our first version of the skid plate for the Yamaha Tenere 700 and is designed to fit the 2020-2021 Euro 4 model It is constructed from 4mm thick aluminium and weighs 2.44kg. Our skid plate for the Yamaha XTZ 690 is designed to protect the lower frame, engine casings and the lower part of the exhaust, all of which are exposed areas of the bike when riding off-road and trails. The skid plate is compatible with our AS3 Performance crash bars and finished in the same textured matt black paint.

 

Skid Plate (Euro 5 model)

The header pipes at the front of the Yamaha Tenere 700 Euro 5 model were different to the previous Euro 4 model and when we test fit our existing skid plate to the 2021 Euro 5 model we found that it could not be installed due to the plate fouling on the exhaust. We now have a skid plate available specifically for the 2021-2023 T7 Euro 5 which also had some revisions in 2022 to allow for fitment on the Rally Edition and World Raid models. This was also an opportunity to extend the front of the skid plate to provide more protection to the exhaust as you can see from the picture below.

 

Chain Guard

Our chain guard for the Yamaha Tenere 700 is one of our most popular products for this bike as it is a more substantial upgrade from the OEM plastic alternative. It's constructed from a combination of 304 stainless steel and aluminium. The stainless steel base provides a strong sturdy frame for the chain guard so it will not snap or buckle on impact as the OEM guard would. Even though it's a stronger upgrade, the chain guard would look quite industrial if left in just a stainless steel finish so an aluminium cover had been added which bolts to the stainless steel frame, this cover extends to the and of the rear sprocket and will help prevent and dirt from the chain covering the rear of the motorcycle.

 

Chain Guard Fin

Below the chain guard, on the underside of the swing arm we also have a matching chain guard fin. This part again is a combination of aluminium and stainless steel, the strength provided by the 304 stainless steel frame and the aesthetics from the textured matt black aluminium plate. This part will help prevent the chain from derailing on your XTZ 690 if caught on rock, branches or other debris and will also keep anything from getting tangled up in the rear sprocket.

 

Head Light Guard

If you're riding your Tenere 700 in a group, especially on stoney tracks or trails, headlight protection for the Yamaha T7 is also worth thinking about. Our Yamaha XTZ 690 headlight guards are manufactured from 3mm thick 304 stainless steel and will help prevent damage to the headlight from rocks or other debris. Although the photo below shows a natural stainless finish, all of our Yamaha Tenere 700 headlight guards come in a textured matt black to match the rest of our range of T7 protection parts. Due to the laser cut design, the headlight guard only weighs 320g which is a small increase in overall bike weight compared to the level of protection it provides.

 

Front Brake Caliper Guards

We also supply front brake caliper guards for the Yamaha Tenere 700. They fit neatly around the Brembo calipers with laser cut holes for ventilation and with the area cut out around the Brembo logo as you can see from the photo below. Our brake caliper guards for. the XTZ 690 are manufactured from 2mm thick 304 stainless steel and weigh only 200g.

 

Rear Brake Reservoir Guard

Another protection product that we offer for the Yamaha Tenere 700 is a guard to protect the plastic rear brake reservoir. This is manufactured from 304 stainless steel which is cut 2mm thick, allowing for only a 220g increase in weight to the motorcycle. The photo below shows the guard in a natural finish but please note all of our Tenere 700 rear brake reservoir guards are supplied in textured matt black.

 

Luggage Rack

Our Luggage rack for Yamaha Tenere 700 is another one of our popular products and if you're covering a lot of miles or spending days on the road and trails it is an essential part for helping to carry any equipment you may need for the journey. Our Yamaha T7 luggage rack is constructed from 5mm thick aluminium and the maximum recommended weight limit is 4kg, it has laser cut holes to allow for straps and tie downs to secure luggage in place and is supplied with all hardware and brackets to install it to the motorcycle. The luggage rack will fit the 2020-2023 Tenere 700 and will also fit the Rally Edition and World Raid models.

 

Throttle & Clutch Cables

We work very closely with Venhill Engineering, another aftermarket parts manufacturer from the United Kingdom. They manufacture all of our brake lines and control cables under the sub brand of AS3 Performance by Venhill. When we noticed our protection parts for the Tenere 700 increasing in popularity we approached Venhill to manufacture a range of clutch and throttle cables for the Yamaha T7. These cables have proved to be a great addition to our already extensive control cable range and are available in a choice of black, blue and red. We can also offer longer throttle and clutch cables for anyone that has handlebar risers installed on their Yamaha XTZ 690 adventure bike.

Billet Aluminium Anodised Accessories

We stock a range of anodised accessories to match the various different colour schemes of the Yamaha Tenere 700 including front brake reservoir covers, which compliment the coloured cables above and oil filler plugs, shown in the photo below. Both of these parts are CNC machined from 6061 billet aluminium and have been tried and tested on the Yamaha XTZ 690 before being put into production. Our aluminium accessories for the Yamaha T7 come in a choice of blue, red or black and although the offer no performance benefits they look much better than the standard OEM parts. We are also currently working on a set of billet aluminium foot pegs for the Yamaha Tenere 700 with these expected to be released around November 2024.

Yamaha XTZ 690 Tenere 700 World Raid Edition

In 2022 Yamaha released the XTZ 690 World Raid Edition. It was designed and produced with long distance adventures in mind. The extended adventure motorcycle has 23 litre dual fuel tanks and a suspension set-up that has longer travel, to take the rider as far as they would like to go! Riders can undertake much longer off-the-grid adventures without the fear of running out of fuel. With an added feature of a 5 inch display mounted in front of the handlebars, riders can stay safely connected via their phone to the outside world at all times on those long trips. 

All of our Yamaha Tenere 700 protection parts including the skid plate, chain guard and luggage rack are also compatible with the World Raid Edition but due to the larger double sided 23 litre fuel tank it requires a different set of crash bars to the standard Tenere 700 which are shown in the photo below. Our Tenere 700 World Raid crash bars are compatible with both the OEM and AS3 skid plates are are available in the same textured mat black finish.

 

We have actually just had a small refinement made to the Tenere 700 World Raid crash bars. After speaking with one of our customers that was over 6ft tall, he mentioned that occasionally his knees came in to contact with the bars that wrap around the fuel tank. So we had a small modification done to them to bring them closer to bike and to follow the shape of the fuel tank and fairings closer. This revision to the World Raid crash bars has just passed the testing stage and is due to be put in to production soon with the first batch available in December 2024. We are always interested to hear customer feedback, if you have a suggestion for a modification or improvement to any of our products don't hesitate to get in touch as we will be more than happy to discuss this. 

AS3 Performance Customer Photos of the Yamaha Tenere 700

When we're out and about or speaking with customers over email, we often get the opportunity to see our parts for the Tenere 700 installed on customers bikes, below we have a photo of our skid plate for the Euro 4 Tenere 700 that was sent in to us from a customer that purchased it as he was doing more riding on trails and wanted to protect the lower part of the engine.

 

Yamaha XTZ 690 Tenere 700 FAQ's

Below we answer some frequently asked questions about the Yamaha Tenere 700. If there is anything else that you would like to know about Yamaha's adventure bike, feel free to get in touch and we will do what we can to help.

What parts do I need to protect my Yamaha Tenere 700 when riding off-road?

We would always advise to start with a skid plate and crash bars as essentials. These two parts will offer the most protection to the areas of the bike that are most vulnerable to impacts and damage. With a strong skid plate and a solid set of crash bars installed, you can then look at other areas of the bike such as then chain guard, headlight guard and reservoir guards, we would class these as optional extra protection though,

What is the difference between the standard Tenere 700 and the World Raid Edition?

The main difference between the standard Tenere 700 and the World Raid Edition is that the latter has a bigger fuel capacity - The World Raid has a potential range of up to 500km just to having dual 23 litre fuel tanks, each being side-mounted. The standard Tenere has a single fuel tank offering a range up to 350km. The other main difference is that the World Raid Edition also has longer travel suspension - A high spec 43mm KYB front forks with 230mm of travel. The standard Tenere 700's front suspension offers 210mm of travel and is not KYB.

What extra features does the Tenere 700 Rally Edition have over the standard model?

Like the World Raid Edition, the Tenere 700 Rally Edition has the same capacity dual-sided fuel tanks and KYB front forks. Compared to the standard Tenere 700, The Rally also boasts an Akrapovic slip-on muffler, Öhlins adjustable steering damper and the bike is dressed in heritage Yamaha Rally Racing colours.

Does the Tenere 700 have a hydraulic clutch?

The Yamaha XTZ 690 Tenere 700 has a cable clutch, although hydraulic clutches can feel smother and easier to operate. The feel of the cable clutch on the T7 can be improved by installing one of our tefon lined featherlight clutch cables.

Are you ready to protect your Yamaha Tenere 700?

If you currently own a Yamaha T7 or are considering purchasing one, hopefully you found this feature informative, however if you have any questions about any of the parts we featured or any of the other adventure parts on our website feel free to contact us and we will be happy to offer any help or advice.