TEST Yamaha Ténéré 700 GYTR: the 30,000 euro KIT to win in Africa. At 193 km/h in the desert!

Yamaha is thinking of private riders and Africa sufferers with the 3 GYTR kits (5, 15 and 30,000 euros), which transform the Ténéré 700 into a faithful copy of the official bikes brought to the race by Bottu and Pol Tarres. We tested it in Morocco: it has 83 horsepower and flies in the desert at 193 km/h!

April 29, 2024

Yhe loves racing with the Ténéré 700 he took them damn seriously. It withdrew from the Dakar (whose regulations only allow 450 cc motorcycles) and created a squadron to line up at the Africa Eco Race with the champions Pol Tarres and Alessandro Botturi. But she didn’t stop there.
Based on the experience gained in the competition, created 3 racing kits with the GYTR brand (which identifies the company’s technology applied to racing) which allow you to drive, starting from a Yamaha Ténéré 700 World Raid or World Rally, a true replica of the factory bikes. The most complete kit costs 30,000 euros, but there is also the first level one at 5,000 euros (with modifications essentially to the engine and electronics) and the second level one at 15,000 euros (with the addition of professional suspensions).
Obviously the motorbike must be added to all of them: we are talking about large figures, but those who race know well how much it costs to build a twin-cylinder motorcycle to go (and return…) to the desert.

The GYTR exceeds 190 per hour thanks to the shortened ratios that provide a powerful sixth gear

THE 3 KITS

THEThe 1-Performance kit (5,000 euros) adds the GYTR titanium rally saddle and footrests and increases engine performance with the GYTR control unit, the titanium Akrapovič exhaust and the air filter kit with larger airbox. The CP2 engine thus gains 9 horsepower and reaches 83 at around 9,000 rpm.

The 2-Handling Kit (15,000 euros) includes kit 1 plus wheels and suspension, while the 3-Rally kit (30,000 euros), in addition to all the previous ones, adds a series of high-end rally components, including large-capacity fuel tanks (made by Acerbis, 36 liters in total), handlebars and fairing, road book instrument holders, high performance and all the components needed to participate in rallies. Let’s see the components in detail.

In the GYTR kit we find the KYB closed cartridge fork with a 48 mm diameter, with DLC-coated stanchions and increased travel of 270 mm, equipped with a GYTR plate machined from 6082 aluminium, anodized in black and combined with an adjustable steering damper by Scotts Performance. With 25 settings, the damper was developed to increase stability and reduce fatigue.
Behind it is a fully adjustable Paioli shock absorber. GYTR rally wheels, prepared by Haan Wheels using Excel rims and machined aluminum hubs, reduce weight, while there is also a new braking system front and rear with Brembo calipers and a single 300mm disc from Braking at the front , and a 267 mm rear disc coupled to the standard caliper. Also included in the kit is a chain/sprocket set with revised ratios and a new radiator assembly consisting of a larger radiator and separate oil cooler, as well as all hoses and brackets required for installation.

On the dunes of Merzouga

How is it going

Che missile! The music of the CP2 engine, here free of any homologation constraints and ready to sing, is exhilarating. It has 83 horses and they are exactly what you need to fly in the desert, but without exaggerating with horses. Beyond that you would make the mousses dry (the rubber socks that are put in place of the inner tubes to avoid punctures). Anyway, that’s already the case it flies at a maximum speed of 193 km/h.
The saddle is more than 92 cm from the ground, it is difficult to touch. But we are not in the center of Milan, but in Merzouga. In the desert there are few paws on the ground and the high saddle gives you great riding comfort. And it allows you to get on your feet quickly.
The delivery is deadly: the Yamaha twin-cylinder is docile at the bottom, full in the middle and with a reach that makes you enjoy at the top. Good as always the gearbox, though we would have seen a nice electronic quick-shifter in the kit. At these prices why not include it? Yamaha responded to us that in Africa what isn’t there doesn’t break. It’s true, but this engine deserves it.
Let’s go back to the Ténéré 700 GYTR. With full tanks, at low speed in the sand, it requires commitment and physical strength. On the other hand, in African races all that petrol is really useful. Enough exceed 50 km/h to discover a Ténéré never seen before: stable, irreproachable, flies over bumps and sand without a flutter. A Frecciarossa in the desert. The more you dare, the more she indulges you with phenomenal rigor. It’s not simply a transformed Ténéré 700, it’s just another bike where the terrain gets difficult.
With her, enthusiasts will also be able to approach the world of raids on an extraordinary twin-cylinder. But remember to train, because when you get stuck, you need strong arms and legs.