REPORT - 2023 Yamaha Ténéré 700 Navigation Rally SA
Words and Photos: Yamaha Motor Australia
For Yamaha Ténéré 700 riders looking to push themselves and their machines in conditions the tough adventure bike was designed for, Yamaha Motor Australia and RideADV created the Ténéré 700 rallies; a series of multi-day adventure rides offered exclusively for Ténéré owners.
Several rides were planned for 2023, some of which have already been completed, but the big one for the year is the Ténéré 700 Off Road Navigation Rally; a five-day adventure that, this year, covered more than 2,000km across three states.
Back in 2021, the first edition of the Ténéré 700 Off Road Navigation Rally was held in Wauchope, NSW, while last year’s version was centred in the High Country around Jindabyne, NSW. For the third annual edition of the Ténéré Off Road Navigation Rally, the start point once again was New South Wales, but the ride ventured interstate, taking in South Australia for around half of its five-day duration and briefly going into Queensland, too.
The rallies are run by Yamaha’s preferred adventure event organizer, RideADV, and being an Off Road Navigation Rally, tarmac kilometres are kept to a minimum, with the route consisting primarily of gravel roads and dirt trails to emphasise the off-road element and focus on navigation without relying on road signs.
For the third annual Yamaha Ténéré 700 Off Road Navigation Rally, held in mid-May, a total of 52 Ténéré 700 riders gathered in the iconic NSW town of Broken Hill. Despite the late autumn timing, conditions were hot, dry and dusty during the day, but nights under the stars were chilly.
From the rally’s start point at the Broken Hill Outback Resort, the fleet of 689cc parallel twin Ténéré 700s headed west into South Australia, taking in Wilpena Pound and the rock garden trails surrounding the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary further north in the Flinders Ranges.
From there, the Ténéré riders headed north east to Cameron Corner, where SA, NSW and Queensland intersect, for an overnight camp.
After clipping the south western edge of Queensland, the rally turned south again, taking in Tibooburra and Silverton on the way back to the start point at Broken Hill.
With around 400 or more kilometres covered each day, and barely an asphalt road to be seen for the bulk of that time, it was the ideal environment for the Ténéré 700, while the fact that all 52 riders who started the rally finished it is testament to the durability and fit-for-purpose nature of Yamaha’s adventure twin.
“It was great to offer these passionate Ténéré 700 owners an outback adventure not only as a fun challenge but also to showcase what their bikes are capable of,” said YMA Marketing Manager Sean Goldhawk.
The challenge of this rally not only involved the conditions, but also the navigation. While RideADV lead and sweep riders were on hand as part of a full support team, Ténéré riders were required to navigate each day’s route using GPS. This meant they didn’t have to keep an eye on fellow riders or look for physical route markers to make sure they were on track. Using GPS also allowed everyone to complete the daily routes at their own pace, with ample time to stop and take in the amazing landscapes encountered in this part of Australia.
“This year’s Rally was a life experience to remember,” said Gavin Geddes from Bright, VIC. “Great riding, great company and amazing support. Keep up the good work!”
Fellow Victorian, Calum McAlpine, added: “Thoroughly enjoyed the experience, well organised and supported. Not one glitch in the whole five-day event. Will definitely sign up for another trip.”
Completing the Ténéré 700 Rally calendar for 2023 are shorter two-day events in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
The Queensland ride had already been completed at time of writing, but the NSW ride is still to come - scheduled for 14-15 October and centred around Orange in the state’s Central Tablelands region. The Victorian ride will be held on 4-5 November and based out of Merrijig, between Mt. Buller and Mansfield in the state’s High Country.
Ténéré 700 Rallies are exclusively for Ténéré owners, with entry numbers for each strictly limited. As such, some rallies may be booked out by the time you read this. To confirm availability for upcoming rides and get the latest on the RideADV schedule, go to: rideadv.com.au
