Yamaha RW700 Explained: The Adventure Scooter With a Ténéré Engine

Ahead of Yamaha’s Milan reveal, plenty of speculation, including in our EICMA 2026 preview, pointed to a Ténéré 900. What Yamaha showed was stranger and more interesting: a scooter-bodied bike with the heart of its best-loved middleweights.

We haven’t ridden it, so this guide sticks to what Yamaha and the early reports have confirmed. Where something is unknown, we say so.

It’s an adventure scooter. Yamaha is entering a segment Honda has led for years with the X-ADV, which has sold more than 76,000 units since 2017, according to figures published in 2024.

The RW700 uses the same idea but a different recipe. Instead of a CVT or dual-clutch gearbox, it has a conventional six-speed gearbox that electronics shift for you. It comes in two versions: the RW700 and the better-equipped RW700 Explore. Yamaha also announced a smaller RW350 alongside them.

Other standard equipment includes a six-axis IMU, cruise control with a speed limiter, keyless ignition, a 5-inch TFT display with smartphone connectivity and Garmin navigation, a USB-C port and self-cancelling indicators. The underseat compartment is lit and is designed to take a full-face helmet, depending on the helmet’s size and shape.

The mechanical package is the same. The Explore adds:

• Front fork preload (15 mm) and rebound (11 settings) adjustment
• Heated grips and a heated rider’s seat, each with 10 levels
• A centre stand and backlit switchgear
• Different colors: Forest Green and Midnight Black, against Sage Blue and Power Grey

The extra gear adds only about 6.6 lb. If you ride in cold weather or plan longer days, the heating and centre stand are the draw. If your riding is mild-weather commuting, the standard bike has the same engine and electronics.

Y-AMT is Yamaha’s Automated Manual Transmission. The gearbox is a normal manual one, but actuators handle the clutch and shifting, so there’s no clutch lever or foot shifter.

• Automatic: the bike chooses the gear.
• Manual: you shift with a see-saw switch on the left handlebar. Yamaha says changes take about 0.1 seconds.
• Gravel tuning: the system has revised clutch damping and shift programming for loose surfaces, including behavior during wheelspin and slides.

This isn’t a first for Yamaha. Y-AMT debuted on the MT-09 in 2024 and reached the MT-07 for 2025, so the CP2 pairing has a track record. If you want to compare it with Honda’s DCT, KTM’s AMT and BMW’s system, our guide to how automatic motorcycles actually work breaks them down.

Five modes are split into road (Street, Sport, Eco) and gravel (Explore, Explore+). The aids include traction control, slide control, brake control with cornering ABS, engine-braking management and a back-slip regulator. Rear ABS can be switched off in the gravel modes.

Light gravel, forest roads and dirt lanes, yes. Technical trails and expeditions, probably not.

The numbers are good for a scooter: 6.7 in of ground clearance, long-travel suspension, spoked wheels, an aluminum skid plate and handguards. The limits are physical. It weighs 487 lb, and a 15-inch rear wheel means fewer tire choices than a 17-inch rear. It’s best seen as a road bike that doesn’t mind gravel.

For standing, there are central pegs with removable rubbers and four-position adjustment. Fold-out footboards are there for relaxed riding.

On paper the Yamaha has more power and is roughly 16 kg (35 lb) lighter. The Honda has slightly more torque and years of real-world use. Which feels better will come down to reviews and your own test ride.

Yamaha hasn’t announced pricing. Reports expect European availability in spring 2027, and Yamaha has confirmed the RW700 Explore for Australia. For the US, Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. hasn’t announced pricing or confirmed whether either version will arrive. We’ll update this page when that changes. In the meantime, our new adventure motorcycles 2027 guide tracks what else is coming.

This is where most RW700 coverage stops, so here’s a practical view.

What you get: the lit underseat compartment is a good place for a helmet or a few daily items. We couldn’t find a published list of factory luggage accessories at launch.

Why soft, rack-free luggage is a sensible start: until factory racks or cases are announced, strap-on soft luggage is the flexible option. It also comes off when you park. If you’re weighing options, our comparison of saddlebags vs tail bags covers capacity, balance and mounting, and the story of how motorcycle saddlebag designs evolved explains why modular dry-bag systems suit rackless bikes.

• The Odyssey 72L Yamaha ADV Touring Luggage System is a rack-free system with two 25L waterproof dry bags, a 22L tailpack that doubles as a backpack, and a heat shield, in ballistic nylon and TPU fabric.
• The 22L Explorer Yamaha ADV riding backpack needs no mounting at all.
• Our Yamaha ADV tail bags and duffels cover smaller loads.
• If you ride a CP2 cousin, there are dedicated collections for the Ténéré 700 and the Tracer 7.

An honest note on fitment: the Odyssey systems list fitment for models such as the Ténéré 700, Super Ténéré, Tracer 7 and 9, and several off-road Yamahas through 2024. The RW700 isn’t on that list yet. How any harness sits on scooter-style bodywork can’t be judged until real bikes are in hand, so call us at (888) 208-1949 before ordering for a brand-new model. Our guide to choosing adventure motorcycle luggage is a useful checklist.

• Keep heavy items low and close to the centre of the bike.
• Balance weight left to right.
• Keep soft bags clear of the exhaust.
• Don’t block the seat release or the underseat opening if you’ll use it.
• Take a short loaded test ride before a long trip.

At the time of writing, Viking Bags has a 4.8 rating on Trustpilot from more than 6,100 reviews. Reviewers often mention build quality and helpful service. Not every review is positive: some riders have reported fitment or return-shipping disputes, which is why we suggest confirming compatibility first. Purchases carry a 1-year warranty and a 45-day return window, and any required hardware is included.

On the Odyssey 72L system, 11 reviews average 4.8. One verified buyer reported about 45 minutes to install it, and another said securing the leg holsters took some back-and-forth.