Tenere 700 Rally review: renting in Lisbon (2026)

Anyone searching for a Tenere 700 almost always knows what they want: a tall, narrow bike that is not scared of a dirt track. What many people don't know is what it is actually like to spend a weekend on one. At our Sobreda shop we have the Yamaha Ténéré 700 Rally 2025, and it is one of the bikes that prompts the most questions at the counter. This article answers them: how it rides, who it suits, what it costs in October 2026 and where to take it from Lisbon.

In short:

• 689 cc twin with 73.4 hp (54 kW), 210 kg ready to ride and a 910 mm seat.
• October 2026 price: 120.20 € per day, with a 2-day minimum rental.
• 1,300 € deposit, held on a credit or debit card and returned within 5 working days.
• Category A licence and minimum age of 21; 400 km per day included, extra km at 0.49 €.
• Range of around 350 km on 16 litres; pickup at Sobreda, from 09:00 to 19:00.

Where the Ténéré 700's reputation comes from

The name is not empty marketing. According to Wikipedia, Yamaha named the series after the Ténéré desert stage of the Dakar Rally in the Sahara. The 700 cc version was unveiled as the T7 concept at EICMA 2016, and the first deliveries in Europe began in July 2019. It was the successor to the XT660Z Ténéré, and it arrived with a simple idea: low weight, real suspension travel and an engine that any workshop knows.

That engine is the inline twin with a crossplane crankshaft that already powered the MT-07 and the Tracer 700. It is not an exotic choice or a bet on headline power. It is an engine with full response at low revs, which forgives anyone who picks the wrong gear leaving a dirt corner. For riders coming from a heavier trail bike, that simplicity is the main argument.

The numbers of the Rally we rent

The spec sheet for our Yamaha Ténéré 700 Rally 2025 is on the bike's own page, and that is the one that counts, because version and equipment change from year to year. Here is the essentials.

Feature	Value
Displacement	689 cc
Maximum power	54 kW (73.4 PS) at 9,000 rpm
Gearbox	6-speed, constant mesh
Fuel tank	16 L of 95 petrol
Range	around 350 km
Seat height	910 mm
Weight ready to ride	210 kg
Display	6.3-inch TFT
Price (October 2026)	120.20 € per day
Deposit	1,300 €

Two numbers deserve attention. The first is the seat: 910 mm. Wikipedia lists 875 mm for the standard Ténéré 700, so the Rally is clearly taller. The second is the weight, 210 kg with everything full, which is very little for a bike that can carry two people and luggage. The Rally's spec sheet also lists a protection bar, useful on a track where a slow fall is a real possibility.

How it behaves on the move

Engine and response

With 73.4 hp, nobody will call the Ténéré fast on the road. That is not the point either. The power shows up early, which lets you ride in 4th and 5th at a lively pace without constantly working the gearbox, and the throttle is smooth enough to leave a gravel corner without the rear wheel slipping halfway through. On the motorway it holds the legal speed, but it is a bike that asks to get off it. Anyone who spends four hours straight on the A2 will miss the wind protection and will quickly realise they chose the wrong tool for that part of the day.

Height and weight

Here is the question that decides half of all rentals. A 910 mm seat is no problem for someone with long legs and a balancing duty for someone without them. In the bike's own description we put the warning bluntly: if you can't comfortably reach the ground with both feet, this is not your bike. Standing on tiptoe at a traffic light in Almada, with a 210 kg bike weighing on your wrists, is annoying. Standing like that on a dirt climb, with the bike leaning, is dangerous.

Once the bike is moving, its narrowness helps and the 210 kg stops being so noticeable. The discomfort is concentrated in the first few metres and in parking manoeuvres, and that is where you decide whether the bike is for you.

Range, display and the rest of the day

With 16 litres and a range of around 350 km, the implied consumption is about 4.6 litres per 100 km. It is a pleasant figure, but the small tank calls for planning: on country roads, where petrol stations close early and can be far apart, it is wise to fill up when the tank reaches half. The 6.3-inch TFT display shows information clearly and is a point in the Rally's favour over trail bikes of earlier generations.

As for tyres, Wikipedia gives 90/90R21 at the front and 150/70R18 at the rear for the standard model. The 21-inch front wheel explains the stability off-road and also the feeling of being slower to turn in on tight tarmac. It is worth getting used to it over the first ten corners.

Where to take it from Lisbon

The Ténéré page on our website suggests three ideas for a ride out: Lousã, Ericeira and Aveiro. Each shows a different side of the bike.

The Serra da Lousã is the most demanding and the most rewarding. Mountain bends, a relaxed pace and the chance to link up with the tracks that serve the villages. The Aldeias do Xisto (Schist Villages) group places such as Talasnal, Candal, Casal de São Simão and Aigra Nova in the Lousã mountains, and they work well as a lunch stop. A 210 kg Ténéré handles the cobbles and narrow streets of those villages more easily than a heavier big trail bike, but you should ride slowly and respect the people who live there.

Ericeira is the opposite: a road with sea views, little difficulty and a destination you can reach in a day without hurrying. It lies in the municipality of Mafra, whose town council keeps the official information about the area. Ideal for anyone who wants to feel the bike without risking much.

Aveiro, finally, is for those who want a longer trip, with historic streets and a pace to suit each rider. A quick calculation helps you decide: two days of rental include 800 km (2 x 400 km). If you go over that, each extra kilometre costs 0.49 €. A hundred extra kilometres is 49 €, which is still quite a bit less than an extra day at 120.20 €.

A note on territory. By default, riding the bike is restricted to mainland Portugal, and the bike has GPS tracking, as the terms and conditions state. Dirt tracks and trails are part of this bike's character, but the contract requires you to use the vehicle as a good driver would and without endangering its mechanical integrity. Treating the bike with respect is the rule.

Who it suits and who it doesn't

The Ténéré 700 is a good choice for anyone who reaches the ground comfortably with both feet, has some experience with trail bikes and wants a rental where back roads are part of the plan. It also suits those who prefer a light bike with an engine you can explain in two sentences. The rider who wants to leave the city in the morning and come back feeling they have been somewhere, and not just clocked up kilometres, will find what they are looking for here.

It does not suit, on the other hand, anyone who mostly rides on the motorway, anyone travelling two-up with heavy luggage and comfort as a priority, or anyone who feels unsure on tall bikes. For those cases, there are alternatives in the fleet.

Ténéré 700 versus the shop's other trail bikes

Anyone torn between trail bikes usually compares three names: the Honda NC750X, the Transalp 750 and the Africa Twin. The order of prices helps to understand the tiers. The values below are from our website's list in October 2026.

Model	Price per day	Deposit	Character
Honda NC750X	100 €	1,000 €	Comfort and easy to use
Honda Transalp 750	110 €	1,000 €	Middle ground for road and some off-road
Yamaha Ténéré 700 Rally	120.20 €	1,300 €	More off-road vocation
Honda CRF 1100 Africa Twin	140 €	1,100 €	Bigger and more powerful

The Ténéré is the second most expensive on the list and has the highest deposit, 1,300 €. The difference from the Transalp is 10.20 € per day, and what you pay extra for is the more off-road-oriented vocation. For a leisurely road ride, the Transalp or the NC750X are equally valid choices and easier to hold up at a standstill. For a broader comparison of the big adventure models, our guide to big trail bike rental in Lisbon brings together the options.

What it costs and how to book

In October 2026, the Tenere 700 costs 120.20 € per day, with a two-day minimum. That makes 240.40 € for the minimum and 360.60 € for three days. There is no discount for long rentals. Booking is done with 30% of the amount: for two days that is 72.12 € at booking and the rest at pickup. Prices include 23% VAT, third-party liability insurance, roadside assistance, a basic rider helmet and a padlock.

The deposit is 1,300 € and is held on a credit or debit card in the rider's name, at check-in. It is not an expense: it is returned within 5 working days. There must be enough available balance on the card, which means a card with a tight limit can be the real obstacle. If you prefer to know in advance, you can see all the adventure bikes and the list of requirements on our Tenere 700 for rent page and the other bikes.

Pickup is at the Sobreda shop, every day from 09:00 to 19:00. Delivery to the airport or to your home is available as a paid service. Tolls and fines incurred during the rental are the customer's responsibility.

Licence, age and documents

The bike's page asks for a category A driving licence, a minimum age of 21, an ID card or passport and adequate experience riding motorcycles. Licence categories in Portugal are described on the IMT website. If you come from another European Union country, you will find a general explanation of driving and licence rules on the Your Europe portal.

If you have an A2 licence, the Ténéré 700 is not automatically within your reach just because it has 73 hp: the rental criterion is the category A stated on the spec sheet. When in doubt, write to us before booking.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need off-road experience to rent the Ténéré 700?

You don't need to have done enduro, but the spec sheet requires adequate motorcycle experience and a category A licence. The bike forgives mistakes, but the 910 mm seat punishes anyone who hesitates. If you have never ridden on gravel, start with a wide, dry track and slow down in areas of loose sand.

How much does it cost to rent the Ténéré 700 for a weekend?

In October 2026, 120.20 € per day. Two days come to 240.40 €, with 800 km included. Booking is done with 30%, that is, 72.12 €, and there is a 1,300 € deposit held on the card.

When do I get the deposit back?

The deposit is held separately, at check-in, and returned within 5 working days after the bike is handed back. It can be on a credit or debit card, as long as it is in the rider's name.

Can I take the Ténéré 700 to Spain?

Not by default. Riding is limited to mainland Portugal, and leaving the country requires prior, express authorisation from the shop, plus the corresponding insurance and roadside assistance extension. Ask for that authorisation before pickup and not on the day of departure.