Meet the motorcycle
The RW700 is interesting because its convenience does not come from a conventional scooter drivetrain. It asks whether a rider can keep useful luggage space and easy controls while gaining deliberate gear selection and room to stand. The practical answer depends on how the transmission responds at walking speed, how the feet meet the ground and what happens when the luggage is added.
The dateline follows Yamaha’s 4 November global release, not an independently established first-unveiling day. European product figures are identified separately. EXPLORE comfort equipment is not attributed to the base model.
The key numbers
| Item | Manufacturer specification |
|---|---|
| Engine | 689cc liquid-cooled CP2 twin |
| Power | 51 kW / 69.3 PS @ 8,250 rpm |
| Limited version | 35 kW, market dependent |
| Torque | 65 Nm @ 6,500–6,750 rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed Y-AMT |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Control | Automatic AT or handlebar MT |
| Frame | High-tensile steel backbone |
| Clearance | 170 mm |
| Fork | 41 mm USD |
| Rear suspension | Link-type monoshock |
| Wheels / tyres | Cross-spoke, tubeless Rally STR |
| Foot support | Adjustable pegs and folding boards |
| Rider control | YRC, GRAVEL/GSH, cruise |
| EXPLORE extras | Heated grips/seat, adjustable fork, centre stand, backlit controls |
| Consumption | 4.1 L/100 km, manufacturer test figure |
Manufacturer figures for the market stated above. Dry, wet and no-fuel weights use different definitions and should not be compared directly.
The changes, explained.
Y-AMT uses real ratios
The drivetrain uses a six-speed automated manual.
How it works
Actuators coordinate clutch and shifting; discrete ratios remain rather than a continuously varying belt ratio.
What it means on a ride
Try automatic response on a gentle climb and manual selection before a tight bend.
The consideration · Do not assume its low-speed response matches Honda DCT or a familiar CVT.
Gravel shifting aims for predictable drive
The RW receives a dedicated gravel control strategy.
How it works
A poorly timed ratio change can alter rear-wheel thrust while grip is limited; calibration manages that transition.
What it means on a ride
Learn the selected mode on a controlled surface before using it with touring luggage.
The consideration · Mode labels do not guarantee grip or explain every ABS setting; consult the exact manual.
Moving the feet changes control options
Pegs and folding boards provide several positions.
How it works
Supported feet let the legs share load and change how the rider stabilises the torso.
What it means on a ride
Check standing clearance, knee contact and the reach to both brake controls with your boots.
The consideration · Standing technique requires practice; scooter bodywork is not impact-proof protection.
Clearance and tyres set practical limits
The chassis and tyres target mixed surfaces.
How it works
Static clearance falls as the suspension compresses; tyre tread is only one factor in traction.
What it means on a ride
Choose a firm gravel line and protect the underside from sharp ridges.
The consideration · No water-crossing depth or deep-mud capability is inferred from the adventure label.
What EXPLORE buys for a travel day
The higher trim adds heating and fork adjustment.
How it works
Contact heating improves cold-weather comfort; adjustment provides a way to tune support and recovery within limits.
What it means on a ride
Choose it when those functions serve your route, and include accessories in your weight calculation.
The consideration · The shared engine does not make the trims identical in weight, price or all-market equipment.
A closer look at the hardware
Long journeys, different surfaces
Daily commuting
Learn creeping, parking and turning response before relying on automatic shifting in a crowded queue.
Paved touring
Use cruise in suitable conditions, check wind comfort and take breaks. Keep chain maintenance in the plan.
Mountain asphalt
Settle the gear and line before a bend; practise manual selection if automatic timing does not fit your preference.
Maintained gravel
Use a conservative speed and the appropriate mode; keep enough room to stop within what you can see.
Cold-weather travel
Heating helps hands and seat contact but does not replace weatherproof clothing or judgement about ice.
Price & budget
Published prices are identified by country. Where a tariff has not been confirmed, no numerical estimate is substituted for a manufacturer price.
| Market / status | Price |
|---|---|
| Europe · official price | Not announced in the reviewed release |
| Mainland China · official price | Launch and price not confirmed |
Check the delivered-market specification and a written quotation including registration, delivery and accessories. Prices in one country do not establish availability or a converted retail price in another.
Where it fits
The RW700 deserves coverage as a genuine drivetrain crossover. The decisive checks are slow-speed behaviour, loaded fit, control access and whether EXPLORE’s comfort additions serve your actual trip.
Sources & photo licences
- Yamaha Motor · global RW release ↗ · Reviewed 2026-11-05
- Yamaha Europe · RW700 engine specifications ↗ · Reviewed 2026-11-05
Photograph credits and permitted use
- RW700 EXPLORE: official mixed-surface promotional photograph; the premium trim is shown. · © Yamaha
Official source · copyright retained ↗ - RW700: standard model in Yamaha’s official release. · © Yamaha
Official source · copyright retained ↗ - RW700: official European outdoor photograph. · © Yamaha
Official source · copyright retained ↗
Researched 2026-11-05 · Availability and equipment can differ between Europe and China. Technical implications are editorial interpretation; no independent riding test is claimed.