REPORT - 2025 Yamaha Tenere Rally
Words and Photos: Yamaha Motor Australia

Since its Australian debut back in 2019, Yamaha’s Ténéré 700 has been embraced by adventure riders all over the country. Australia’s best-selling adventure touring motorcycle in 2024, there are now a lot of Ténéré riders out there; riders who want to take their bikes to the limit. One of the best opportunities to do that is on the annual Yamaha Ténéré Rally.

What started as the Ténéré 700 Rally, an event exclusively for the new-generation Ténéré 700, now welcomes Ténérés of all ages and sizes, from the original 1983 XT600Z to the XTZ1200 Super Ténéré, as well as all offshoots of Yamaha’s signature adventure model.
Supported by Yamaha Motor Australia and hosted by RideADV, the Yamaha Ténéré Rally has previously been held in central Australia and on the NSW mid-north coast. For the 2025 edition, the Rally returned to Victoria’s High Country; a region it last visited in 2022.

A celebration of riding and socialising with fellow enthusiasts of all Ténéré models that have revolutionised the adventure bike market, the 2025 Yamaha Ténéré Rally (2025 Yamaha Ténéré Five Day High Country Off-Road Navigation Rally, to give it its full name) was a GPS navigation-style event, held on 16-21 March.
Being GPS-based provided flexibility, as well as challenges. Participants follow the GPS instructions and ride at their own pace. As an option to each day’s standard route, special break-out sections were added for those seeking tougher terrain. Lead and sweep riders from RideADV ensured no-one was left behind, with full support for all five days - first-aid, mechanical, luggage and vehicle back-up. A factory-trained Yamaha technician was on-site for scrutineering and participated in the ride, too.

The five-day rally included group dinners each evening, but participants were responsible for their own accommodation; some choosing tents and swags to add to the experience. While March is still very warm in most parts of southern Australia, it can get frosty in the high country – and did on this rally!

50 get High
A total of 50 Ténéré riders took part in the 2025 Yamaha Ténéré Rally, which covered a wide range of dirt roads, twin tracks, water crossings and a bit of bitumen. Spectacular views were combined with pitstops at iconic High Country spots like Craig’s Hut, Woods Point servo and the Blue Rag trail up to Trig Point.

The event kicked off on Sunday, 16 March, with sign-in and scrutineering at the High Country Motor Inn in Bright, followed by a welcome dinner at the Bright Brewery. Here, Yamaha presented the latest MY25 Ténéré, along with a fully kitted-out GYTR unit, while Dunlop used the rally to present its range of adventure tyres and a World Raid-spec version of the Ténéré.

Special guests at the welcome dinner (who would also be participating in the Rally) included Yamaha ambassador Stephen Gall and Yamaha Factory Racing Rally rider Rodney Faggotter. The evergreen Gall, who’s celebrating 50 years with Yamaha in 2025, shared his vast knowledge with Rally entrants, while Faggotter chatted about his racing exploits in Dakar and what the race version of the Ténéré World Raid is like to ride. Brady Allen from @meerkatADV in the USA, who joined the RideADV crew for this event, talked about adventure riding conditions in America.

Mansfield – and Blue Rag - Challenges
The first day of the 2025 Yamaha Ténéré Rally, on Monday, 17 March, took participants from Bright to Mansfield. Most riders on the 300+km course opted for the special route and were immediately tested by a loose and rocky hillclimb. This section caught out many, requiring assistance from sweep riders that included Faggotter.

The following day was a loop out of Mansfield, taking in historic locations like Walhalla, Matlock, Thompson Dam, Woods Point and several high-country huts. With up to 360km covered on this day, dinner at the Delatite Hotel was eagerly consumed.
Day Three was of similar length, with riders travelling to Dinner Plain and taking in landmarks like Craig’s Hut, Mount Speculation, the Staircase, Jeep Track, Mt Hotham and more.

The penultimate day was a loop ride from Dinner Plain, where riders experienced The Twins, Mount Sarah, Wongungarra River and Crooked River, with a pitstop in Dargo and time on the Dargo High Plains Road. For those who selected the special route, the challenge of Day One was equalled by the legendary Blue Rag Range trail. Despite being less than 16km long, Blue Rag packs a lot in, snaking over the top of the range and descending into the Wongungarra River. This narrow gravel track required riders to have their wits about them, but when parked up, they got to experience some of the most spectacular views the Victorian High Country has to offer.

Day Five took riders back to Bright, via Omeo, Benambra, Mitta Mitta and Mt Beauty. After rain the previous evening, heavy fog descended on the final day, forcing riders to complete the rally on bitumen, but all the best sights and experiences of the region had already been enjoyed over the previous four days in near-perfect weather.

Prizes and Praise
Adding to the fun, the 2025 Ténéré Rally presents a series of prizes, made up of Yamaha merchandise, to rally participants. This year’s recipients were:
Best ADV Set-up - Ben Dickinson
Furthest Ridden - Henry Willersdorf
Most Deserving Rider - Scott Turner
Most Blinged Ténéré - Jeremy Adams
Donkey Award - Steven Parish

“The 2025 Ténéré Rally once again delivered a memorable adventure ride experience,” said YMA Land Mobility Marketing Manager and Ténéré owner Sean Goldhawk. “With steep and rocky tracks, the High Country is not for the faint-hearted and I take my hat off to all who tackled the tough trails.
“But the Rally is not just about the ride, it’s about joining up with old mates and meeting new ones. Hearing riders’ stories, checking out other Ténérés and learning more about set-up and which accessories to fit. It all adds up to a great week away.”

For more details on next year’s Yamaha Ténéré 700 Rally, plus other rides and training courses conducted by RideADV for Yamaha off-road and adventure bike owners, go to: rideadv.com.au