Modern adventure bike like the Yamaha Ténéré 700 are rarely customized. That’s partly because they’re purpose-built machines, designed to go anywhere—and any modification beyond the usual dual sport functionality could undermine that usability. . But that’s also because the Ténéré 700 is a more complicated machine than a classic Yamaha XT500.
So why exactly did Gas & Oil Bespoke Motorcycles decide to customize this particular Yamaha Ténéré 700? The answer is simple: it was wrecked, and it served its purpose. So why not?
The 2020 model T7 belongs to a friend who bought it to travel from the Czech Republic, where Gas & Oil’s headquarters are located, to New Zealand. Matej, the workshop’s founder, explains: “Unfortunately, his route ended early in Iraq, when he collided head-on with a car passing another car, an umbrella. I’m passing a truck.
Matej’s friend managed to get himself and his bike back to Czechia, but his insurance didn’t work. “He decided to sell what was left of the motorcycle, fly to New Zealand, buy another Ténére there and at least travel around the island. We were left with a smashed machine, with no front wheels or forks, a broken water cooler and a few broken electrical components, but the frame was in good shape and the engine was running.”
“Our intention was clearly to create a classic bike with the exciting perks of modern parts, and the result was pretty good. We took a tougher route, because it’s not that hard to get old parts on a new motorcycle—but it just doesn’t work. We wanted good suspension, good speed and good rideability, but with the look of the late 70s.”
Providing more inspiration is the 1979 model YamahaXT500 parked in the Gas & Oil workshop. Coincidentally, the older XT and the newer T7 have almost exact mileage on the meter, showing about 36,000 km [22,369 miles].
“I guess all motorcycle enthusiasts have their favorite period,” says Matej. “Since this is not a client project, but a personal one, we chose the French 1970s, when a number of events called The Paris-Dakar . Race trying to find his place in the world.
“During the first year of this legendary event, Yamaha’s Sonauto dealer in France prepared several XT500s. Modifications are a far cry from today’s professional demeanor, and include a larger fuel tank, suspension, exhaust and other saddle. And one of those machines, piloted by Cyril Neveu, actually finished first. So our main motivation was to create a modern product that pays tribute to the forefathers of today’s enduro motorcycle.”
Gas & Oil’s first mission was to bring the Yamaha Ténére 700 back to life. Through some ingenious crafting, they managed to combine a WP Suspension fork stretched from a KTM, with a set of KTM 690 Duke yoke. The front axle is reattached to the 21-inch DID rim, with a custom shaft to attach it to the upgraded fork.
Next, the team mounted 18-inch Excel rims to the back, then wrapped both ends in strong dual-sport rubber. A TFX shock absorber props up the rear.
Not much has changed on the T7’s frame, but its bodywork is completely new. The handcrafted aluminum fuel tank takes center stage, designed in the style of the long-range fuel tank on the Dakar-spec XT500. A vintage-style couch sits behind it, upholstered in a waterproof synthetic material.
The side panels are custom aluminum parts, the plastic fenders are from Acerbis and the fork guards are from UFO. The luggage rack is a true classic, adapted to fit the T7.
Most of the frame handling done is focused on the second half of the bike. Gas & Oil modified the subframe to attach the saddle and rear fender, and added a visor to hide the vehicle’s electronics. They also make license plate mounts and rear turn signals.
A laser-cut radiator cover serves as a place to house the front turn signals, while a spacious sump guard protects the bike’s delicate details. Gas & Oil also fitted an upgraded Muller Motosport airbox, a Shido Lithium-ion battery and a Magura hydraulic clutch.
Men may have bought a pre-made headlight cover, but they wanted a very specific look. So they 3D printed their own device, equipping it with a pair of lights from LSK. They then built a structure from laser-cut sheets to hold it, the lights, and some important electrical components.
A set of Renthal handlebars sits further back, with a 3D printed bracket holding the original dashboard. Other upgrades include Kedo chain guards, heavy duty footpegs, and tiny Motogadget LED turn signals. The Sharon exhaust muffler provides the sound, which is attached to the stock ends with a stainless steel fitting.
Matej and associates. chose a suitable paint color to drive home, wrapping the car in white and black with some elegant graphics. “Since we are the ones paying for all this fun, we were forced to stay within the budget,” he added, “but we got help from Yamaha Czech Republic, who also As excited about this project as we are.”
Thanks to Gas & Oil for turning a broken adventure bike into a real neoclassical racing bike. If there’s a better use for the broken Ténére, we don’t know what it is.
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