Yamaha has unveiled an all-new range of adventure scooters for 2027, including a 690cc twin-cylinder model powered by the same engine found in the Ténéré 700.
And with off-road riding modes, long-travel suspension, spoked wheels, and even the ability to stand comfortably on the pegs, these are rather different machines from your average commuter scooter.
The new Yamaha RW range consists of three models: the RW700, the better-equipped RW700 Explore, and a smaller RW350.
All three have been designed to combine the convenience of a scooter with some of the versatility of an adventure biking. But it’s the larger RW700 that has the most to offer riders looking to venture beyond the tarmac.
And, judging by its specifications, Yamaha has put considerably more thought into its off-road ability than simply fitting a set of knobblies.
But before we get stuck in, if you fancy test riding all the latest adventure, touring, and trail bikes then come and join us at the ABR Festival 2027 (25–27 June, Ragley Hall, Warwickshire). The world’s motorcycle manufacturers will be their with their test fleets with one aim in mind: to get you riding.
And that’s just the start. Think Glastonbury with motorbikes, incredible riding, live music, posh loos, hot showers, and a community of people who love bikes as much as you do. It’s one hell of a weekend. Find out more and book your tickets here.
OK, back to Yamaha’s new adventure scooters.
Yamaha RW700: Ténéré engine meets automatic gearbox
The RW700 uses Yamaha’s familiar 690cc CP2 parallel-twin engine, which has earned its stripes in bikes including the MT-07 and Ténéré 700 for years.
But rather than a conventional manual gearbox, Yamaha has fitted its Y-AMT automated manual transmission, which allows riders to change gears using handlebar-mounted switches or leave the system to handle shifting automatically.
There’s no clutch lever or conventional gearshift pedal, but unlike most scooters, the RW700 retains a geared transmission rather than using a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
And Yamaha has developed the Y-AMT system specifically for off-road riding.
In Gravel mode, the transmission delays upshifts when accelerating or sliding the rear wheel, helping riders maintain more consistent drive on loose surfaces. There’s also a system designed to reduce the risk of stalling during hard braking or when the rear wheel locks.
The RW700 gets five riding modes, including two gravel settings, along with adjustable traction control, slide control, and cornering ABS. Rear ABS can be disabled in Gravel mode.
Cruise control is standard, as is a 5″ TFT display with smartphone connectivity and Garmin StreetCross navigation.
Can you really ride the RW700 off road?
The RW700 has 41mm upside-down forks offering 160mm of travel, a rear monoshock with 155mm of travel, and a steel tubular frame.
It also gets 17″ front and 15″ rear spoked wheels fitted with tubeless Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tyres.
Those are relatively small wheels compared with the 21″/18″ combination found on more off-road-focused adventure bikes.
Along with 170mm of ground clearance and a wet weight of 221kg, they suggest the RW700 will be better suited to gravel roads and easier trails than demanding green lanes. Still, there are some thoughtful details.
The footpegs can be adjusted into four positions and have removable rubber inserts for extra grip off road. Yamaha has also fitted foldable, feet-forward rests for more relaxed riding on tarmac.
The seat and bodywork have been shaped to allow riders to move around when standing on the pegs, rather than locking them into a conventional scooter riding position.
There’s also an aluminium bash plate, handguards, an 810mm seat height, and useful underseat storage.
Whether all this makes the RW700 a genuinely capable adventure machine, or simply a scooter that’s happier than most when the road gets rough, is something we’ll need to discover when we test ride it.
RW700 Explore adds touring comforts
The RW700 Explore shares the standard model’s engine, transmission, and chassis but adds equipment intended to make long-distance riding more comfortable.
You get additional front suspension adjustment, heated grips, a heated rider’s seat with 10 settings, a centre stand, and backlit switchgear. It’s also available in its own colour schemes, including Forest Green and Midnight Black.
Smaller Yamaha RW350 gets a new engine
The third addition to the range is the RW350, powered by an all-new 330cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine.
Unlike the RW700, it uses a CVT transmission, although Yamaha has developed an unusual arrangement called Dynamic Ride for better handling over more rugged terrain.
Instead of mounting the engine and transmission together in a conventional swinging unit, the engine is fixed to the frame while the CVT housing pivots separately. Yamaha says this reduces unsprung weight and improves suspension performance over uneven surfaces.
The RW350 gets 140mm of front suspension travel and 105mm at the rear, with 16″ front and 14″ rear wheels wearing Dunlop D615 tyres. Ground clearance is 185mm, surprisingly 15mm more than the RW700.
There’s also cruise control, traction control, three riding modes, a 5″ TFT display, and underseat storage designed to accommodate a full-face helmet.
When will Yamaha’s RW adventure scooters go on sale?
Yamaha has unveiled the RW range as part of its 2027 line-up, although it hasn’t confirmed UK prices or showroom arrival dates.
And while the RW350 will likely prove the best seller, thanks to what will be a lower price and its appeal to scooter riders, the RW700 is the model that has piqued our interest as adventure bikers.
Yamaha has taken a proven motorcycle engine, combined it with an automated gearbox developed for off-road use, and wrapped the result in a bike that offers the storage and everyday convenience of a scooter.
But at 221kg, with a 15″ rear wheel and limited ground clearance compared with a conventional adventure bike, can it cut the mustard in the dirt. We’ll find out when we get to test ride it.
And remember, if you’re thinking about buying a new bike or adventure scooter, the ABR Festival 2027 gives you the opportunity to test ride motorcycles from the world’s leading manufacturers over one weekend.
Book your ABR Festival 2027 tickets here.
