The Yamaha Ténéré 700 is basically an adventure bike, born to explore the unknown. But when it gets into the hands of the masters at Rough Crafts, things change quickly. Winston Yeh has taken this mid-weight adventure bike and transformed it into a true flat track beast – the YenereZ 700 FT. The result? A bike that looks like it’s escaped from an American oval race and is ready for urban mischief.
Sometimes the best ideas come unexpectedly. Winston Yeh came across Estenson Racing’s YZ450F flat tracker while browsing social media. His passion for this style of motorcycle – with its lightweight, narrow frame, flat, wide handlebars and upright riding position – led him to the idea of creating something similar. At first, he thought about classic off-road bikes, but then, while working with Faber Studio, he noticed how strikingly similar the frame geometry of the Yamaha Ténéré 700 was to Yamaha’s YZ450F. With a little Photoshop magic, he quickly realized that the idea was feasible and pitched the idea to Yamaha Taiwan. Their reaction? “We love it, let’s do it!”
How an adventurer turns into a racer
The first step in the processing was the complete disassembly of the donor model Yamaha The 2021 Ténéré 700. The steel rear frame has been removed and replaced with a lighter aluminium unit from the YZ450F. The electrical wiring has been stripped down to the bare essentials to shed excess weight and give the bike a minimalist, racing character.
The heart of this beastly flat tracker is Yamaha's proven liquid-cooled 689cc inline-two engine, which develops 72 hp (54 kW) and 68 Nm of torque. But Rough Crafts didn't leave the engine alone - they added a DNA air filter system and an all-new Rough Crafts x JZO Crafts 2-into-2 exhaust pipe, which ends with a high-mounted muffler on the right side, similar to motocross bikes.
Chassis: top-notch equipment for serious driving
When Rough Crafts assembles an engine, there is no room for compromise. Elite Öhlins components were chosen for the suspension – at the front, RXF48S forks adapted for flat track racing, clamped in FAOR supermoto triple clamps, and at the rear, a YA818 shock with a lower link that lowers the bike closer to the ground.
The brakes are also a work of art: six-piston Beringer supermoto calipers bite into 320mm discs, while the rear wheel is equipped with a two-piston Beringer caliper and a 267mm disc. A special Rough Crafts detail? The CNC machined inside of the disc carriers – insanely perfect!
To top it all off, they added 19-inch Roland Sands Design Traction Flat Track wheels shod with Dunlop K180 tires. The rear wheel even has a custom hub cap to give it an even more racing look.
Flat tracker with “plastic” motocross legends
The makeover? Fantastic. After customizing the chassis and frame, the bike was dressed in motocross plastics from the YZ450F, wrapped in aggressive black and grey MTR Wrapping graphics. Even the seat is borrowed from the YZ450F, but slightly modified for a perfect fit. The special feature? A completely hand-built aluminium tank from JZO Crafts that holds 6.8 litres (1.8 gallons) of fuel and also serves as an anchor for the bodywork. Minimalist, lightweight and functional – everything you need for serious fun on two wheels.
Refined details that make the difference
Every one Rough Crafts The conversion is full of unique details. YenereZ 700 FT he got:
- KOSO headlight,
- Rough Crafts x KOSO ION 3-in-1 tail light,
- KOSO GPS speedometer,
- ZETA pedals,
- Rough Crafts aluminum tank cap,
- Renthal tracker handlebar with Beringer controls,
- Domino levers and gas.
Everything is in its place and everything serves its purpose – without unnecessary clutter.
Why are we in love with this project?
Rough Crafts isn’t just another shop that “pretties” bikes – they redesign them, without compromise. The YenereZ 700 FT is not only visually stunning, but also a fully functional flat tracker. The Ténéré 700 has always been a great adventure bike, but now it feels like it was born for oval racetracks and city streets.
Although this is a one-off project, Rough Crafts is taking orders for future remakes. So if you're looking for something similar, Winston Yeh will be happy to create a masterpiece for you. But be prepared - such a high-end one-of-a-kind piece won't come cheap.
TECHNICAL DATA – YENEREZ 700 FT
- Class: Flat Tracker
- Project name: YenereZ 700 FT
- Manufacturer: Rough Crafts
- Donor: 2021 Yamaha Ténéré 700
- Frame: Steel double clamped frame
- Engine: Liquid-cooled 689cc inline-two
- Power: 72 hp (54 kW)
- Torque: 68 Nm
- Spacing: 1595 mm (62.8 inches)
- Production: 1/1 – unique
The YenereZ 700 FT is a bike that gets your blood pumping. It's not just a conversion, it's a work of art. The Yamaha Ténéré 700 has abandoned its adventure roots and transformed into an extremely dynamic and aggressive flat track machine. Winston Yeh and Rough Crafts have proven once again why they belong at the very top of the motorcycling world.
What's next? We hope for more such bold projects, who blur the boundaries between categories and create motorcycles that make us fall in love with riding.
