Scooter specifications Yamaha RW 700 2027 The World Turned Upside Down**

We didn’t see this coming. We didn’t think Yamaha would stray so far from the beaten path. In fact, it’s exactly the opposite. Yamaha is charging full steam ahead toward the beaten path, with a machine that’s almost indescribable—it’s that baffling.
Have I lost you yet?

Perfect—you’re ready to discover the new RW 700. It’s a scooter… That’s how the manufacturer describes it. But we can’t settle for that definition alone. Half scooter, half motorcycle, and half elusive, this “hybrid” catches everyone off guard.

Just as baffling now as it was before

If only because of its looks. Yamaha has never been afraid to make a splash. From the V-Max to the MT-09, MT-07, and MT-10, the Niken, and the XJ 750 Seca, certain Yamaha models have never shied away from pushing the boundaries of design and catching the eye. The RW 700 follows in this tradition, with a unique profile, surprising proportions, a laid-back look, and that certain something that makes it impossible to categorize. But you’ll quickly notice subtle details that hint at where it’s headed. The dual headlights in the style of the 700 Ténéré, the spoked wheels, and the knobby tires. It’s clear—it’s drawn to off-road adventures.

And that’s exactly how the RW 700 plans to stand out. It offers the convenience of a scooter in the city while letting you set off on adventures along country trails whenever the weekend rolls around—or whenever the urge strikes—and your feet are itching to go. Your feet can rest either on standard footrests (adjustable to 4 positions) or on retractable footboards, positioned well forward to let you adopt a scooter-riding posture.

The seat height is 810 mm, and yet you feel like you’re sitting much lower than that. Once on the seat, your senses are thrown off:

• You place your feet as you would on a motorcycle—not on the floor or its edges—but there are no foot controls…
• The scooter has a storage compartment under the seat where you can fit a helmet
• No CVT but a motorcycle-style automated transmission
• You sit on it without really feeling like you’re one with it
• Then the doubt clears up when you grab the handlebars, with a brake lever on the right… and the left lever that also controls braking (the rear brake). So yes, it’s a scooter that thinks it’s a motorcycle.

And there, right there! You get Yamaha’s idea: redefining the standards.

With that in mind, it’s not easy to tell where this machine will feel most at home. Its tires invite you to see if you can kick up more than just gravel. You figure it might work—but only in moderation. The RW 700 features suspension with a bit more travel than a roadster (160 / 155 mm), off-road-oriented riding modes, and that persistent feeling that it wants to encroach on the 750 X-ADV’s territory. So, it’ll certainly be about as comfortable as the 750 X-ADV, while avoiding the behavior of an enduro bike. Weighing in at 221 kg fully fueled, the Yamaha is about 15 kg lighter than the Honda. Except that with a weight like this, 17- and 15-inch wheels, less-than-impressive ground clearance, and a chassis that prefers to hug the road, the RW 700 is more like a crossover than an XT.

The CP2 still knows how to hold its own

Where the RW will really shine is under the hood. Yamaha has managed to find a new home for its CP2 engine. After powering the R7, MT-07, XSR 700, Ténéré 7, and Tracer 7, the 689 cm³ twin takes this RW 700 over hill and dale. Still set at 270°, the engine’s power output has been reduced, delivering 69.3 chevaux at 8,250 tr/mn. The same goes for torque, which has dropped by a few Nm. This is undoubtedly to provide a more responsive feel at mid-range RPMs and power delivery better suited to the hybrid uses claimed by its “Real-World” recipient.

We know this twin-cylinder engine is capable of generating a lot of excitement (despite a increasingly noticeable loss of character). Under the hood of the RW 700, you’ll have only limited control over its behavior. Keep in mind that the rider has neither a gear selector nor a clutch at their fingertips (or feet). That’s because the Y-AMT does the work.
Yamaha has optimized and recalibrated its automated system to make it more versatile and enjoyable, given that the RW 700 is meant to tackle all kinds of terrain.
It features two operating modes: manual (MT), where you shift gears with a trigger, or automatic (AT). In AT mode, the rider can choose between a “Road” submode for city or highway riding, or “Gravel.” The electronics are designed to be more responsive, with gear shifts occurring at higher RPMs when you’re being aggressive with the throttle or when the rear wheel slips on the trail.
The ABS also embraces the gravel philosophy, allowing the rear ABS to be disabled. The electronics then monitor the situation discreetly, engaging the clutch during sudden braking to prevent stalling.

While the RW 700 looks like it’s straight out of a cyberpunk manga (I could totally see it in an episode of *Ghost in the Shell*), it packs just as much riding assistance as you’d find in that kind of futuristic vision. Between the 5-inch color TFT screen and the rear wheel, there are 5 riding modes* (3 for the road and 2 for off-road), an inertial measurement unit, ABS, several throttle response settings (PWR), traction control (TCS), combined braking (BC), engine braking regulation (BSR), rear wheel slip control (BSR), cruise control, and a variable speed limiter (YVSL).

Wait, there’s more! That was just the driving part. The RW 700 also features a keyless start and locking system, a USB-C port, smart turn signals, Garmin StreetCross navigation, smartphone pairing, and a triple-theme display on the dashboard.

With 298-mm discs clamped by 4-piston radial calipers, this large, versatile scooter will have more than enough braking power. It also offers adequate protection and comfort for the rider with hand guards, a generously sized (non-adjustable) windshield, a wide, knee-friendly seat, a spacious seat, and a smooth, fully automatic ride if you let the transmission do the work.

A Double-Edged Sword

Is the Yamaha RW 700 here to shake things up in the large crossover scooter segment? Or is it playing by its own rules? One thing is certain: Yamaha is playing a bold, polarizing card with a machine that needs to be understood. It wants the curious to take an interest in it and see the real world.
Riding it means losing your bearings to discover new ones.

M.B. - Manufacturer photos

* Three riding modes are available for the road
- SPORT, for a responsive engine
- STREET, suitable for a wide range of surfaces and particularly well-suited for city riding
- ECO, with reduced power and optimized range and ease of use.
The GRAVEL modes, designed for off-road use, are divided into two variants
- EXPLORE, which adjusts gear shifts and the RW 700’s handling to improve off-road maneuverability
- EXPLORE+, which offers a more dynamic engine response than EXPLORE mode. Additionally, this mode can be fully customized to the rider’s preferences.

** “The Upside-Down” is a reference to the series “Stranger Things”