T7 vs S10? Or both

Stryker1979

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Aug 23, 2022
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Tennessee
Hello y’all I was sure I wanted a Super Tenere but now I want both. I currently have 2021 CRF 300l and am looking to pull the trigger on a S10 but now I’m looking at the 700. Want to add both into my garage but can’t think what to add first now. Any suggestions?
 

cyclemike4

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Sep 18, 2016
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ky
Hello Stryker. If you like riding some tighter trails and dual sporting and going long distances that 300 and a Super Tenere would be a great combination in the same garage. You can do gravel and dirt on the Super T no problem. I would not like it too much on really rough stuff but it will go there too. The T7 is a very good combination of the two. It will travel across the country and it is very capable off road too. I would figure it would be the only bike in the shop to take the place of the other two. Of course I have that MBD. Multiple Bike Disorder and more is better. Keep the 300 and buy the other two! haha.
 

Stryker1979

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Aug 23, 2022
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I knew there were plenty of people with this disorder it’s why I come to places like this to hear what I want to thanks for the reassurance it’s almost like a 12 step group but the only way to cure this problem is to buy more lol
 

cyclemike4

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ky
I just did a test ride of a T7 a couple weeks ago at Sturgis and absolutely fell in love with that bike. It was a very fun test ride and bike handled great on road and off. Well they said they had a off road section but it was just a gravel road but I did pick the worst parts of the road to hit and we were moving on. I was seeing 50 to 60 miles per hour at times. My Super T would have had no issues on that road but it also would not have handled that good on the chop and wash board section. I hit one section that was wash boarded bad it was a right hand turn that was at the crest of a hill and the T7 went right over it and never complained staying straight and smooth. Of course the blinkers looked like they were wings trying to make it fly! haha. Anyway my Super T would never have done that well in that situation. It was a very fun bike is all I can say about the T7. Of course my Super T has shaft drive tubeless tires and get pretty good gas mileage and it can pack everything including the kitchen sink. It is my pick up truck of motorcycles.
 

Streethawk

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Aug 26, 2020
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San Antonio, Texas, United States
If your immediate riding plans include huge miles with 70-80% road and the remainder (light) off road, I'd say get the S10 first.

If your immediate riding plans include more than 30% off road (including moderately technical stuff), and you've got to ride for a bit to get to that 30+% off road, I'd get the T7.

Personally, I'd only get both if the riding plans involve those environments routinely back to back, for the foreseeable future.

If I had to pick just one, it'd be the T7 only IF: 1) I had relatively convenient/legal access to public access trails, and 2) 30% or more, of my riding would be off road.

I say this because imo, the dual sport pretensions of the T7 are otherwise wasted/underutilized. The same would ring true for the S10 as it applies to its paved road pretensions.

Good luck! :)
 

jrusell

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Aug 23, 2017
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Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
The S10 would be better if you are someone doing long multiple day rides long distances with a passenger. Anything less than that it is not worth having both bikes.

I had a 2013 S10 and now a T7. T7 with luggage racks and bags will cover the few things the S10 might be better at.
Strip the bags off and the T7 is better and more fun at everything else.
The only downside of the T7 is the seat height and although lighter than the S10 it is not light.

Everyone likes to watch Pol Taras vids and think it's a 700cc dirt bike. It is not. Us mere mortals will not do anything close to what he does so don't be confused in thinking it is a powerful dirt bike you can flick around. It is top heavy and will not be friendly to shorter riders. Shorter than 5-10 and you will likely be considering lowering it because of the seat height and weight up high.

Perfect bike for exploring dirt areas as long as it doesn't get too technical. Great on hwy as well even if it is slightly less powerful and less comfortable than the S10.
I ride solo and never carry a passenger. If I had a cross Canada trip and could choose between the two I would pick the T7, because it can handle any road or trail I might come across. If I had to carry a passenger on the same trip I would Take the S10 and realize some routes would not be possible and all travel would be on pavement.

Maybe the bigger downfall of the T7 is the amount of aftermarket products out there that will drain your bank Account if you are not careful.
 

Eville Rich

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Sep 15, 2016
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Wisconsin, USA
As someone who owns a small dual sport (WR250R) and S10, but who also lusts for a T7 just to fill narrow band between, here's my nickel's worth.

Take a look at what you want to do with motorbikes. The T7 is great between offroad and highway, but I don't think it can do knarly offroad AND be a tourer. Why? Tires and general setup. It does depend on the nature of the offroad you want to do, and the T7 can do each. But for knarly offroad, compromising on the tires plus the added weight of the T7 make it less interesting to me for knarly offroad. And long road trips make the T7 less desirable (comfort, cruise control).

I bet your CRF300 is pretty capable. My wife has a CRF250L. We've loaded our 250s with camping gear, put on some dirt-oriented 50/50 tires and been able to manage multi-day trips on sand and gravel (minimally maintained forest roads), plus pavement (not doing knarly offroad that loaded). While we aren't going to hit interstate speeds, we've had no issues on other highways. I'll add that I had my rear shock spring updated and shock tuned, and my wife has a Racetech suspension setup, but otherwise no magic.

Do I want a T7? Yes. It would be like having ice cream after a meal - fills all the nooks and crannies. For a lot of offroad and getting to the offroad, I think it's a fantastic beast. I wouldn't dissuade you from a T7, but if you are willing to have two bikes (n+1 syndrome), I'd probably get the S10 and first and then really test how you want to ride, pushing the 300's capabilities for what you want offroad.

Now, you may already have a good sense of what and how you plan to ride. The T7 may be a better choice than the 300. I sort of see that possibility on my horizon. But I bet that 300 can do more than you think, other than top-end speed.

Eville Rich
2016 S10
 

magic

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WISCONSIN
Have you ridden a T7 yet? I seems the T7 is also plagued with the same jerky, snatchy throttle that the S10 and many other fuel injected Yamahas have, MT07, MT09, Star Bolt, R6 etc.... Lots of talk about it on the forums. A buddy bought one last year and sold it almost immediately. The one I took for a test ride was pretty bad. Look before you leap.
 

whisperquiet

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Feb 20, 2011
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Southern Illinois
I own both the S10 and T7. The S10 is used as a trip and long day ride bike ….. it might see a rock road every now and then, but was purchased for comfort, reliability, and the ability to cover distance in relative comfort for me. I’ve owned five S10s since they were available in 2011 in the USA. The bike fits me great and does every thing needed.

I disliked my T7 when first purchased due to the incredibly harsh suspension with the too soft springs for my weight, A re-spring transformed the bike for me and the engine is a gem…..FWIW, I find the fueling to be near perfect with off idle control pretty smooth. The clutch does have a very narrow engagement point which some have changed with an aftermarket longer clutch release lever on the engine.
I will say that the T7 feels very top heavy to me, had a cramped rider triangle until lower pegs and the taller 41mm higher rally seat were installed. It fits me now but as mentioned above the seat height approaches motocross seat level height. The S10 is more nimble/balanced at low speed and I can do a u-turn on a narrow road much easier on the S10 than the T7. YMMV. I have a little over 20,000 miles on my T7 and have adapted to it. I haven’t had any problems thus far but a new Honda TranAlp 750 DCT would be a viable replacement bike if it comes out as rumored.

I would buy the S10 first and keep the Honda CRF300 Rally for a while. You would have two very good motorcycles.
 
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scott123007

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Jul 27, 2012
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Jupiter, Florida
Have you ridden a T7 yet? I seems the T7 is also plagued with the same jerky, snatchy throttle that the S10 and many other fuel injected Yamahas have, MT07, MT09, Star Bolt, R6 etc.... Lots of talk about it on the forums. A buddy bought one last year and sold it almost immediately. The one I took for a test ride was pretty bad. Look before you leap.
LOL, seriously? I think some wannabe motorcyclists just aren't cut out for bikes above a 250.
 
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