The 2021 Yamaha Tenere 700

Cycledude

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Nice to hear someone else has about the same opinion as me on the Yamaha Tenere Paint jobs. Buy a blue bike it should be blue not half or more black, I believe the Tenere would have sold much better in all years and colors if it had been painted better.
 

fredz43

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No problem with paint as far as I am concerned. I wanted a new 2014 Gen 2 ES when they came out with all the improvements over my 2012 model. I was disappointed that we weren't offered the same white/black that the Euro bikes had. No problem. My dealer utilizes a local paint shop for some of their trike conversions, etc. We scanned a new white 2013 front fender at NAPA and I removed the tank and panels, the shop painted them in the white I wanted. We got the Euro decals, which are now available in the USA and before it was started the first time, I had my favorite color scheme. About $500 and a bit of a hassle, but 5 years later, I still enjoy looking at it as much as I enjoy riding it.

While this T700 thread seems to have evolved into a "what would I like on a new S10" thread, I often wonder what it would take for me to trade mine. It is a wonderful sport touring bike, handles like a sport bike, capable of light adv riding (for me, others do much more off road than I do on the S10). I have taken it on two 4,000 mile trips and was comfortable and happy on it in any kind of weather, on any type of surface and didn't have a worry about whether I would get home. I have never found it lacking in power for anything I have ridden and it still brings a smile every time I ride it, whether I'm riding down the slab with the cruise on in comfort or especially when I find some nice back road sweepers. In short, it is one of the best bikes I have owned in over 50 years of riding. A new model would have to offer something revolutionary for me to consider spending $5,000 to $10,000 difference to trade for it (used S10's aren't bringing a lot of $).

Now getting back to the subject of this thread, I don't see the T700 as a competitor to the S10, it is a different kind of bike aimed at a different market, a competitor to such bikes as the KTM 790. If the USA models are as competitively priced as the Euro models, they should be a good seller. The base KTM 790 sells for $12,499 and Yamaha has kept the T700 fairly basic so as to offer it at a better price than those. Estimates are that they will be priced below $10,999, perhaps even $10,499. If so, they will sell very well here. BTW, one reason for the delay in USA models is they are building a production line in Japan for USA/NA bikes, the Euro ones are made in France. Customers over there are taking delivery late this month. If they don't get theirs by then, they will have to wait until September, as most industries in France shut down for vacation each August.

An interesting thread on the T7 can be found on advrider https://advrider.com/f/threads/yamaha-t7-tenere-thread.1217063/page-552#post-37928521
 

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Checkswrecks

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If I rode actual dirt roads a lot more than paved or gravel then I might maybe be interested in the T700, but I don't. The 1200 is big but I never have to deal with chain lube or tightness, which is a big deal for a commuter and it makes a GREAT commuter. Like with Fred and the others, the 1200 is one of the best all around bikes I know of AND it is totally comfortable on gravel and dirt to the point I sold the KTM 690 because there was too much overlap. The 690 also was not a good passenger or luggage bike. The T700 is just this year's version of the 690 in my world; both nicely balanced but not quite as all good around as the Super Tennis Shoe. The 1200 is the Chevy Tahoe / Toyota Land Cruiser equivalent.

I really like and want a Guzzi V85TT but it's just a bit small to pull the camper trailer, which is another thing the 1200 excels at.
 

Madhatter

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ericv, I feel your passion , I love me some Yamaha , I just think the 700 is a bike that is going to be in a crowed of other bikes just like it . I have a chain on my crf450x , love not having a chain on the 1200 t...… ducati (beaks, what the deal with beaks) , ktm (with a face only an alien mom should love) , nice and powerful but they don't excite me.... I do like the bmw (still the beak thing) , and we will see if maybe it is more reliable than they have been (not likely ) but the bmw ergo's fit me ….. Yamaha could make the tenere better and better than they already have and do so with out changing the character of the machine we all love. the good news for me is the tenere is such a good bike I have years left in it .... but an up grade of even the safety systems (abs) etc. should and would be a great advance for our bike.... all the well known issues , say a better seat , improved electronics , improvements we have all talked about and done via after market , should not be that difficult for Yamaha to do . I guess the 700 will find a place and I wish Yamaha great success with it , but those of us who really like the big girl have nothing to look forward to except paint.
 

Madhatter

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I like the guzzi , signed up for a test ride but have not heard a word when one might be ready to test in Austin Texas . I would not trade the tenere for the guzzi might have to consider the guzzi as a round town day tripper and save my 2012 tenere for long trips..... then I like starbucks and the beemer look natural there.
 

markjenn

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Yamaha has really disappointed loyal customers.... especially USA customers.... with the long delays getting this bike produced. Based on the MT-07 engine, it was widely rumored in 2015, acknowledged to be in development in 2016 and since has been in prototype tease mode for over three years. They are just now getting the first shipments to Europe, but it won't be in North America until Sept of 2020 as a 2021 model (perhaps sold like the early S10's under PDP) and we still don't have a US MSRP. That's a ridiculous amount of time to get a model to market, especially one where the engine was essentially ready five years ago.

If Yamaha can get the MSRP competitive (hopefully under $10K US) then it should be successful, but this long gestation period leaves a lot of room for competitions to move in. And there is a general perception that the bike may be a little too low-tech, to the point where people are saying it is a "Yamaha KLR". Some things do strike customers as very cheap, like a B&W, low-res, LDC instrument cluster that looks like an early Palm Pilot. And the 4.2 gallon fuel capacity is just too small for any serious adventure bike touring, so it's a bike that serious folks will have to pack aux fuel which is a PITA.

Anybody cross shopping a S10 and T7 doesn't know what kind of bike they want. The T7 should be an easy 120-lbs lighter and have off-road performance that is in a whole different league from the S10. The T7 should be a bike that is much more comfortable for any on-road touring vs. any single, yet be able to work into places that you'd be extremely foolish to take a big adv bike like the S10.

I'd be in the market for the T7 except that it has tubed tires and no cruise. I fully realize that both of these features are not typically included in smaller bikes, but I'm just to the point where they're requirements for any bike I would buy to tour. I've ridden bikes with these features for the last couple years and I won't go back to throttle locks and packing tire irons.

One big problem with the delays is that others are lining up to fill the void which the T7 is trying to fill. The KTM 790 is in another class with respect to performance and sophistication and is shipping now in two versions, both with tubeless tires and cruise. The only real issues with the KTM are the usual worries about KTM reliability and maintenance. And of course, the higher price tag, although we really won't know how much higher until next year. Honda is getting ready to announce a smaller Africa Twin, there are rumors of a new small BMW twin adventure bike, and Kawasaki has discontinued the KLR and is likely to release something soon into the 500-650 adventure bike space and a twin is widely rumored. And there's the new CB500X that has tilted more towards the adventure bike segment with the 19" front end. For $7K w/ABS, this bike is a steal.

IMO, everything hinges on the T7 US price. If it's $10K or less, it should be a hit, even as late as it is. But if it starts getting up to $11K or higher and/or if Honda or Kawi release bikes into this same space, this could be a real dud.

- Mark
 

jeckyll

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I think anyone who says this is a Yamaha KLR hasn't ridden a KLR.

I've put over 100,000km on klrs, both versions, and I doubt it is anything like it... Even remotely
 

Cycledude

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Yes quality and reliability are what convinced me to buy a Tenere, actually I have bought two Tenere’s but I do honestly believe Yamaha would have sold waaaaay more Tenere’s if they would of had more attractive paint right from the start, Black fenders, side covers and black forks on blue, red, or white bikes in my opinion makes them look like they have a mismatched parts thing going on. Actually I realize paint is not a hot topic but ever since I first saw a Tenere I thought jeez who picked that paint scheme and I’ve always been surprised there haven’t been a lot more complaints about it. It would cost Yamaha pretty close to the same money to put a much more attractive paint job on the Tenere.

I'm curious that paint is such a hot topic, I tend to buy for capabilities, value etc and for bikes I always buy used, so paint is what's available in the model I'm looking at.

Having said that, the White & Red looks super sharp :)
 
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ballisticexchris

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What's wrong with having another stone reliable and simple bike? The KTM 790 is simply too needy and not anywhere near as reliable. Also too much electronics and crap to go wrong. Oh, and the horrible PDS suspension!! It takes a bunch of money out of your wallet to get it safely ridable off road. My KTM 300 had the worst suspension ever to setup correctly. I finally gave up and took it to a professional tuner to get it dialed in.

I actually like the fact that Yamaha is putting out the 700. I would seriously consider it as a great middleweight all around fun bike. I already have a nice 600+lb Super Tenere Tank and a 270lb lightweight Beta dual sport/single track weapon. This bike would be a perfect in between addition for the shorter aprox 200-300 mile day rides to the deserts and forests. From all that I'm reading it has a perfect user friendly balance of power, simple features and very upgradable suspension for those (like myself) that need it.

Chain drive, flat seat, and good old tubed tires. And a 21"/18" wheelset!! Also a very proven reliable power plant taken directly out of the MT-07. What's not to like? Looks like the pegs are the same as my Super Tenere. I'm willing to bet there will be a bunch of interchangeable parts between the two. This is going to be a really exciting machine!! Yes exciting!! Because it will be functional and reliable. I know for a fact that this will compete off road and on up against the KTM 790. Big deal if it's a little down on power. 700CC's and 450lbs is more than enough bike.
 

Jlq1969

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Something has me confused about the T7. 72 hp at 9000rpm and 68 nm at 6500 rpm. All this for 450 lbs. I compare it with the WR 450 with 62hp at 9000rpm and 52 nm at 7000rpm, all this for "240" lbs ..... I think I'm going to put a rally kit to the wr that I have
8599AA44-E62C-4E4D-90C5-5D8231BFC38E.png
 

AVGeek

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I'm think the T7 might fit me better than the 1200 did. When I was originally looking for an ADV type eo bike, I actually looked at a WR450 to make street legal, then was really hoping Yamaha would bring over the XT660. I definitely have far more dirt roads than paved twistys to ride here in Southern Nevada, so I'll be interested to see what price point this bike comes in at...
 

jeckyll

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Something has me confused about the T7. 72 hp at 9000rpm and 68 nm at 6500 rpm. All this for 450 lbs. I compare it with the WR 450 with 62hp at 9000rpm and 52 nm at 7000rpm, all this for "240" lbs ..... I think I'm going to put a rally kit to the wr that I have
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I think what confused you is that one is a fairly highly strung motor with short service intervals, the other is not :)

MT-07 is 40,000 km just like the SuperT for valve checks for instance. Which is awesome :)
 

Xclimation

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11.5:1 compression ratio if I read correctly. Wonder if they are recommending 92 or above octane? That may not go over well if its the case....
Water cooled and chain drive. Chain drive more rear wheel power.
In my opinion...this bike can be an Africa Twin killer.
Going to be an optimist and say that the delay in roll out is because it is going through extensive testing and ALL bugs and kinks will be worked out in the first year model!
They sure are touting wheelies in these promotions and reviews..!
 

twinrider

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This bike reminds me of the Gen 1 S10. I'd wait for the Gen 2 with cruise and other upgrades.

I'd like to see Yamaha aim to build the best bike they can and sell it for a competitive price rather than aim for the budget market.
 

Don T

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During the last 30 years I've had a XT600Z Ténéré, a XTZ 750 Super Ténéré and now a 1200 - it wouldn't surprise me, if a T7 shows up in my garage at some point ;)

Like with any other bike, there is always room for improvements, but according to the reviews so far, it seems that Yamaha have done a good job.

I'm in no rush to replace my 2015 S10 which at 100.000 km runs better than ever and is set up exactly as I want it - but I'm looking forward to do a proper test ride on the T7 (and the 790 Adv R).
As my riding in recent years have move progressively towards the dirt (especially when I travel), the S10 will be replaced with something lighter and more dirt worthy when the time comes.
 
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