Finally. It's coming. XT700

[greg the pole]

Kawasaki is missing out on the Adv market unless the Versys lineup is what they’re expecting to cover that market.
This new XT700 ups the ante for both HONDA and Kawasaki.

Kawasaki is out to lunch on the large DP bikes. The KLR is/was a dinosaur, and it's time it's gone the way of the dodo. The Versys do not count.
Honda is doing ok. I'm not sure if the went in the right direction with the ATAS. They did bring out the cfr450L but it's a heavy dirt bike, and nothing else. The stock AT bills itself as a proper big ADV bike, that's capable off road. Too bad it comes with the worst oem tires known to man, and suspension that is truly lacking. Not to mention OEM forks that have a huge design flaw. Once that's fixed...it's really a good bike. Still a big and tall bastard.
The 700 will be a good bike. It's a great motor, will have gobs of ground clearance, and as long as they don't cheap out on the suspension, it should be really good. I'll be basic. Tubed tires, and switchable ABS. Basically the MT07 platform on high heels.
In the end, none of us will be ripping around farmers fields, and up alpine goat paths..the enviros are making sure of that.
Sure looks good in the vids. Think of it as the original tenere 750, but lighter, and better.

ok...T7 just announced.
https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/adventure-touring/models/tenere-700

There's several flies in the ointment...
-mid 2020 release...18 months away...WTAF Yamaha?
-43mm forks?
-rear shock preload adjustable only?

wow wee..

 

[fredz43]

Hi again, Greg. I guess I had a senior moment and couldn't relate to TL. Yes, I have seen the TT and TL designation on tire listings. D'oh!

 

[greg the pole]

Hi again, Greg. I guess I had a senior moment and couldn't relate to TL. Yes, I have seen the TT and TL designation on tire listings. D'oh!

No worries.
I did that with the stock dunlpos that came on the AT. Installed my outex, slapped both tires one...then realized that they needed tubes. As an experiment, I ran the rear tire without tube, front with tube. But it just caused a bit more work.
Typically anything in the 19" tire size will be TL, ditto for 17 and 18 inch. The 21" stuff is a bit hit and miss, so one has to look at it a bit closer.

 

[greg the pole]

FAIL
ok...T7 just announced.
https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/adventure-touring/models/tenere-700

There's several flies in the ointment...
-The 1990s called Yamaha, and they want their calipers back
-mid 2020 release...18 months away...WTAF Yamaha?
-43mm forks?
-rear shock preload adjustable only?
-205kg/450lb weeeet

wow wee..

 

[Dogdaze]

Maybe that is the NA market only, perhaps 2019 for EU and other markets?

 

[sjh]

I was pretty excited by this bike, but not now.

Subframe is gone, one piece frame now, suspension is poorer than i thought it'd be, it looks very little like the prototype, it has grown much more plastic and 15kg more than i thought it would, and i bet it's going to be >10K GBP.

I was hoping this would be a viable dualsport somehow, Husqy 701 + the nomad tower is back on the christmas list.

edit: While waiting for this bike, I bought a knackered DRZ & put it right - having such a blast on that it's really changed my perspective on what I want from a bike.

 

[Sierra1]

LMAO. I can see a Yamaha executive, sitting at his computer, reading this forum, laughing HIS ass off, watching our dismay at the release date. I'm guessing the date to be accurate due to not having very many specs available; even THEY don't what the final draft will be. I admit, I am interested to see the final draft, but I definitely won't be trading in my SUPER Tenere for a regular Tenere; regardless of how awesome it turns out. In my opinion this an "in addition to" bike, and not an "instead of" bike.

 

[greg the pole]

Maybe that is the NA market only, perhaps 2019 for EU and other markets?

correct.

 

[greg the pole]

I was pretty excited by this bike, but not now.

Subframe is gone, one piece frame now, suspension is poorer than i thought it'd be, it looks very little like the prototype, it has grown much more plastic and 15kg more than i thought it would, and i bet it's going to be >10K GBP.

I was hoping this would be a viable dualsport somehow, Husqy 701 + the nomad tower is back on the christmas list.

edit: While waiting for this bike, I bought a knackered DRZ & put it right - having such a blast on that it's really changed my perspective on what I want from a bike.

Nothing wrong with a DRZ. A few key mods and they are awesome bikes, used as intended.
A friend of mine bought a 690 and threw the rally raid catalog at it. Nice bike, but lots of money.

 

[sjh]

Nothing wrong with a DRZ. A few key mods and they are awesome bikes, used as intended.
A friend of mine bought a 690 and threw the rally raid catalog at it. Nice bike, but lots of money.

Yep, a 701 might be christmas next year - or possibly a birthday present to myself

Now i know the DRZ is running & running well i'm just sorting out little things as it's not a princess, and i do not want to drive tonnes of cash into it. To get it running right i replaced the cooling & braking system - surprisingly cheap from ebay, then indicators/bars/grips to get it a bit safe & fit me better - next is handguards, bashpalte, motoz hybrid extreme tyres, levers, a suspension rebuild and a little screen.

 

[~TABASCO~]

Two more years out, probably minimum? Dang!?

 

[cycledelic relic]

Long live the Nikken

pun intended

 

[jimmy z]

very disappointing

 

[Madhatter]

a baby pig, possibly. it is a good looking bike , might be a good machine , might.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

YAMAHA TENERE 700 ANNOUNCED

The new Ténéré 700 will be available in a Ceramic Ice color scheme during the second half of 2020 at Yamaha dealers across the U.S.A., and the MSRP will be announced at a later date.

 

[WJBertrand]

Two more years out, probably minimum? Dang!?

Not much of a consolation but they are saying mid 2020 which is about a year and half, maybe a couple months less. I think they wil designate it a 2021 model though. Still given the use of an existing engine, the long lead, still even after over a year+ of teasing, is "incomprehensible".

 

[sjh]

So today on the KTM website we have


https://www.ktm.com/gb/travel/790-adventure-r/ - the 790 ADV - looks awesome but a bit heavy for my next-bike want,

https://www.ktm.com/gb/travel/450-rally/ The 450 rally replica, which is what an awful lot of people say they want


and https://www.ktm.com/gb/travel/690-enduro-r/ the new 690 Enduro R which looks incredibly nice, i was disappointed i "missed out" on those by them being discontinued before i considered them, now it's back

... i think i might be turning a bit orange soon!

 

[~TABASCO~]

Dang those orange bikes look good. Ive had the pleasure to ride several models and was really blown away in many ways. Im quite sure my next ADV "off road monster" will be orange !

For folks that have not had the opportunity to try the orange, just keep driving, don't stop, don't go try it, keep moving.......... LOLOLOLOLO.

 

[Madhatter]

tabasco , how much of that orange coolaid have you had?

 

[~TABASCO~]

tabasco , how much of that orange coolaid have you had?

I’ve had several customers ask me to go ride there ‘Orange’ bike. Pretty freaking awesome !
I don’t think they have the reliability pedigree, but so many things about them are SO good.