Your thoughts on it costing $10,000 ?

Checkswrecks

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Should cost $8k USD.
I think is at least $1k too high.
As my Dad used to say, "You pay your money and you make your choice."
I'll bet that while you obviously are not going to be buyers, there will be more than enough to sell every one. Especially in Europe where there are so many worn out TDMs and other mid-size commuters. When sales slow in a year or two is when the price may come down a bit.

I like the red/white and am seeing this more as a light Africa Twin 1000 or BMW twin, much less roady than the Strom, and certainly not an updated KLR 650. Sounds like a sweet spot in the demographic.
 

jeckyll

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As my Dad used to say, "You pay your money and you make your choice."
I'll bet that while you obviously are not going to be buyers, there will be more than enough to sell every one. Especially in Europe where there are so many worn out TDMs and other mid-size commuters. When sales slow in a year or two is when the price may come down a bit.

I like the red/white and am seeing this more as a light Africa Twin 1000 or BMW twin, much less roady than the Strom, and certainly not an updated KLR 650. Sounds like a sweet spot in the demographic.
Agree, the market has a way of sorting this out.
 

Tenman

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I really like the T7. I just have a problem with front fender. It's so tight a run through 50" of our gumbo mud would put you down. Been there a couple of times on my S10. I had to take off the fender and the brake line to get out
 

Don T

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I really like the T7. I just have a problem with front fender. It's so tight a run through 50" of our gumbo mud would put you down. Been there a couple of times on my S10. I had to take off the fender and the brake line to get out
The OEM front fender is adjustable and can be raised quiet a bit - probably not enough for everyone/all conditions, but a nice feature non the less.
 

bmac

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Should cost $8k USD. It's a KLR650 with ABS. ABS should be mandatory in the first place. It needs to prove itself reliability before asking above $8k USD. One can get a used KLR 650 with proven reliability, toughness and one jug (sparkplug, etc.) to worry about for much less than half....Can get a VStrom 650 pretty darn cheap on the used market and they are proven...
What?? The only thing the T7 has in common with the KLR is that they both have 2 wheels. I don't know how anyone that is not stuck in the past and hates change could possibly choose a 20 year old design in a KLR AND a CARBURETOR over the Yamaha 700 based on reliability concerns. The 700 is a solid well proven modern power plant and Yamaha's track record is second to none. The KLR qualifies for antique status. Not to mention the monstrous difference in power output.

If the KLR was free I wouldn't take it over the T7. I would sell it and put what ever I got for it as a deposit on a T7.
 
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ballisticexchris

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What?? The only thing the T7 has in common with the KLR is that they both have 2 wheels. I don't know how anyone that is not stuck in the past and hates change could possibly choose a 20 year old design in a KLR AND a CARBURETOR over the Yamaha 700 based on reliability concerns. The 700 is a solid well proven modern power plant and Yamaha's track record is second to none. The KLR qualifies for antique status. Not to mention the monstrous difference in power output.

If the KLR was free I wouldn't take it over the T7. I would sell it and put what ever I got for it as a deposit on a T7.
The KLR is a fantastic bike even to this day. It's all about the rider. For me the T7 is really nice. OTOH, it is has nowhere near the capability of my Beta. The T7 is still a very heavy 450lb bike. It will never ever be able to tackle nasty single track with a novice rider aboard. And BTW my Beta has a carb.

Stripped for single track it weighs in at about 275lbs ready to ride with desert tank installed. FWIW this is my riding buddy on his Husky. This is a typical section of steep Jeep 2 track in the local mountains.

1B10AEFA-599E-42BA-8D54-16AA0C199698.jpeg1B378B96-83A7-49E9-9190-1E67E35A7069.jpeg
Fully loaded down with a 220 mile range and bagged up for multi day travel I'm still under 325lbs.
4F9E0B80-8CB0-4A2D-A1AC-7F27FB31D83D_4_5005_c.jpeg
D34E78CC-EF86-44C5-9F45-2009DB2824B7_4_5005_c.jpeg6BF65313-0E5B-4660-9C47-60A46AD7C4CF.jpeg
 

bmac

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The KLR is a fantastic bike even to this day. It's all about the rider. For me the T7 is really nice. OTOH, it is has nowhere near the capability of my Beta.

The KLR is a turd and always was a turd. Plenty of people have owned them and liked them but that doesn't change the fact that it is a turd. A 20 year old single cylinder carbureted bike does not belong in the same discussion as the T7 and neither does your Beeta or whatever it is called.
 
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ballisticexchris

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Should cost $8k USD. It's a KLR650 with ABS. ABS should be mandatory in the first place. It needs to prove itself reliability before asking above $8k USD. One can get a used KLR 650 with proven reliability, toughness and one jug (sparkplug, etc.) to worry about for much less than half....Can get a VStrom 650 pretty darn cheap on the used market and they are proven...
It's too bad the KLR was discontinued. It is still one of the most reliable water cooled bikes ever made. I'm excited to see the T7 in person. I actually thought of selling my Beta to get one. I think the price point for the T7 is pretty good. Then I came to realize that mine is a much more capable bike for my needs.



The KLR is a turd and always was a turd. Plenty of people have owned them and liked them but that doesn't change the fact that it is a turd. A 20 year old single cylinder carbureted bike does not belong in the same discussion as the T7 and neither does your Beeta or whatever it is called.
It's OK bmac, I get it. You don't like older bikes. My Beeta is almost 8 years old, beat to crap, and will run circles around a T7 (with equal riders aboard). If I want to ride fire roads and long miles of pavement, I simply grab my Super Tenere.

For a guy that want's to to mellow single track and medium pavement, then the T7 fits the bill well. I think Yamaha hit a home run for a one bike garage type of guy.
 
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RonH

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I wish they would have kept the 660 styling, other than that it seems worth the price I suppose, as the KTM is at least as high.
The KLR was on my list of motorcycles I thought was worthwhile, but luckily my neighbor bought one about 4yrs back. One ride around the block on that thing brought back memories of my old XT500 Yamaha back in 1977, but I think the XT500 would have beat it in every regard, and the XT500 was among the worst and most hated motorcycles I've ever owned.
 
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ballisticexchris

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LOL Ron!! The XT500 was the 1st new motorcycle I ever owned!! I remember going into the dealership and getting all excited for the Daytona 400 (last year of the RD 400's). Came in the next day with my uncle and saw brand new XT500's lined up in a row. The RD was forgotten instantly!! He cosigned a load for me. I remember lining up the little mark in the window and kicking it over to start. That bike lasted only a few months before I was sideswiped and watched it burn in a ball of flames. That's when I realized that a plated dirtbike cannot be ridden like a street bike. Thank you for the memory.....
 

Sierra1

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My opinion(s): The KLR never claimed to a great bike. For the price, it was good beginner bike with decent capabilities. It IS outdated, and I'll be surprised if Kawi doesn't bring a new & updated version to the table. But, it's not fair to compare the T-7 to the KLR; bmac was right about THAT. But, it's NOT a turd; it's just not as good, or as expensive, as the latest & greatest.
 

Don T

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Nice review where the T7 is compared to another popular mid size adventure/travel bike:


There is some talk about price compared to the competition, which is my excuse for posting it in this thread ;)
 
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Checkswrecks

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Nice review where the T7 is compared to another popular mid size adventure/travel bike:


There is some talk about price compared to the competition, which is my excuse for posting it in this thread ;)
What a great and honest review. I've been watching both the V85TT since it was first announced and the T700. Now that I'm not a commuter which means insisting on a shaft, I'm considering adding a T700 to the garage. Purely to keep up with Dirt_Dad on his wife's little GS of course.

fwiw - In US terms, the 4.5 L/100km = 52.3 mpg.

As for KLRs, they were OK bikes when they were designed. But that was 34 years ago and Kawi stopped selling them because nobody would buy them anymore.
 
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jeckyll

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My opinion(s): The KLR never claimed to a great bike. For the price, it was good beginner bike with decent capabilities. It IS outdated, and I'll be surprised if Kawi doesn't bring a new & updated version to the table. But, it's not fair to compare the T-7 to the KLR; bmac was right about THAT. But, it's NOT a turd; it's just not as good, or as expensive, as the latest & greatest.
This is spot on. And I say that having had klrs since 2007 and putting over 90,000 kms on them
 

Byron

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Lets make a good Jap bike that is around a 450 with fuel injection, 6 speed trans and built more as adventure/road and less off road. The Honda 450L is just too much off road.
 

WJBertrand

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Unless you have to be the absolute first on your block, most motorcycles, particularly from the larger manufacturers, don't sell for full MSRP for very long, if at all.
 
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ballisticexchris

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Unless you have to be the absolute first on your block, most motorcycles, particularly from the larger manufacturers, don't sell for full MSRP for very long, if at all.
The good news is the Japan manufacturers usually get it pretty close to right with the first model out. But I normally wait a few years to see that they are really dialed in. It gives them a chance to get rid of the little quirks.
 

Dirt_Dad

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The XT500 was the 1st new motorcycle I ever owned!!
Me, too. Bought it the same day we got DM her first bike...a brand new XT350. 32 years later, a total of 6 XTs have made a home with us. I suspect there will be more, but don't see the XT7 being there any time soon.
 

Checkswrecks

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The good news is the Japan manufacturers usually get it pretty close to right with the first model out. But I normally wait a few years to see that they are really dialed in. It gives them a chance to get rid of the little quirks.
I generally agreee and absolutely this is true for US and Euro bikes.

Yammie has had so many T700s in use (let alone the motor) for so long, this bike's already been through the teething process. The desire is strong for me on this one.
 
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