Don't buy a Yamaha Tenere 700 without watching this first

#tenere700 #t7 #adv

My honeymoon with the Yamaha Tenere 700 is over. It's time to tell the truth about the good and bad of this bike. Is it worth all the hype?

00:00 Intro
01:27 Love: Engine
03:09 Love: Value
04:43 Love: Reliability
06:43 Love: Style
07:22 Hate: Top Heavy
11:43 Hate: Fuel Range
13:42 Hate: Suspension
17:37 Hate: Exhaust Hanger
19:35 Conclusion

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[BigRockMoto]

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[johnscott]

I only wish more people were as honest as you. First class review.

[turinhorse]

If youre 6' or taller, the "omg its so top heavy" thing is more like "aaaahhh this is perfect".

[markhingst]

On point review! So clear, concise, articulate and genuine. This absolutely sets the standard for an ownership review and I wish you all success so you can keep every bike you make content with in the future 😁

[FULLPELTAdventures]

Your review is spot on. Having owned the T7 for 2 years and done 22000km on it with no issues. The T7 has been a top seller in Australia and as you said, its not perfect but its flaws are few.

[culturepolitics]

My T700 has done 7000km under my seat. I would remove the fuel range from above complaints, and add crappy rear brake. I have tested my T7 properly and know it can (has) done 450 km on one tank, and it would have gone to 480. How?
Background:
On my previous bike, XT660R, I crossed the Australian Outback and thought (more or less correctly) that I needed the 26L tank from Off-The-Road. Though I could never get 26 litres in that tank and the extra fuel pump and taps introduced the only unreliable components to the bike, it did extend my range. I habitually got 500+ km/ tank, but riding with a Mate on a KLR with 22 litres, his fuel range was way less and we refilled together. He seldom failed to point out to me that I must enjoy transporting fuel axross the outback, since your range is effectively no more than the mates you ride with. The cost, the weight the effort and the frequent misjudgement due to complicated taps and pumps caused me a few embarrassing flame-outs. When I bough the T7, with a 16L tank, (660 has a 15L stock) I expected I would have to ad a fuel tank, but I decided to properly test it first. (I now live in Africa - Adventure Land🤩)

Test Results:
👉Riding like a lunatic 140km/h into a headwind, the worst I got thus far was 18.5 km/l = 296km/tank. In Africa where I now reside, its hard to find fuel pumps further apart than that.
👉At 130 km/h on the clock, (120 on GPS), I was unable to get less than 21km/l. That gives 336 km per tank.
👉On an experimental (deliberate test) at 110 km/h with no wind, I went on reserve (blinking started) at 349.2 km. I refilled shortly after, at 354 taking 11.8 litres. That's exactly 30km/l, better than the frequent 27km/l or the usual 25km/l. (This is when I ride alone. Riding in a group take more fuel)
👉I'm convinced that in a pinch (if you know the next pump is way far, or you don't know if they will have fuel) you can maintain 100 km/h and expect 400 km per tank. The trip computer will indicate the "litres/100km" and it works like this:
👉Next pump distance is 500km? Keep the L/100 below 3.2. How? Reduce speed. At 80 km/h, it will stay at 3 L/100. Yea, 80 sucks, but is beats pushing!
👉Next pump distance is 400km? Keep the L/100 below 4.0. How? Manage your speed, around 120 on the clock will do it.
👉Next pump distance is 300km? Keep the L/100 below 5.3. Easy, but there is a catch!

👉The trip computer on my bike is pessimistic. When it reads 6.1l/100 km, I expected 16.3 km/L and a fuel range of 262. But at the pump, I calculated 5L/100km. So... its quite pessimistic.
👉Also, the reserve starts to blink with more than 4 litres remaining in the tank, reducing the actual worry free fuel range unnecessarily.

My conclusion is that I do not need an extra fuel tank, as I have a good idea what can be done and how to do it. But there are factors that affect the expected range, and you should keep these in mind and you should do your own test:
👉Paniers will reduce your range. (On my GS, it reduce range with around 2km/l)
👉Larger screens and yes, crash bars, lights and bulky luggage (or a fat woman is to be avoided 🤣)
👉I rode with the Pirelli's the bike came with. Knobblies will affect the fuel consumption negatively, and road tires positively.
👉Tire and pear pressure: If your mates go fast, so will you. But they will run out of fuel with you 😜
👉We discovered that headwinds cannot be avoided and have a huge impact on consumption, especially on bigger bikes like a GS1250.

On a normal ride, averaging 130/140 km/h I fully expect 300 km per tank, which is ample. If I need 400km, I reduce speed till the consumption comes down to 4L/100=25. (25*16=400km)

I rode with a friend, he was on a GS1250. His fuel tank is 20litre, we had very similar fuel range, as he almost never got 20km/l. It was quite windy going west the first few days, with less wind coming east. I tested the top speed also, but will post a video on that topic.

My T7 honeymoon has just begun. My friend with his GS conceded that the T7 sounds better, is better priced, is fast enough, way more fun - especially on gravel roads, much lighter on fuel. He has not conceded, but obviously, the T7 is also sexier 😍and got more attention from just about everybody under 60!!

[calprimo]

Ian is clearly delivering hands down, the best bike reviews on YouTube. I always learn something here!

[kawabungah]

This is such an important review for us all. Presentation, facts, research, logic, thoroughness and candidness. What more could motorcyclists ask for? Ian is the master of motorcycle reviews (IMO)! I'm excited about the 2022 Yamaha T7 World Raid model. Will just have to wait for it to come to the US.

[jokermtb]

The pickup test is what really makes for an honest review….nobody else does that important bit!

[MisfortunateJustice]

I greatly appreciate you for this.
I'm in MMI right now and was really digging the Tenere 700 for the future. Nice to see I should definitely wait a few years for the kinks get worked out.

[daletidy.]

Excellent review! T7 owner here, I’m new to adventure bikes so the weight and where it sits does bug me, I also replaced the exhaust with the Hp corse high exhaust which sits where the stock one should have been placed from the start. It made me happy to hear that if it wasn’t for needing to sell and use new bikes to review that you would keep it. It is an amazing bike and I look forward to getting to know it well over the years

[paulcave]

Pretty fair and accurate review Ian. I love my T7 - best bike I have owned and perfect compromise for dirt touring and harder tracks. I suspect you will miss it a lot once its gone.

[randypower]

Another great video, Ian. Cheers.

I rode my CRF300L Rally 5000 miles in September 2021 with a friend on his T7. We did the MABDR and NEBDR plus lots of pavement. Our fuel ranges with the stock tanks were identical.

[ADVScott]

As always great review Ian, and agree this bike needs to be challenged by the top motorcycle manufacturers as this is where a big portion of the market is at. And yes cost, reliability and simplicity does make this bike a winner👍

[theodoremarakas]

I love your reviews. The lack of nonsense, atrocious music and theatrics makes people concentrate on what you have to say and take your opinion seriously.

[jeffdavies]

Fantastic job, very smart review. I've cycled through alot of adventure bikes over the years because of spec's and bubbly positive reviews. Thank you for keeping it real.

[Geeios]

Great review. With a 29" inseam, the first spec I go to is saddle height, the second is engine size, the third is fuel capacity. You mentioned them all thanks.

[jimwood]

Cheers Ian. Great review as always. I'm thinking about one of these to do a big trip on. This wouldn't put me off but some good things to think about - and add suspension costs to budget. Nice one. 👍🏻

[ernestbauer_]

Easily one of the best Bike channels on Youtube. Informative, objective, I could go on and on.

[jchapman]

I love how you breakdown the time stamps of the love hate. Excellent touch.