Great, honest reviews, as always. Having Heather's input is a fresh, unbiased perspective that is lacking the typical journo-speak. I absolutely love your genuine, fluff free candor and that your are not pimping a test rider's comments as your own. THIS is how moto reviews should be! This bike is looking like it will be a huge hit for Yamaha, and I think they will sell a pile of them. As much as the Honda guys all want a new XR650R, the T 700 should be everyone's target bike. $10K, dirt bike feel/ layout, enough power, enough suspension, dialed handling. I'll be keeping my eyes out for one of these on the used market when I'm ready to add an ADV bike to the stable in a year or two.
To have Jimmy comment in such detail, one of my Dakar heroes is exponentially beneficial. To get Mrs. Lewis’s input is also extremely valuable. Great job, one of the best eval’s out there. Keep up the great work.
Nice review. I am so sick of canned reviews by motor journalists. Even Heathers not knowing all the terminalogy just explaining what she felt or noticed was refreshing. Keep it up!
Since Jimmy skims over these he got this from your comment: Put Heather back in the kitchen and serve Jimmy canned food so he can eat like other motojournalists. WTF? Oh, just listen to tonights show and see.
Of all the T7 reviews I’ve seen, this is the best. Including Heather’s perspective is an excellent idea. One suggestion: add a maybe 5 minute segment where Heather is on her own, giving her impressions from a woman rider’s point of view. In this segment, have the bike out in the dirt, with only Heather on camera, giving her uninterrupted viewpoints, maybe pointing to different parts of the bike and including some B-roll of her riding the machine.
To all you riders who say the T7 is underdamped let me say this; Jimmy Lewis is one of the best adv bike riders in the world, he placed third in the Dakar Rally on a boxer twin BMW. If he says the bike is not too soft for adv style riding, I'm thinking it isn't. Stop thinking of these bikes as big enduro bikes, they're not. Get a KTM 500 EXC for that.
great and honest review, it really helps me with my decision on buying one. i also like the simplicity of the tenere. thank you! greetings from austria!
Heather and Jimmy - you are a great team and this review really highlights that. Your reviews are the best in the business; honest, detailed and relevant. This bike definitely a contender in the mid-weight adventure class and possibly a better option than the 790 for many riders.
Congrats for a spot on real life review of this bike. I have had mine for near a year now and agree with all you said there. Far too many wannabe Dakar pilots out there criticizing this bike, especially the suspension, without even ever having sat on it. Perfectly good for the vast majority of riders. Adjust it! I also changed the pegs for bigger Pivotpegz. Massive improvement. Brake lever a bit short for chunky boots. That clutch lever cover I just removed, annoying! And although practical to have the toggle switch for the display it is on the wrong side. Every time you use it on the move it affects your throttle position. Better to use the dash button with your left. Being far from perfect, but what is, every time I come back from a ride on or off road I get off the T700, step back and smile at it. If it weren't so embarrassing I would give it a hug. Bravo Yamaha. And the ABS stays off when you stall the bike. Only resets when the ignition is turned off.
I was watching, thinking about how the T-7 would compare to my KLR 650, then you mentioned exactly what I was thinking. Thanks for a great review on the T-7.
That was an awesome review. You guys need to work on tossing the conversation back and forth rather than talking over each other. Let her develop her thoughts. Again, really good job you two.
Fantastic review for real everyday people not the 1% so I can't thank you enough! Reality is if you are that good you already know you are getting your forks redone and a new spring on the rear no matter which bike it is but you hear all these reviewers, most of which are not even that good of riders spew the same garbage over and over. You two are awesome, thanks again.
Good to see Heather and see you guys together doing a review. I remember her from her BMW days at consumer shows when I worked for Gas Gas. I also met you both a long time ago in South Florida when you did a two day training course for FTR and we supplied a Gas Gas for you to ride. Great to see your Dirt Bike Test reviews.
Absolutely agree the suspension is not as bad as some ppl say, however it can be made much better without too much cost. I'm 105kgs without gear and by the time I load 15kgs of luggage the standard bike is already well into its suspension strokes front and rear (rider sag) before you ask it to soak up any bumps. A slightly heavier rear spring (95n/mm for me) and a set of Preload Fork Caps from Rally Raid improve the off road and on road performance a lot. Great review guys, I like my T7 ALOT.
Just got my T7 and only just getting my first miles on it. I'm very similar in size to you and curious to know if these bikes released in the States have the same stock rear springs as released elsewhere? I may need to make the same mods you did, though I won't claim to be an aggressive off-road rider....yet.
First offroad ride today. Trinity lookout and around to idaho city and back. WHAT A BIKE!! My friend that just sold his KTM 950 SE said its better then that bike, which is high praise. I just went from a KTM 690r and I thought it was at least as good offroad, maybe better and 2x better on the street. YAMAHA has a winner, big time. I added a knobby front tire and with the heavier springs it was fast and stable over the rough stuff.
More Heather in reviews please Jimmy. Ha. My wife and I got to ride in Baja with her and had an absolute blast! Agreed on this being the best T7 review so far, looking for a bike to replace my now gone plated XR650R, this could be it.
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis thanks for the great review. I wish now that I didn't watch it because I really want one. I wanted one before but now I'll be daydreaming about it. I'm 55 and currently have a 2017 ktm 500excf which I won't be getting rid of anytime soon. But I'm really to the point where I want to strapped on some luggage like you did and see the rest of the West.
F9 mentioned that the high placement of the countersprocket on the motor creates an anti-jack effect on the rear wheel, essentially driving it downward into the ground. I wonder if that's the "traction control" that Heather is talking about...
No, not sure on his physics on this and I can go into it in pretty high detail, Maybe on the show tonight. Not sure where he drank that marketing cool aid!
LOL how dare u tell a bike reviewer that a different bike reviewer covered why everyone says this bike gets better traction than other ADV bikes. F9 has the specs on it also. Either way, great job Yamaha
@@DirtBikeTest I'd really love a link to whatever show you discussed that on, if it happened. thanks in advanced. Hearing insight from someone who actually professionally rides rather than some magazine junky means a lot to me. I dunno if it was marketing koolaid, but i do know Ryan from F9 has a degree in physics. so there is that to lend credence to his points. But could also have been a paid review, so there is that as well. It's just so hard to find any honesty in the markets these days. why else would someone watch 190 reviews of a motorcycle and still feel unsure about buying it? i mean....talking about a friend...ahem...yeah.
@@DirtBikeTest You might want to watch f9's video before you call him a koolaid guzzler based on the comment of someone else that sensibly applied the concept of said video.
One of the better reviews out there. Real everyman knowledgeable real world speak. Enjoyed that. Subscribed. This bike is a game changer. Yamaha deserve huge kudos for the long development time, but getting something so right first time out of the box. I almost think its too cheap for what you're getting. Its that good. I also believe this will be the go-to RTW bike for travellers.
It was hard enough finding one of these is in a shop....now that it has the Lewis Him and Her Stamp of Approval, who knows when the wife and I will see one in person. Thanks for a great approach to your review guys!
Amazing review. honest, straightforward and unbiased. I fell like i was with you guys in the conversations! I really agree with everything both of you said (finally a true real review for real everyday normal riders). I did some long trips in my XT600E (with big 21L gas tank and lots of add ons) to the "pistas" of Marrocos and all i can say its hard to do about 5.000kms of on-road to get there. In the t7 its all good on road and when you get there, its amazingly able off-road. Its really an amazing bike. Best review on the t700. Congratulations! PS: subscribed immediately!
Take a look at Yamaha T7 Uprated OEM Shock Spring (100$) for your total weight including luggage, Yamaha T7 Fork Preload Caps for 270$, these 2 mods can increase suspension performance without shelling out big bucks.I would advice to use Nylon M6 screws to replace both the OEM steel screws on the outside of the lower front fender mountings. If you hit something, the screws will break without harming the front fork. A couple cents saving you big money. You can get all of these from Rally Raid.
One of the better reviews out there. Very detailed and no bullshit. I was digging what you both had to say, until the price discussion. For $10k they could have added a preload adjuster on the forks. We already know that engine is $7.6 with a different dress on.
They should do a second part and let her do more talking and speak on her comparison with other ridden ADV bikes. I've had to go to the Husky camp because the T7 didn't come out when I was ready to buy. Looking a a bigger ADV bike now and the lure of Orange or the Tiger 900 rally keeps making me overlook this great simple machine.
Great, I give your reviews triple the credit vs other folks. I've only sat on the T7 but I'm really considering getting this bike. My Africa Twin infatuation may be over.
I've been a BMW fanboy for many years now, starting with the 1600 GTL, then the 1200 GS. A couple of years ago I decided to sell the GS because it wasn't getting ridden enough, partly because I didn't have a riding partner and I feel I'm getting too old to wrestle the GS off-road.. I bought a R.E. Himalayan. I just rode the Colorado BDR with the Himalayan. While I think that little bike did great, the 24 hp is a bit underwhelming, especially on the highway. The T7 will be my next bike, when I can find one. The entire West Coast is sold out. Here's my point. I'm now 65 years old. I don't want a huge 1200cc adventure bike. I want something that is comfortable on the highway for a few hundred miles a day, yet is easy to handle off-road. I want a bike that's easier for me to maintain, like the Himalayan, and not too intimidating to drop and pick back up. I'm not an aggressive rider/racer off-road, so I don't need a KTM 890. The T7 bike seems to fit that niche better than anything out there.
I told my wife, "reviews like this( drones, videos, actual footage with comments by the riders(esp. Jimmy and Heather)) are the reason motorcycle magazines are fading away fast. Great job you two, I'm a subscriber now! Really great work!
As the rest of the world seems to have gotten the Tenere 700 before you, There's a good Aussie channle (motorcyle Adventure Dirtbike tv) that has a seires of videos just on the Tenere.
We in India don't even have an option to look forward to this. While BMW, triumph, Ducati, honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki are selling their range of ADVs and the segment is blowing up, Yamaha India is happy selling only variations of their 150cc bikes. One of the worst motor companies ever in terms of marketing (the Indian division). With a sub 100k INR price tag this will sell like hot cakes but.....
I think everyone's getting bribed by Yamaha or something. Tenere costs more than Vstrom 1000xt in Australia which is a joke. DR650SE can be bought for like 9500AUD with free extras and it weighs 58kilos less. That is even lighter than a CBR300R!
One thing I don't understand about bike manufacturers is that why don't they offer option to select suspension components for different sized riders? I'm tempted to buy T7 but I know that I would have to change springs to stiffer as I'm quite much above that factory 75kg rider.
WOW! Great review! I had a FZ-07 so I know how good that engine is. I get tired of adventure bike reviews by motocross riders. Ride your motocross bike across the country or countries on and off pavement. Then let's talk. Thanks!
I traded off my 890 ADV-R for a '24 Tenere. No regrets. Tenere is a fantastic bike. My only complaint is the foot pegs being WAY too short for stand up riding.
I rally want want one bad lol. Local dealer called me yesterday and said they have one already spoken for but I can look at it in person. Leaving now to look I'm so excited and it's not my bike.
Awesome review! You guys are great! I missed that part with the suspension adjustment clickers, could you be more specific in terms of settings, which setup was the best for you? and your weight for the reference, please. Thanks!
I'm thinking about trying this bike and trading my Explorer XC for it. The Explorer has a great engine for the highway but sucks off road and I find myself one to explore a little bit more and tackle some steeper hills. I'm 57 years old and the t7 seems like it might be a better bike for me.
Stock Bash Plate - I dropped the bash plate onto a stump hidden in long grass at about 5 miles per hour and the stump smashed in the bash plate which cracked the sump right at the drain plug. If you are ridding offroad, the stock bash plate is not as strong as it looks.
Great review, I have a question about the comfort, I took a Tenere 700 for a 1 hour test ride from my local dealer and absolutely loved the bike, i had one small thing that bothered me and wanted to know if you experienced the same and if its adjustable, my right shin kept bumping into the right gearbox cover, is this a foot peg position issue or hight, will the higher seat change my leg angle ?
Great job. As far as maintenance is concerned how difficult is access to the air filter/ gear oil change, etc. How is the airbox design? I've had my fill of the orange brands air box designs.
With a simple seat mod (Rally Raid), the air box is easy access, just under the seat. Uni Filter makes a foam filter and pre-filter which goes on the snorkel. Change that pre-filter at reasonable intervals and the main filter stays good for extended periods, even in dusty conditions. Check MAD TV's series on all things Tenere.
Great review guys, appreciated getting the perspectives from each of you! At just over 6' I definitely get the wind buffeting on my T7, with the standard seat. Rally Raid makes a screen 9 cm taller, I may have to check it out. And ProCycle.us sells case covers for this engine made by R&G. I know the Aussies are using them and saying good things.
i prevent diving by setting the rebound stiff and the compression fast at the rear. if it stills dives too much then set less rear preload. or the hard way, harder front springs, and to much oil or extra spacers in front, but then on acceleration, it becomes a boat, than set the rebound on the front stiffer.
Great review, DBT!! I currently have a 2018 KTM 1290 Super Adventure R and have taken it out on parts of a few different adventure tour routes (Smokey Mountain 500 & KAT(Kentucky Adventure Tour). I’ve found that the KTM is a little tall & top heavy for me and definitely takes 2 people to pick up (for me anyway) and am looking for something a little lighter with a lower center of gravity for ADV/dual sport riding. Can you comment on comparisons of the Tenere 700 to a dual sport like a Husqvarna 350S/501S/701 Enduro? Thanks!
You really can't compare the 701 to the 350/500 platform. The 701 is 100lbs heavier than those bikes, and 100lbs lighter than a T7. It's an excellent dual sport, which means it sucks moderately everywhere but gravel roads, it is an absolute riot though, my favorite bike of the 50+ I've owned. It really encourages stupidity, on road and off. It is also insanely tall.
I'm trying to determine how important traction control is and if it is a significant safety feature? Did the riders ever miss traction control on the T700 or feel like the lack of it compromised the safety of the bike?
In our testing, never missed it. And since we din;t have to worry about turning something on or off, it was safe too! We'll dive into this a little on Tech Talk #71 tonight.
Great review guys! Could you share the rebound and compression settings on the front and rear for both on and off road? Is there a compromise setting that can be ok on and off?
We talk about the suspension settings in more detail here and have a setup that works everywhere. It gets the packing to go away and makes it more compliant. th-cam.com/video/M6O4492rWNQ/w-d-xo.html see here : dirtbiketest.com/fresh-dirt/2021-yamaha-tenere-700-first-impression-video-ride/ " Yamaha’s off-road setting suggests clicker positions more in the 7-clicks out from full stiff on all adjustments. (11-17 is the standard setting depending on the clicker.) We tired that setting and found the rebound to be a little slow even if it helped the compression damping additionally. So we kept the stiffer compression setting and opened up the fork and shock’s rebound to more near 10-clicks and found a much more supple feeling and still excellent bottoming resistance. We also nearly maxed out the rear shock’s adjustable preload adjustment for the same reason, getting the most of the suspension stroke-and it worked without altering the handling feel."
Just got my t700 today. I have my sag setting at 60mm. Do you mean compression on both front and rear at 7 clicks from fully close? Rebound front and rear at 10 clicks from full close?
Hi Jimmy, I tested the bike for 300kms of twisty roads and some gravel roads with big pot holes. I love the settings. I started with 9 compression from fully closed and felt it is still soft on the initial stroke. I have settled at -7 compression now. Rebound is still at -10. I have hit the high roller at the swingarm and have 30mm remaining at the front fork marks. Bike also handled well in the tight twistes, maintaining similar cornering speed of my xsr900. Maxxed out chicken strips at the front.
THe explanation for your observations does seem to be that this yamaha is special because the front drive sprocket is in-line with the swing arm line ....which lets it simply handle better and be supple, less squat, - and that's what it looks like in action.
The review is great but I'd love to know; How do you navigate your itinerary through the West and find routes so beautiful- offroad. I'm eager to go to the US once Corona is over and do a similar 1000 mile trip across the Western US. I need all the tips I can get on Navigation, but not sure where to start. Do you use a particular website or hardware to help you, or do you have a sharable itinerary?
So the rest of the world has this as a 2020 model, I’ve always found it funny that the US release their next year models of cars and bikes etc about mid year.
Oh, we've discussed this and there isn't much in the mechanics of that, check TTTT episode #68 and 69 for the details. And be careful what you learn on the internet...even with us!
@@DirtBikeTest I understand. it's nothing fancy yet clever. Seems like the abnormally high counter shaft makes for a sharp swing arm angle, pushing the front down when accelerating creating anti squat, resulting in better steering and tranction gain. I appreciate the time and effort you guys have put into this and appreciate you sharing the knowledge.
What are they on about ?! We are still in 2020 on my side of the shore people ! Yam 700 is my favorite bike, no need fancy gizmo either one of those big heavy bikes.. .
i want to test this bike when it get here in southamerica, im use to naked bikes (mt07) and i wanna know how it feel that windscreen, i just hate the wind buffeting when i tried the screen on my mt07
![[안방1열 풀캠4K] 베이비몬스터 'DRIP' (BABYMONSTER FullCam)│@SBS Inkigayo 241110](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/AQ4RIghEvUs/mqdefault.jpg)
Great, honest reviews, as always. Having Heather's input is a fresh, unbiased perspective that is lacking the typical journo-speak. I absolutely love your genuine, fluff free candor and that your are not pimping a test rider's comments as your own. THIS is how moto reviews should be! This bike is looking like it will be a huge hit for Yamaha, and I think they will sell a pile of them. As much as the Honda guys all want a new XR650R, the T 700 should be everyone's target bike. $10K, dirt bike feel/ layout, enough power, enough suspension, dialed handling. I'll be keeping my eyes out for one of these on the used market when I'm ready to add an ADV bike to the stable in a year or two.
To have Jimmy comment in such detail, one of my Dakar heroes is exponentially beneficial. To get Mrs. Lewis’s input is also extremely valuable. Great job, one of the best eval’s out there. Keep up the great work.
Nice review. I am so sick of canned reviews by motor journalists. Even Heathers not knowing all the terminalogy just explaining what she felt or noticed was refreshing. Keep it up!
Since Jimmy skims over these he got this from your comment: Put Heather back in the kitchen and serve Jimmy canned food so he can eat like other motojournalists. WTF? Oh, just listen to tonights show and see.
Of all the T7 reviews I’ve seen, this is the best. Including Heather’s perspective is an excellent idea. One suggestion: add a maybe 5 minute segment where Heather is on her own, giving her impressions from a woman rider’s point of view. In this segment, have the bike out in the dirt, with only Heather on camera, giving her uninterrupted viewpoints, maybe pointing to different parts of the bike and including some B-roll of her riding the machine.
Ryan from FortNine?
@@Niki_Parvanov Yeah come on, I mean it doesn't get any better than that.
To all you riders who say the T7 is underdamped let me say this; Jimmy Lewis is one of the best adv bike riders in the world, he placed third in the Dakar Rally on a boxer twin BMW. If he says the bike is not too soft for adv style riding, I'm thinking it isn't. Stop thinking of these bikes as big enduro bikes, they're not. Get a KTM 500 EXC for that.
Thank You, Jimmy's ego loves a good stroke. Now stop!
Technical, knowledgeable, practical. No one does these better! Nice job team!
This was hands down one of the best motorcycle reviews I have ever seen. Engaging, knowledgeable, no nonsense and good editing! Thank you!
Glad it helped!
Really good in depth review! Way better than the average motorcycle journalist on a press ride talking about superficial details.
great and honest review, it really helps me with my decision on buying one. i also like the simplicity of the tenere. thank you!
greetings from austria!
this was a really good in depth review that took a more practical riding approach than any of the other ones.
Thanks!
Heather and Jimmy - you are a great team and this review really highlights that. Your reviews are the best in the business; honest, detailed and relevant. This bike definitely a contender in the mid-weight adventure class and possibly a better option than the 790 for many riders.
Thanks for watching!
Congrats for a spot on real life review of this bike. I have had mine for near a year now and agree with all you said there. Far too many wannabe Dakar pilots out there criticizing this bike, especially the suspension, without even ever having sat on it. Perfectly good for the vast majority of riders. Adjust it! I also changed the pegs for bigger Pivotpegz. Massive improvement. Brake lever a bit short for chunky boots. That clutch lever cover I just removed, annoying! And although practical to have the toggle switch for the display it is on the wrong side. Every time you use it on the move it affects your throttle position. Better to use the dash button with your left.
Being far from perfect, but what is, every time I come back from a ride on or off road I get off the T700, step back and smile at it. If it weren't so embarrassing I would give it a hug. Bravo Yamaha.
And the ABS stays off when you stall the bike. Only resets when the ignition is turned off.
I was watching, thinking about how the T-7 would compare to my KLR 650, then you mentioned exactly what I was thinking.
Thanks for a great review on the T-7.
Very professional & objective review. DBT rocks!
That was an awesome review. You guys need to work on tossing the conversation back and forth rather than talking over each other. Let her develop her thoughts. Again, really good job you two.
She is lucky I let her wear shoes, come outside and ride dirt bikes... Just kidding. We are married after all.
Fantastic review for real everyday people not the 1% so I can't thank you enough! Reality is if you are that good you already know you are getting your forks redone and a new spring on the rear no matter which bike it is but you hear all these reviewers, most of which are not even that good of riders spew the same garbage over and over. You two are awesome, thanks again.
Heather thanks you.
One of the most informative real world reviews.
Good to see Heather and see you guys together doing a review. I remember her from her BMW days at consumer shows when I worked for Gas Gas. I also met you both a long time ago
in South Florida when you did a two day training course for FTR and we supplied a Gas Gas for you to ride. Great to see your Dirt Bike Test reviews.
Real review by real people. Helps a lot! Thanks guys!
Absolutely agree the suspension is not as bad as some ppl say, however it can be made much better without too much cost. I'm 105kgs without gear and by the time I load 15kgs of luggage the standard bike is already well into its suspension strokes front and rear (rider sag) before you ask it to soak up any bumps. A slightly heavier rear spring (95n/mm for me) and a set of Preload Fork Caps from Rally Raid improve the off road and on road performance a lot. Great review guys, I like my T7 ALOT.
Just got my T7 and only just getting my first miles on it. I'm very similar in size to you and curious to know if these bikes released in the States have the same stock rear springs as released elsewhere? I may need to make the same mods you did, though I won't claim to be an aggressive off-road rider....yet.
Good review. As always you can trust what Jimmy says. Heather is a great rider in her own right and worth listening to.
I’ve been waiting for this review forever! Jimmy approved!
Great review. Sound is much better than some other videos.
Thanks
Great review. I am heavy so I have ordered heavier springs (front and rear) for mine. I put Fastway pegs on mine, great upgrade.
First offroad ride today. Trinity lookout and around to idaho city and back. WHAT A BIKE!! My friend that just sold his KTM 950 SE said its better then that bike, which is high praise. I just went from a KTM 690r and I thought it was at least as good offroad, maybe better and 2x better on the street. YAMAHA has a winner, big time. I added a knobby front tire and with the heavier springs it was fast and stable over the rough stuff.
More Heather in reviews please Jimmy. Ha. My wife and I got to ride in Baja with her and had an absolute blast! Agreed on this being the best T7 review so far, looking for a bike to replace my now gone plated XR650R, this could be it.
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis thanks for the great review. I wish now that I didn't watch it because I really want one. I wanted one before but now I'll be daydreaming about it. I'm 55 and currently have a 2017 ktm 500excf which I won't be getting rid of anytime soon. But I'm really to the point where I want to strapped on some luggage like you did and see the rest of the West.
Great Video as always Jimmy!...I’m sold, can’t wait to pick one up!
F9 mentioned that the high placement of the countersprocket on the motor creates an anti-jack effect on the rear wheel, essentially driving it downward into the ground. I wonder if that's the "traction control" that Heather is talking about...
No, not sure on his physics on this and I can go into it in pretty high detail, Maybe on the show tonight. Not sure where he drank that marketing cool aid!
52% of the weight on the rear tire is a natural traction control as well.
LOL how dare u tell a bike reviewer that a different bike reviewer covered why everyone says this bike gets better traction than other ADV bikes. F9 has the specs on it also. Either way, great job Yamaha
@@DirtBikeTest I'd really love a link to whatever show you discussed that on, if it happened. thanks in advanced. Hearing insight from someone who actually professionally rides rather than some magazine junky means a lot to me.
I dunno if it was marketing koolaid, but i do know Ryan from F9 has a degree in physics. so there is that to lend credence to his points. But could also have been a paid review, so there is that as well. It's just so hard to find any honesty in the markets these days. why else would someone watch 190 reviews of a motorcycle and still feel unsure about buying it? i mean....talking about a friend...ahem...yeah.
@@DirtBikeTest You might want to watch f9's video before you call him a koolaid guzzler based on the comment of someone else that sensibly applied the concept of said video.
Great review! From what I've gathered pretty much everyone is in agreeance about the suspension valving needing to be changed/ fine tuned.
One of the better reviews out there. Real everyman knowledgeable real world speak.
Enjoyed that.
Subscribed.
This bike is a game changer.
Yamaha deserve huge kudos for the long development time, but getting something so right first time out of the box. I almost think its too cheap for what you're getting. Its that good. I also believe this will be the go-to RTW bike for travellers.
It was hard enough finding one of these is in a shop....now that it has the Lewis Him and Her Stamp of Approval, who knows when the wife and I will see one in person. Thanks for a great approach to your review guys!
Fingers crossed!
Amazing review. honest, straightforward and unbiased. I fell like i was with you guys in the conversations! I really agree with everything both of you said (finally a true real review for real everyday normal riders). I did some long trips in my XT600E (with big 21L gas tank and lots of add ons) to the "pistas" of Marrocos and all i can say its hard to do about 5.000kms of on-road to get there. In the t7 its all good on road and when you get there, its amazingly able off-road. Its really an amazing bike. Best review on the t700. Congratulations! PS: subscribed immediately!
Thanks, Hope we can keep them coming but getting drowned out by people with better tagging skills!
Excellent review focusing on all of the critical aspects most riders need. Thanks
Take a look at Yamaha T7 Uprated OEM Shock Spring (100$) for your total weight including luggage, Yamaha T7 Fork Preload Caps for 270$, these 2 mods can increase suspension performance without shelling out big bucks.I would advice to use Nylon M6 screws to replace both the OEM steel screws on the outside of the lower front fender mountings. If you hit something, the screws will break without harming the front fork. A couple cents saving you big money. You can get all of these from Rally Raid.
One of the better reviews out there. Very detailed and no bullshit. I was digging what you both had to say, until the price discussion. For $10k they could have added a preload adjuster on the forks. We already know that engine is $7.6 with a different dress on.
As always... The best effing review. Great to see Heather.
They should do a second part and let her do more talking and speak on her comparison with other ridden ADV bikes. I've had to go to the Husky camp because the T7 didn't come out when I was ready to buy. Looking a a bigger ADV bike now and the lure of Orange or the Tiger 900 rally keeps making me overlook this great simple machine.
Great, I give your reviews triple the credit vs other folks. I've only sat on the T7 but I'm really considering getting this bike. My Africa Twin infatuation may be over.
Why Triple? Double would be good enough.
I've been a BMW fanboy for many years now, starting with the 1600 GTL, then the 1200 GS. A couple of years ago I decided to sell the GS because it wasn't getting ridden enough, partly because I didn't have a riding partner and I feel I'm getting too old to wrestle the GS off-road.. I bought a R.E. Himalayan. I just rode the Colorado BDR with the Himalayan. While I think that little bike did great, the 24 hp is a bit underwhelming, especially on the highway.
The T7 will be my next bike, when I can find one. The entire West Coast is sold out.
Here's my point. I'm now 65 years old. I don't want a huge 1200cc adventure bike. I want something that is comfortable on the highway for a few hundred miles a day, yet is easy to handle off-road. I want a bike that's easier for me to maintain, like the Himalayan, and not too intimidating to drop and pick back up. I'm not an aggressive rider/racer off-road, so I don't need a KTM 890.
The T7 bike seems to fit that niche better than anything out there.
you are on the right path!
Good review! Nice dynamic between these two.
Beautiful footage. Nice and honest review. Thanks
Great review, good to hear both of your perspectives
Great review! Jimmy knows what he is talking about, unlike some other internet engineers ;)
Great review! I really enjoyed the perspective from both of you! Cheers!
After almost 2 decades of riding exclusively street/track, I'm looking for an ADV bike. It's either gonna be this or the 890 R. Great review!
Very thorough review! This might be the bike I plan for my next purchase.
Fantastic review. Really enjoyable and informative. Great conversation. Thank you.
I told my wife, "reviews like this( drones, videos, actual footage with comments by the riders(esp. Jimmy and Heather)) are the reason motorcycle magazines are fading away fast. Great job you two, I'm a subscriber now! Really great work!
Thanks Jimmy. As always, an excellent review. Hit all of the areas that I was interested in.
Glad you enjoyed it!
As the rest of the world seems to have gotten the Tenere 700 before you, There's a good Aussie channle (motorcyle Adventure Dirtbike tv) that has a seires of videos just on the Tenere.
Very good series, with input gathered from a number of serious off-road/adventure riders! Great shout-out to MAD TV!
We in India don't even have an option to look forward to this. While BMW, triumph, Ducati, honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki are selling their range of ADVs and the segment is blowing up, Yamaha India is happy selling only variations of their 150cc bikes. One of the worst motor companies ever in terms of marketing (the Indian division). With a sub 100k INR price tag this will sell like hot cakes but.....
I think everyone's getting bribed by Yamaha or something. Tenere costs more than Vstrom 1000xt in Australia which is a joke. DR650SE can be bought for like 9500AUD with free extras and it weighs 58kilos less. That is even lighter than a CBR300R!
One thing I don't understand about bike manufacturers is that why don't they offer option to select suspension components for different sized riders? I'm tempted to buy T7 but I know that I would have to change springs to stiffer as I'm quite much above that factory 75kg rider.
WOW! Great review! I had a FZ-07 so I know how good that engine is. I get tired of adventure bike reviews by motocross riders. Ride your motocross bike across the country or countries on and off pavement. Then let's talk. Thanks!
I traded off my 890 ADV-R for a '24 Tenere. No regrets. Tenere is a fantastic bike. My only complaint is the foot pegs being WAY too short for stand up riding.
See our Vlog on T7...
Great review! I wanna hear Heather's review of every adv bike y'all test! :-)
Looks so much fun
Can you do the KTM 790 r? really liked the review, specially the suspension segment. Well done!
I rally want want one bad lol. Local dealer called me yesterday and said they have one already spoken for but I can look at it in person. Leaving now to look I'm so excited and it's not my bike.
Awesome review! You guys are great! I missed that part with the suspension adjustment clickers, could you be more specific in terms of settings, which setup was the best for you? and your weight for the reference, please. Thanks!
I'm thinking about trying this bike and trading my Explorer XC for it. The Explorer has a great engine for the highway but sucks off road and I find myself one to explore a little bit more and tackle some steeper hills. I'm 57 years old and the t7 seems like it might be a better bike for me.
I really like the input from your wife. You guys are pretty awesome 👍
Stock Bash Plate - I dropped the bash plate onto a stump hidden in long grass at about 5 miles per hour and the stump smashed in the bash plate which cracked the sump right at the drain plug. If you are ridding offroad, the stock bash plate is not as strong as it looks.
It doesn't even look strong...
Thanks Guys.JHB-SA.
Great review, I have a question about the comfort, I took a Tenere 700 for a 1 hour test ride from my local dealer and absolutely loved the bike, i had one small thing that bothered me and wanted to know if you experienced the same and if its adjustable, my right shin kept bumping into the right gearbox cover, is this a foot peg position issue or hight, will the higher seat change my leg angle ?
At first you notice it and then you don't. But we also wear moto boots and knee protection when we ride.
Great video. I would like to know how tall you two are because I am 5'9" and I am not sure if I can ride well.
Great review as always 👍
Great unbiased review. Thank you!
Great job. As far as maintenance is concerned how difficult is access to the air filter/ gear oil change, etc. How is the airbox design? I've had my fill of the orange brands air box designs.
With a simple seat mod (Rally Raid), the air box is easy access, just under the seat. Uni Filter makes a foam filter and pre-filter which goes on the snorkel. Change that pre-filter at reasonable intervals and the main filter stays good for extended periods, even in dusty conditions. Check MAD TV's series on all things Tenere.
Great review! Thank you!
SO informative 👏🏻
Great video, now if only I can get my hands on my pre-ordered T7. What soft luggage were you using? Thanks
Great review. What soft bags and setup did you use? And love to hear about your route so I can explore the area. Cheers
Great review guys, appreciated getting the perspectives from each of you! At just over 6' I definitely get the wind buffeting on my T7, with the standard seat. Rally Raid makes a screen 9 cm taller, I may have to check it out. And ProCycle.us sells case covers for this engine made by R&G. I know the Aussies are using them and saying good things.
Thanks for sharing!
Love the video. Do u still have the t7?
I did a survey on my KLR forum asking what their next bike will be. 50% said T7. This was after the announcement of the new KLR.
Will give the full detailed answer on Tech Talk Taco Tuesday #97
Great Review! How tall are you and Heather?
Jimmy = 5'10" Heather =5'6"
great review
Where was the riding filmed?
Большое спасибо за обзор. Заказал себе тоже такой мотоцикл, только чёрного цвета
i prevent diving by setting the rebound stiff and the compression fast at the rear. if it stills dives too much then set less rear preload. or the hard way, harder front springs, and to much oil or extra spacers in front, but then on acceleration, it becomes a boat, than set the rebound on the front stiffer.
Our settings, explained in the first impression worked perfect for us.
Please start a podcast !!!!!!! Great Content!
We have one called Tech Talk Taco Tuesday and shame in the TH-cams overlords for not showing it to you...Just check our channel, you;ll see...
I don't know. This review overall seems just TOO GOOD. I suspect there's more to the story. Good review to address a list of items like that.
The bike is just Too Good.... No more. It is just as we comment.
Great review, DBT!!
I currently have a 2018 KTM 1290 Super Adventure R and have taken it out on parts of a few different adventure tour routes (Smokey Mountain 500 & KAT(Kentucky Adventure Tour). I’ve found that the KTM is a little tall & top heavy for me and definitely takes 2 people to pick up (for me anyway) and am looking for something a little lighter with a lower center of gravity for ADV/dual sport riding.
Can you comment on comparisons of the Tenere 700 to a dual sport like a Husqvarna 350S/501S/701 Enduro?
Thanks!
You really can't compare the 701 to the 350/500 platform. The 701 is 100lbs heavier than those bikes, and 100lbs lighter than a T7. It's an excellent dual sport, which means it sucks moderately everywhere but gravel roads, it is an absolute riot though, my favorite bike of the 50+ I've owned. It really encourages stupidity, on road and off. It is also insanely tall.
I think I will buy this bike. I'm over 200 lbs's so with all gear on I will set rider sag.
I'm trying to determine how important traction control is and if it is a significant safety feature? Did the riders ever miss traction control on the T700 or feel like the lack of it compromised the safety of the bike?
In our testing, never missed it. And since we din;t have to worry about turning something on or off, it was safe too! We'll dive into this a little on Tech Talk #71 tonight.
Great review guys! Could you share the rebound and compression settings on the front and rear for both on and off road? Is there a compromise setting that can be ok on and off?
We talk about the suspension settings in more detail here and have a setup that works everywhere. It gets the packing to go away and makes it more compliant. th-cam.com/video/M6O4492rWNQ/w-d-xo.html
see here : dirtbiketest.com/fresh-dirt/2021-yamaha-tenere-700-first-impression-video-ride/
" Yamaha’s off-road setting suggests clicker positions more in the 7-clicks out from full stiff on all adjustments. (11-17 is the standard setting depending on the clicker.) We tired that setting and found the rebound to be a little slow even if it helped the compression damping additionally. So we kept the stiffer compression setting and opened up the fork and shock’s rebound to more near 10-clicks and found a much more supple feeling and still excellent bottoming resistance. We also nearly maxed out the rear shock’s adjustable preload adjustment for the same reason, getting the most of the suspension stroke-and it worked without altering the handling feel."
@@DirtBikeTest thank you for the detailed answer and sharing of videos. More power to you guys!
Just got my t700 today. I have my sag setting at 60mm. Do you mean compression on both front and rear at 7 clicks from fully close? Rebound front and rear at 10 clicks from full close?
@@TheGarettShowTV yes, always count out from full closed but be careful not to force the "last" click, which is "0". Then count out.
Hi Jimmy, I tested the bike for 300kms of twisty roads and some gravel roads with big pot holes. I love the settings. I started with 9 compression from fully closed and felt it is still soft on the initial stroke. I have settled at -7 compression now. Rebound is still at -10. I have hit the high roller at the swingarm and have 30mm remaining at the front fork marks. Bike also handled well in the tight twistes, maintaining similar cornering speed of my xsr900. Maxxed out chicken strips at the front.
Check out Adventure Spec for some great options for bashplate and crashbars.
THe explanation for your observations does seem to be that this yamaha is special because the front drive sprocket is in-line with the swing arm line ....which lets it simply handle better and be supple, less squat, - and that's what it looks like in action.
Tech Talk Taco Tuesday episodes 68 and especially 69 get into this....
@@DirtBikeTest cheers
The review is great but I'd love to know; How do you navigate your itinerary through the West and find routes so beautiful- offroad. I'm eager to go to the US once Corona is over and do a similar 1000 mile trip across the Western US. I need all the tips I can get on Navigation, but not sure where to start. Do you use a particular website or hardware to help you, or do you have a sharable itinerary?
We'll give our route planning secrets tonight on Tech Talk Tuesday #69... It runs live on Facebook at 7 PM PST @dirtbiketest
In the Western US, 1000 miles is barely starting out. Plan on at least 3k miles.
Why do Americans call a liquid a gas?
Btw how is it for long road journeys? Is it comfortable?
He was being funny
Any question that begins 'Why do American's' can always be answered 'Because Freedom'.
So the rest of the world has this as a 2020 model, I’ve always found it funny that the US release their next year models of cars and bikes etc about mid year.
At 3:30 the mystery system is the mechanical anti-squat. Check out fortnine review of this bike for details on that.
Oh, we've discussed this and there isn't much in the mechanics of that, check TTTT episode #68 and 69 for the details. And be careful what you learn on the internet...even with us!
@@DirtBikeTest I understand.
it's nothing fancy yet clever. Seems like the abnormally high counter shaft makes for a sharp swing arm angle, pushing the front down when accelerating creating anti squat, resulting in better steering and tranction gain.
I appreciate the time and effort you guys have put into this and appreciate you sharing the knowledge.
This bike really takes care of you
What are they on about ?! We are still in 2020 on my side of the shore people ! Yam 700 is my favorite bike, no need fancy gizmo either one of those big heavy bikes.. .
We may discuss you further on Tech Talk Taco Tuesday #76 tonight! We go on about it!
Were u going to review the 2020 Honda Adventure sports ES?
corrosion on the tank vibration problems in the steer... and some other problems are comming up after one year.....
That kinda rhymes, can you elaborate in a rap?
How does this compare to a 2019-2020 KTM 690 enduro R?
Price, wind, handling, weight, power, lugability, and off/on road?
Ron, Guess you haven't been watching Tech Talk? Jimmy has a thing for the 690...
Dirt Bike Test
No, Haven’t watched many. Thanks for the replay.
You have my board hanging. Love the assessment & lovely daughter. Thanks
Did you use some sort of translator? We're confused on the hanging board and daughter stuff?!?
It looks like the model released in Europe 2019.
i want to test this bike when it get here in southamerica, im use to naked bikes (mt07) and i wanna know how it feel that windscreen, i just hate the wind buffeting when i tried the screen on my mt07
I can't wait to see JD Beech at AMA PRO TT race that thing