The 2021 Yamaha Tenere 700
- Thread starter Venture
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Been having thoughts along this line for a while and it's one reason I bought the KTM 350, but the throttle on that bike turns out to be SOOOO much temptation that I'm selling it before I kill myself. The thing has 52 hp at only 236 lbs. Tried the WR250 and it just wasn't fun wringing the poor thing's neck all the time to make power. A guy showed up at our monthly ride to eat with a WR yesterday and listening to him was an instant flash-back. The Honda CRF250L Rally looks is more than 100 lbs more than the KTM and relatively low powered but I want to try one at some point because the power band is more mid-range where you want it.
At the same time, I have so much to do that it's just stuff passing through between the ears.
At the same time, I have so much to do that it's just stuff passing through between the ears.
Dirt_Dad
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Used to own an '06 625 SMC, the supermoto version of the SXC. Super fun bike, but lots of problems. Off the top of my head, waterpumps grenade, rocker arm bearings need to be changed every 10-15k miles before they explode and take the camshaft with them, and oil seals on top of oil seals. Bought my bike at 20k km's and sold it a couple years later at 28k km's. In that time I did the output shaft seal, shifter seal, oil filler cap seal, resealed the valve cover. Sold it needing a cylinder base gasket, and I think starter seal. Those were the major ones, really the engine needed a full tear down to replace every single seal.
My favourite issue on that bike is KTM drilled one of the exhaust header screw holes straight through into the open head, guess where oil was leaking from... Wasn't just my bike, I think it was all of them.
Outside of the issues, I really loved riding that thing. Rattled like a paint shaker, in a kind of charming way, as long as I wasn't on the highway. Fueling was probably the best I have ridden on any bike, don't know what was done to my carb, but it was a thing of beauty.
Not my picture, but the red wire shows the path from the exhaust header screw hole into the head
My favourite issue on that bike is KTM drilled one of the exhaust header screw holes straight through into the open head, guess where oil was leaking from... Wasn't just my bike, I think it was all of them.
Outside of the issues, I really loved riding that thing. Rattled like a paint shaker, in a kind of charming way, as long as I wasn't on the highway. Fueling was probably the best I have ridden on any bike, don't know what was done to my carb, but it was a thing of beauty.
Not my picture, but the red wire shows the path from the exhaust header screw hole into the head
Used to own an '06 625 SMC, the supermoto version of the SXC. Super fun bike, but lots of problems. Off the top of my head, waterpumps grenade, rocker arm bearings need to be changed every 10-15k miles before they explode and take the camshaft with them, and oil seals on top of oil seals. Bought my bike at 20k km's and sold it a couple years later at 28k km's. In that time I did the output shaft seal, shifter seal, oil filler cap seal, resealed the valve cover. Sold it needing a cylinder base gasket, and I think starter seal. Those were the major ones, really the engine needed a full tear down to replace every single seal.
My favourite issue on that bike is KTM drilled one of the exhaust header screw holes straight through into the open head, guess where oil was leaking from... Wasn't just my bike, I think it was all of them.
Outside of the issues, I really loved riding that thing. Rattled like a paint shaker, in a kind of charming way, as long as I wasn't on the highway. Fueling was probably the best I have ridden on any bike, don't know what was done to my carb, but it was a thing of beauty.
Not my picture, but the red wire shows the path from the exhaust header screw hole into the head
My favourite issue on that bike is KTM drilled one of the exhaust header screw holes straight through into the open head, guess where oil was leaking from... Wasn't just my bike, I think it was all of them.
Outside of the issues, I really loved riding that thing. Rattled like a paint shaker, in a kind of charming way, as long as I wasn't on the highway. Fueling was probably the best I have ridden on any bike, don't know what was done to my carb, but it was a thing of beauty.
Not my picture, but the red wire shows the path from the exhaust header screw hole into the head
Thanks for the info on the 625. I still would like to try a KTM along with a BMW R1200GSA. The 690 Enduro R is mighty tempting, it has 200 miles on it and is set up with some nice accessories for $8500 asking price. It seems like every bike has it's share of problem areas, some more so than others.
I wouldn't want a KTM for a touring bike either. I was kind of kidding about riding Checkwreck's bike from Maryland to Wisconsin. Mapquest has it at 865 miles routed through Milwaukee, Chicago, Toledo, Cleveland and Pittsburgh. On a 350cc dirt bike? No thanks.
I wouldn't want a KTM for a touring bike either. I was kind of kidding about riding Checkwreck's bike from Maryland to Wisconsin. Mapquest has it at 865 miles routed through Milwaukee, Chicago, Toledo, Cleveland and Pittsburgh. On a 350cc dirt bike? No thanks.
Back to a chain drive nah narrow hard seat nah no cruise control nah I’m sure if Yamaha make it it will ba a fine piece of engineering but it is a serious enduro bike for serious enduro riders, in Aus much like the US it’s nothing to travel 800 km (500 ml) in a day which the S10 eats up , it would make it a hard day on the 700 but in fairness I don’t think it’s designed for that the S10 is but on the flip side hit the hard trails/sand etc the 700 would shine. I guess it’s horses for courses, you buy a bike that suits your purpose.
They are only reliable to those who have a love for wrenching. My KTM 300 was a huge money pit. It never once left me stranded or failed to finish a race. But boy once I got it home it was always a few hours or more in the garage doing some stupid repair or adjustment. KTM's are great machines. They also require constant attention.
KTM has come a LONG way in reliability but it's still not a YaHonKazuki. I think that is one reason everybody is so waiting for the T700 arrival.
The 690R Enduro I had was a great bike and if I were not willing to go off road as much as I am with the Tenere, I probably would still have it. They really worked out the issues and to me the biggest limitation for the 690R was the limited turning radius. I'd seriously consider getting another if I wanted something chain driven in that class.
If you rode the 350 on knobs from DC to Wisconsin and didn't have hemmies when you began you'd have them by the time you got home.
Blind Squirrel - I haven't really thought about a price or tried to sell the 350. It's just been sitting in the garage collecting dust since early Spring. Gotta see if it'll even run at this point.
The 690R Enduro I had was a great bike and if I were not willing to go off road as much as I am with the Tenere, I probably would still have it. They really worked out the issues and to me the biggest limitation for the 690R was the limited turning radius. I'd seriously consider getting another if I wanted something chain driven in that class.
If you rode the 350 on knobs from DC to Wisconsin and didn't have hemmies when you began you'd have them by the time you got home.
Blind Squirrel - I haven't really thought about a price or tried to sell the 350. It's just been sitting in the garage collecting dust since early Spring. Gotta see if it'll even run at this point.
even with msrp of 10499-10999. street price after the first batch will be way lower. if its anything like the S-10.
I remember when I got my first s-10 in December of 2012 I got it for something like 11,400.
im sure the T7 will prolly be had for 9ish. first year in and hold over models in 2021 will prolly be flirting with mid 8s maybe.. depending on dealer. I do plan on getting one. maybe even a first batch one. I love my s-10 but I don't need all the power and at 5-9 150lbs I would like something easier to shove around..
I remember when I got my first s-10 in December of 2012 I got it for something like 11,400.
im sure the T7 will prolly be had for 9ish. first year in and hold over models in 2021 will prolly be flirting with mid 8s maybe.. depending on dealer. I do plan on getting one. maybe even a first batch one. I love my s-10 but I don't need all the power and at 5-9 150lbs I would like something easier to shove around..