The 2021 Yamaha Tenere 700

[Checkswrecks]

Thanks for the info. I will look at one sometime. Problem is, there are only 2 or 3 KTM dealers in Wisconsin.

I can make you a good deal on a low mileage 2012 350 XCFM that is plated.

 

[Checkswrecks]

An interesting comment. I ran into 6 riders doing the TAT a couple of weeks ago in Clinton, AR at a Super 8. All older, foreign riders from Australia and one from Tasmania. All on 650s of some flavor except one inseam challenged fellow that chose a 250. These guys were 50's-60's riders so we enjoyed some good conversations. Funny thing about their riding the TAT. They planned on doing the entire thing, and this was one group of three's third attempt to do so. All of them, with the exception of the 250 rider were wishing for lighter bikes. Drops, field repairs, tough sections, etc all had them wanting smaller, lighter bikes. The 250 guy was doing the best and suffering the least. They packed gear, but were hoteling that night. I don't think they did any camping, but didn't ask. Trying to average 250 miles a day, but doing more like 200 in the East and hoping to increase that as they moved West on the TAT.

From my discussions with them and a bunch of my Rumbux customers over the years, unless you're young and super fit, you're a lot better off with a 250 on the TAT than anything else. Heavier bikes often end up with damage due to drops. As we all know, the bigger the bike, the harder they fall and the more chance something breaks. Never mind just wrestling heavier bikes over rough terrain mile after mile. Many sections were easy gravel. The group above was not taking the difficult/expert sections, (I asked).

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.

 

[jeckyll]

I know I'm stoked and currently figuring out how to time the selling of the ST next year in order to get the T7. The ST is a fantastic motorcycle but I find it a bit too big at times. I had a DR650 and went from that to the ST and now I have the ST, a YZ250, and a DRZ. I'll sell the YZ and ST, keep the DRZ and hopefully add the T7.

Funny that i'm coming full circle back to a DR 650 sized moto but the reason I went from a DR to the ST was for more touring/pavement but then I kept finding myself hating the limitations on BDR's of the big bike or wanting to not have to worry so muych about what type of dirt I may end up on. I'm hoping the T7 kind of bridges the differences between the DR650 and the ST. Still agile enough for solid dirt but powerful and capabel enough for the those paved sections.

This sounds a lot kike me...

 

[Dirt_Dad]

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.

The Honda dealer in Winchester, VA will let you ride anything on the floor. They usually have everything Honda makes.

 

[magic]

I can make you a good deal on a low mileage 2012 350 XCFM that is plated.

Thanks,
There are a few used ones for sale here in Wisconsin.
I am looking at a 2018 690 Enduro R and a 2006 625 SXC.
Maybe I could do a fly and ride on your 350?
Maryland to Wisconsin on a plated motocross bike.

 

[ballisticexchris]

Thanks,
There are a few used ones for sale here in Wisconsin.
I am looking at a 2018 690 Enduro R and a 2006 625 SXC.
Maybe I could do a fly and ride on your 350?
Maryland to Wisconsin on a plated motocross bike.

Very easy 2 day ride. Just up the countershaft a few teeth.

 

[regder]

Thanks,
There are a few used ones for sale here in Wisconsin.
I am looking at a 2018 690 Enduro R and a 2006 625 SXC.
Maybe I could do a fly and ride on your 350?
Maryland to Wisconsin on a plated motocross bike.

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

 

[Blind Squirrel]

I can make you a good deal on a low mileage 2012 350 XCFM that is plated.

Define good deal.

 

[Nelsonccc]

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

I ride most weekends during the winter with guys who ride KTM's. I cannot exaggerate how often we sit around in the desert while someone fixes something on a KTM. It's crazy and has become a bit of a joke with all of us. We all get flats and what not but I'm talking like things falling off, bike not starting, always. Those of us that ride Suzuki's or Yamaha's are lending tools to those with KTM's. I'm sure it's anecdotal but it's happening.

 

[regder]

I ride most weekends during the winter with guys who ride KTM's. I cannot exaggerate how often we sit around in the desert while someone fixes something on a KTM. It's crazy and has become a bit of a joke with all of us. We all get flats and what not but I'm talking like things falling off, bike not starting, always. Those of us that ride Suzuki's or Yamaha's are lending tools to those with KTM's. I'm sure it's anecdotal but it's happening.

KTM people are funny, some of them swear they are the most reliable things in the world, others love them but admit reliablity and engineering is questionable.

One day I'll own another fun KTM, don't think I would want one for a long distance tourer.

 

[magic]

KTM people are funny, some of them swear they are the most reliable things in the world, others love them but admit reliablity and engineering is questionable.

One day I'll own another fun KTM, don't think I would want one for a long distance tourer.

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.

 

[Steve Neal]

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.

 

[ballisticexchris]

KTM people are funny, some of them swear they are the most reliable things in the world, others love them but admit reliablity and engineering is questionable.

One day I'll own another fun KTM, don't think I would want one for a long distance tourer.

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.

 

[Tenman]

constant attention doesn't sound like a great machine to me

 

[Checkswrecks]

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.

 

[twinrider]

I had a 2014 KTM 350 EXCF for a couple years and it was flawless during the 200 hours I put on it. What a machine, didn't need any mods to improve power or suspension.

 

[squarebore]

It feels small after getting off the S10. I'm looking forward to a test ride. The 660 was very popular in oz so I reckon the T700 will fly out the door. I don't think it will compete against the KTMs but rather fill another gap in the market. Very nice bike.

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

 

[regder]

Pre-orders are live in Canada. $12k Canuckistan ($9k of the good stuff) plus usual fees, delivery "early next summer"

https://www.yamaha-motor.ca/tenere/t7/#Early Deposit

 

[Hucky8]

Just been receiving the emails that we can now pre-order in Canada (as regder says). I'm kinda tempted by a lighter bike but the comfort, shaft drive and long distance capability of my S10 will have me staying with my current ride.

 

[gmtech]

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..