Yamaha has really disappointed loyal customers.... especially USA customers.... with the long delays getting this bike produced. Based on the MT-07 engine, it was widely rumored in 2015, acknowledged to be in development in 2016 and since has been in prototype tease mode for over three years. They are just now getting the first shipments to Europe, but it won't be in North America until Sept of 2020 as a 2021 model (perhaps sold like the early S10's under PDP) and we still don't have a US MSRP. That's a ridiculous amount of time to get a model to market, especially one where the engine was essentially ready five years ago.
If Yamaha can get the MSRP competitive (hopefully under $10K US) then it should be successful, but this long gestation period leaves a lot of room for competitions to move in. And there is a general perception that the bike may be a little too low-tech, to the point where people are saying it is a "Yamaha KLR". Some things do strike customers as very cheap, like a B&W, low-res, LDC instrument cluster that looks like an early Palm Pilot. And the 4.2 gallon fuel capacity is just too small for any serious adventure bike touring, so it's a bike that serious folks will have to pack aux fuel which is a PITA.
Anybody cross shopping a S10 and T7 doesn't know what kind of bike they want. The T7 should be an easy 120-lbs lighter and have off-road performance that is in a whole different league from the S10. The T7 should be a bike that is much more comfortable for any on-road touring vs. any single, yet be able to work into places that you'd be extremely foolish to take a big adv bike like the S10.
I'd be in the market for the T7 except that it has tubed tires and no cruise. I fully realize that both of these features are not typically included in smaller bikes, but I'm just to the point where they're requirements for any bike I would buy to tour. I've ridden bikes with these features for the last couple years and I won't go back to throttle locks and packing tire irons.
One big problem with the delays is that others are lining up to fill the void which the T7 is trying to fill. The KTM 790 is in another class with respect to performance and sophistication and is shipping now in two versions, both with tubeless tires and cruise. The only real issues with the KTM are the usual worries about KTM reliability and maintenance. And of course, the higher price tag, although we really won't know how much higher until next year. Honda is getting ready to announce a smaller Africa Twin, there are rumors of a new small BMW twin adventure bike, and Kawasaki has discontinued the KLR and is likely to release something soon into the 500-650 adventure bike space and a twin is widely rumored. And there's the new CB500X that has tilted more towards the adventure bike segment with the 19" front end. For $7K w/ABS, this bike is a steal.
IMO, everything hinges on the T7 US price. If it's $10K or less, it should be a hit, even as late as it is. But if it starts getting up to $11K or higher and/or if Honda or Kawi release bikes into this same space, this could be a real dud.
- Mark