Own a standard T7 since its inception. Absolutely love it. Bullit proof reliaibility, designed on 40 years of experience and in maintenance as simple as it can be and that is what I came to appreciate through the years..
Hey Andy, The fuel injected throttle snatch all but goes away if you adjust the throttle cable play and drive chain slack to the minimum tollerances. I am your height and weight and get no buffeting which is a huge plus for me. The seat is narrow but you can wriggle around on it because its flat and doesn't lock you into one position. Also standing up is so easy. This is my 34th bike in 57 years of riding, super happy with my T7 in 18 months of ownership. Mods include center stand, adjustable levers, thumbscrew adjustable screen fitting and Rocks tkc 70's. Good luck with your search.
I considered a Tenere 700 very seriously. I’m not crazy about the looks. I do feel it’s probably the best bike around in its price range. Ended up with a 23 Ducati Desert Sled. I don’t ride off-road much so the extra weight isn’t a big deal. And I think it’s a beautiful bike. Love the air cooled L twin. Lots of character and sounds fantastic.
No denying that Jimmy! I considered one too, for a while. The weight saving of the Aprilia (that i eventually bought) was important enough to me for that to justify going for the ‚other‘ Italians!
I ride a s1000rr and have done 800km days. I also have a bum that is useless as a cushion. I use padded cycling shorts instead of modifying my seat. Works great!
I've just dropped down to the husqvarna norden expedition from years of riding 160 bhp adventure bikes , and I totally agree with you the power is so much more usable in the real world plus the bottom end power isn't a million miles away. Here in the UK speed limits speed cameras and police have pretty much out the nail in the coffin of the need for any bigger bike. Looking forward to seeing what you choose.
There are nothing but strong arguments for it! The only reason to need a 160hp adventure bike is so that you can say you’ve got 160hp. Except you only have 160hp at 9000rpm. At 4000 - 5000 it’s actually only pushing out 60-80hp. Which is where you actually feel the push. Once you’re in the high revs, you’re already doing intergalactic speeds and can’t feel your face enough to notice!! 😂
I rode the standard version and the off road standing position was absolutely excellent and felt very natural but I struggled with the front end feel when sitting, it felt lazy and I struggled to put it where I wanted. If I was doing the TET then it would be a super machine.
Interesting. I found the Desert X to be really sharp so it can’t be the 21“ wheel’s fault. Must be a weight distribution issue, which the extra weight over the tank from the WR possibly helps with? Interesting indeed.
A Booster Plug or AF-XIED will sort the snatchy throttle, they map these things to run so lean now because of emissions tests that the throttle can feel like an on/off switch. Had a Booster Plug on my F800 for many years now and it makes it so much more pleasant and smooth to ride at low speed/low throttle openings.
But why are some bikes absolutely fine, and others terrible?! I mean this is a frugal bike. Emissions can’t be that bad. Yet it’s way snatchier than the current MT10 which is a fuel guzzler. I suspect laziness on the manufacturers behalf is more to blame.
You have defiantly sold it to me, I love the bike and all the features you have spoke about. I had a R1250R and nearly lost my licence on the second week of owning, really prefer the smaller engines and using what power it has. Hope you made the right choice....🤩🤩🤩
I have a TWR, it is a fantastic bike for the money, the upgraded suspension and steering damper are superb, the range is 300 miles, I changed to a 16 tooth sprocket to lower the gearing slightly which helped motorway cruising and increases low down torque, also once the throttle cable slack is adjusted correctly the on off throttle goes away, I fitted a HP Corse high exhaust which saves 2kg, deleted the rear foot pegs 1kg, for your height the WR is probably a better bet as it is quite a tall bike, I use a small sheepskin on the seat and can ride all day, take it off and 1 hour before my backside is complaining. I have only just found you so have subscribed and off to look at your back catalogue. Thanks for some great videos.
I had an MT07 and had the ecu flashed to tame the engine breaking and disable the injector decel cut. Got rid of all the herky jerkiness but eventually got tired of it being a little underpowered for longer journeys. Loads of fun for short rides but a little tiring on longer runs. Its very much a personal preference but I still enjoy the extra blast of power when the road allows….
Good to know that works. I’ve come to realise that when I’m on the motorway, i don’t tend to cruise any faster than 80mph. And the roads that I enjoy the most don’t allow much more than 50! So I’m pretty confident the ‚lack‘ of power won’t bother me too much. I hope! 🤞🏻
I had the MT-07 and that on-off throttle is something you get used to. It’s not good that the throttle response is like that but like I said you get used to it. And what did help was taking some of the slack away from the throttle cable to reduce the free loose part of the handle. Otherwise the cp2 engine is peach, powerwise it’s not up there with the big boys but all of it’s oomph is down low where you are actually able to use it without losing your license and it makes the bikes feel more powerful than they really are.
Yeah i was really impressed (again) with the engine. Great job from Yamaha. Baffling that they can’t sort out the throttle response from the factory though.
Thanks for the review this model certainly looks the business the main deal breaker for me when I test rode it being the seat. The CP2 engine is very strong and likely all you will ever need. I typically do 100 plus miles on a ride out making comfort paramount for me however really like the bike the standard model is reasonably priced whereupon the WR variant is 13k here in the uk. 👍
Similar here. 13,5k € puts it way over my budget. Few available used, but not a great deal cheaper. The seat does also concern me, though i guess it could be improved. It’s just more money into a bike that’s already more than i can afford!
I had a Tracer 700 for a test ride last year. CP2 is realy lively and fun engine. I haven't noticed any throttle jerkyness, but Tracer may have a different mapping than T7.
The Tracer 9 fuelling was really smooth, so i think those bikes have some trickery that they’ve obviously kept off the Tenere to save weight and cost. 😤
Well that was better. Obviously it had an advantage not being slightly broken from the off. I hope you can get test rides on similar bikes at all the big manufacturers. It's an interesting segment of the market. The best of luck with the search:)
Much better! Sadly test rides aren’t as ready for me as the uk vloggers. I honestly don’t think I’ll be doing any more for a while. I’ve tried multiple times to get on KTMs here in Hamburg and the dealerships just don’t seem to be interested. Cheers Simon! The chosen one should be arriving soon!
I have a GSA for 2up touring to cope with luggage and all that(missus on the back is the best speed control unit), but i just bought a Moto Morini X CAPE 650 for exaclty the same reason , to try keep the speed down. Its plenty fast enough on the back roads and will cruise handy on the motorway..
I bought me a KTM 890 Adventure R , 2 months ago and I have to say I haven't regretted it a day, but I also live in southern Germany in the mountains. I can only recommend to ride the KTM
Congrats! Glad you’re loving it. I’m just deeply afraid of the terrible service if and when something goes wrong (which hopefully it won’t). Maybe that’s a northern Germany thing! 😅 Ultimately all the 890R‘s worth having were also out of my price range!
T7 is def one of the bikes I've looked the most at as a potential upgrade from my FZ6. Tested the T9 at an event once but honestly, it's way more bike than I need. So it shall be either a T7 or a MT07 for me, I'm sure. Your mention of "less engine being more fun" definitely resonates with how I enjoy riding.
I think those who ‚need‘ the power, are often relying more on the engine to be fast than their prowess over that engine. I like to ride the bike, not have the bike ride me! I’m honestly looking forward to this smaller displacement phase in my biking journey!
I've got the standard T7, and don't regret buying that over the World Raid version. I get an easy 200 mile range, and who wants to ride more than that between stops ? It's lower suspension allows me to touch the ground at junctions, and you can add an hour to the ride before your arse starts complaining with a cheap "cool cover" over the seat. I'm always looking at other bikes, but always come back to the T7 and realise it just does everything I want.........and yes that engine is a gem, pulls from nothing in virtually any gear, but also spins up very well.
If you have any plans for Croatia, see me in Zagreb and I can take you to a professional who will convert your current seat to a comfy one for 200eu or less. Cheers Andy!@@AndyManCam
Possibly. In an ideal world, I’d get the keys to both in the shadow of an Alpine pass with a gravel section! Sadly test rides in my neck of the woods never really give the full picture.
@@AndyManCam very hard to get test rides here in Ireland as most of the main dealers are in Dublin. There are a few outside the pale but even then a good day on the bike to see
The CP2 is great because its peak torque starts at like 3K revs, but I'm glad I went for my tracer 9 instead of the 7. With an akrapovic you tend to overlook all the little qualms!
That’s the secret isn’t it. If the peak is down low, you don’t notice that it’s not there up high and the bike feels more powerful than it is on paper. Though peak power and torque are all pretty much useless numbers anyway. Every engine feels different. I can fully imagine the qualm something nature of an Akra!
Had the standard t700.. sold and purchased the Tuareg...much better...wait till you have to pu the Tenere vs the Tuareg. That was the big issue when riding alone. Tenere very top heavy..no electronics no cruise suspension needed work... Turareg so far has more power and great suspension..the engine maps are a great feature and built in heated grip quickshifter cruise tubeless adds to the list of bonuses..IMO.. no problems so far .
Exactly the kind of opinion i was looking for, thanks Greg. Great to hear from a real life person (not one of those flouncy RUclipsr types) about the comparison of both, from an owners perspective. When comparing, I’m struggling not to look more at the Tuareg for all of the reasons you mentioned.
New bike MUST have "self cancelling indicators" and leave the owners manual open on that page on the coffee table and give it a glance every time you walk past! lol
Another great review Andy! :) My MT10 has throttle cables AND cruise control, but the cables just go to a pot buried under the tank (presumably for longevity/reliability reasons keeping the pot away from the weather...?) ;) I too really enjoyed riding the CP2 but I did find myself on full throttle overtakes a lot of the time, and having to "plan" the run up to get the required overtake rate, and wishing for just a bit more power... A mate of mine has the standard T7 and mostly keeps up fine though, so it's very close to being fast enough for me, and I'd argue, almost everyone.... Could just do with a sniff more power.... (he just swapped his for an MT09 though...). Looking forward to seeing what you end up with...it'll be great whatever, I'm sure! :)
Thank you Matthias. Never thought about that. How do they do that then? Servo motors?! I'm not surprised you were wanting more power. You've only got off and full power settings!
@@AndyManCam TBH, not sure, not looked into the makeup of the MT10 fuel system... Should probably know that stuff! ;) My one "only" has wheel speed sensors though not an IMU, so I guess most of the TC is done with fuel/ignition cuts, but I guess at a servo'd butterflies combined with fuel control might be enough for cruise...? RE: Full power, TBH I barely ever use full, as let's face it, 160bhp on the road is almost never fully deployable... ;) :D I DO like to try hard to, though... ;) :) :D :D
Id probably still go for the Aprilia, quick shifter, tubeless tyres, cruise control, great tech, airbox bark, and Italian exotica. Just get one with a round front wheel.
@AndyManCam aha, well then that makes the Aprilia even more attractive. I ride with a mate who has an Aprilia rs 660, same motor, he has 10,000km on it with no problems. The white red and blue bike is actually a handsome beast, very Dakar..ish. Bikes with that much power are so much fun to fang around the twisties. Good luck Andy, look forward to your decision.
I like the T7 but I can't help but think of the KLR when I see it. Both are pretty good off-road and the T7 is much better on the road but the KLR is just something else. For starters it is half the price but it is also one of those bikes you either find in the middle of nowhere or abused sitting in the parking lot of a grocery store.
Good review Andy. Hope you’ll give the Transalp a go despite your previous bad experience with Honda. I’ve just bought one and it really is excellent. Superb handling and appreciably quicker than the Yamaha. The only shortcoming is the back pain it causes me on long journeys but I’m starting to realise the problem is probably me not the bike 😂
@stevedavies3568 You’ve missed a LOT Steve! Check out this one first: ruclips.net/video/GQTeceCkEvU/видео.html And then after that, this one from this week: ruclips.net/video/mX1EiqR5zmI/видео.html
Good luck on your decision,just got a 1200 gsa to go along with my big Harley rides very light in comparison..not as comfortable, but more fun except for the deer that ran into me 😮. Know how you feel, bmw service sucks in canada compared to there maybe an option for you 🍻. Good luck😎🏍💨💨💨💨💨💨👍🏻🇨🇦.
Congratulations! That’s a LOT of horse in your stable! Shame about the BMW service. Most people rave about them in Europe. But then again, the bikes are more expensive than most too!
Cracking review! For a standard end can that sounded pretty decent.. stick an after market on and it’s gonna sound like Dot Cotton in climax! Not a nice image but what a sound !
I'm a fan of big powerful bikes but I have an absolute soft-spot for Yamaha's little CP2 motor, I owned one for 6 years and it never once let me down. It's a wolf in sheep's clothing, it gives the sensation and power delivery you'd expect from something with twice the horse power, it's happy to pull like a locomotive off the lights in stop/start city traffic or sing at 90-100mph all day. It suffers a little with it's stock fueling due to emissions choking it, with on/off jerky throttle and a lean spot around 5k RPM, but after an ECU flash, it thrives. And while Yamaha's modern bikes may be single handedly keeping ACF-50 in business I can't recommend any bike with the CP2 motor enough 🙏 ...And don't get me started on that crossplane SOUND💦
@@AndyManCam They are a little corrosion/rust prone in my experience but I wouldn’t say it’s anything particularly abnormal for bikes made these days ..sadly. I’ve definitely seen worse on other brands. And in my experience it’s very easy to keep on top of with the occasional ACF50 treatments. The finish on the engine itself is top notch and the frame finish is fairly good too. What I found was a problem area was anything that was anodised black, like the brake-line ends, coolant hose clamps, and bolts found on places like the switch gear, it would very quickly go white and fuzzy looking with surface corrosion. Although I found ACF50 worked well to reverse this effect if it wasn’t let to go too far before treatment. (I’m not sponsored or paid by ACF I SWEAR!) Another area I noticed only after around 6 years of riding in all seasons including the salty British winter, was the subframe and swing arm started to rust a little bit under the paint, although these areas were subject to constant spray from the road. But a small wire-wheel attachment on a dremmel and a pot of touch up paint had things looking like new again in no time. My CP2 bike was a 16 plate XSR700, so the T7 could be a different story, although I currently have a Tracer 900 which suffers the same fate as the XSR sadly, so it may just be a Yamaha thing across the board. I hope this information is helpful, keep up the superb work and good luck with your next steed! 😄
Very helpful, thanks! TBH sounds already like a vast improvement over my experience with the Honda CB1000R! Engine down to the metal after 6 months and casing bubbling after 3! I’d take a bit of frame rust after 6 years any day!! 😂
@@AndyManCam Oh yes, I remember seeing your video on that, very disappointing from Honda. They’ve always been the brand we bikers have gone to for absolute reliability and unbeatable build quality. I believe Honda manufacture a lot of their bikes in Italy which is even more shocking to have such a poor finish. I must admit your experience did shy me away from the CB1000R when I was in the market for a sporty do-everything bike 😅
The big tanks for the range and weather protection are a great thing, though the price for it is high. We don't get the World Raid version in the U.S., at least right now. My KTM 690R is annoying because the fuel range is so short and we have expansive distances here. The seats on smaller bikes are always annoying, I'm taller and heavier than you so it's always a struggle. I absolutely love my R1200GS but I just don't do the long haul that it is built for and it is a really heavy beast on the dirt roads that are everywhere here. I've considered selling both and going with a mid-size like this. I've even considered a Zero electric since I just do short runs around the area mostly.
Recently got a vstrom 800 de. It is a great bike. Heavier but better equipped and way more comfortable than a tenere 700. For long days the vstrom is a better bike but for shorter and mostly off road, go with the tenere.
Yep. Enjoyed that review Andy. 🙂👍 Shame you couldn’t get a cheap flight to the UK and get a shot at riding some KTM’s and Husky’s at a proper dealer (my local at Thirsk) 😄 Excited too see what you went for in the end. 👍
Thanks mate! That would have actually been a great crack! Maybe next time! (Which hopefully won’t be for a long time! I want to ride bikes, not shop them!!)
@@AndyManCam always exciting right. You know, I was thinking about your last video and what the community would like to see. I've been following since the versys days, always loved your content. I would say two things would be great, if you could maybe use an app like Liberty Rider, and register your roadbook and share them so we could all see them and use them :). And I think you have a very nice voice and ease of communication, I could picture you having great success with a podcast. Perhaps, sometimes inviting people from the Patreon and discussing any topics, from motorbikes, to places to see, news etc. I would love listening to that while at work !
@SuperFryn Thanks Charly. I’ve actually started sharing the GPX files of the Norway videos. In the description in case you didn’t see them. But maybe i can look into more of that kind of thing. I’ve also often thought about a podcast, but worry about not having enough to talk about!! 😂
Would you consider a tubed tire puncture wise? Great all rounder. And.... 'suits you sir' 😜 Remember 'The fast show' Paul White House? Probably well before yr time. Back on track, I think my assumption of another 1090 has gone down the 'kazi' (Kamakazi, toilet, 'only fools n horses') I ain't half going on today. Must be the wheatabix.
TBH i would prefer Tubeless. I’ll probably not do more than mid level TET type stuff so tubes possibly not necessary. That said, I’m sure I could get the hang of changing a tube. Can’t be much more difficult than on a mountain bike, right?! 😜 Your prediction wasn’t so crazy. My first thought was to get the R version for better springs and spoked wheels. But the prices are so ridiculous lately that it makes more sense to try something lighter and newer.
@@AndyManCamI have nightmares of being mid mountain pass with a flat and raw knuckles 🤪. After having the 1290 Ktm adventure, Africa twin, and 800gs. I would go for a mid capacity lighter tubless TBH. But whatever floats yr boat ☺ you'll be riding it. No one else. Keep up yr witty fab vids 🏆
Not a fan of those double tanks but sounds quite decent. I hear you on the speed front, cameras and traffic etc. That’s why I bought my 1290 Super Duke R 😂🤦🏻♂️
I did a testride with motorrijder magazine ( a Belgian bike magazine) and both on and off road it is simply amazing. I have zero offroad experience and the T7 gave me plenty of confidence straight away. Maybe the V85 tt would be nice to
Thanks for posting. Sharp looking bike. FWIW, I have a 1200GS. When my arse starts to ache because of the seat, I find a good 5 to 10 standing while riding does wonders. Do you often have a pillion (off camera)? In which case you might find the engine a little under powered. If not, then you should be good to go. :)
My pleasure! Yeah the ability to stand up for a while is a real winner and i took advantage of that a lot on the KTM. I’m 100% pillion free mate so no worries about space or power to weight!
For a tall guy like yourself, this looks a great bike. Is it powerful enough, only you will know. Being a Yamaha it's going to be reliable. If I were heading around the world, that's the bike.
Definitely a better choice than Aprilla, considering maintenance etc. MT07 is like a budget bike when it comes to quality of materials or so, but I've heard a lot of good things about T7. Hope you'll enjoy your new bike ; ) I guess Tenere 900 would be even better.
But I’m a bit worried about being just another T7 owner. Is the safe path the right path?! It’s good, but is it exciting? Tough questions with not so obvious answers!
@@AndyManCam I think if you mainly plan to do road riding, then the T7 is probably not the right one, it is too focused on off-road. But maybe the Yamaha Tracer would work?
Andy, any consideration to the Guzzi V85TT? Tall-ish bike, VERY comfortable, 5 rider modes, cruise control.....simple air cooled engine, good for twisties, little off road and long tours. After 6 BMW's (and numerous others) it suits me perfectly.... no rocket ship but more than enough real world power...as they say, loads of character in a Guzzi.
Definitely James! Stunning looking bike. Probably the prettiest adventure bike out there! But seat height is a bit low for me and the power to weight a bit too far in the wrong direction. Maybe when I’ve got the cash for a jack up and weight loss program, I’ll revisit!
I do understand regarding the price and weight but it’s a great bikes! My last one was a 2020 BMW F850GSA and I still regret changing it to the R1250GSA. Good luck finding the right bike for your needs!🏍️👍
Thanks mate! Most important is that you have the bike YOU want! Maybe it’s time to switch back? I’m showing you that it’s ok to downsize, so just blame me!! 😜
Go with your heart Andy (tempered by available dosh) you'd have loads of fun on either of them - there's a lot of truth in the slow bike fast thing - not that 70-80 HP is slow, just not point and squirt fast. I'm probably shallow but that double fuel tank.....I'd probably crash due to riding along admiring it 😂. Have a go on a KTM 690 Enduro though, more or less the same power and 50kg lighter...
Head and heart (and money) had a momentous battle, repeatedly changing sides! Really wasn’t an easy choice. 690 is a nice idea, but by the time i get to the trails I’ll not be able to walk anymore! 😂
He'll of a bike the T7. I have it's larger uncle the Super Tenere World Crosser, which is much heavier but remains a fantastic thing to ride. Be interesting to see if you did buy one, look forward to finding out 👌🏻
I spent a short while looking at available 750 Super Tenere‘s. Fancying a bit of old school continent crossing cool. Turns out they’re really expensive and not necessarily in great condition! All will soon be revealed!
Awesome you got a proper ride without any buckled wheels etc. I'd def suggest getting a go on the standard T7, the money you save you could spend on a throaty exhaust and remap.
Finally, round wheels! 🤭 The Challenge is ignoring that a used WR can be had for 11,800€. A new T7 standard is 11,400€. A new Tuareg is currently 10,500€. So if we’re taking about what to do with money saved…
@@AndyManCam is mad that the Tuareg is cheaper than the standard T7, it has better suspension, all the electronics including cruise control... and ignoring the buckled wheel, has tubeless tyres too so a tyre plug kit and go instead of wheel off tyre levers out and lots of sweat.
So all these years after selling the Versys 650, Andy has gone full circle, and is once again looking at middle-weight p-twins; "Just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in."
Good luck with your decision Andy. Suggest test riding the CFMoto 800 MT Explorer. Lots of features, the KTM 799 engine, at a cheap price (in Australia anyway, not sure about Germany). 👍😎🇦🇺
@@AndyManCam Andy, we’re about the same height and weight. I’ve ridden the 800MT a couple of times now as a mate has one and it feels much lighter than the sum of its parts. Even slow speed manoeuvres on uneven surfaces aren’t a problem. I’ve ridden other bikes also in this category that are lighter on paper but feel heavier by comparison. On another note, do you really need a 21 inch front? Not the best if you’re spending more time on sealed roads than off the beaten track so I’d be looking at the 19 inch offerings for better road manners. Still can’t believe you also tested a bike supplied from a dealership with a warped front wheel.
After spending a week on the TET trails in Norway (and loving it, despite most of them being closed!) I realised that however awesome the 1090 was, it could have happily been 30kg lighter so that picking it up would be easier the 5th time around! 😂 So however well a bike hides it’s weight in motion, for me it’s important that when it’s horizontal, that weight doesn’t suddenly make itself known!! I was very lucky to get 5 days on a Desert X in Gran Canaria and the 21“ front really didn’t bother me. I was throwing that thing around like a maniac and it handled it with ease. So i have no worries about the bigger wheel. I just have to make sure the tyres are up to the job (and that the wheel is round! 🤦🏻♂️)
@@AndyManCam 😂 I look forward to watching the test rides and your ultimate decision. For me, if I’m going out for off-road riding I trailer bikes as all the road legal ones are simply a compromise, a Jack of all trades. If it’s just street riding it’s 17 inch all the way.
The standard T7 is a very competent bike Andy - put a tall screen on it and coupled with a 16kg weight loss and you have a cracking go anywhere machine!. You might also like to try the standard Africa Twin ? its more cash but feels like an uprated more muscular T7 at only 6kg heavier than the world raid but with an extra 30hp... worth a go!
My thoughts exactly (re: the T7) Not so keen on the AT though. Firstly i simply don’t have the dosh for it, but if i did want to go up to the 225kg area, i think I’d sooner get a tricked out and ‚AMC lightened‘ KTM 1090 Adventure R. Honda are well and truly off the Christmas card list anyway! I’ll reevaluate in 2075.
Tried them all and settled on the new transalp as I ride on the road mostly and the T7 is more off road focused & lacks traction control and that’s a deal breaker for me for £10k bikes should have it as it can save your a** in the rain 👍
I suspect you both overestimate how likely you are to need TC in the rain (not very likely) AND how much it might save you (this very much depends on how good/comprehensive it is - many won't save you at all, especially if not completely upright, which is where you barely need it anyway). Try it sometime, actually try and get your Transalp to spin up in the wet whilst moving at a reasonable speed.. :)
@@mattmutane5502 but it’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it eh , joking aside when I did need it was on a geasey roundabout and the rear broke traction and then gripped nearly binned it , also if you check out this weeks MCN it won in a highly competitive sector of bike 👍
@@AndyManCam Yep that's a fair argument. I just wouldn't pass over buying a bike because it didn't have TC, that's all! :) (but my MT10 is the only bike I've ever had that is new enough to have TC & ABS anyway... ;) )
Enjoyed your test on the Tenere World Raid Andy, I think it’s a cracking looking bike. Looking forward to your next test ride of a 1090 replacement. 👍 Now for the ridiculously obscure question. Out of sheer curiosity, what do you keep pressing with your left thumb during the ride 🤷♂.
Thanks Dave! Yeah, that… I have a real problem. I’m obsessively cancelling the indicators, even though I didn’t even turn them on. It’s become a real sickness and I’m trying very hard to get over it!! 😩
@@AndyManCam WOW!! Now I've remembered your sickness, and looking again, you GOT IT BAD!!! ;) :D :D (sometimes 3 or 4 presses at a time). It's near constant!!!! I'm surprised you've never worn an indicator switch out!! ;) :p I thought I was bad doing something similar on my Thunderace choke control (to make sure it was fully off), but that was nothing like this! (it did continue for a short while on the MT10, but I soon got used to there being nothing to filddle with - all bikes are always going to have indicators... ;) :( )
Looks like a great choice Andy! There may be a deal to be had too? You can get a Tenere 700 world raid here in the for under 11k gbp and a 700 rally for under 10k gbp. Re upgrades there’s one of your fellow bike tubers called Thomas Hansen (tshansen) who has made some interesting upgrades to his world raid. Look forward to the next review 😀
What i can say is that there were sadly no deals to be had at that dealership. He wanted 13,500 € with no room for negotiation. When i said that i simply didn’t have that much and maybe i should try a standard T7 (the bike i originally asked to ride!) he just started blathering on about how much better the WR is and that I should take finance for the difference…. At which point i bailed out and went home because he clearly wasn’t listening to me! Whether or not i found a deal elsewhere, remains to be seen!
Problem with the Standard T7 you cannot add things like Quick shifter, and you have to spend money on it to upgrade the suspension, etc, But still a great reliable option. @@AndyManCam
@@AndyManCam Why couldn´t you add a quickshifter? You absolutely can, just no auto-blipper as far as I know, and world raid can´t also, unless they switched from the cable throttle, which I am not aware of. And quickshifter isn´t a big deal anyway. I almost always shift up without using the clutch. Auto-blipper on the other hand is a real game changer.
I'd certainly go for the Raid over standard just for the bigger tank particularly with the long trips you do. And being 6'4" the extra hight would be a bit more comfortable and you wouldn't look like an ape on a tricycle. 😉
Is it possible for you to try the V85 TT Guzzi ? At least I'd like to hear your opinion... I like your "sharp" eye" how the bike feels and was presented for you by the dealer. :)
Hi Andy Have you considered the new CFMOTO 800mt explore edition. With the KTM 800 parallel twin engine. The Explore edition has all the bells and whistles including quickshifter up and down. For me, it woluld have to be the Explore Edition over the other 2 modles ie the 800mt sport or the 800mt adventure.
Not a bad machine, Andy, but I think I would prefer the Aprilia. Snatchy throttles are generally a result of Euro 4+ and can be rectified with a Booster Plug.
@@AndyManCam it’s definitely time, unfortunately I don’t think you’ve gone the way of the tuning fork this time but you’ll be back one day, if only the tenere came with a cp3
Is a 2018 Africa twin worth considering? I rode both the ‘18 and the newer one. Prefer the ‘18, felt smoother and handlebar switchgear felt better too. Very capable, on and off road and I’m shite off road but it made me look better than I actually am.
Nope. After Paint issues on my CB1000R i did some digging and there’s a whole world of unhappy AT owners with Rusty frame welds and bad paint. I wouldn’t touch one with a smelly stick.
I was with gsa it kept up you had to rev it but what a gem of an engine had a little race with a local down some beautiful back roads and won to my surprise
Great review Andy. Its a handsome brut of a bike and agree re the twin tanks looking cool. Dash looks great in the tunnels too. Youve got me looking at prices on Autotrader 🤣
Great review Andy. The Ten seems to make more sense than the Aprilia simply based on spares/service backup? Doesn't matter HOW good a bike is, if you can't get it fixed in an efficient manner when something goes wrong I guess you might as well ride a pushbike.
That maybe so. But I’m struggling to get away from the fact that the Aprilia might actually be the better bike. I think I’d rather have the odd fight with the bit blooded wife than having a safe and boring relationship with a church mouse! 😆
I know exactly what you mean. The relationship I had with my Aprilia was similar to having a relationship with a beautiful Italian supermodel who wouldn't put out when you wanted her to. @@AndyManCam
All the good reviews in the world won’t make me own another Honda. The paint will be off it in 6 months, the frame will rust and Honda will do nothing about it.
Hey Andy, do you have a chance to try the Husquavarna Norden 901? Not sure what the dealer network is like in your part of the world, but could be good context for the Yamaha and Aprilia.
Knowing that you live in England, not sure how many places will offer a ECU reflash, but here in the states, I got mine done for $250. That smoothed out the throttling, they also lowered the temp at which the fan comes on for cooling from 216F to 201F, which makes a huge difference in off roading!
Unfortunately i live in Germany, where it’s even harder (plus more expensive and technically illegal) to get the ECU flashed. Though I’m fully aware that it’s the magical cure all for most of the problems modern bikes have! Still baffles me that manufacturers can’t or aren’t allowed to get it right from the off 🤦🏻♂️
@@AndyManCam I had to spend an extra £1,000 on new springs and K Tech piston kits to sort the rubbish standard suspension out. Though some people happily live with the stock set up, it’s just not right for anyone over about 70kg, and worse with luggage on top of that.
@@AndyManCam Nothing is right for everyone, the very first thing to do to a bike when you get it is get the spring rate fitted for your weigh and load carried. Then quite often the stock damping can’t cope with stiffer spring rate, but at least proper spring rate is an improvement and safer.
@bryanhaynes8761 Sure. I guess the hope is always that the stock springs have a working envelope that reaches your weight so you don’t have to immediately upgrade! I often have to have preload at or near max. Maybe this time I’ll get things sorted sooner.
Own a standard T7 since its inception. Absolutely love it. Bullit proof reliaibility, designed on 40 years of experience and in maintenance as simple as it can be and that is what I came to appreciate through the years..
Can’t argue with that! Cheers mate!
Try replacing spark plugs.
Or doing a valve check
They’re faffy on any bike! Except maybe a GS.
I had mine adjusted last year, but that had nothing to do with it. @@Mo7oAdv
Hey Andy, The fuel injected throttle snatch all but goes away if you adjust the throttle cable play and drive chain slack to the minimum tollerances. I am your height and weight and get no buffeting which is a huge plus for me. The seat is narrow but you can wriggle around on it because its flat and doesn't lock you into one position. Also standing up is so easy. This is my 34th bike in 57 years of riding, super happy with my T7 in 18 months of ownership. Mods include center stand, adjustable levers, thumbscrew adjustable screen fitting and Rocks tkc 70's. Good luck with your search.
I tried one yesterday, while my 900gt was in for a service. I was well impressed, I think this could be my next bike.
It’s an undeniably great bike. Before you pull the trigger, I’d give the Aprilia Tuareg 660 a look. I did and now it’s the best bike I’ve ever owned!
I considered a Tenere 700 very seriously. I’m not crazy about the looks. I do feel it’s probably the best bike around in its price range. Ended up with a 23 Ducati Desert Sled. I don’t ride off-road much so the extra weight isn’t a big deal. And I think it’s a beautiful bike. Love the air cooled L twin. Lots of character and sounds fantastic.
No denying that Jimmy! I considered one too, for a while. The weight saving of the Aprilia (that i eventually bought) was important enough to me for that to justify going for the ‚other‘ Italians!
And by the way, 3 new videos from Andymancam this week, what on earth have we done to deserve this joyful treat?
You deserve it, you’ve been a very good boy.
@@AndyManCam 😂😂😂 Hilarious
😘
Nice bike Andy, and personally I love the dual tanks.
They’re strangely alluring, aren’t they! Bet it’s a pain in the arse when it comes to fuelling though!! 😂
I ride a s1000rr and have done 800km days. I also have a bum that is useless as a cushion. I use padded cycling shorts instead of modifying my seat. Works great!
Good tip! I’ve heard that the Coolcovers really help too!
@@AndyManCam Also checkout the Moto Skiveez padded bike underpants! :)
I do like these. Currently got a Honda Africa Twin 1100, but will look at the T700 when it’s time to change.
I can understand that completely. You can watch my jump from heavyweight to middleweight and see if it works out!
I've just dropped down to the husqvarna norden expedition from years of riding 160 bhp adventure bikes , and I totally agree with you the power is so much more usable in the real world plus the bottom end power isn't a million miles away. Here in the UK speed limits speed cameras and police have pretty much out the nail in the coffin of the need for any bigger bike. Looking forward to seeing what you choose.
There are nothing but strong arguments for it! The only reason to need a 160hp adventure bike is so that you can say you’ve got 160hp. Except you only have 160hp at 9000rpm. At 4000 - 5000 it’s actually only pushing out 60-80hp. Which is where you actually feel the push. Once you’re in the high revs, you’re already doing intergalactic speeds and can’t feel your face enough to notice!! 😂
I rode the standard version and the off road standing position was absolutely excellent and felt very natural but I struggled with the front end feel when sitting, it felt lazy and I struggled to put it where I wanted. If I was doing the TET then it would be a super machine.
Interesting. I found the Desert X to be really sharp so it can’t be the 21“ wheel’s fault. Must be a weight distribution issue, which the extra weight over the tank from the WR possibly helps with? Interesting indeed.
A Booster Plug or AF-XIED will sort the snatchy throttle, they map these things to run so lean now because of emissions tests that the throttle can feel like an on/off switch. Had a Booster Plug on my F800 for many years now and it makes it so much more pleasant and smooth to ride at low speed/low throttle openings.
But why are some bikes absolutely fine, and others terrible?! I mean this is a frugal bike. Emissions can’t be that bad. Yet it’s way snatchier than the current MT10 which is a fuel guzzler. I suspect laziness on the manufacturers behalf is more to blame.
Andy, have a seat cover, 0.25 inches thick, absorbs road vibration like no other. been on 700 mile rides on the 2008 FZ1 with no problem.
Very nice. Although for me it’s not so much the road vibration but more the pressure from the narrowness of the saddle.
You have defiantly sold it to me, I love the bike and all the features you have spoke about. I had a R1250R and nearly lost my licence on the second week of owning, really prefer the smaller engines and using what power it has.
Hope you made the right choice....🤩🤩🤩
That bike seems to sell itself! Keeping the license for longer is definitely always a wise choice! 😅
I have a TWR, it is a fantastic bike for the money, the upgraded suspension and steering damper are superb, the range is 300 miles, I changed to a 16 tooth sprocket to lower the gearing slightly which helped motorway cruising and increases low down torque, also once the throttle cable slack is adjusted correctly the on off throttle goes away, I fitted a HP Corse high exhaust which saves 2kg, deleted the rear foot pegs 1kg, for your height the WR is probably a better bet as it is quite a tall bike, I use a small sheepskin on the seat and can ride all day, take it off and 1 hour before my backside is complaining. I have only just found you so have subscribed and off to look at your back catalogue. Thanks for some great videos.
Replaced my FZ6 with a 22 T7 a couple months ago, such a fun bike.
1500 KM so far, no regrets.
Looking forward for a T7 on the channel. 🤞
Congrats on the switch-up! 👍🏻
I ride a Tenere 660 single with a 23 litre tank. Probably a bit biased but I love the look. Keen to see comparison with the standard model. Great vid👍
They do look very cool!
I had an MT07 and had the ecu flashed to tame the engine breaking and disable the injector decel cut. Got rid of all the herky jerkiness but eventually got tired of it being a little underpowered for longer journeys. Loads of fun for short rides but a little tiring on longer runs. Its very much a personal preference but I still enjoy the extra blast of power when the road allows….
Good to know that works. I’ve come to realise that when I’m on the motorway, i don’t tend to cruise any faster than 80mph. And the roads that I enjoy the most don’t allow much more than 50! So I’m pretty confident the ‚lack‘ of power won’t bother me too much. I hope! 🤞🏻
@@AndyManCam enjoy the new bike Andy. Always great getting to know a new bike :)
Thanks John! I’m sure it’ll be an emotional rollercoaster like always! 😅
I had the MT-07 and that on-off throttle is something you get used to. It’s not good that the throttle response is like that but like I said you get used to it. And what did help was taking some of the slack away from the throttle cable to reduce the free loose part of the handle. Otherwise the cp2 engine is peach, powerwise it’s not up there with the big boys but all of it’s oomph is down low where you are actually able to use it without losing your license and it makes the bikes feel more powerful than they really are.
Yeah i was really impressed (again) with the engine. Great job from Yamaha. Baffling that they can’t sort out the throttle response from the factory though.
Thanks for the review this model certainly looks the business the main deal breaker for me when I test rode it being the seat. The CP2 engine is very strong and likely all you will ever need. I typically do 100 plus miles on a ride out making comfort paramount for me however really like the bike the standard model is reasonably priced whereupon the WR variant is 13k here in the uk. 👍
Similar here. 13,5k € puts it way over my budget. Few available used, but not a great deal cheaper. The seat does also concern me, though i guess it could be improved. It’s just more money into a bike that’s already more than i can afford!
I had a Tracer 700 for a test ride last year. CP2 is realy lively and fun engine. I haven't noticed any throttle jerkyness, but Tracer may have a different mapping than T7.
The Tracer 9 fuelling was really smooth, so i think those bikes have some trickery that they’ve obviously kept off the Tenere to save weight and cost. 😤
Well that was better. Obviously it had an advantage not being slightly broken from the off. I hope you can get test rides on similar bikes at all the big manufacturers. It's an interesting segment of the market. The best of luck with the search:)
Much better! Sadly test rides aren’t as ready for me as the uk vloggers. I honestly don’t think I’ll be doing any more for a while. I’ve tried multiple times to get on KTMs here in Hamburg and the dealerships just don’t seem to be interested. Cheers Simon! The chosen one should be arriving soon!
I have a GSA for 2up touring to cope with luggage and all that(missus on the back is the best speed control unit), but i just bought a Moto Morini X CAPE 650 for exaclty the same reason , to try keep the speed down. Its plenty fast enough on the back roads and will cruise handy on the motorway..
That's exactly what i like to hear Mick. Thats precisely what i want. Fun on the backroads, capable on the long roads. I don't need a rocketship!
Great wee mini review Andy... sounds like a cracking ride 👌
Thanks Dave! It’s a great bike, would be a lot of fun!
I bought me a KTM 890 Adventure R , 2 months ago and I have to say I haven't regretted it a day, but I also live in southern Germany in the mountains. I can only recommend to ride the KTM
Congrats! Glad you’re loving it. I’m just deeply afraid of the terrible service if and when something goes wrong (which hopefully it won’t). Maybe that’s a northern Germany thing! 😅 Ultimately all the 890R‘s worth having were also out of my price range!
T7 is def one of the bikes I've looked the most at as a potential upgrade from my FZ6. Tested the T9 at an event once but honestly, it's way more bike than I need. So it shall be either a T7 or a MT07 for me, I'm sure. Your mention of "less engine being more fun" definitely resonates with how I enjoy riding.
I dropped from Tracer900GT to my T7 Rally Ed. No regrets, its a lovely thing. Get a test ride :)
I think those who ‚need‘ the power, are often relying more on the engine to be fast than their prowess over that engine. I like to ride the bike, not have the bike ride me! I’m honestly looking forward to this smaller displacement phase in my biking journey!
Loving the surge in content youre releasing :) sorry to hear about the reasons, hope youre well
Glad to hear it! Every cloud and all that!
I've got the standard T7, and don't regret buying that over the World Raid version. I get an easy 200 mile range, and who wants to ride more than that between stops ? It's lower suspension allows me to touch the ground at junctions, and you can add an hour to the ride before your arse starts complaining with a cheap "cool cover" over the seat. I'm always looking at other bikes, but always come back to the T7 and realise it just does everything I want.........and yes that engine is a gem, pulls from nothing in virtually any gear, but also spins up very well.
These are the comments that make the T7 undeniably attractive! So much to think about when choosing nowadays!
200miles, I've ran mine dry in 170, I don't risk going over 150 now, it's a heavy bike to push.
The T7 is a awesome bike
No doubt! But is it the awesomest!?
My 660Z was also had jerky throttle.
Power Commander and a lnear power map fixed 70% of it which is great.
Good to know. Cheers for that! 👍🏻
If you have any plans for Croatia, see me in Zagreb and I can take you to a professional who will convert your current seat to a comfy one for 200eu or less.
Cheers Andy!@@AndyManCam
@kakudmi Cheers mate! I’ll keep that in mind! 👍🏻
That was definitely the better bike. Even allowing for the buckled wheel on the Aprillia, you enjoyed that ride a lot more.
Possibly. In an ideal world, I’d get the keys to both in the shadow of an Alpine pass with a gravel section! Sadly test rides in my neck of the woods never really give the full picture.
@@AndyManCam very hard to get test rides here in Ireland as most of the main dealers are in Dublin. There are a few outside the pale but even then a good day on the bike to see
That certainly doesn’t make things easy!
More of a positive test no buckled wheels hopefully the deal gets done 🤙
Way more positive!! There was still lots to think about though! 🤔
The CP2 is great because its peak torque starts at like 3K revs, but I'm glad I went for my tracer 9 instead of the 7. With an akrapovic you tend to overlook all the little qualms!
That’s the secret isn’t it. If the peak is down low, you don’t notice that it’s not there up high and the bike feels more powerful than it is on paper. Though peak power and torque are all pretty much useless numbers anyway. Every engine feels different. I can fully imagine the qualm something nature of an Akra!
Had the standard t700.. sold and purchased the Tuareg...much better...wait till you have to pu the Tenere vs the Tuareg. That was the big issue when riding alone. Tenere very top heavy..no electronics no cruise suspension needed work... Turareg so far has more power and great suspension..the engine maps are a great feature and built in heated grip quickshifter cruise tubeless adds to the list of bonuses..IMO.. no problems so far .
Exactly the kind of opinion i was looking for, thanks Greg. Great to hear from a real life person (not one of those flouncy RUclipsr types) about the comparison of both, from an owners perspective. When comparing, I’m struggling not to look more at the Tuareg for all of the reasons you mentioned.
Took t7 wr out and was going to buy one until I test drove Honda ATAS DCT. I own that now. Did like the WR though especially in black
Gotta go with what makes you smile!
That seems like a great choice, good looking motorcycle as well.
She’s definitely a head Turner! I’m black even more so.
New bike MUST have "self cancelling indicators" and leave the owners manual open on that page on the coffee table and give it a glance every time you walk past! lol
Hahaha! I've already been shaking my head at myself while editing these test rides! I think the sickness is getting worse, not better!!
I hope you'll buy a T7 because I consider it my new bike. I want to watch a bunch of videos of you living with it...
Great review!
Haha! So no personal reasons for it! *reaches for popcorn…
have it! love it! Get a different exhaust and you are good to go!! I came from a versys 650 07 ...
So we speak the same language! 😂 Glad you’re enjoying it mate!
Another great review Andy! :) My MT10 has throttle cables AND cruise control, but the cables just go to a pot buried under the tank (presumably for longevity/reliability reasons keeping the pot away from the weather...?) ;) I too really enjoyed riding the CP2 but I did find myself on full throttle overtakes a lot of the time, and having to "plan" the run up to get the required overtake rate, and wishing for just a bit more power... A mate of mine has the standard T7 and mostly keeps up fine though, so it's very close to being fast enough for me, and I'd argue, almost everyone.... Could just do with a sniff more power.... (he just swapped his for an MT09 though...). Looking forward to seeing what you end up with...it'll be great whatever, I'm sure! :)
Thank you Matthias. Never thought about that. How do they do that then? Servo motors?! I'm not surprised you were wanting more power. You've only got off and full power settings!
@@AndyManCam TBH, not sure, not looked into the makeup of the MT10 fuel system... Should probably know that stuff! ;) My one "only" has wheel speed sensors though not an IMU, so I guess most of the TC is done with fuel/ignition cuts, but I guess at a servo'd butterflies combined with fuel control might be enough for cruise...? RE: Full power, TBH I barely ever use full, as let's face it, 160bhp on the road is almost never fully deployable... ;) :D I DO like to try hard to, though... ;) :) :D :D
@mattmutane5502 That would also dictate that you probably have a cable actuated throttle-by-wire system. Weird.
@@AndyManCam I know, right! (but Yamaha have been doing this a long time, they seem to know what they are doing! :) )🤷♂
Great review 👍 I've had one for a few months now, love it. So easy to ride and after a few mods has become to favourite bike in the garage 😁
Very glad to hear it CP. i can totally see why!
Id probably still go for the Aprilia, quick shifter, tubeless tyres, cruise control, great tech, airbox bark, and Italian exotica. Just get one with a round front wheel.
All undeniably attractive arguments. And then there’s also the price. Currently about 1500€ cheaper.
@AndyManCam aha, well then that makes the Aprilia even more attractive. I ride with a mate who has an Aprilia rs 660, same motor, he has 10,000km on it with no problems. The white red and blue bike is actually a handsome beast, very Dakar..ish. Bikes with that much power are so much fun to fang around the twisties. Good luck Andy, look forward to your decision.
@AndyManCam if you had the money, would you get the desert x?
@julianperry5141 I would certainly think hard about it! That would have to be enough cash to make the high servicing costs not hurt too! 🤑🤑🤑
That’s good to hear, about the RS660. Hearing of real people with Problem free bikes certainly aids the decision making!
I like the T7 but I can't help but think of the KLR when I see it. Both are pretty good off-road and the T7 is much better on the road but the KLR is just something else. For starters it is half the price but it is also one of those bikes you either find in the middle of nowhere or abused sitting in the parking lot of a grocery store.
Totally agree! I actually would have considered a KLR. But we don’t get them in Europe because of emissions.
Good review Andy. Hope you’ll give the Transalp a go despite your previous bad experience with Honda. I’ve just bought one and it really is excellent. Superb handling and appreciably quicker than the Yamaha. The only shortcoming is the back pain it causes me on long journeys but I’m starting to realise the problem is probably me not the bike 😂
I’m afraid not. The cut still stings! I hope you have a good experience, but for the love of dog keep that thing spotlessly clean and dry! 😜
What happened to the cb1000? Did I miss something mr Cam😁
@stevedavies3568 You’ve missed a LOT Steve! Check out this one first: ruclips.net/video/GQTeceCkEvU/видео.html
And then after that, this one from this week: ruclips.net/video/mX1EiqR5zmI/видео.html
You've all done very well, "thank you Mr Grace".
😂
Good luck on your decision,just got a 1200 gsa to go along with my big Harley rides very light in comparison..not as comfortable, but more fun except for the deer that ran into me 😮. Know how you feel, bmw service sucks in canada compared to there maybe an option for you 🍻. Good luck😎🏍💨💨💨💨💨💨👍🏻🇨🇦.
Congratulations! That’s a LOT of horse in your stable! Shame about the BMW service. Most people rave about them in Europe. But then again, the bikes are more expensive than most too!
Cracking review! For a standard end can that sounded pretty decent.. stick an after market on and it’s gonna sound like Dot Cotton in climax! Not a nice image but what a sound !
😂🤣🤮😮💨😆 What an image!! Thanks mate!
@@AndyManCam it’s a gift 👀
So kind of you 🙏🏻
I'm a fan of big powerful bikes but I have an absolute soft-spot for Yamaha's little CP2 motor, I owned one for 6 years and it never once let me down. It's a wolf in sheep's clothing, it gives the sensation and power delivery you'd expect from something with twice the horse power, it's happy to pull like a locomotive off the lights in stop/start city traffic or sing at 90-100mph all day. It suffers a little with it's stock fueling due to emissions choking it, with on/off jerky throttle and a lean spot around 5k RPM, but after an ECU flash, it thrives. And while Yamaha's modern bikes may be single handedly keeping ACF-50 in business I can't recommend any bike with the CP2 motor enough 🙏 ...And don't get me started on that crossplane SOUND💦
It’s an undeniable winner of a package! But do tell me more about the ACF-50 thing. Do they rust quickly/easily?
@@AndyManCam They are a little corrosion/rust prone in my experience but I wouldn’t say it’s anything particularly abnormal for bikes made these days ..sadly. I’ve definitely seen worse on other brands. And in my experience it’s very easy to keep on top of with the occasional ACF50 treatments.
The finish on the engine itself is top notch and the frame finish is fairly good too. What I found was a problem area was anything that was anodised black, like the brake-line ends, coolant hose clamps, and bolts found on places like the switch gear, it would very quickly go white and fuzzy looking with surface corrosion. Although I found ACF50 worked well to reverse this effect if it wasn’t let to go too far before treatment. (I’m not sponsored or paid by ACF I SWEAR!)
Another area I noticed only after around 6 years of riding in all seasons including the salty British winter, was the subframe and swing arm started to rust a little bit under the paint, although these areas were subject to constant spray from the road. But a small wire-wheel attachment on a dremmel and a pot of touch up paint had things looking like new again in no time.
My CP2 bike was a 16 plate XSR700, so the T7 could be a different story, although I currently have a Tracer 900 which suffers the same fate as the XSR sadly, so it may just be a Yamaha thing across the board.
I hope this information is helpful, keep up the superb work and good luck with your next steed! 😄
Very helpful, thanks! TBH sounds already like a vast improvement over my experience with the Honda CB1000R! Engine down to the metal after 6 months and casing bubbling after 3! I’d take a bit of frame rust after 6 years any day!! 😂
@@AndyManCam Oh yes, I remember seeing your video on that, very disappointing from Honda. They’ve always been the brand we bikers have gone to for absolute reliability and unbeatable build quality. I believe Honda manufacture a lot of their bikes in Italy which is even more shocking to have such a poor finish. I must admit your experience did shy me away from the CB1000R when I was in the market for a sporty do-everything bike 😅
I think you'll like this one; but it is a real faf to do the valve clearances.
I think it’s a faff to do valve clearances on every bike! 😅
There like every 25K though and from what I've read there usually in spec, I won't check my T7 till 50K.
The big tanks for the range and weather protection are a great thing, though the price for it is high. We don't get the World Raid version in the U.S., at least right now. My KTM 690R is annoying because the fuel range is so short and we have expansive distances here. The seats on smaller bikes are always annoying, I'm taller and heavier than you so it's always a struggle.
I absolutely love my R1200GS but I just don't do the long haul that it is built for and it is a really heavy beast on the dirt roads that are everywhere here. I've considered selling both and going with a mid-size like this. I've even considered a Zero electric since I just do short runs around the area mostly.
Regardless of the version you get any T7 would be my pick for a mid range bike for doing some off road.
I think it would be most peoples pick!
Recently got a vstrom 800 de. It is a great bike. Heavier but better equipped and way more comfortable than a tenere 700. For long days the vstrom is a better bike but for shorter and mostly off road, go with the tenere.
Good to know, thanks E.
I personally love these bikes and I’d definitely have one, although my batshit crazy 1290 is kinda hard to give up 😅
I can imagine that’s pretty addictive!
Yep. Enjoyed that review Andy. 🙂👍
Shame you couldn’t get a cheap flight to the UK and get a shot at riding some KTM’s and Husky’s at a proper dealer (my local at Thirsk) 😄
Excited too see what you went for in the end. 👍
Thanks mate! That would have actually been a great crack! Maybe next time! (Which hopefully won’t be for a long time! I want to ride bikes, not shop them!!)
The bike does sound really well 🏍💨
Agreed!
Man, can't wait to hear what you bought !
Not long now, i hope!! There’s going to be no summer left of it doesn’t hurry up!!
@@AndyManCam always exciting right. You know, I was thinking about your last video and what the community would like to see. I've been following since the versys days, always loved your content. I would say two things would be great, if you could maybe use an app like Liberty Rider, and register your roadbook and share them so we could all see them and use them :). And I think you have a very nice voice and ease of communication, I could picture you having great success with a podcast. Perhaps, sometimes inviting people from the Patreon and discussing any topics, from motorbikes, to places to see, news etc. I would love listening to that while at work !
@SuperFryn Thanks Charly. I’ve actually started sharing the GPX files of the Norway videos. In the description in case you didn’t see them. But maybe i can look into more of that kind of thing. I’ve also often thought about a podcast, but worry about not having enough to talk about!! 😂
@@AndyManCam invite me, I can talk for hours on end 😁
@SuperFryn Ha! I will definitely keep you at the top of the list! 🥳
Would you consider a tubed tire puncture wise? Great all rounder. And.... 'suits you sir' 😜
Remember 'The fast show' Paul White House? Probably well before yr time.
Back on track, I think my assumption of another 1090 has gone down the 'kazi' (Kamakazi, toilet, 'only fools n horses') I ain't half going on today. Must be the wheatabix.
TBH i would prefer Tubeless. I’ll probably not do more than mid level TET type stuff so tubes possibly not necessary. That said, I’m sure I could get the hang of changing a tube. Can’t be much more difficult than on a mountain bike, right?! 😜
Your prediction wasn’t so crazy. My first thought was to get the R version for better springs and spoked wheels. But the prices are so ridiculous lately that it makes more sense to try something lighter and newer.
@@AndyManCamI have nightmares of being mid mountain pass with a flat and raw knuckles 🤪. After having the 1290 Ktm adventure, Africa twin, and 800gs. I would go for a mid capacity lighter tubless TBH. But whatever floats yr boat ☺ you'll be riding it. No one else. Keep up yr witty fab vids 🏆
@daveburmy You’re preaching to the converted there Dave. I think i would much rather plug a flat than have to pull the tube out.
Not a fan of those double tanks but sounds quite decent.
I hear you on the speed front, cameras and traffic etc. That’s why I bought my 1290 Super Duke R 😂🤦🏻♂️
😂😂😂 If you go twice the limit, the cameras can’t see you!
I did a testride with motorrijder magazine ( a Belgian bike magazine) and both on and off road it is simply amazing. I have zero offroad experience and the T7 gave me plenty of confidence straight away. Maybe the V85 tt would be nice to
Thanks for posting. Sharp looking bike. FWIW, I have a 1200GS. When my arse starts to ache because of the seat, I find a good 5 to 10 standing while riding does wonders. Do you often have a pillion (off camera)? In which case you might find the engine a little under powered. If not, then you should be good to go. :)
My pleasure! Yeah the ability to stand up for a while is a real winner and i took advantage of that a lot on the KTM. I’m 100% pillion free mate so no worries about space or power to weight!
The review is here; hoozah. Nice bike also! With a aftermarket exhaust it will make even more glorious brappy-ness goodness.
Absolutely! I bet it would sound tremendous.
For a tall guy like yourself, this looks a great bike. Is it powerful enough, only you will know. Being a Yamaha it's going to be reliable. If I were heading around the world, that's the bike.
All true and perhaps we’ll find out! 😉
Definitely a better choice than Aprilla, considering maintenance etc. MT07 is like a budget bike when it comes to quality of materials or so, but I've heard a lot of good things about T7. Hope you'll enjoy your new bike ; ) I guess Tenere 900 would be even better.
But I’m a bit worried about being just another T7 owner. Is the safe path the right path?! It’s good, but is it exciting? Tough questions with not so obvious answers!
@@AndyManCam I think if you mainly plan to do road riding, then the T7 is probably not the right one, it is too focused on off-road.
But maybe the Yamaha Tracer would work?
@gryphongryph Definitely planning more off road.
@@gryphongryphTracer 900 GT.
Great looking bike. Didn’t blow my socks off though. Also a bit heavy and expensive for my needs.
Andy, any consideration to the Guzzi V85TT? Tall-ish bike, VERY comfortable, 5 rider modes, cruise control.....simple air cooled engine, good for twisties, little off road and long tours. After 6 BMW's (and numerous others) it suits me perfectly.... no rocket ship but more than enough real world power...as they say, loads of character in a Guzzi.
Definitely James! Stunning looking bike. Probably the prettiest adventure bike out there! But seat height is a bit low for me and the power to weight a bit too far in the wrong direction. Maybe when I’ve got the cash for a jack up and weight loss program, I’ll revisit!
Hey Andy. If you consider a middleweight adventure bike you need to try the BMW F850GSA before buying. Just a advice!👍
I don’t think they’re for me. Very expensive for what they are and sadly a bit overweight compared to the current middleweight competition.
I do understand regarding the price and weight but it’s a great bikes! My last one was a 2020 BMW F850GSA and I still regret changing it to the R1250GSA. Good luck finding the right bike for your needs!🏍️👍
Thanks mate! Most important is that you have the bike YOU want! Maybe it’s time to switch back? I’m showing you that it’s ok to downsize, so just blame me!! 😜
This is the bike (well stanard T7) I hope to see you end up on!
Look up Nerb1 he rides the absolute wheels off his T7
Well let’s wait and see! 🤭
@@AndyManCam ooohhhhh the suspense!
Just had word of delivery date. Not long. Might even be able to share something next week!
Go with your heart Andy (tempered by available dosh) you'd have loads of fun on either of them - there's a lot of truth in the slow bike fast thing - not that 70-80 HP is slow, just not point and squirt fast. I'm probably shallow but that double fuel tank.....I'd probably crash due to riding along admiring it 😂. Have a go on a KTM 690 Enduro though, more or less the same power and 50kg lighter...
Head and heart (and money) had a momentous battle, repeatedly changing sides! Really wasn’t an easy choice. 690 is a nice idea, but by the time i get to the trails I’ll not be able to walk anymore! 😂
My gosh. In 2017 I paid 6k brand new for a mt07 .and this is pretty much the same thing, all be it with wire wheels. Crazy prices now hey .
Very much so. I almost bought an MT-07 too for 7k€. Crazy how expensive bikes are getting. Even the ones that have nothing on them, like this one! 😄
He'll of a bike the T7. I have it's larger uncle the Super Tenere World Crosser, which is much heavier but remains a fantastic thing to ride. Be interesting to see if you did buy one, look forward to finding out 👌🏻
I spent a short while looking at available 750 Super Tenere‘s. Fancying a bit of old school continent crossing cool. Turns out they’re really expensive and not necessarily in great condition! All will soon be revealed!
@@AndyManCam you'll pay as much for a 750 as my 1200. Bit mad really 🫣
@BigDave_82 That’s why i have up on it! That and not having a garage for the fixing!
On my MT-07 a remap got rid of the on-off jerkiness. If you can do such a thing in Germany.
Not quite so easily. Sadly anything like that technically makes the bike immediately unroadworthy in the eyes of the law. 🤦🏻♂️
Awesome you got a proper ride without any buckled wheels etc. I'd def suggest getting a go on the standard T7, the money you save you could spend on a throaty exhaust and remap.
Finally, round wheels! 🤭 The Challenge is ignoring that a used WR can be had for 11,800€. A new T7 standard is 11,400€. A new Tuareg is currently 10,500€. So if we’re taking about what to do with money saved…
@@AndyManCam is mad that the Tuareg is cheaper than the standard T7, it has better suspension, all the electronics including cruise control... and ignoring the buckled wheel, has tubeless tyres too so a tyre plug kit and go instead of wheel off tyre levers out and lots of sweat.
I don’t get it either. They must have been struggling to sell them. Might have something to do with the awful dealer offering here!
So all these years after selling the Versys 650, Andy has gone full circle, and is once again looking at middle-weight p-twins;
"Just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in."
What can i say, i like to keep things interesting… In a weird and slightly hypocritical way! 😜
If a GS is too big. This is your option. Good enough for ARieman1
Really enjoy his stuff and the bike certainly isn’t holding him back!
It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on the Husqvarna Norden if you can get your hands on one, have fun bike shopping !!
I would like to have seen more videos of rides on the KTM. It’s a shame really. Regardless of the bike you end up on, looking forward to more videos
No fear Shaun, me and the KTM were in Norway together for a week this spring, so those videos are still on the way!!
Good luck with your decision Andy. Suggest test riding the CFMoto 800 MT Explorer. Lots of features, the KTM 799 engine, at a cheap price (in Australia anyway, not sure about Germany). 👍😎🇦🇺
They’re an attractive proposition, but the extra weight put me off.
@@AndyManCam Andy, we’re about the same height and weight. I’ve ridden the 800MT a couple of times now as a mate has one and it feels much lighter than the sum of its parts. Even slow speed manoeuvres on uneven surfaces aren’t a problem. I’ve ridden other bikes also in this category that are lighter on paper but feel heavier by comparison. On another note, do you really need a 21 inch front? Not the best if you’re spending more time on sealed roads than off the beaten track so I’d be looking at the 19 inch offerings for better road manners. Still can’t believe you also tested a bike supplied from a dealership with a warped front wheel.
After spending a week on the TET trails in Norway (and loving it, despite most of them being closed!) I realised that however awesome the 1090 was, it could have happily been 30kg lighter so that picking it up would be easier the 5th time around! 😂 So however well a bike hides it’s weight in motion, for me it’s important that when it’s horizontal, that weight doesn’t suddenly make itself known!!
I was very lucky to get 5 days on a Desert X in Gran Canaria and the 21“ front really didn’t bother me. I was throwing that thing around like a maniac and it handled it with ease. So i have no worries about the bigger wheel. I just have to make sure the tyres are up to the job (and that the wheel is round! 🤦🏻♂️)
@@AndyManCam 😂 I look forward to watching the test rides and your ultimate decision. For me, if I’m going out for off-road riding I trailer bikes as all the road legal ones are simply a compromise, a Jack of all trades. If it’s just street riding it’s 17 inch all the way.
Totally get it mate. I’d love to have 2 bikes and a van. Sadly I’m lucky to be able to even have one bike! 😂
The standard T7 is a very competent bike Andy - put a tall screen on it and coupled with a 16kg weight loss and you have a cracking go anywhere machine!. You might also like to try the standard Africa Twin ? its more cash but feels like an uprated more muscular T7 at only 6kg heavier than the world raid but with an extra 30hp... worth a go!
My thoughts exactly (re: the T7) Not so keen on the AT though. Firstly i simply don’t have the dosh for it, but if i did want to go up to the 225kg area, i think I’d sooner get a tricked out and ‚AMC lightened‘ KTM 1090 Adventure R. Honda are well and truly off the Christmas card list anyway! I’ll reevaluate in 2075.
@@AndyManCam fair enough, T7 it is then😁👍
Quite possibly.
Tried them all and settled on the new transalp as I ride on the road mostly and the T7 is more off road focused & lacks traction control and that’s a deal breaker for me for £10k bikes should have it as it can save your a** in the rain 👍
Congrats Steve. Enjoy the new ride!
I suspect you both overestimate how likely you are to need TC in the rain (not very likely) AND how much it might save you (this very much depends on how good/comprehensive it is - many won't save you at all, especially if not completely upright, which is where you barely need it anyway). Try it sometime, actually try and get your Transalp to spin up in the wet whilst moving at a reasonable speed.. :)
@@mattmutane5502 but it’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it eh , joking aside when I did need it was on a geasey roundabout and the rear broke traction and then gripped nearly binned it , also if you check out this weeks MCN it won in a highly competitive sector of bike 👍
@SuperSteveed can’t argue with that i suppose!
@@AndyManCam Yep that's a fair argument. I just wouldn't pass over buying a bike because it didn't have TC, that's all! :) (but my MT10 is the only bike I've ever had that is new enough to have TC & ABS anyway... ;) )
Enjoyed your test on the Tenere World Raid Andy, I think it’s a cracking looking bike.
Looking forward to your next test ride of a 1090 replacement. 👍
Now for the ridiculously obscure question. Out of sheer curiosity, what do you keep pressing with your left thumb during the ride 🤷♂.
Thanks Dave! Yeah, that… I have a real problem. I’m obsessively cancelling the indicators, even though I didn’t even turn them on. It’s become a real sickness and I’m trying very hard to get over it!! 😩
@@AndyManCam WOW!! Now I've remembered your sickness, and looking again, you GOT IT BAD!!! ;) :D :D (sometimes 3 or 4 presses at a time). It's near constant!!!! I'm surprised you've never worn an indicator switch out!! ;) :p I thought I was bad doing something similar on my Thunderace choke control (to make sure it was fully off), but that was nothing like this! (it did continue for a short while on the MT10, but I soon got used to there being nothing to filddle with - all bikes are always going to have indicators... ;) :( )
Looks like a great choice Andy! There may be a deal to be had too? You can get a Tenere 700 world raid here in the for under 11k gbp and a 700 rally for under 10k gbp. Re upgrades there’s one of your fellow bike tubers called Thomas Hansen (tshansen) who has made some interesting upgrades to his world raid. Look forward to the next review 😀
What i can say is that there were sadly no deals to be had at that dealership. He wanted 13,500 € with no room for negotiation. When i said that i simply didn’t have that much and maybe i should try a standard T7 (the bike i originally asked to ride!) he just started blathering on about how much better the WR is and that I should take finance for the difference…. At which point i bailed out and went home because he clearly wasn’t listening to me! Whether or not i found a deal elsewhere, remains to be seen!
@@AndyManCamFor 90% of people standard version is more than enough. I have black 2022 model and it is awesome.
Problem with the Standard T7 you cannot add things like Quick shifter, and you have to spend money on it to upgrade the suspension, etc, But still a great reliable option. @@AndyManCam
All things I’ve had to consider. Although the 2023 model CAN take a quickshifter BTW.
@@AndyManCam Why couldn´t you add a quickshifter? You absolutely can, just no auto-blipper as far as I know, and world raid can´t also, unless they switched from the cable throttle, which I am not aware of. And quickshifter isn´t a big deal anyway. I almost always shift up without using the clutch. Auto-blipper on the other hand is a real game changer.
Pavlin' channel, Motorcycle Adventures, might give some heavenly enlightenment on the T7?
I think my mrs is sick of hearing T7 and Tuareg, as I’ve watched pretty much every video out there!! 😂
I'd certainly go for the Raid over standard just for the bigger tank particularly with the long trips you do. And being 6'4" the extra hight would be a bit more comfortable and you wouldn't look like an ape on a tricycle. 😉
A stack of very good points!!
Is it possible for you to try the V85 TT Guzzi ? At least I'd like to hear your opinion... I like your "sharp" eye" how the bike feels and was presented for you by the dealer. :)
"That's the offroading tested" *cracked me up
I like to include as many riding scenarios in my videos as possible! 😜
You can get a used one with just over a thousand miles for 9.5K in Blighty, not sure if they are cheaper or more expensive over here?
They’re definitely more. Even 3-4 year old ones are coming in over 9k€. It’s madness.
Up to 3:26 you'd "cancelled" the indicators 30 times 😀
I stopped counting after that and enjoyed what is actually an excellent video
🤦♂️ I know! I have a problem!! Thanks for ignoring it though. I'll seek help!
Going Japanese....There's a song there i'm sure. Nice bike, another great vid too.
Thanks David!
I’ve had the standard bike for 18 months and just can’t get on with the seat, had to go to the dark side and GS it!
Oha! That is a big change, just for a seat! 😜
Hi Andy
Have you considered the new CFMOTO 800mt explore edition.
With the KTM 800 parallel twin engine.
The Explore edition has all the bells and whistles including quickshifter up and down.
For me, it woluld have to be the Explore Edition over the other 2 modles ie the 800mt sport or the 800mt adventure.
Hi! I did very briefly. Great value! But just a bit too heavy for my tastes.
Not a bad machine, Andy, but I think I would prefer the Aprilia.
Snatchy throttles are generally a result of Euro 4+ and can be rectified with a Booster Plug.
Maybe improved, but not rectified, IMO.
The throttling on the Aprilia was indeed smoother, despite Euro 5. it’s a tough choice but the Aprilia has too much going for it to be ignored.
@@AndyManCam If that is what you feel, then try again to get one that is not wrecked under you. 😉
Nice bike that mate 👌 come on back to yamaha, you know it makes sense
Maybe it’s time!
@@AndyManCam it’s definitely time, unfortunately I don’t think you’ve gone the way of the tuning fork this time but you’ll be back one day, if only the tenere came with a cp3
Is a 2018 Africa twin worth considering? I rode both the ‘18 and the newer one. Prefer the ‘18, felt smoother and handlebar switchgear felt better too. Very capable, on and off road and I’m shite off road but it made me look better than I actually am.
Nope. After Paint issues on my CB1000R i did some digging and there’s a whole world of unhappy AT owners with Rusty frame welds and bad paint. I wouldn’t touch one with a smelly stick.
Hi Andy had the standard covered 2000 miles in France gearbox very clunky
Good to know. You don’t hear that often. Real life opinions are the most valuable!
I was with gsa it kept up you had to rev it but what a gem of an engine had a little race with a local down some beautiful back roads and won to my surprise
Very cool! To be honest I’m kind of looking forward to trying to keep up with ‚bigger‘ bikes!
Great review Andy. Its a handsome brut of a bike and agree re the twin tanks looking cool. Dash looks great in the tunnels too. Youve got me looking at prices on Autotrader 🤣
Ha! I should be working on Commission! Happy ‚researching‘
Great review Andy. The Ten seems to make more sense than the Aprilia simply based on spares/service backup? Doesn't matter HOW good a bike is, if you can't get it fixed in an efficient manner when something goes wrong I guess you might as well ride a pushbike.
That maybe so. But I’m struggling to get away from the fact that the Aprilia might actually be the better bike. I think I’d rather have the odd fight with the bit blooded wife than having a safe and boring relationship with a church mouse! 😆
I know exactly what you mean. The relationship I had with my Aprilia was similar to having a relationship with a beautiful Italian supermodel who wouldn't put out when you wanted her to.
@@AndyManCam
Haha! When you put it like that, it also doesn’t sound optimal! 😂
Are you trying the new Transalp? Seen nothing but good reviews.
All the good reviews in the world won’t make me own another Honda. The paint will be off it in 6 months, the frame will rust and Honda will do nothing about it.
@@AndyManCam When you put it like that 😁
🥸
There are three important things for long touring rides.
Comfort
Comfort
Comfort
If you can tick all three of those boxes then 👍🏻
So so so true! And the older I get, the more I think there should be a fourth thing!! 😜
Hey Andy, do you have a chance to try the Husquavarna Norden 901? Not sure what the dealer network is like in your part of the world, but could be good context for the Yamaha and Aprilia.
Was never really an option for me. Too expensive and too much new KTM tech that i don’t trust yet.
Knowing that you live in England, not sure how many places will offer a ECU reflash, but here in the states, I got mine done for $250. That smoothed out the throttling, they also lowered the temp at which the fan comes on for cooling from 216F to 201F, which makes a huge difference in off roading!
Unfortunately i live in Germany, where it’s even harder (plus more expensive and technically illegal) to get the ECU flashed. Though I’m fully aware that it’s the magical cure all for most of the problems modern bikes have! Still baffles me that manufacturers can’t or aren’t allowed to get it right from the off 🤦🏻♂️
Try a stock T7, I’ve had one for 2 years. Great basic bike with no frills at a bargain price.
Thanks Bryan. Sadly the bargain price part doesn’t quite ring true in Germany. Otherwise it would be an easier choice!
@@AndyManCam I had to spend an extra £1,000 on new springs and K Tech piston kits to sort the rubbish standard suspension out.
Though some people happily live with the stock set up, it’s just not right for anyone over about 70kg, and worse with luggage on top of that.
Ouch. That’s a bitter pill to swallow. At 95kg and prone to carrying luggage, that might be an issue.
@@AndyManCam Nothing is right for everyone, the very first thing to do to a bike when you get it is get the spring rate fitted for your weigh and load carried.
Then quite often the stock damping can’t cope with stiffer spring rate, but at least proper spring rate is an improvement and safer.
@bryanhaynes8761 Sure. I guess the hope is always that the stock springs have a working envelope that reaches your weight so you don’t have to immediately upgrade! I often have to have preload at or near max. Maybe this time I’ll get things sorted sooner.
I reckon if you were to go for the standard T7 you would spend a fortune on suspension amd other bits and still end up with a lesser bike.
It’s a very real concern!
@@AndyManCam The only thing is that you can do that over a period of time rather than up front...
Also very true.