Hi, I am 5'6" and after riding the stock T7, all I would do is put the low seat on. Putting lower dog bones on is not the way to go, you'll lose ground clearance and you need that off road. The best thing you can do is practice your low speed control and handling to become more comfortable with the bike. Because skill trumps all. There are some great videos on RUclips explaining this, Bret Tkacs is one. Anyway, nice bike! All the best, Ben.
I know shorter rider than me handle taller bikes. And it feels fine riding it stock. But only yesterday I had a moment I definitely was glad I lowered it. Pulling out on a slope with front wheel on a rise. And a car came whizzing around a blind corner just as I was about to accelerate and turn hard right. I slammed on front brake to avoid car and bike was totally off balance, it tipped and because of the high front wheel I couldn’t reach ground. I caught the bike halfway into drop and JUST struggled to right it. (Using all the strength my right leg had.) If I hadn’t lowered it that would definitely have been a drop, without a doubt. And I would have been on the floor right as the car came right by me. Sometimes even a good rider can get caught off guard by circumstances. And having immediate reach to ground can save you. Ideally I will grow more used to the weight of the bike (this is the heaviest bike I have had so far) and reverse the lowering.
@@biscuitsalive I totally get where you are coming from. It's difficult for us shorter riders, as we generally get advice from tall people on how we should be doing things. I myself have been riding for 26 ish years, on all kinds of bikes, so perhaps feel more comfortable with what I'm capable of. Some advice if I may, practice in a car park or similar space balancing the bike at a standstill with your feet on the pegs, and don't worry if to start it is only a second or so, but get used to the bikes balance, and also controlling the bike at walking pace. This will help your confidence no end, and I still practice doing this myself. Great videos by the way. Keep up the great work, atb, Ben 🙂
@@3_of_freedom603 thanks for input. I’ve only had my bike licence a few months. So I don’t pretend to know what I’m doing. And no doubt my mind will change on many of these things down the line. I’m doing my first proper ride tomorrow, long chunk of unexplored TET. So that will open my eyes a bit to what the bike (and me) can do.
Qailified or not.your 1st impressions and on rd review,is the most honest and non bullshit one of all that i have watched .making the bike fit you is the way to go.we cant all throw them around like pol tarr'es.Cheers.
A lot of parts are made to be intentionally ‘flimsy’. If you drop the bike, the indicators/tail have a relative amount of give compared to a static indicator which would instantly snap off/smash
My 2 cents. Lower it to make it more comfortable. Then if you find your self needing the extra suspension travel as you advance your skills, you can remove it.
I'm 1,73m myself and it looks like you are too. At least it looks similar when you put your feet on the ground. I won't lower it. The bike's frame and suspension was designed this way and you will compromise its performance. I would maybe get a modified seat so maybe you get 2cm lower than the normal seat. I wouldn't touch the suspension. I will just live with it also I won't change the seat. I just ride, ride, ride and train with the bike in order to get comfortable with the height. That would be my suggestion.
Just depends where you are riding. I was doing a lot of slow technical stuff. Where if I hadn’t lowered it I would have dropped it going up/down some steep rocky hills MUCH more often. Glad I lowered it in the long run. At speed the height makes no difference. Just the slow off balance stuff where a fast dab of my foot was enough to settle bike and keep it up. Regarding the suspension. It works exactly the same. Travel length is the same. And weight between front and back wheel is the same. (As long as do it properly and match front and back wheel) All you lose is ground clearance. So if you are hopping of tree stumps or fallen trees often then you may miss the GC. But for me it was a welcome trade off
@@biscuitsalive Aren't you lowering the frame onto the wheels? Front wheel may not be as dramatic but the rear wheel will touch the sub frame earlier or not? Personally I think it's iffy to play with the bike geometry. But if you are satisfied then all good! I keep it as is and just learn to live with it. It's not so bad anyway.
@@majormassenspektrometer every human is different. Seems silly to expect all humans to fit a rigid unchanging mechanical device that you move around and “fit” into as closely as a motorbike. It’s like a car, you would laugh if a car manufacturer designed a car with seats that didn’t adjust position. Expecting all drivers to have legs the same length. A 6’ person needs a different proportioned bike to. 5’ person. So you make changes to make it suit
Rule of thumb to see if a bike is too big for you is to sit on the bike and if you can touch the balls of both feet on the ground then it’s ok. Personally I wouldn’t use a lowering link. I have short legs 30” inside leg and had my 2021 KTM 690 enduro R professionally lowered by 1” by changing the fork springs and the shock spring and to also suit my weight. I didn’t want to compromise the ground clearance and 1” was the recommended maximum. Seat height is still 904mm so still technically too big for me as I can’t even touch the tips of both boots down at the same time. My point is that it is possible to ride a bike that is technically too tall. I do a little slide off to one side to get a foot down. If you’re going to use it off road one thing that is guaranteed is, your going to drop the bike. It happens and you have to come to terms with it. Hope this helps. Have fun.
I have a 1200GSA and similar to you on inside leg. Not a problem as long as you’re prepared to slide off one side on the odd occasion. At walking pace totally manageable. Mind over matter!
First, congrats on your new bike! I got mine back in June and love it. I will address some of the things you mentioned because I found the same problem in most things. First the height. I am also 5’8” and I was also intimated by the bike’s size and height. To be honest I was scared of it at the beginning. I even wondered if I purchased the right bike for me. Seen the bike in pictures and videos doesn’t do it justice. I also thought about lowering the bike but didn’t. In about 5 months I have gotten used to the bike and its size doesn’t even cross my mind. Now I love my bike. May be it’s in my head but I feel that I can reach the ground better now. My theory is that the seat is breaking in and it now compresses easier. I assume that because it also feels a lot more comfortable than when it was new. Also, I have about 5,000 miles on it already. Even though the rear wheel still looks very good, it has lost a bit of it’s roundness. I imagine that has lowered the bike a bit more. Since for now I am doing about 95% of my riding on the streets and highways, I will be changing to either the Pirelli Scorpion MT90 A/T, or the Pirelli Scorpion Trail II tires (most likely this ones). The MT90’d I thunk they are a 70/30 tires. The Scorpion Trail II are like a 90/10 tires. Some advise about the stock tires. Make sure you do check the air pressure at least once per week. Because K was checking mine once every two weeks and the wrong wore unevenly. Remember that you have tubes in those tires. I assume tube don’t hold the air as good as tubeless tires. Otherwise they are very good tires. I wrong my bike in rain a few rimes and I never lost confidence on those tires. They stuck to the ground like gum on hot pavement. And I was on the freeway doing 70-80 mph. Power delivery: The Tenere has a nasty reputation for snapping your head back when you are in second and start accelerating after slowing down. Like when you go around a street corner. I was riding it home from the dealer when I first got it and on the last turn onto my street it did it for the first time. I have gotten used to the throttle response now. Sometimes it does it butt not has violently as I am expecting it. Some people hate that so much they install a “throttle tamer.” Other than that I love the power delivery. And by the way, give it another 200 miles, the bike engine will become more alive (more power) and the RPM’s will be lower at the same speeds. Rear Brake: I am with you regarding the rear brake. It really does suck. I have tested then just by stopping the bike using the rear brake and it feel like you are slowing down an 18 wheeler. I thought that was just me. The display shaking: I install an anti wobble bars. Like these: camel-adv.com/collections/yamaha-700-tenere-t7-parts-and-accessories/products/yamaha-700-tenere-t7-anti-bobble-head Those are like 60 bucks, but you can buy cheaper ones in e-bay, for about half the price. Worth every penny. Specially when you hit rough sections of the road or go off roading. Wind protection: I purchased adjustment adapters. Like these: www.ebay.com/itm/264888447169?hash=item3dac94f0c1:g:GBUAAOSweiZfs9Dl Vibrations: Mine vibrate quite a bit. Specially at high speeds. I am blaming more the tires. I will be changing the tires soon to reduce the vibes. Looks: Unlike you, I have gotten more compliments on this bike (about the bike) than any other bike I’ve owned. And I’ve owned a lot of sport bikes in my 35 years riding bikes. People stop to ask me about quite often. And most were not bikers. Just everyday people. May be because I’m a girl, may be people feel more comfortable approaching me. Just assuming here. Some one who wrote it half across the world said that he had one huge problem with this bike. Something I agree with 100%. He said that the Tenere comes with a little devil who sits on your shoulder and tells you to go faster and faster. YES IT DOES! The bike is so damn good off roading that even though I rode 900cc plus sport bikes for 35 years and this is my first adventure/dirk bike, the couple of times I’ve taken it off roading it gave me so much confidence I found myself telling myself to slow down because of my lack of experience off roading. Which is like Zero! Seriously, keep out an eye on that. Because the bike makes you feel lie riding off road is easy. And I know it is not, and it requires a whole new set of skills I do not have. So I have to stay on paved roads. It’s too tempting to go too fast off road. I rather weight until the covid virus BS comes down and can take some off roading courses. On a bike that screams in your ear to go faster, you better have those skills. Or one day you will find yourself in a bad situation and don’t know how to handle it. After 35 years I have never crashed or fall. I know that will change once I start going iff road more. Specially once I take off on my Central and South America trip and hit some bad third world country dirt roads. Oh and one more thing, do yourself and you crash bars a HUGE favor. Get yourself some crash bar sliders. It will protect your bike and your crash bars a lot. It’s cheaper to replace the sliders than the bars. I put two on my top and bottom crash bars. I am thinking about getting one more for the lower crash bars. At the bottom I’ll put a couple of links. Two different example of sliders. Same idea, different looks. Good luck! And sorry for the long reply. www.ebay.com/itm/233623545066?epid=10030635959&hash=item36650c64ea:g:fE8AAOSwk-Ne7CjE www.ebay.com/itm/114209052626?hash=item1a9763d7d2:g:GvIAAOSwpElerPBW
Congratulations on your new bike. I've had my T700 for nearly two years now and as someone else has said in the comments get a screen adjuster. I raise mine about 2 inches and then I can sit at 60mph with my visor up no problem. I am also 5'8'' and I didn't bother with a lowering kit, I also have a prosthetic leg but I don't find the standard height of the bike a problem. It will be interesting once you get it on the TET to see how it compares with the Fantic.
Screen adjuster. Thanks. Yep I think for road riding I didn’t need lowering. But winter coming up and slippy stuff with heavier bike. Think I’m glad I lowered it so far. (Only did forks this afternoon, so very early days. ) I may revert it to standard once I get my head around a heavier bike. Out of interest which leg is prosthetic? And how does that affect controls on that side?
I’m short in the leg and have fitted a lowering kit to drop it 40 mm and also fitted a lowered seat. I then fitted a stronger spring to compensate for the ‘stretch’ in the Oem spring. Makes a big difference and gives me confidence on those slow manoeuvres in car parks and so on. I’ve fitted as well a cool cover on the seat which is a real help on longer journeys. I’ve had several ADV type bikes and this one is by far the best. From a fellow Cornishman. Happy riding.
Thanks. Everyone has a different perspective on lowering don’t they. I think some folk seem think lowering a bike is some sign of failure. XD Like you have to learn to ride a different way to accommodate for shorter legs. Hmmm. Not sure that is right, if the bike doesn’t fit you then make it fit. Rather than learn a work around. My lower kit arrives on Tuesday. I will certainly fit it and see. I have a feeling it will stay lowered, the embarrassment and annoyance of dropping a bike when you didn’t need to simply because there was a slight hole where you foot wanted to be isn’t worth it.
@@biscuitsalive I've ordered lower seat + kit as I've found T7 requires to much effort / focus to pull up to a perfectly balanced stop at traffic lights for fear of dropping it. Also it should make it easier off road.
@@andrew390 agreed. Although maybe upgrade your skid plate too. The reduced ground clearance could possibly increase chances of catching on some chunky stone. I received the OEM heavy duty one last week. (But they forgot to include a small plate for the cat.. so waiting on that part.)
Mind sharing which spring you used? And how do you find it ? I have alt rider 30mm adjustable lowering links and am interested in stiffening the rear spring. I rode for about 1.5 years without lowering and at 5’7” I am feeling much better being at the lower height (now that I have a good skid plate) Lowering definitely messes with the sag adjustment however , but worth it to me so far
It’s an excellent bike. I have been riding for 45 yrs and it’s the best all-rounder about. Done 3k on mine in the last year, including 800 miles from S. Devon to Wales a few weeks ago, and around the off road track at the ABR Festival. I bought it instead of a GS1250, simply because of the simplicity of it. Regarding the wind issue, get the screen adapter/riser from T7 Rallye - it makes a big difference. I have added an SW Moto rack for baggage and Barkbuster ‘guards, which are far more robust than the stockers. I would have thought the lower link may help if you are shorter as the bike can fell a little top heavy off road. Good luck!
I'm 180# sturdy and 5'7" at 49 yrs. And, not lean or leggy. Just picked up my t700 for daily commuting to replace my dr650. There is NO need to lower these bikes. The T700 has beautiful balance, around town, in traffic and at speed. I highly recommend to give it a few hundred miles of practice to find if you come to agree with the height. Easily my favorite commuter yet.
In case you aren't familiar with it, ACF50 will stave off most rust attacks (providing you keep on top of the routine application) - awesome stuff... oh, and lovely bike
Thanks. Yep I coated the T7 in ACF50 a week ago. Ready for winter. (Wrapped up wheels/brakes of course so it didn’t get on that.) I expect the discs will rust down here in Cornwall. But going to try to keep it in good condition.
I guess inseam/leg length is the biggest factor there. Also, I have a old back injury so my hip mobility is lower than most folk. So sliding around on the seat is possible. But a little harder for me.
I just picked up a black T7 last week after not riding for about 18 years and I love it. Some of the "cons" that people mention, like the floppy dash and indicators, don't bother me at all. The headlight bouncing is a bit annoying, but not enough to do something about it. The sound from the factory exhaust is much better in person, but I'm sure I'll end up with a high mount exhaust eventually since I plan to do a lot of dirt roads and light off-road.
UPDATE: I have now lowered the front and back, and have lower seat. It seems like the right thing to do for me, here is a vid that i made right after adding lowering links- ruclips.net/video/6acHep2i-NA/видео.html
i ve got the HEED front and rear crashbars. Love those!! you should deffinetly check the rear crash bar from them. because on top of protecting the bike, they are the perfect handle s to pick up the bike if dropped. it now misses a good handhold on the back.. only 3kg
ebc hh pads will sort brakes, i would not get lower seat it will hurt your arse , try moving clicks and preload on the back it will lower bike by about 1 inch will make a big difference. have fun.
Thanks, I was going to look into fiddling with SUS next week. the lower seat comes on tuesday anyway, so i may as well try it out. maybe for short runs that are over very technical terrain, the lower seat could save my arse for that. then standard seat for longer road runs.
Tryed Yamaha low Seat! Adrian is right. 😬It Will hurt your arse, i bought touratech Comfort set ( full Seat) 20 mm lower , expensiv but wow . So much Comfort. Then you can drop your fork legs 5 mm . Makes the bike even better.
It's such a wonderful bike! Thank you for the review. I'm myself 5'7 and am considering this bike. I sat on bikes with a very similar seat high and even tho it could be a tad lower i don't mind it. Personally i don't want to do a lowering kit on the suspension because i don't want to tamper with the bikes ergonomics and clearance capabilities. I think just the lowering seat alone would do just fine
Not for short riders. If you are short and you need a 21” front wheel - go for Africa twin. I am 161 cm tall and I could reach both tip toes on ground. On Tenere I can only reach one tip toe on ground and the other can reach a little over brake lever
The AT is heavier again tho. (Plus more money) With the lower seat and suspension lowered I’m pretty comfortable with the T7 now. I’m 5’8” but my legs are pretty short.
I really liked your review. Have to agree with the cheap items especially the fuel cap. I really did like the T700 but I'm nearly 6ft and found it to high but I do like my feet planted flat on the floor. I got a Tiger XCA800 and love but its off the road now for the winter as my bikes don't do sault 🤣
Oh! sorry, wrong vid... i thought you were commenting on my other T7 vid.... this one was in St Ives.. in Cornwall... here is a look at that spot from my drone -ruclips.net/video/4jvyhMcUZp8/видео.html
Nice videos, thanks. I am as high as you. I will definitely lower the bike, and replace battery with lithium one to save 2.3kg (5 pounds), that’s one of the mods I did to my mt09, feel it easier to pick it up.
@@CharlesYangTravel yep new lighter batt and exhaust deff worth it. That’s next on my list (as well as more off road tyres) Installed HEED rear crash bar yesterday. Makes it much easier to move around as it’s a bar /handle along side. And got a OEM heavy duty bashplate in the garage ready to go on too. It’s nice that the T7 has tons of 3rd party parts and accessories to choose from.
I hadn’t thought of seeing front wheel. Would have to stand up lean forward. Or lean out to side a fair bit. (Wide tank). No, like I said in this vid. Loved the cab. Just wanted to do longer journeys, and I always knew the cab wasn’t a good tourer. (May need to ride to London and Bristol a bit coming up. So that’s a long journey for me. )
I finished lowering it today. Much easier to handle. I will put it down on some grass in the week and pick it up. Be good to know how easy it is. Hopefully will do another vid soon. Including some off road use etc.
On the road it was fine. I’m about 5’8” and had no problems with it on the road. And for light off road, gravel roads, muddy flat roads etc it was all fine. But for more challenging off road, rocky hills, uneven singltrack etc.I found it a struggle. Even after lowering it. And I sold it for that reason. If you are VERY capable and skilled off road then you will be fine. Or if you are just commuting etc. you will be fine. But for me I lost confidence on the tricky stuff. When you crash you crash HARD. And it’s bloody tiring to pick it up multiple times. I sold it and got a CRF300L. Which admittedly is gutless on the road. But my confidence and ability off road shot up. It was the right decision for me. My skills have now grown so I’m ready for something more spicy. So, in summery, I think if you are shorter, it’s ok. But if you combine shorter rider, with a rider who is just a average rider off road, with a tallish heavy bike. It’s a recipe for some frustration in challenging conditions.
i measured myself over the weekend. i am exactly 5'8" and inseam is 31.5" ... here is a little update vid after adding lower links - (since done forks too, and will test ride that today) ruclips.net/video/6acHep2i-NA/видео.html
No lowering kit for you my friend, you seem to be reaching the ground ok & the more you get familiar with it the height will become less & less of an issue until it just isn’t!
nice video! i think about getting one as well, maybe in the future. currently i'm riding the tiger 800 xc, but its a little heavy for rough off-roading. I'm also your size (maybe 2cm higher) but i would say, dont lower it. If you wanna go off-road, the more ground clearance, the better. You will get used to it.
Depends on the type of off roading. I just did some of the trans euro trail in north Cornwall and it was unbelievably slippy. Slabs of rocks covered in wet leaves and/or greasy mud. If I hadn’t lowered it I would have definitely dropped it several times. Possibly been stuck in mud and needed help getting out, and maybe damaged my bike on the steep rocky stuff. The kind of off road we have down here is very slow and very slippy in winter. Where touching the ground often (sometimes both sides at same time) is essential. If it was more desert whoops, or open dry fast off road, or faster rocky lumps etc I would completely agree with you. Where ground clearance is a huge factor. I may well change my mind when I’m more used to it. But for now I’m certain lowering it meant the difference between getting seriously stuck and needing help getting up a difficult trail by myself and norm dropping it once.
@@biscuitsalive I agree that sounds right :) Just saw your tet video after this, it looked really muddy. Down here in eastern germany we dont have a lot legal dirt roads. And if you find one, there usually dry, hard dirt with a bunch of small rocks in it. Easy to ride :)
@@DerAllerechteSHARKY does the TET go through Germany? Only recently started doing the off road trails so lots I don’t know. Good thing about the lowering option is it’s easy to reverse. Maybe an hour or so of fiddling.
@@biscuitsalive Yeah we have a little bit tet in the northern part, i think. But its probably not all dirt, also paved parts. Yes me too, i have the 800 xc for about a year now, before that an r1 :D
Blake, quick question for you as a St Ives expert, if someone (i.e. me) was staying at the Sloop for a night soon mid week, where would be the best place to park?
Not up to date with the prices everywhere. Are you concerned with security? (Gear in vehicle?) The car park behind sloop is fine. Or island car park isn’t far. But I don’t know where is cheapest. (This time of year you can scavenge free parking, if you hunt around the back bits up past cinema, up the hill etc)
@@biscuitsalive thanks mate, nothing gear wise will be left in the car, that's for sure. but it will be overnight, planning on having a few pint's at beer n bird lol. Probably Island car park will be the best one for us. cheers for the heads up
@@biscuitsalive we are in St Ives on Monday night mate, as I said going to beer n bird for an earlyish dinner, no bookings taken so it's a matter of get there and see lol, planning on having a few ciders so the walk back to the sloop might be a bit more of a meander lol
I find it amusing when you say the leg room is slightly cramped. Im 5-11 200lbs with a 32 inseam and this bike has a ton of leg room compared to most bikes. Very comfortable ergonomics.
I did lower it. Didn’t have any issues. But did sell it as it was a bit heavy for some of the technical trails I was riding. (Bitch to pick up in the mud etc)
How did you get on with the T7 over the last couple of years? I’m 5’7-5’8 ish, love the bike but am concerned about the size / reaching the floor if doing off road stuff!
I loved it on road. But decided it wasn’t for me off road. Even after lowering. The top heavy geometry mixed with my short legs meant it was holding me back a bit. (Mainly because of my skill level admittedly. ) I sold it and got a Honda crf300L for a while. Then went for a 701…. Then went for a KTM 350excf. The KTM made my off road riding skill level shoot up. So easy to ride in difficult conditions. But crap on road for long journeys obviously. I prob will try the Honda CRF 450L next… Or possibly a Kove 450. There is no prefect bike. But I miss the T7 on the road and gravel roads for sure.
Wow! So many cool bikes. I’m popping to a Yamaha garage tomorrow to sit on one and see how I feel. Having sat on a CRF300L rally today I was shocked at how high that was (higher than a Tenere I think, but obviously way lighter!). A 701 with a rally tower is quite an appealing idea to me, but KTM/Husky reliability/ parts availability if travelling seems an iffy prospect! There is no perfect bike… but if Honda did a CRF450 Rally at about 180kg wet and a height not designed for 8 foot tall freaks of nature, that might be pretty close!
I’m 6’5”, 240 lbs and want to get this as my first bike. I have previous experience riding dirt bikes but I have never been a serious rider. I’m taking a weeklong motorcycle course this month as well as getting my motorcycles license. I want to use this bike as a commuter which involves a good amount of highway time and I’d love to take it on dirt roads as well. I want to get crash bars and side saddles for when I take it on adventurous trips. Do you guys think this would be a good bike for me? I’d love to hear some feedback, thanks.
It’s easy to ride and not too vicious. So for a large rider first time bike it’s not a bad choice. Just bear in mind it’s weight. Crashes are more sudden and serious than on a lighter/dirt bike. I would recommend testing and putting it down gently (on grass maybe) and picking it up yourself before deciding to buy one.
Also go check out Ogre, he's roughly your height and weight so you can kinda guess on the comfort level. I'm 6'2" 245. This is my first bike as well. On long commutes, you're definitely gonna want some extra cushion on the seat. It becomes a pain after the first 50ish miles.
Trying out different options. And I read about a few issues on the Cab, overheating etc. I’ve changed again now to a Honda 300L. T7 was too heavy for the tricky single track.
@@biscuitsalive funny that this are 3 of the motorcycles on my list. Caballero, 300L and T7. I have a SWM SuperdualX now, and thinking to get something new.
@@tiagobotelho7882 the 300L has been great for doing TET and VERY green/muddy/slippy lanes. Suspension is stupid soft but fairly cheap/easy to upgrade it. But a effortless bike to take tricky places that I would be stressed taking the T7. Thinking about a 701 a bit. But mayb that’s for next year.
@@biscuitsalive understand what you mean. I have the T7 and GS800 on my mind also for long distance travel but still off road capable. Then for the small weekends adventures, the 300L or even a 250L or an old DR350 could be an option.
@@richardsimpson3792 yep it is annoying, dameralls had a second hand one, i tried that out. but most places will deliver for not too much, or free. to keep warrantee u have to service at yamaha dealer too... i had to go to plymouth (GT motorcycles)
Not terrible. Not brilliant. Longest ride I did on it was about 5 hours. And my butt hurt after that. Stock seat is much better than the lower seat option. (That I added for better ground reach)
I'm soon to be a first time motorcyclist and l'm looking at the KLR Kawasaki 650... But would you recommend this here particular T700 for a beginner?...
From what I hear the klr is easy to ride. I think they are both similar in terms of easy to ride. What’s the seat height on klr? Something like that can be a decider. Klr is cheaper too. So if you do damage it. Less cost involved. (T7 isn’t an expensive bike compared to many but still more than klr) If u intend to do long trips the T7 will travel at speed in more comfort tho. (T7 Engine is happy at high speeds.) I would say try to test ride both before thinking seriously about either ideally.
I rode a Suzuki TS50x at 16 then a KDX125 at 17 then switched to a car. I'm 44 now and looking at doing my full test and getting a bike again. Do you think a 700cc would be to powerful as I'm torn between the T7 and a CRF300L, will be more for green Laning and short commutes around the roads of Devon. I'm guessing the insurance would be steep on a new T7 if I've just passed my test?.
I only passed my test this year. And quickly went through 3 bikes. Crf250l Fantic Caballero 500 Now a tenere700 I think if you don’t intent to do long trips. And really will Be off road lots. Stick to the crf300l (If you can get one. Long waits I’ve heard) T7 will only be beneficial if you are doin miles on the fast roads. But give a T7 a test ride if you can. (Sometimes they don’t let new licence riders test ride)
@@biscuitsalive Thanks for that, I'm just looking for something that's going to be used for fun really so won't be used on motorways etc just to get out and about off the beaten track 🙂
@@benavery703 that’s what I intended too. But you may find you have to do more roads than you expect. To get to the trails. But I think the 300 Honda would be a great choice. Reliable. Easy. Fun. Very few downsides. But I would suggest considering the rally version. Pretty much the same bike. But you would be amazed how much more comfortable it is with a bit of wind protection.
@@biscuitsalive Thanks alot for your reply, gives me alot to think about, I'm 6ft 2" and 17st and sat on the rally version and the height was fine and comfy but for some reason I just don't like the look of the headlights lol but maybe can do something with it.i can't seem to find a tenere in a showroom to sit on to test for height and weight. I'm new to your channel but it's great, keep up the good work 👍
@@benavery703 glad it was helpful. Although at your size a tenere700 would fit you well I think. (Bit big for me at 5’8” and 12stone) Maybe look for a second hand one for sale nearby just to see it in person and sit on one. But bare in mind you may need stiffer springs on the T7 and the crf300 if you want to ride them hard and not bottom out. Stock they seem set up for even lighter riders then me.
im not sure, whats your inseam length? thats more important than overall height. but ive seen one guy on youtube that said he was 5'4" and he had a T7 and was fine
@@keslerkalaw2873 mine is 31. So I think you will be ok. Try it stock first. Then it’s easy to lower the suspension. So that next. Then if still too much of a reach then get the lower seat too.
Many youtuber when riding on the bike acting with hands, can image what other drivers think about it "what is waving it like an idiot" 😆 BTW nice video
Yep you do get a bit self conscious about that. Although many riders have mic/speakers for chatting on phone these days. So I guess they may think I’m doing that.
Nice bike, great honest comments. I have been looking at one of these too but in the West Midlands they are like Gold Dust. I currently have a Bennelli TRK502 which is actually really greatbut it's a bit heavy at 235KG for me. I'm about your size and height so will definately find the T7 a bit tall for sure. The TRK is 800 high and as it's a wide seat, can be tricky, can just get it flat footed. Where abouts are you in Cornwall?
I just can not believe how much you're lugging the brand new engine! Absolute worst thing that you can possibly do during the running in period!! I have just bought a brand new Rally edition. I am keeping the engine between 3,000rpm - 5,500 rpm with constant gear changes and plenty of engine braking.
yep, i kept it below 5000 revs for the first 600 miles, as the chaps at yamaha recommend. a bit over cautious I know, but want to own this one for several years, so wanted to break it in gently. its past its first service now, so im revving the crap out of it these days.i will do a update at maybe 1000 miles, showing my mods, add ons and point out any issues.
Just buy Elton John type shoes or giant boots with big soles . Or alternatively weld ,screw , nail or glue some thick rubber or other suitable material to the bottom of your boots or shoes ..... Never forget to touch your balls on the ground ,very important. Or buy a Grom .
Hi, I am 5'6" and after riding the stock T7, all I would do is put the low seat on. Putting lower dog bones on is not the way to go, you'll lose ground clearance and you need that off road. The best thing you can do is practice your low speed control and handling to become more comfortable with the bike. Because skill trumps all. There are some great videos on RUclips explaining this, Bret Tkacs is one. Anyway, nice bike!
All the best, Ben.
I know shorter rider than me handle taller bikes. And it feels fine riding it stock.
But only yesterday I had a moment I definitely was glad I lowered it.
Pulling out on a slope with front wheel on a rise. And a car came whizzing around a blind corner just as I was about to accelerate and turn hard right.
I slammed on front brake to avoid car and bike was totally off balance, it tipped and because of the high front wheel I couldn’t reach ground.
I caught the bike halfway into drop and JUST struggled to right it. (Using all the strength my right leg had.)
If I hadn’t lowered it that would definitely have been a drop, without a doubt. And I would have been on the floor right as the car came right by me.
Sometimes even a good rider can get caught off guard by circumstances. And having immediate reach to ground can save you.
Ideally I will grow more used to the weight of the bike (this is the heaviest bike I have had so far) and reverse the lowering.
@@biscuitsalive I totally get where you are coming from. It's difficult for us shorter riders, as we generally get advice from tall people on how we should be doing things. I myself have been riding for 26 ish years, on all kinds of bikes, so perhaps feel more comfortable with what I'm capable of. Some advice if I may, practice in a car park or similar space balancing the bike at a standstill with your feet on the pegs, and don't worry if to start it is only a second or so, but get used to the bikes balance, and also controlling the bike at walking pace. This will help your confidence no end, and I still practice doing this myself. Great videos by the way. Keep up the great work, atb, Ben 🙂
@@3_of_freedom603 thanks for input. I’ve only had my bike licence a few months. So I don’t pretend to know what I’m doing. And no doubt my mind will change on many of these things down the line.
I’m doing my first proper ride tomorrow, long chunk of unexplored TET. So that will open my eyes a bit to what the bike (and me) can do.
Touratech low Seat is super! expensiv but so comfy and good quality
@@3_of_freedom603😊😂
Qailified or not.your 1st impressions and on rd review,is the most honest and non bullshit one of all that i have watched .making the bike fit you is the way to go.we cant all throw them around like pol tarr'es.Cheers.
A lot of parts are made to be intentionally ‘flimsy’. If you drop the bike, the indicators/tail have a relative amount of give compared to a static indicator which would instantly snap off/smash
My 2 cents. Lower it to make it more comfortable. Then if you find your self needing the extra suspension travel as you advance your skills, you can remove it.
I'm 1,73m myself and it looks like you are too. At least it looks similar when you put your feet on the ground. I won't lower it. The bike's frame and suspension was designed this way and you will compromise its performance. I would maybe get a modified seat so maybe you get 2cm lower than the normal seat. I wouldn't touch the suspension. I will just live with it also I won't change the seat. I just ride, ride, ride and train with the bike in order to get comfortable with the height. That would be my suggestion.
Just depends where you are riding.
I was doing a lot of slow technical stuff. Where if I hadn’t lowered it I would have dropped it going up/down some steep rocky hills MUCH more often.
Glad I lowered it in the long run.
At speed the height makes no difference.
Just the slow off balance stuff where a fast dab of my foot was enough to settle bike and keep it up.
Regarding the suspension.
It works exactly the same.
Travel length is the same.
And weight between front and back wheel is the same. (As long as do it properly and match front and back wheel)
All you lose is ground clearance.
So if you are hopping of tree stumps or fallen trees often then you may miss the GC. But for me it was a welcome trade off
@@biscuitsalive Aren't you lowering the frame onto the wheels? Front wheel may not be as dramatic but the rear wheel will touch the sub frame earlier or not? Personally I think it's iffy to play with the bike geometry. But if you are satisfied then all good! I keep it as is and just learn to live with it. It's not so bad anyway.
@@majormassenspektrometer every human is different.
Seems silly to expect all humans to fit a rigid unchanging mechanical device that you move around and “fit” into as closely as a motorbike.
It’s like a car, you would laugh if a car manufacturer designed a car with seats that didn’t adjust position.
Expecting all drivers to have legs the same length.
A 6’ person needs a different proportioned bike to. 5’ person.
So you make changes to make it suit
Rule of thumb to see if a bike is too big for you is to sit on the bike and if you can touch the balls of both feet on the ground then it’s ok. Personally I wouldn’t use a lowering link. I have short legs 30” inside leg and had my 2021 KTM 690 enduro R professionally lowered by 1” by changing the fork springs and the shock spring and to also suit my weight. I didn’t want to compromise the ground clearance and 1” was the recommended maximum. Seat height is still 904mm so still technically too big for me as I can’t even touch the tips of both boots down at the same time. My point is that it is possible to ride a bike that is technically too tall. I do a little slide off to one side to get a foot down. If you’re going to use it off road one thing that is guaranteed is, your going to drop the bike. It happens and you have to come to terms with it. Hope this helps. Have fun.
I have a 1200GSA and similar to you on inside leg. Not a problem as long as you’re prepared to slide off one side on the odd occasion. At walking pace totally manageable. Mind over matter!
First, congrats on your new bike! I got mine back in June and love it. I will address some of the things you mentioned because I found the same problem in most things.
First the height. I am also 5’8” and I was also intimated by the bike’s size and height. To be honest I was scared of it at the beginning. I even wondered if I purchased the right bike for me. Seen the bike in pictures and videos doesn’t do it justice. I also thought about lowering the bike but didn’t. In about 5 months I have gotten used to the bike and its size doesn’t even cross my mind. Now I love my bike.
May be it’s in my head but I feel that I can reach the ground better now. My theory is that the seat is breaking in and it now compresses easier. I assume that because it also feels a lot more comfortable than when it was new.
Also, I have about 5,000 miles on it already. Even though the rear wheel still looks very good, it has lost a bit of it’s roundness. I imagine that has lowered the bike a bit more.
Since for now I am doing about 95% of my riding on the streets and highways, I will be changing to either the Pirelli Scorpion MT90 A/T, or the Pirelli Scorpion Trail II tires (most likely this ones). The MT90’d I thunk they are a 70/30 tires. The Scorpion Trail II are like a 90/10 tires.
Some advise about the stock tires. Make sure you do check the air pressure at least once per week. Because K was checking mine once every two weeks and the wrong wore unevenly.
Remember that you have tubes in those tires. I assume tube don’t hold the air as good as tubeless tires.
Otherwise they are very good tires. I wrong my bike in rain a few rimes and I never lost confidence on those tires. They stuck to the ground like gum on hot pavement. And I was on the freeway doing 70-80 mph.
Power delivery:
The Tenere has a nasty reputation for snapping your head back when you are in second and start accelerating after slowing down. Like when you go around a street corner. I was riding it home from the dealer when I first got it and on the last turn onto my street it did it for the first time. I have gotten used to the throttle response now. Sometimes it does it butt not has violently as I am expecting it. Some people hate that so much they install a “throttle tamer.” Other than that I love the power delivery.
And by the way, give it another 200 miles, the bike engine will become more alive (more power) and the RPM’s will be lower at the same speeds.
Rear Brake:
I am with you regarding the rear brake. It really does suck. I have tested then just by stopping the bike using the rear brake and it feel like you are slowing down an 18 wheeler. I thought that was just me.
The display shaking:
I install an anti wobble bars. Like these: camel-adv.com/collections/yamaha-700-tenere-t7-parts-and-accessories/products/yamaha-700-tenere-t7-anti-bobble-head
Those are like 60 bucks, but you can buy cheaper ones in e-bay, for about half the price. Worth every penny. Specially when you hit rough sections of the road or go off roading.
Wind protection:
I purchased adjustment adapters. Like these:
www.ebay.com/itm/264888447169?hash=item3dac94f0c1:g:GBUAAOSweiZfs9Dl
Vibrations:
Mine vibrate quite a bit. Specially at high speeds. I am blaming more the tires. I will be changing the tires soon to reduce the vibes.
Looks:
Unlike you, I have gotten more compliments on this bike (about the bike) than any other bike I’ve owned. And I’ve owned a lot of sport bikes in my 35 years riding bikes. People stop to ask me about quite often. And most were not bikers. Just everyday people. May be because I’m a girl, may be people feel more comfortable approaching me. Just assuming here.
Some one who wrote it half across the world said that he had one huge problem with this bike. Something I agree with 100%.
He said that the Tenere comes with a little devil who sits on your shoulder and tells you to go faster and faster. YES IT DOES!
The bike is so damn good off roading that even though I rode 900cc plus sport bikes for 35 years and this is my first adventure/dirk bike, the couple of times I’ve taken it off roading it gave me so much confidence I found myself telling myself to slow down because of my lack of experience off roading. Which is like Zero!
Seriously, keep out an eye on that. Because the bike makes you feel lie riding off road is easy. And I know it is not, and it requires a whole new set of skills I do not have.
So I have to stay on paved roads. It’s too tempting to go too fast off road. I rather weight until the covid virus BS comes down and can take some off roading courses. On a bike that screams in your ear to go faster, you better have those skills. Or one day you will find yourself in a bad situation and don’t know how to handle it.
After 35 years I have never crashed or fall. I know that will change once I start going iff road more. Specially once I take off on my Central and South America trip and hit some bad third world country dirt roads.
Oh and one more thing, do yourself and you crash bars a HUGE favor. Get yourself some crash bar sliders. It will protect your bike and your crash bars a lot. It’s cheaper to replace the sliders than the bars. I put two on my top and bottom crash bars. I am thinking about getting one more for the lower crash bars.
At the bottom I’ll put a couple of links. Two different example of sliders. Same idea, different looks.
Good luck! And sorry for the long reply.
www.ebay.com/itm/233623545066?epid=10030635959&hash=item36650c64ea:g:fE8AAOSwk-Ne7CjE
www.ebay.com/itm/114209052626?hash=item1a9763d7d2:g:GvIAAOSwpElerPBW
Congratulations on your new bike.
I've had my T700 for nearly two years now and as someone else has said in the comments get a screen adjuster. I raise mine about 2 inches and then I can sit at 60mph with my visor up no problem. I am also 5'8'' and I didn't bother with a lowering kit, I also have a prosthetic leg but I don't find the standard height of the bike a problem.
It will be interesting once you get it on the TET to see how it compares with the Fantic.
Screen adjuster. Thanks.
Yep I think for road riding I didn’t need lowering. But winter coming up and slippy stuff with heavier bike. Think I’m glad I lowered it so far. (Only did forks this afternoon, so very early days. )
I may revert it to standard once I get my head around a heavier bike.
Out of interest which leg is prosthetic?
And how does that affect controls on that side?
Left leg , below knee. So I tried lots of things but now I just shift gear with my heel.
I'm looking forward to see how you progress with the Tenere.
I’m short in the leg and have fitted a lowering kit to drop it 40 mm and also fitted a lowered seat.
I then fitted a stronger spring to compensate for the ‘stretch’ in the Oem spring.
Makes a big difference and gives me confidence on those slow manoeuvres in car parks and so on.
I’ve fitted as well a cool cover on the seat which is a real help on longer journeys.
I’ve had several ADV type bikes and this one is by far the best.
From a fellow Cornishman. Happy riding.
Thanks. Everyone has a different perspective on lowering don’t they.
I think some folk seem think lowering a bike is some sign of failure. XD
Like you have to learn to ride a different way to accommodate for shorter legs. Hmmm. Not sure that is right, if the bike doesn’t fit you then make it fit. Rather than learn a work around.
My lower kit arrives on Tuesday. I will certainly fit it and see.
I have a feeling it will stay lowered, the embarrassment and annoyance of dropping a bike when you didn’t need to simply because there was a slight hole where you foot wanted to be isn’t worth it.
@@biscuitsalive I've ordered lower seat + kit as I've found T7 requires to much effort / focus to pull up to a perfectly balanced stop at traffic lights for fear of dropping it. Also it should make it easier off road.
@@andrew390 agreed.
Although maybe upgrade your skid plate too.
The reduced ground clearance could possibly increase chances of catching on some chunky stone.
I received the OEM heavy duty one last week. (But they forgot to include a small plate for the cat.. so waiting on that part.)
Which 40 mm kit did you use to lower it?
Mind sharing which spring you used? And how do you find it ? I have alt rider 30mm adjustable lowering links and am interested in stiffening the rear spring.
I rode for about 1.5 years without lowering and at 5’7” I am feeling much better being at the lower height (now that I have a good skid plate)
Lowering definitely messes with the sag adjustment however , but worth it to me so far
It’s an excellent bike. I have been riding for 45 yrs and it’s the best all-rounder about. Done 3k on mine in the last year, including 800 miles from S. Devon to Wales a few weeks ago, and around the off road track at the ABR Festival. I bought it instead of a GS1250, simply because of the simplicity of it. Regarding the wind issue, get the screen adapter/riser from T7 Rallye - it makes a big difference. I have added an SW Moto rack for baggage and Barkbuster ‘guards, which are far more robust than the stockers. I would have thought the lower link may help if you are shorter as the bike can fell a little top heavy off road. Good luck!
thanks, I saw your comment on facebook too. appreciate the feedback.
@@biscuitsalive if you make it up to the TET in S. Devon, let me know!
Great video. I appreciate all the information from your perspective. Thanks!
I'm 180# sturdy and 5'7" at 49 yrs. And, not lean or leggy. Just picked up my t700 for daily commuting to replace my dr650. There is NO need to lower these bikes. The T700 has beautiful balance, around town, in traffic and at speed. I highly recommend to give it a few hundred miles of practice to find if you come to agree with the height. Easily my favorite commuter yet.
I basically did the same upgrade, lol. Fucking fantastic bike.
Congrats on the new bike, you are helping me and others make this decision. Enjoy it Batman!
Thanks. Still loving it.
It is a pain to move when you get stuck in the mud. (Like I did today)
But it is a great machine.
Not exciting. But quick vid of my muddy grey ride today-
ruclips.net/video/KozcO2Ve24U/видео.html
In case you aren't familiar with it, ACF50 will stave off most rust attacks (providing you keep on top of the routine application) - awesome stuff... oh, and lovely bike
Thanks. Yep I coated the T7 in ACF50 a week ago. Ready for winter. (Wrapped up wheels/brakes of course so it didn’t get on that.)
I expect the discs will rust down here in Cornwall. But going to try to keep it in good condition.
Brilliant well delivered video blog on the Tenere, GReat choice can't go wrong with the yam reliable CP2 engine
Nice choice of roads ...
Very unique looking bike, Yamaha really hit the nail on the head in my opinion. Thanks for sharing.👍👍
i use different rear brake pads.. its just a tiny bit but .... well. im opting for a abs removal.
Best of luck with your new bike
Thanks. Christmas came early. :)
I am 5'8, softening the rear suspension a little was enough for me for those worried about height.
I guess inseam/leg length is the biggest factor there.
Also, I have a old back injury so my hip mobility is lower than most folk. So sliding around on the seat is possible. But a little harder for me.
I just picked up a black T7 last week after not riding for about 18 years and I love it. Some of the "cons" that people mention, like the floppy dash and indicators, don't bother me at all. The headlight bouncing is a bit annoying, but not enough to do something about it. The sound from the factory exhaust is much better in person, but I'm sure I'll end up with a high mount exhaust eventually since I plan to do a lot of dirt roads and light off-road.
Sounds similar to me.
I did ride bikes a bit at 16 17 etc.
But only got my full licence this year.
UPDATE: I have now lowered the front and back, and have lower seat.
It seems like the right thing to do for me, here is a vid that i made right after adding lowering links-
ruclips.net/video/6acHep2i-NA/видео.html
What lowering links, you
WILL need an adjustable
Side * kick stand
Love the bike well done, I’ve ordered exact same colour, hopefully get it next week 👍
i ve got the HEED front and rear crashbars. Love those!! you should deffinetly check the rear crash bar from them. because on top of protecting the bike, they are the perfect handle s to pick up the bike if dropped. it now misses a good handhold on the back.. only 3kg
Just looked those up. They look great! Thanks.
May get the rear ones.
Nice first review 👍 , if you feel the bike needs a we pop then check out graphics kits some great kits out there , ride safe 👍
Steven
ebc hh pads will sort brakes, i would not get lower seat it will hurt your arse , try moving clicks and preload on the back it will lower bike by about 1 inch will make a big difference. have fun.
Thanks, I was going to look into fiddling with SUS next week. the lower seat comes on tuesday anyway, so i may as well try it out. maybe for short runs that are over very technical terrain, the lower seat could save my arse for that. then standard seat for longer road runs.
Tryed Yamaha low Seat! Adrian is right. 😬It Will hurt your arse, i bought touratech Comfort set ( full Seat) 20 mm lower , expensiv but wow . So much Comfort. Then you can drop your fork legs 5 mm . Makes the bike even better.
It's such a wonderful bike! Thank you for the review. I'm myself 5'7 and am considering this bike. I sat on bikes with a very similar seat high and even tho it could be a tad lower i don't mind it. Personally i don't want to do a lowering kit on the suspension because i don't want to tamper with the bikes ergonomics and clearance capabilities. I think just the lowering seat alone would do just fine
wow what a neat neighborhood
As for a clunky gearbox, check the dealer has adjusted the clutch freeplay correctly, or you could burn the plates.
I’ve heard several reviewers say the same thing since. So think it’s just how it is.
Clutch seems fine.
Not for short riders. If you are short and you need a 21” front wheel - go for Africa twin. I am 161 cm tall and I could reach both tip toes on ground. On Tenere I can only reach one tip toe on ground and the other can reach a little over brake lever
The AT is heavier again tho. (Plus more money)
With the lower seat and suspension lowered I’m pretty comfortable with the T7 now. I’m 5’8” but my legs are pretty short.
I really liked your review. Have to agree with the cheap items especially the fuel cap. I really did like the T700 but I'm nearly 6ft and found it to high but I do like my feet planted flat on the floor. I got a Tiger XCA800 and love but its off the road now for the winter as my bikes don't do sault 🤣
Great video - keep them coming!
Thanks, looking forward to getting the bike dirty pretty soon.
Speaking of height, I'm 5'6" and riding WR 250 R XD. Would love to get this Tenere later though. Nice review.
What a lovely town and beach, where it is? I almost ignored what you are taking but just enjoy the view…
its north of lands end in cornwall. i went back and flew my drone there, check this out - ruclips.net/video/34LV-OVkhDs/видео.html
Oh! sorry, wrong vid... i thought you were commenting on my other T7 vid.... this one was in St Ives.. in Cornwall... here is a look at that spot from my drone -ruclips.net/video/4jvyhMcUZp8/видео.html
Nice videos, thanks. I am as high as you. I will definitely lower the bike, and replace battery with lithium one to save 2.3kg (5 pounds), that’s one of the mods I did to my mt09, feel it easier to pick it up.
@@CharlesYangTravel yep new lighter batt and exhaust deff worth it.
That’s next on my list (as well as more off road tyres)
Installed HEED rear crash bar yesterday.
Makes it much easier to move around as it’s a bar /handle along side.
And got a OEM heavy duty bashplate in the garage ready to go on too.
It’s nice that the T7 has tons of 3rd party parts and accessories to choose from.
can you see the front wheel when you ride? also, any reason in particular that you sold the cab so soon after buying it?
I hadn’t thought of seeing front wheel. Would have to stand up lean forward. Or lean out to side a fair bit. (Wide tank).
No, like I said in this vid. Loved the cab. Just wanted to do longer journeys, and I always knew the cab wasn’t a good tourer.
(May need to ride to London and Bristol a bit coming up. So that’s a long journey for me. )
I am still on the fence on buying one. I wonder if you can pick it up if you drop it? And how will you lower the bike?
I finished lowering it today. Much easier to handle.
I will put it down on some grass in the week and pick it up. Be good to know how easy it is.
Hopefully will do another vid soon. Including some off road use etc.
I am 5'8 and about 65 kg, I can pick it up even when facing the bike.
Hello mate how are you finding the bike now is it enjoyable to ride? I am 5 foot 9 so just wondering if its ok for size as well .
On the road it was fine. I’m about 5’8” and had no problems with it on the road.
And for light off road, gravel roads, muddy flat roads etc it was all fine.
But for more challenging off road, rocky hills, uneven singltrack etc.I found it a struggle. Even after lowering it.
And I sold it for that reason.
If you are VERY capable and skilled off road then you will be fine. Or if you are just commuting etc. you will be fine.
But for me I lost confidence on the tricky stuff.
When you crash you crash HARD. And it’s bloody tiring to pick it up multiple times.
I sold it and got a CRF300L. Which admittedly is gutless on the road.
But my confidence and ability off road shot up.
It was the right decision for me. My skills have now grown so I’m ready for something more spicy.
So, in summery, I think if you are shorter, it’s ok.
But if you combine shorter rider, with a rider who is just a average rider off road, with a tallish heavy bike. It’s a recipe for some frustration in challenging conditions.
Thanks for the review. May I ask your inseam and if you thought the lower seat made a difference?
i measured myself over the weekend. i am exactly 5'8" and inseam is 31.5" ... here is a little update vid after adding lower links - (since done forks too, and will test ride that today) ruclips.net/video/6acHep2i-NA/видео.html
No lowering kit for you my friend, you seem to be reaching the ground ok & the more you get familiar with it the height will become less & less of an issue until it just isn’t!
How long where you riding before getting the Tenere? Great review 👌
Between 1-2 years.
So not long.
This is my dream bike cant wait to get 1
Great looking bike, sounds lovely aswell, carry on biking. Will watch the Tet trail series .
nice video!
i think about getting one as well, maybe in the future. currently i'm riding the tiger 800 xc, but its a little heavy for rough off-roading.
I'm also your size (maybe 2cm higher) but i would say, dont lower it. If you wanna go off-road, the more ground clearance, the better. You will get used to it.
Depends on the type of off roading.
I just did some of the trans euro trail in north Cornwall and it was unbelievably slippy. Slabs of rocks covered in wet leaves and/or greasy mud.
If I hadn’t lowered it I would have definitely dropped it several times. Possibly been stuck in mud and needed help getting out, and maybe damaged my bike on the steep rocky stuff.
The kind of off road we have down here is very slow and very slippy in winter. Where touching the ground often (sometimes both sides at same time) is essential.
If it was more desert whoops, or open dry fast off road, or faster rocky lumps etc I would completely agree with you. Where ground clearance is a huge factor.
I may well change my mind when I’m more used to it. But for now I’m certain lowering it meant the difference between getting seriously stuck and needing help getting up a difficult trail by myself and norm dropping it once.
@@biscuitsalive I agree that sounds right :)
Just saw your tet video after this, it looked really muddy.
Down here in eastern germany we dont have a lot legal dirt roads. And if you find one, there usually dry, hard dirt with a bunch of small rocks in it. Easy to ride :)
@@DerAllerechteSHARKY does the TET go through Germany?
Only recently started doing the off road trails so lots I don’t know.
Good thing about the lowering option is it’s easy to reverse. Maybe an hour or so of fiddling.
@@biscuitsalive Yeah we have a little bit tet in the northern part, i think. But its probably not all dirt, also paved parts.
Yes me too, i have the 800 xc for about a year now, before that an r1 :D
Blake, quick question for you as a St Ives expert, if someone (i.e. me) was staying at the Sloop for a night soon mid week, where would be the best place to park?
Not up to date with the prices everywhere.
Are you concerned with security?
(Gear in vehicle?)
The car park behind sloop is fine.
Or island car park isn’t far.
But I don’t know where is cheapest.
(This time of year you can scavenge free parking, if you hunt around the back bits up past cinema, up the hill etc)
@@biscuitsalive thanks mate, nothing gear wise will be left in the car, that's for sure. but it will be overnight, planning on having a few pint's at beer n bird lol. Probably Island car park will be the best one for us. cheers for the heads up
@@GregorStevenson let me know when you are down.
I maybe nearby. Hard to say at moment. Work is either dead or really busy. No in between.
@@biscuitsalive we are in St Ives on Monday night mate, as I said going to beer n bird for an earlyish dinner, no bookings taken so it's a matter of get there and see lol, planning on having a few ciders so the walk back to the sloop might be a bit more of a meander lol
I find it amusing when you say the leg room is slightly cramped. Im 5-11 200lbs with a 32 inseam and this bike has a ton of leg room compared to most bikes. Very comfortable ergonomics.
Mainly where your leg rubs against the casing in a couple of places.
Without decent high boots I would get bruises in 2 hotspots.
Did you have to lower the bike? Do you still have it? Any issues? Thanks for the video.
I did lower it.
Didn’t have any issues.
But did sell it as it was a bit heavy for some of the technical trails I was riding.
(Bitch to pick up in the mud etc)
how do you record your audio (voice so clearly) as you ride?
I use a rode smart lav mic tucked into helmet.
That plugs into an old iPhone in my pocket.
Pain to sync for lots of clips. But it works.
How did you get on with the T7 over the last couple of years? I’m 5’7-5’8 ish, love the bike but am concerned about the size / reaching the floor if doing off road stuff!
I loved it on road. But decided it wasn’t for me off road. Even after lowering.
The top heavy geometry mixed with my short legs meant it was holding me back a bit. (Mainly because of my skill level admittedly. )
I sold it and got a Honda crf300L for a while.
Then went for a 701…. Then went for a KTM 350excf.
The KTM made my off road riding skill level shoot up.
So easy to ride in difficult conditions.
But crap on road for long journeys obviously.
I prob will try the Honda CRF 450L next…
Or possibly a Kove 450.
There is no prefect bike.
But I miss the T7 on the road and gravel roads for sure.
Wow! So many cool bikes. I’m popping to a Yamaha garage tomorrow to sit on one and see how I feel. Having sat on a CRF300L rally today I was shocked at how high that was (higher than a Tenere I think, but obviously way lighter!). A 701 with a rally tower is quite an appealing idea to me, but KTM/Husky reliability/ parts availability if travelling seems an iffy prospect!
There is no perfect bike… but if Honda did a CRF450 Rally at about 180kg wet and a height not designed for 8 foot tall freaks of nature, that might be pretty close!
I’m 6’5”, 240 lbs and want to get this as my first bike. I have previous experience riding dirt bikes but I have never been a serious rider. I’m taking a weeklong motorcycle course this month as well as getting my motorcycles license. I want to use this bike as a commuter which involves a good amount of highway time and I’d love to take it on dirt roads as well. I want to get crash bars and side saddles for when I take it on adventurous trips. Do you guys think this would be a good bike for me? I’d love to hear some feedback, thanks.
It’s easy to ride and not too vicious.
So for a large rider first time bike it’s not a bad choice.
Just bear in mind it’s weight. Crashes are more sudden and serious than on a lighter/dirt bike.
I would recommend testing and putting it down gently (on grass maybe) and picking it up yourself before deciding to buy one.
Also go check out Ogre, he's roughly your height and weight so you can kinda guess on the comfort level. I'm 6'2" 245. This is my first bike as well. On long commutes, you're definitely gonna want some extra cushion on the seat. It becomes a pain after the first 50ish miles.
What mileage do you get with that kind of riding?
Why the change from the Caballero to the T7?
Trying out different options. And I read about a few issues on the Cab, overheating etc.
I’ve changed again now to a Honda 300L. T7 was too heavy for the tricky single track.
@@biscuitsalive funny that this are 3 of the motorcycles on my list. Caballero, 300L and T7. I have a SWM SuperdualX now, and thinking to get something new.
@@tiagobotelho7882 the 300L has been great for doing TET and VERY green/muddy/slippy lanes.
Suspension is stupid soft but fairly cheap/easy to upgrade it.
But a effortless bike to take tricky places that I would be stressed taking the T7.
Thinking about a 701 a bit. But mayb that’s for next year.
@@biscuitsalive understand what you mean. I have the T7 and GS800 on my mind also for long distance travel but still off road capable. Then for the small weekends adventures, the 300L or even a 250L or an old DR350 could be an option.
Nice one. Which dealer did you buy it from, and (if you don't mind me asking) how much did you pay?
Wigan Yamaha. And was just usual retail cost.
@@biscuitsalive I wondered..there doesn't seem to be a Yamaha dealer in Cornwall any more...Damerels seem to have given up the Yam franchise.
@@richardsimpson3792 yep it is annoying, dameralls had a second hand one, i tried that out. but most places will deliver for not too much, or free. to keep warrantee u have to service at yamaha dealer too... i had to go to plymouth (GT motorcycles)
Can you please tell me how comfortable is the seat? It doesn't look like it has a lot of cushion on it
Not terrible. Not brilliant.
Longest ride I did on it was about 5 hours. And my butt hurt after that.
Stock seat is much better than the lower seat option. (That I added for better ground reach)
I'm soon to be a first time motorcyclist and l'm looking at the KLR Kawasaki 650...
But would you recommend this here particular T700 for a beginner?...
From what I hear the klr is easy to ride. I think they are both similar in terms of easy to ride.
What’s the seat height on klr?
Something like that can be a decider.
Klr is cheaper too. So if you do damage it. Less cost involved. (T7 isn’t an expensive bike compared to many but still more than klr)
If u intend to do long trips the T7 will travel at speed in more comfort tho. (T7 Engine is happy at high speeds.)
I would say try to test ride both before thinking seriously about either ideally.
@@biscuitsalive
Thanks for the response and great feed back, I'll keep you're advise in mind most definitely...
Thanks so much sir...
superrrrr bike! price €?
What bars you have?
by the way, love the new bike, how much better is it than the old one?
It’s mainly smoother. And much better for fast roads. (Windscreen and more power)
So it will mean I can go further, faster and in more comfort.
I rode a Suzuki TS50x at 16 then a KDX125 at 17 then switched to a car. I'm 44 now and looking at doing my full test and getting a bike again. Do you think a 700cc would be to powerful as I'm torn between the T7 and a CRF300L, will be more for green Laning and short commutes around the roads of Devon. I'm guessing the insurance would be steep on a new T7 if I've just passed my test?.
I only passed my test this year.
And quickly went through 3 bikes.
Crf250l
Fantic Caballero 500
Now a tenere700
I think if you don’t intent to do long trips. And really will Be off road lots. Stick to the crf300l
(If you can get one. Long waits I’ve heard)
T7 will only be beneficial if you are doin miles on the fast roads.
But give a T7 a test ride if you can. (Sometimes they don’t let new licence riders test ride)
@@biscuitsalive Thanks for that, I'm just looking for something that's going to be used for fun really so won't be used on motorways etc just to get out and about off the beaten track 🙂
@@benavery703 that’s what I intended too.
But you may find you have to do more roads than you expect. To get to the trails.
But I think the 300 Honda would be a great choice. Reliable. Easy. Fun. Very few downsides.
But I would suggest considering the rally version. Pretty much the same bike. But you would be amazed how much more comfortable it is with a bit of wind protection.
@@biscuitsalive Thanks alot for your reply, gives me alot to think about, I'm 6ft 2" and 17st and sat on the rally version and the height was fine and comfy but for some reason I just don't like the look of the headlights lol but maybe can do something with it.i can't seem to find a tenere in a showroom to sit on to test for height and weight. I'm new to your channel but it's great, keep up the good work 👍
@@benavery703 glad it was helpful.
Although at your size a tenere700 would fit you well I think. (Bit big for me at 5’8” and 12stone) Maybe look for a second hand one for sale nearby just to see it in person and sit on one.
But bare in mind you may need stiffer springs on the T7 and the crf300 if you want to ride them hard and not bottom out. Stock they seem set up for even lighter riders then me.
Nice commentary, thanks.
Excellent thoughts expressed. I've dropped it, no worries
How would a 5.3” cope if both lowering kits are installed?
im not sure, whats your inseam length? thats more important than overall height. but ive seen one guy on youtube that said he was 5'4" and he had a T7 and was fine
also skill level of course, ive only had my bike licence a few months, and dont have loads of experience, so thats part of why I lowered it.
I confident with my skills, just worried it’s too big for me. My inseam is 30.
@@keslerkalaw2873 mine is 31. So I think you will be ok.
Try it stock first.
Then it’s easy to lower the suspension.
So that next. Then if still too much of a reach then get the lower seat too.
Many youtuber when riding on the bike acting with hands, can image what other drivers think about it "what is waving it like an idiot" 😆 BTW nice video
Yep you do get a bit self conscious about that.
Although many riders have mic/speakers for chatting on phone these days.
So I guess they may think I’m doing that.
Anyone know where this is?
I like this town
St. ives Cornwall
Nice bike, great honest comments. I have been looking at one of these too but in the West Midlands they are like Gold Dust. I currently have a Bennelli TRK502 which is actually really greatbut it's a bit heavy at 235KG for me. I'm about your size and height so will definately find the T7 a bit tall for sure. The TRK is 800 high and as it's a wide seat, can be tricky, can just get it flat footed. Where abouts are you in Cornwall?
I just can not believe how much you're lugging the brand new engine! Absolute worst thing that you can possibly do during the running in period!! I have just bought a brand new Rally edition. I am keeping the engine between 3,000rpm - 5,500 rpm with constant gear changes and plenty of engine braking.
I'm going to buy one , bit disappointed with the video I want you to start ringing its neck
yep, i kept it below 5000 revs for the first 600 miles, as the chaps at yamaha recommend. a bit over cautious I know, but want to own this one for several years, so wanted to break it in gently. its past its first service now, so im revving the crap out of it these days.i will do a update at maybe 1000 miles, showing my mods, add ons and point out any issues.
Super bike👍
man i am 180 and flat feet with this motorcycle
Your legs must be much longer than mine then. Barely tip toes on stock for me.
Or you could weigh much more too I guess
@@biscuitsalive 86kg. I am leggy..true
@@biscuitsalive u 5.8?
gloriousmachine
Anyone with height 5'4 have used this bike
I’ve seen it. But lower seat, lowered forks and lower link would be recommended.
@@biscuitsalive thanks for replying
Just buy Elton John type shoes or giant boots with big soles .
Or alternatively weld ,screw , nail or glue some thick rubber or other suitable material to the bottom of your boots or shoes .....
Never forget to touch your balls on the ground ,very important.
Or buy a Grom .
Lol
Anybody can ride any bikes on asphalt.