TENACIOUS T7
Left : Ténéré , meaning “ desert ” in the Tuareg language , refers to a vast , dune-filled Saharan plain that was a grueling stage in the Paris-Dakar Rally , which Yamaha won in 1979 and 1980 . Right : The stock seat is tall , narrow , and firm .
and 9.4-inch ground clearance . I appreciate the new Off-Road ABS mode because it provides more confidence in the front on sketchy , loose terrain while allowing rear-wheel skids or slides . The T7 ’ s 452-lb curb weight is comparable to other bikes in its class . Though it ’ s light for a streetbike , its weight needs to be respected when riding off-road .
But when the trail ride is done , and you ’ ve got miles of slab ahead of you – like the 100 miles of pavement on my route home after the press launch – the Ténéré 700 adapts like a chameleon to the new environment . Its rally-style windscreen is small but does a good job of managing airflow . The engine runs smoothly at highway speeds , and the 4.2-gallon tank was good for more than 200 miles at the 49-mpg average we recorded during our test , which included some aggressive throttle twisting . On the downside , there is no cruise control , and the stock seat leaves much to be desired for the long haul . If the taller ( and thicker ) rally seat isn ’ t a viable option , there are aftermarket saddles from companies like Seat Concepts ( see review on page 51 ).
On twisty pavement , the Ténéré 700 handles with confidence without any untoward turning resistance from the 21-inch front wheel . Its torquey Twin , moderate weight , wide handlebar , and narrow tires help the T7 rail through curves like an overgrown supermoto , and its brakes shed speed competently if not impressively .
My Next Bike ?
When it comes to test bikes , I ’ m promiscuous . As a Rider staffer , I ’ ve tested hundreds of motorcycles over the past 16 years . But when it comes to personal bikes , I ’ m a serial monogamist . Soon after getting hired , I started borrowing former EIC Mark Tuttle ’ s Kawasaki KLR650 , which is the bike I cut my off-road teeth on . After lots of cajoling , Mark finally sold
HELMET
: ARAI XD-4 JACKET : ALPINESTARS BOGOTA PRO GLOVES : ALPINESTARS HALO PANTS : ALPINESTARS BOGOTA PRO BOOTS : SIDI TRIAL ZERO . 2
20 / FEBRUARY 2024 / RIDERMAGAZINE . COM