@@gregs5738 thanks. I really appreciate your feedback. Everybody is afraid to say anything that might be negative about a bike or product. It makes reviews really hard to trust.
I appreciate the honest and detailed review. Too many reviewers sugar coat their reviews for fear of repercussions. I'm sure you also expect to get a lot of blow back from T7 owners, who don't seem to take criticism of the T7 very well.
That is true, but this one has a couple of glaring faults that should bother everybody.
Місяць тому+8
@@geraldscott4302 People have different body sizes, different weights, different driving abilities, different places they live, so their expectations are completely different. This makes the job of engineers extremely difficult. Buying a motorcycle is not like buying shoes
Well stated. That is why aftermarket companies do so well. We all have to try and get the stock bikes to work for us the way we want them to, not the way they rolled of the factory floor.
Maybe you're just starting to realize that biking isn't so funny anymore… I had my first bike 18 years old, now 45 and it is not that funny anymore... When everything is fun, you do not find all this stuff you "hate.."...
This was a good honest review and all valid points, I bought my T7 knowing that I would have to modify it to suit my needs and riding style, but this would be the case with any bike so I chose the T7 as it was the best platform to start with. So far custom Suspension tune, modified rally seat, controls - pegs, levers, grips, etc, it's now perfect for those big 12hr days of riding 👌 Safari tanks here in Australia has developed a rally style tank which carries all its weight down low.
Glad to hear it is working for you. I do a lot of 450 to 500 miles in the saddle. This bike did not do it for me. I think for shorter days it can be manageable.
I can just look at that seat and say, no. I’m really considering the Tenere. The rally seat would be my first change. You are IRON BUTT for just sticking to horrible seat that everyone knows is just horrible. I completely agree with you about tubeless . 👍
Wow, that was a bold move to publish such a statement, but, this is perfectly understandable as nothing is for everyone. I myself am not a T7 fan for similar reasons you have stated. I haven't even thought of a possibility that a bike taking the fun and 'want to ride' out of you, but that is a compelling reason. Thank you much for honest opinions.
Sorry to hear your frustrations. It's not fun when don't enjoy the bike. I have 26,000 miles on my T7. It's a great tourer for me. I put an Air Hawk on the seat and is comfy as heck. I've never had a problem with fuel range. It's easy 180-200 miles. The reserve however does come on very early so I use my milage as my fuel gauge. I did put a stiffer spring on the rear and have had no issues with the front. There are pros and cons on tubes and tubeless. Totally depends on your preference. Fully loaded it can be a handful off road and it's not the easiest to pick up. I put a Puig extension on my windscreen. Works great for keeping the bugs off my face shield and no buffeting. It's been bullet proof, low maintenance costs and sounds wonderful! Hope you have better luck with the Aprilia and it's creating that passion again. 😊
@@seisamigos397 thanks for sharing you experience. It's the right bike for you for sure. The Tuareg reignited my passion. I just never meshed with the T7.
I can't think of any pros with tube type tires other than for an MX bike. An adventure bike should absolutely have tubeless tires. This is not a dirt bike. It is at best a dirt road bike.
@@geraldscott4302 I can, saw a video just the other day of a flat in a tubeless tyre , it came off the rim they tried for 2 hours to get it re seated, tried aerosol , tie downs etc but they gave up and put a tube in it, and they were very experienced outback riders, the small compressors we carry just don't have enough volume to seat a bead, My first option is a can of tyre goo, seals a hole and pumps it up to pressure in seconds quicker than a tyre plug. If that fails then I throw in a spare tube.
@@silverdale3207 That is possible, but extremely unlikely. In order to fix a flat with tube type tires, you HAVE to support the bike somehow, remove the wheel, and remove at least one side of the tire from the rim. I have done it many times. But I am 65 years old, and partially disabled. There is no way I'm going to be able to remove a wheel or tire out in the middle of nowhere. I would be stranded for sure with tube type tires. There is a 95% chance I could repair a flat with a tube type tire. I've also noticed that tubeless tires are way less likely to have flats than tube type tires. I have found objects sticking in my tubeless tires while inspecting them at home that had actually punctured the tire, then sealed the puncture. No way that is going to happen with tube type tires. On almost every tube type tire I have repaired a flat on, the object that punctured the tube had wiggled around in the tire and shredded the tube, making it unpatchable. I've also almost been killed a couple of times when a tube type tire blew out at high speed on the highway. When a tubeless tire is punctured, it almost always loses air very slowly, allowing you to notice the problem, slow down, and pull off the road. The ONLY place I see for tube type tires would be closed course competition, like motocross. Definitely not for highway use or long distance adventure riding.
@@geraldscott4302 Yes , I've changed many tyres and fixed tubes as well, I,m 60 and have no problems ,takes about half an hour. But I think you've just shown why there is such a disconnect between those of you that want tubeless and those of us that like tubes when you say the tyre goes flat slowly so you can pull off the highway, those of us that like tubes don't like highways we ride in the bush on rocky trails etc and tyres don't go flat slowly there they generally come off the rim from hitting a rock or denting a rim and are near impossible to re seat with small compressors. If I had a road bike then yes I'd want tubeless but these bikes are designed to be ridden in harsh terrain ,this is where tubes come into there own. I run a tubeless tyre with a tube in it on my T7and haven't had any problems. Also had a flat in my old BMW and fixed it in a couple of minutes with a can of tyre goo, it did another 3000km on that.I understand why some people want tubeless for their type of riding I just wish they would understand why some of us want tubed for our style of riding and stop ragging on manufacturers for putting them on bikes that are designed for the type of riding that require tubes.
Sold mine. I ride mostly alone and was afraid to go down certain trails in case I laid the bike down. I did drop my T7 once in the sand and I could not pick the bike up. Laid flat. On road was fine, but the buffeting was bad and the bike was heavy to me in the twisty's. Not comfortable. The T7 sat in the garage and I would walk by the bike and think that's a good looking bike, sunk $3,000 extra into it, but not ride it. Bought the KTM 390 Adventure and love riding it on road off road everywhere. So much fun.
Sounds like you do a lot of off-road. I don’t blame you for going to a smaller/ lighter bike. I can pick my T7 up from the ground with little effort however, smaller bikes are easier to stop from falling over. I had to mod mine for better weather protection
@@murlyn2 I had a lot of trouble getting the T7 up on a really rocky steep ascent. The bike just jumped out from underneath me. I had to drag it around to get the wheels downhill. It was still really hard to lift.
Thanks for your honest review, Matt. I was thinking of a T7. I knew about the top-heaviness, which put me off a bit, but you have filled in the rest of the disadvantages!
Each to their own...absolutely love my T7, had it for 4 years. All day comfortable for me..and that bullet proof engine is a peach. And surely upgrading and modifying your bike is a pleasure..part of the fun! I can't think of a single thing i ' hate ' about my fab T7!! Cheers Steve
I love my T7! I agree it’s not very comfortable at highway speeds but 60 mph or below it was fine for me. Suspension, especially the rear needs a better spring. My only complaint….the bike is very top heavy. I can lift it np off of asphalt but I’ve had a few times off road in mud or a ditch and it took everything I had to lift it back up….and I’m not a small guy. One of the best engines though….and makes up for everything, at least for me.
@@martin4819 the engine on this bike is stellar. The fuel mapping could be better. I also got into some trouble when I lost my rear end on a steep rocky ascent. I struggled to get the bike back up even after dragging the wheels to the downhill side.
Matt, I lowered mine 40mm back, 20mm front, added comfort seat, rallyraid wind protection, tourtec pegs, camel under seat tank. Now yours well and I feel comfortable on it. Will be reprinting and valving suspension shortly. Test rode T7 with 45l safari tank, soo good centre of gravity amazingly better, have ordered one!! Lance from Aus/NZ
I installed winglets and big windscreen and 6.1 gallon fuel tank and with a tall wide seat concepts. Easy fixes unlike unfixable ktms. Soft suspension is nice for long days on bdr. 6’5” 220 lbs. Agreed on tubes. Wish we could do ether one. Yep top heavy but works fine for my 36” long legs. Thanks for your vid! I’ve got 36,000 miles about half that off road. Hoping for a t900!
Sounds like your bike is really setup and for someone so tall it is the perfect bike for you. The bikes I ride would feel cramped for you. Glad it is working for you.
Funny. Just sold mine after 5K km in 6 months. Same to me, I didn't like the weight, and didn't enjoy riding it. I am back on my old DR650 and love it!!....
Hey Matt, thanks for your review. It’s good to be honest and give viewers a different perspective on a bike. I think your problem with the T7 is also a skill issue. I hope you don’t take that the wrong way. Everybody should be able to ride and have fun. But the choice of bike matters a lot. For me buying an R1 for road riding, would leave me unhappy, because my skill level is completely inadequate for a bike like that. Granted, the suspension absolutely has to be replaced, which is something that shouldn’t necessary. They should have at least made the KYB forks, that come with the world raid, standard. After that though, this bike will let you do whatever you want to it. It wants to be ridden hard and keeps up with you all the way. I think most people forget that off road riding is not that easy to get into and requires a lot of practice, experience, damage, falling and getting up. I did that from when I was 12 years old and at 34 years of age am able to abuse this bike the way it should probably be ridden. You can check ariemann’s channel to see how the bike does when handled well and you wouldn’t want to put a Touareg in his videos, because it wouldn’t get to the end of most of them. That being said, the negatives you pointed out are very valid for weekend warriors that have little to no background in fast/extreme off roading and are trying to get in to it at an older age. That level of experience doesn’t cut it with a bike like this. It can, but it will not give you the fullfillment you’re looking for. You made the right decision getting rid of your T7. It led to losing your passion, as you pointed out and that is clearly not what you want, when you buy yourself an expensive bike. Sorry it didn’t work out for you. Happy to read you’re happy with your Touareg. Funny how two people can have a different bike in the same category but both wouldn’t consider swapping it for anything. That just shows you that we all have different likes and we can keep these discussions going for years to come.😂 Cheers! Thanks for the review!
@@PimRademacher no offense taken. I have said it often that the T7 requires a very skilled rider to get everything the T7 has out of it. The Tuareg is significantly easier to ride offroad for me. I have ridden similar tracks on both bikes and I felt like I was fighting the T7 where the Tuareg felt like it was working with me. Adam is expert rider that could take any bike the places he goes. If the T7 work for you ride it. Like you said, different bikes fit different riders.
@ I think that is what makes the difference. When I go onto a trail I’m not looking for a bike that makes it significantly easier for me. I want to challenge myself and get punished when I make a mistake so I can learn from that and become a better rider. Ofcourse those mistakes hopefully become less frequent, otherwise you’d spend more time picking up your bike than riding. For me the trail riding is the fun. The destinations and experiences there are the cherry on top. Still the T7 is not perfect. Not for me. Probably not for Riemann either. But the anti-squat and the engine give me a certain thrill when I blast through some corners and that is something I didn’t have with any other bike yet. I am gonna pick up a Touareg for a weekend though, so I can find out what the fuss is all about.
@PimRademacher I was just about to recommend you test ride the Tuareg. Take some time and try to dial in the suspension for how you ride. You won't regret the experience.
Just finished riding my T7 around Australia .Did 18500 kms.The Bike was awesome!! No complaints at all. What a downer this video was. Matt you need to swallow some cerment and harden up mate!
Maybe I do need to harden up, but why should I when there are better choices of bikes that fit my riding style. The T7 was such a disappointment for me for all the reasons I stated. It might be a good bike for some, but for anyone looking at this bike should see how others experiences have been. Its not all good.
@@camerondonaldson4918 I purchased the Aprilia Tuareg last April and I have put 11.5k miles on it in six months. This bike does it for me. I love it and the riding experience is amazing.
Mine has done 25000km of pretty hard riding in Australia while there are some short comings with this bike it does handle off road pretty well I road it for a while before upgrading to rallyraid suspension and im 125kg just messed with the compression and rebound. Yep I have put some money into it rear camel tank touring screen bigger winglets I would rather put the money into a good platform and make it into a bike for me and have peice of mind for the distances and remote areas that we have in Aus rather than another manufacturer that may have all the bells and whistles that end up back at the dealership for warranty work leaving you without a bike. only my opinion.
I think that you are right for the remote riding you are doing. Reliability speaks very loudly. I can understand why it is better for you to upgrade the T7 than it would be to go with another bike.
@advmatt Yep we are all different with different wants needs and opinions she'd be a boring old world if we were all the same good luck for the future. But I do love my T7 😉
I can go well over 200 miles before I start looking for gas. I have ridden over 10 hours with short breaks and usually ride 5-6 hours and am completely comfortable. Are you wearing a peak on your helmet? I use an Arai Quantum X and its breeze. Yes, quiet and comfortable. Tube/ tubeless? You should have factored that in before you purchased it, so that's on you. I came from a 2022 KLR and am in complete heaven on the T7 and having a blast. It is balanced for me, fun and fast enough. I can blast over the Sierra Mountains and hit desert roads or travel fairly long on Forest Service roads, all in a few hours. I bought it in late August and am over 4k already. It is total fun. To all your points. My T7 and me are a perfect match. Best of luck to you.
Glad the T7 is treating you well. I am surprised at how many miles your are getting on a tank of gas. I don't ride with a peak on my helmet. I ride at road speeds too much. You have some great riding in your backyard.
I wonder if you’d gel more with one of the versions we don’t get in the US. They’ll still be “top heavy”, or more so, but upgrades suspension and bigger tank. I bought my dream bike and quickly realized we were a mismatch. Doesn’t mean it was a bad bike, just a mismatch.
@@steveh545 I don't the T7 will ever do it for me in any version until it get tubeless wheels and an electronics package. I could live with it much easier then, but it will not. It's a hard to pill to swallow when you find out the dream bike is more of a nightmare.
Marketing and hype steer a lot folks the wrong direction. It’s great that guys like you share the reality of these bikes. Thanks for doing what you do!
You called it out! All true.. My set up includes Acerbis tank, Dubya tubeless wheels, Tractive suspension and Seat Concepts comfort. Still a SOB to pick up tho! Cheers to you and yer great channel!
Thanks for your honest opinion, you very rarely see that in UA-cam reviews, and I'm a big fan of your channel. Not a T7 owner but considered buying one, and was interested in hearing your opinion. Ultimately I went with the Tuareg 660 for many of the issues you bring up, and have been very happy. However, I would say that if a riders highest priority is absolute reliability over many 10's of thousands of miles, and having several dealerships in their vicinity, then Japanese is the way to go, and the T7 in particular. Thanks !
Thanks for watching. I agree, if reliability is the number priority then you can't wrong with the T7. However, if you want to really enjoy all those miles and never stop riding, for me, this was never the bike. The Tuareg showed me the difference. Glad you are enjoying the Tuareg.
I have a 2023 T7. All fair points you made. I have modified mine to cure some of the issues you point out. It cost a lot extra though. I have over 13,000 miles on mine in a year so I like it a lot but I likely wouldn’t buy another. I found that I have reached the age that I want more weather protection and comfort from the showroom floor without having to modify it. 20 more horsepower would be nice too
We're all different, and that's perfectly fine. For some the T7 is the best thing since sliced bread (ex Adam Riemann) because it fits his style and requirements. I'm in your boat, ie ,Touring Adventure . I went for a GS 1250 as it rides and feels like nothing else for ME, the other popular brands just somehow reminded me of my Dual Sport bike. For someone else a KTM1290 is the best bike ever, or the AT. Ultimately ride whatever you enjoy for the type of riding you do.
I agree with most of your comments, with a few exceptions, and understand why you wouldn't mesh with the bike. I ran the MABDR and NEBDR (around 3500 miles looping back home) as well as the Smokey 500 last year, then ran the TAT this year (over 7000 miles) and it has been a great partner for these trips. I've put 26K miles so far in the last couple of years and am absolutely loving it. Is it perfect? Hell no. I've had to outfit the bike to suit my needs for sure (springs, protections, comfort, etc...), but have loved the process and loved how reliable and tractable that engine has been and how well the bike has performed as an adventure bike overall. The bike is the do-it-all for me, but certainly not great at anything. In the end, it's great to have choice in the segment since we're all different, with different thresholds and expectations.
great point. It is great we have choices of different bikes in this segment. If Yamaha made the T7 with an electronics package, tubeless wheels and a bit more comfortable it would cost as much as the 890 or BMW. It was built as a budget bike.
It's not a Harley. You shouldn't have to completely rebuild it to make it right. It is not a cheap bike, it should not have a lot of the problems it has.
@@geraldscott4302 Did I say I completely rebuilt it? I sprung it for my weight and added protection. That's the customization I've done. In today's world, it is quite an inexpensive bike, though. The problems you perceive are not felt by everybody. Fuel range is fine for me, as is the comfort over long distance, off road capability and simple nature of the bike. Do I wish it had tubeless rims? Yes, but not a deal breaker for me.
Nice review, its a shame if you cant enjoy your bike. Hopefully your next bike will bring you more joy. But I can't relate to everything. Did a 3600 km trip in 7 days with offroad parts, 1st and last day 800 km per day, no problem at all with stock seat. What is more important: the look of your bike or the fuel range and material of the tank? Stock suspension isnt great indeed. I changed my rear spring. Weight of the bike... I am 1.72 m and rode a stock bike offroad through the Alps.. without major problems. But perhaps that was luck 😅 Its my dream bike. But I am looking forward to the new Suzuki drz 4s.
@@MVonClausewitz glad you were able to make this bike work for you. I have broken my elbow and left wrist and have shoulder issues. Holding the throttle open for eight to 10 hours a day was painful for me. I now have an Aprilia Tuareg. It has the best riding experience of ant bike I have ever ridden.
I wanted to like the T7 but at 5’10” it was too top heave to be so tall. The lousy display, wind protection, range, inner tubes, and lack of cruise control for long highway miles was a deal breaker for me. Ended up with a BMW F850 GS and though its on the heavy side after my KTM 390 adv I love riding it. I would have looked at the Aprillia Touareg but it hadn’t been released at the time.
Fair comments, however my Question to you is, Why did you buy this bike, surely you would have researched the Pro’s and Con’s of owning a T7 before spending your hard earned. In Australia this bike is hugely popular, whilst not perfect ( no bike is ) the reliability of the T7 in remote areas is a deciding factor. As for tubeless, bend a rim in remote Australia you wish and many do have tubes. The old saying, A tradesman never blames his tools comes into play.
I replaced my R1200GS with the T7 to reduce ownership costs and weight. I wanted to do long distance travel and forest roads on this bike. The test ride I took did not reveal all the faults. I knew about some and I thought I could deal with it. Also, every review of this bike that I saw was glowing, stating how good it was. I needed to experience it myself to see how it didn't fit me and nobody really discusses how bad this bike is for most riders. As for the tubeless wheels. I must not ride hard enough because I have never damaged a tubeless wheel. I also don't lower my tire pressure to protect the wheel. Unlike many others I also carry spare tubes in the event of a catastrophic failure. Tubed wheels are overrated in the Adventute community.
The T7 is the kind of bike that suits a very specific type of rider. You will either love it or hate it. I Appreciate your contribution in giving the side that most people are afraid to speak out. TBH this applies to all bikes which makes it great. There is a bike for everyone. I chose the Ktm 790 advR and absolutely love it
I absolutely agree with you. The T7 has been marketed as the do it all, ultra capable bike. In reality I think there are very few riders that will actually like this bike and will get the bikes full potential out of it. It is not good anything, and is only okay at everything.
Agree, it is for people that lean more toward offroad or rough track or remote riding. I have one and love it but wouldn't buy one or a KTM790/890 either if my riding was mostly big days of highway riding.
Can't stand tubed wheels 🛞🛞... Just bad & overlooked design imo, i have the '19 CB500X & really enjoy that bike it's tubeless, quick enough & comfortable. Getting Moore Mafia ECU tune & slip-on exhaust next mod... Great video & keep it up!
Obviously, you’ve got a lot of visitors who don’t watch your other videos. They don’t know about your other bikes. Taken in isolation your negative T7 comments sound like just complaining because you can’t ride it, but regular viewers know your history and how much touring you do. Your opinions are just as valid as there’s.
Thanks for your feedback. I appreciate it. Yeah I have noticed by the comments many viewers don't know my riding experience. That's okay, I happy to engage with everyone. Cheers.
Interesting Video. But as a T7 owner myself I need to respectfully disagree with you one 3.5 of your complaints. I do a fair bit of touring just finished back to back trips of over 2200kms each. I find the bike with distance very comfortable and ergonomically as someone who’s 5’7” I find it perfect. Fuel range I am getting I am getting and average of 420-450 kms per tank that is about 260-280 miles per tank. I agree that some bikes out of Japan are tube but the Majority are tubeless. As to the Tenere while it comes tubed if yo notice the rubber is tubeless. The best option is outex tubeless conversion. The Yamaha factory team uses it as do I and It is a game changer and it is about $150. For the kit to do both wheels on the Tenere. I do agree it has a high COG and it is a baller but when riding I can lean pretty well wit f falling.
You seem to have better riding skills than I do based on how you described your riding. I am really not sure how you get so many miles out of the standard T7 tank of fuel. I can see that kind of mileage out of the World Raid. I am not a fan of tubeless conversions. When they fail, and they will eventually fail, if you don't have a spare tube with you its a disaster. I think the VMX cross spoked wheels for the T7 are a good solution to go tubeless. I spent many 450 to 500 miles days on the T7. It was the worst bike I have ever ridden that kind of mileage on. By the time I upgrade this bike to suit my needs I should have just purchased another bike for the same money.
@@advmatt i can respect that. I do not think that I’m necessarily a better rider I think its how we ride:). OF course years of racing does help in cornering lol. But seriously. I watch your videos and enjoy them. I also think that MAYBE the newer T7’s may get better MPG. I can’t think of any other reason. My tank is stock, 16 literswcich is 4.5 gallons. But I can say that when I am touring is when I get my best MPG’s IF I am riding in town so to speak that goes down. Thus the reason I usually ride my Serow ( XT 250) around town lol. DO tubeless kits fail I am sure at some point BUT this is my second bike I have used them on and I have had great success. The times I find I need the greatest care in during Tire changes. BUT when touring ALWAYS care a sore tube… safety. Anyways keep making the videos. I’ll keep watching. Rubber side down!
Its all good. Most of the comments that are unhappy with this video don't watch any of my other content to understand my riding experience. Its okay. I still like the engagement. Cheers.
Hard to deny that Matt has the experience to state a real opinion because he spends a lot of time on 2 wheels and has ridden a bunch of comparable bikes for longer than test rides. Not surprised that the T7 fanboys have come out of the woodwork. Most of them with likely limited experience on as many bikes.
Appreciate the honesty brother. Getting sick of biased reviews and the reliability subject. I think the Tuareg is a better choice for me. Cool vids man keep em coming.
Thanks for the feedback. I am working on a comparison video between the T7 and Tuareg. It is striking how different these two bikes are and the difference in the riding experience. Should be posted in a week or so.
I have about 16k miles on my Tenere and absolutely love it except for the suspension. I dropped some money into the suspension and it transformed the bike. I do prefer the top heaviness of the T7, makes it feel like a giant dirt bike and it corners better at high speeds compared to a lower cg motorcycle due to the roll axis. Ive had no issues with the high cg at lower speeds I just got use to it.
I think the suspension upgrade you made really did make a huge difference for you by the way your are describing the feel of the ride. There are some nice features to this bike, which I cover later.
@@advmatt You made valid points in your video. The good thing is that there are so many options now to choose from. I added a 2024 AT to the stable, see how that works out for me.
At last , someone who gets the benefits of a High COG, I've ridden low COG bikes ( BMW650GS and KTM890) and they didn't handle or corner as well as the T7, I'd even say they were horrible at low speed on road. A test was done on race bikes years ago and they found the High COG made the bike faster, because it handled better.
Having upgraded fork and rear springs installed this week on my T7 and I’m well below 180 lbs. 🤦 Every manufacturer cuts corners somewhere to reach their desired price point. I may add another bike to fit another purpose but I’m not selling the T7. Love it! Fair review but it sounds like the T7 was the wrong bike for you from the start.
I would agree that it isn't real comfortable or exciting on long highway stretches, the rear brake is non existent and the suspension needs some work...but to see the comments that this bike is not fun blows my mind. I can drift the bike in gravel going around turns a 50+mph and drift on trails every chance i get as it tracks amazing and always goes where i want it, its a blast on trails and I can keep up with my buddies on there 501's, wheelie it all the time, and it handles great on pavement as you can lean it until the pegs drag. No offense, but I would argue if you aren't having fun on a T7, you aren't riding anywhere near it's potential.
@ryancooley8783 I agree 👍. It rips offroad and corners well. It rides well when ridden aggressively. I did get the suspension done on mine, well worth it. I also like the lack of electronics.
I think your riding skills far exceed my own. You are able to tap into it's potential. I will never be able to ride this bike like a big dirt bike. As I mentioned in the video, a very competent rider can get a lot of this bike. For the rest of us mere mortal riders, well, it is a difficult bike to ride. It was for me anyway.
@@bosoceansport2068 yep, I did. I also think this bike will be the wrong bike for many riders that ride the same way I do and for riders that are not as skilled.
Greetings Matt, As always another brilliant detailed video production 🇺🇲🍾🎉🇺🇲 Thank you so much for sharing. What is the next motorcycle for you? (I was about to purchase one)
I purchased an Aprilia Tuareg last April. After 11.5k miles, I am a very satisfied owner. I had an issue that was eventually sorted out. The riding experience has been second to none.
@@rosarioroberto5823 I do have a review of the Tuareg. Here is the link to the video I posted. I am working on a comparison video between these two bikes. ua-cam.com/video/Uwnhwk6fsis/v-deo.htmlsi=GOzGmrsZEmr8LZC7
Very interesting take on the Tenere. I agree with all of it. While never an owner, I have ridden four bikes and the only one I enjoyed was a factory lowered one. The other three felt insanely top heavy. And that's a dealbreaker for an offroad bike IMHO. - Frank
Matt, I agree with you, I was 390 Adv owner, and now 450Mt owner, pretty happy with the inprovement in the 450MT, I think the 450MT will suit your riding style.
Agree on all points. T7 has a cult following and I do love them for what they are but it's definitely not even close to the best bike in any riding situation.
Couldn't agree more. The T7 is not good at anything and just okay at everything. For the money, there are better bikes. So many riders are highly modifying their T7s to suit their riding needs. After all the expenses there are better options.
These are the points with this bike ! I'm trying different bikes to choose the good one. I have made my mind and I think I"ll buy a norden 901, may be the expedition one (but it's too high I believe). 901 seems to be more adapted. It may be the solution for all the negatives point you mentionned. For the fork and suspension I think it's better. But it's more expensive for sure. Try one if you can. Perhaps you will enjoy it !? Hi from France. Ride safe. ✌️😉👍
Thanks for the suggestion. I purchased an Aprilia Tuareg and have not regretted. It is a better bike in every way. You should give it a test ride and see what you think.
@@calebasse3110 yeah I agree with you. If you riding two up you really want a bike with 100+ horsepower, maybe more than 125+. I think it is a great solo bike but I would want more power and a little bigger bike like you are talking about.
I put 7,000 miles on my T7 only about 1,500 off pavement. Loved the engine but I agree with most of your practical points. The standard tank will easily do 200 miles but ignoring the flashing low fuel indicator for 50 or so miles is irritating. I spent circa $3,000 on various upgrades/farkles to try and make it perfect for me. But in the end stupid hard to explain falls when off pavement exhausted my patience. I bought a Norden Expedition. It solved all of the problems virtually stock. I added Double Take mirrors and a mesh seat cover. That’s all. Now at 19,500 miles. The difference in performance is very marked and the confidence it gives when off pavement is difficult to get across to folk who haven’t experienced it.
@@davidmathers1141 I hear where you are coming from. I had the same experience going from the T7 to the Tuareg 660. It's a night and day difference between these bikes and the riding experience.
@@advmatt I have heard great things about the Tuareg. I didn’t even think about trying it because of the engine size. Probably my mistake. But I have to say the 105hp and “nutter” mode above 5,500rpm on the Norden works very well on the road.
Interesting to hear your experience on the T7. I have a 2023 KTM 390 ADV and it definitely inspires me to go ride as much as I can. Curious to hear your latest thoughts on the 390 vs the T7 as far as just having a good riding experience.
My riding experience on the 390 was much better than it was on the T7. However, after purchasing the Aprilia Tureag 660 both of those other bikes sit much. The Tuareg is my favorite bike.
@@advmatt I see a lot of reasons for the popularity of the Aprilia Taureg. But so far, I am loving my 390 Adventure, and it will do nicely for a long time.
@@RYwoodview if you still really love your 390 Adv there is no reason to get another bike. I do recommend installing the Veridian Cruise Control. I have one sitting in my garage I need to install. It will really make the bike better for long rides.
@@advmatt I look forward to your install video. The Viridian is a little expensive ($400+) compared to the minor mods I've done to my 390 and is somewhat time-consuming to install. But, like cars, all motorcycles should come with cruise control. I have the occasional stall from low speed that implicates the throttle body on my 390 that comes along with speed control by wire that makes adding cruise control possible. Modern technology is full of Catch-22s!
There will certainly be a lot of T7 owners that won't be too impressed with your review. That being said, your points are valid. The one thing the T7 has going for it is it's reliability.
I own my black T7 for 18 months now and all 5 points are non issues for me. The stock seat is firmly comfortable and I can flat foot the bike at 6’ with stock suspension. Spring rates are a non issue for me at 210 lbs just 5 clicks of pre load on the back and I’m good. Wind protection is improved with a taller screen but for offroad juants I prefer the stock one(4 plastic screws) I get 140-150 miles of range before hitting the reserve if you’re getting 120 on a full tank you should check your fueling. Just like you I only ride sensible trails/offroad At 56 I know I’m no Paul Tares 😅 Dropped it once and my friend and I picked it right up 😊 I have rear Tusk saddle bags which protect the stock pipe and upfront on the engine/fairing guards GiantLoop bags which also prevent it from laying super flat. I ride 28 psi offroad and did not get a flat there yet. On road I try to keep the OEM recommended pressure 32 F 36 R Did get 1 nail on the rear but the stock Pirelli STR’s are so firm I rode it home and only saw the nail when I got there (tire was a bit bouncy but did not fail for those 20 miles 😊) Love my bike but thinking of one day upgrading to the 24’ Africa Twin with electronic suspension and tubeless spoked wheels 🍻🍻 Never to a 7/890 or Tuareg… my religion is: RELIABILITY 🤪🤪 Cheers 🍻
I had to lower mine to get more comfortable riding it and lessen the tip overs at sloooooow speed . Don't have much seat time in it for a variety of reasons but am going to get a smaller displacement bike to get some skills back and have something easy to load in my truck and hit places that will be a lot of fun on a less heavy bike and still get around comfortably on short Hwy stints . I got a Rally Raid 95nm rear spring lithium battery Touratech large windscreen Touratech crash bars Tusk panniers with Tusk bags Motoz Tractionator ADV tires and still haven't got the Cyclops Aurora pod lights on yet . Maybe the CF Moto 450 might work for you . For me it would be too close with less power so what will work for me is probably a CRF300LS or the Rally and get a Performance 550 ECU upgrade for it .
You have a well setup of T7. I fell in love with the Tuareg for a lot of reasons. I put 11.5k miles on mine in six months. I agree the CFMoto 450MT is nothing more than a lower power version of the T7. Not sure that is a good solution for many people.
It’s an interesting video. I think you’re right in every aspect of your video. I will say that I’ve never seen Yamaha putting performance suspensions on any street legal bike (price positioning). If you are looking reliability Yamaha is the way. Another point to consider before buying this bike is the price, I think this bike is the most affordable bike in the segment, you can’t spect a better bike with that MSRP. You want more fuel range and comfort BMW 1300 GS / down size = more weight, higher cost of ownership. Every other bike has its value proposition. The big problem IMO is that we suck buying bikes. The market went crazy when this bike was launched: good price, rally looking bike and Pol Tarres marketing. Made it almost impossible to find one bike in a dealership and now I’ve seen tons of buyers getting rid of their T7s due to every point that you’ve have mentioned in your video. But as I mentioned before many riders bought this bike due to Pol Tarres videos doing crazy things on the bike. But it requires lots of skills and the bike can’t do that by itself 😂. So just consider that most bikes are made for AVG riders, avg. riders don’t travel around the world and they don’t do 5 feet jumps 😂 on the top of a mountain 🏔️. In conclusion, we’re all victims of the good Marketing in Yamaha 😂
I agree I was sucked in some by the marketing. I replaced my R1200GS with the T7 to a lighter long distance touring adventure bike. It sucked at it. I purchased an Aprilia Tuareg in April and I have put 11.5k miles on it including many sections of BDRs out west. I should have purchased the Tuareg to begin with for my style of riding. Like you said, we suck at buying bikes. I bought the T7 based on logic, its reliable. I should have made an emotional purchase. Would have ended up with the Tuareg. Such is life.
Its a nice looking bike and good review. After having spinal cord surgery I am finding my Africa Twin 1100 to be a little hard to handle (do to weight & height) I thought about a T7 but like you I do some longer road rides as well as a few BDR's I wonder if the Aprilla 660 would be any more comfortable on the road? I know ppl say they are not as top heavy, Now that my legs dont work right even being 6'+ I find the Africa Twin to feel quite top heavy did not notice is so much before
I have a lot of content on the Tuareg 660. This bike is so much easier to ride than the T7. I have racked up some big miles on it since I purchased it six months ago. It is easy to ride offroad as well. It is the most intuitive bike I have ever ridden. The electronics package is amazing. I am working on a comparison video between the T7 and Tuareg. It should be released in about week or so. I hope you are able to find a bike that really works for you.
I must admit that I too was disappointed when I had the opportunity to ride the T7. I rode my Honda CB500X Rally Raid and swapped for my friends T7 on a 200 mile ride, a mix of asphalt and rough dirt roads. The suspension was very harsh on the stock T7 suspension and I was happy to get back on the Honda. I love the sound of the motor and the standing riding position on the T7 but the suspension and top heavy “tippy” feeling put me off.
i tried soooo hard to talk myself into even just kind of liking this bike ! i looked into aftermarket suspension & brake seat and windshield bars risers ect. upgrades looked into intake/exhaust/tune to see what kind of improvement might be possible looked into aftermarket fuel tanks for more range and maybe one that holds the fuel lower like the 890/901 to help with its top heavy feel........no matter how much $ you throw at it you arent going to do much about it only having 70hp and being so top heavy , it is not exciting , good choice if your a long haul paul rider doing iron butt miles &/or touring in 3rd world countries where you absolutely need anvil like reliability but if you are like me , like the vast vast majority of riders i have to believe , working full time + and have limited time off to ride , the bike needs to be exciting , the T7 is a YAWNN
both of the friends i have who bought them modified the crap out of them , one of the two really going all out full suspension and all , both of them sold them within 3000-4000miles ... sorry but the bike is a yawner i agree
the bike you wish for would cost yamaha 14000-15000 on sale.... everything is a compromise and the T7 is not for everybody. i do love my T7 and it is an extremely fun both on and off road. Long range is the sole point I take an issue with, but only after +8h in the saddle. That being said I will keep it and learn on it, feel that if I deal with the Tenere, I will be able to deal with any bike.
For sure, if you get really good riding the T7 you will have some mad skills. Riding any other bike will feel easy, and almost like you are cheating. The T7 requires skills.
Back in about 86, I was very interested in the KLR. The magazines called it a triple purpose bike. Dirt, street and touring. Fast forward to 2022 when they updated it, I went and bought one thinking it would be great for long distance riding. Didn’t even test ride it. Boy was I in for a huge disappointment. Not a good touring bike. Probably a 6th gear away from a good touring option.
I have owned two carbureted KLR650s. They were so so, except for the tube type tires. I wouldn't touch a computer bike with a 10 foot pole. When those electronics fail on you in the middle of nowhere, there is no patching it up. It's dead.
14 hours in the sadel! Not a problem ( have the touratech low comfort seat) 3,5l/100 km give you range enough. Have flashed ECU , airfilter kit,acrapovic and 44 rear sprocket. Have moved handelbar. 1” back im just 169 😄
Nice setup. I have also thought of dropping the teeth on the rear sprocket. I think this would really help this bike. Seems like you are really enjoying your bike. Right on!
I love my T7, but i do agree with you. I wish upgraded suspension, a better seat, and lower CoG were somehow available. I gotta give extra credit because the thumbnail wasn't clickbait.
Different strokes for different folks. It isn't the bike for me for those things you mentioned and many others, I did like the 1200 but it is just so far out of date now. Never had a problem with it starting though. Thanks for telling it like it is.
I knew about a lot of the issues that became serious complaints for me. I thought I could live with them but when this bike starting taking my passion for riding away I had to reevaluate the bike. I don't the same kind of time as Paul. I have short one week trips and occasional multi week trip. I want those trips to be as exciting as possible and a slog like it was on the T7. I Paul would enjoy a bike with cruise control and some electronics and likely ride even more miles.
Don’t bring the KLR into this!! Haha. It’s such a workhorse and I love my 2004 KLR. It’s an adventure how scary it is sometimes and how terrible it is at stuff, but it’s reliable and does anything you can throw at it. Great video though man, I’ve been on the fence about getting a T7 but I think I want a lighter KTM 500 EXC.
I can relate having had a KTM890; the seat height was so high I dropped it at least 12 times, whereas I have never dropped my CRF250 or 390 Adventure. The combination of a tall seat and weight made it such that if I was losing my balance on the 890 I had to just jump clear of the bike. Not inspiring. (I did love the 890 for traveling- phenomenal acceleration).
Yeah, that was similar to the T7. The handle bars are over an inch taller than my Tuareg and the seat height, even with a lower seat, made it hard to catch the bike when it started going over. Its a beast of a middle weight bike.
I'm with ya man, I decided to sell mine after the first long trip I took. I bought the bike because I got sucked into the marketing and Pol Tarres videos and as a hard enduro/XC racer I thought it would be perfect for me. It wasn't any better off-road than my africa twin and it was just far inferior on road. Don't get me wrong, for general gooning around it was fun! But on paper the bike should have offered something better off-road. In reality it's most fun in and around the city, and out of it's element on long trips. Yamaha had everyone out there drooling over "anti-squat" and the dakar look. I'll take the AT further into the gnarly stuff than the T7 every time. I have a lot more fun on the bigger bike. The poor suspension and high center of gravity on the T7 just makes it a real handful and a bit of a struggle even though it's lighter. I could fix the suspension for some $$$, but still be stuck with a low power small displacement bike that I need to stop and fuel up 6-8 times per day on trips. I can bang out 1300km days regularly on the AT, but the T7 sucks gas so fast when it's loaded that my record was only 1060km in a day. That was with a camel tank installed - an extra 5L, and it was a 15 hour ride. I've had highway fill-ups where I got to the gas station and had less than a liter left after only riding 2 hours from the last fill-up. I've also ridden unloaded and only riding slow back roads and gotten nearly 500km out of a tank. With the bags and 120 to 130km/h the bike just doesn't have the displacement to deal with the drag. With bigger bikes you have to sustain 160km/h+ to drink fuel that fast. I remember when the Africa Twin first came out reviewers were all saying that it was great off-road but too small, light, and under powered to be a good ADV bike! Where does that put the T7 and the rest of the "mid-weight" bikes? The only thing I disagree with is the tubeless tires. Tubed tires is the only thing I know, and I know I can fix anything that goes wrong with one out in the middle of nowhere. I'm not sure I could even get a tubeless tire off the rim without a second bike with me (I'm alone 99.9% of the time). Tubeless rims usually have that extra little bead retainer that makes it really hard to push the tire off the bead to remove it road/trailside. On my AT I'd get 2 or 3 pinch flats a day sometimes just because I could ride that bike harder off road, but I'd hate to be pooched with a bent tubeless rim that I couldn't remove to stick a tube in to make it hold air. It doesn't take much to bend a rim either even if you're just cruising an otherwise smooth dirt road. A patch of embedded rocks or a small washout hiding on a blind corner is all it takes. I'm sure if a T7 was the only bike I'd ever ridden I'd be on here commenting about how great it is, but for me it just wasn't the right bike either. The short gearing and screaming engine makes it feel like you're going really fast, so it can be fun on short rides like a 125mx bike. But for me even the Africa twin is pushing being too small at this point and I'm looking at bigger bikes now. The irony is that as a life long off-road guy, I have more fun on pavement with the more powerful street oriented bikes than I do on these "mid-weight" off road orientated bikes. But of course I'll always own something that can work in the dirt too.
Thanks for your comments. I feel you. As for the tubeless setup, I carry spare tubes for catastrophic failures on the trail. A good set of motion pro bead breakers can pop the bed no problem, if you have some patience. You right about the T7 screaming at highway speeds. It nice to hear someone else who also had fuel range issues. I am seeing comments that just don't make any sense to me. I have also grown to enjoy road riding equally as much as dirt roads. In the end it comes down to personal choice and we need to look beyond marketing, which isn't easy.
I got rid of mine because it was top heavy. I wish more reviewers had mentioned that issue. It was a deal breaker for me. Only had the bike for 6 months as a result. Which is weird because I thought it was my dream bike.
I do not understand why people buy a new motorbike, instead of buying a used one, like an XTZ 750 SUPER TENERE,or a BMW 1100 GS or BMW R 1150 GS/1200/1250/650/700/800 ,or a HONDA XRV 750 AFRICA TWIN, or a HONDA 600/650 TRANSALP....These are very good bikes,in my opinion
I want to see if the Aprilia Tuareg 457 is going into production and when will it make it to the states. I will likely hold out for this bike. I think it will be a great bike based on my experience with the Tuareg 660, which I absolutely love.
I agree with everything you mention here, i was so close to getting the Tuareg but went with the "smart" choice of a T7. I'm lucky to have 4 Adv bikes in the garage and find its the bike that inspires me the least to ride.
I purchased an Aprilia Tuareg in April. I put 11.5k miles on it in six months. The riding experience is a night and day difference. For me it is worth the added cost to enjoy my hobby. The T7 wasn't it for me.
I have a ‘22 and knew I would be dropping close to $4k in suspension. My brother got a ‘23 model and what is odd is that even though our settings were exactly the same, my stock suspension was by far better than his. Not even close! Which had me wondering how many other T7 riders were dealing with what may be poor suspension quality control? Mine was acceptable but not great, his was awful.
@@Tencenttourguide great observation. My suspension was really soggy. I am still trying to dial it in with the new springs. $4k on the suspension is huge investment. Do you thinking was worth it?
It was a hard pill to swallow but yeah I was worth it. I added the rally seat for better comfort on long rides. Not a perfect bike but I like its pure simplicity. Not to mention the reliability aspect
I purchased an Aprilia Tuareg 660 back in April. I absolutely love this bike. It is the same weight, more power, full electronics, better ergonomics and blast to ride.
That's great to hear. I think there are still many riders out there that love the T7. I am beginning to see a trend from the comments, the better or competent a rider is the more they like the T7. Advanced riders get the most out of this bike.
The t7 has always been overhyped as it was the only available middle weight adv in its class. It revolutionize the industry in a way but that was when no competition was available. We have choices now .
100%. It’s over-marketed, over-hyped and over priced. For that price here in Australia, for those looking at an actually capable on and off-road mid sized Adv bike you could get a Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro or similar. Or go the other option for less and modify a 701 or similar for the lighter off1road biased Adv build. The T7 has issues no AUD$25K bike should have.
I just test rode the Transalp this weekend. These bike are very different. The Transalp has less clearance and a very budget suspension. The engine felt like it had a little more character. It has rider modes which I like and it is easy to add an aftermarket cruise control. If I had to choose between these two bikes and I could only choose between these two bikes I would choose the Transalp. I think it is easier to ride and with some aftermarket parts easier to fit to how you ride. The aftermarket cruise control is a big deal for me due to the long miles I ride. I think the base price for the Transalp is lower too. Try to get a test ride on each bike so you can feel the difference.
Yup. I love the looks, like the price, and I'm a long time yamaha fan and mechanic. So I test rode one. Hated it. I thought it was just that it needed some tweaks, so I swapped bikes with an acquaintance for part of a BDR ride. I was riding my Husky 701. I practically had to pry it back away from him. He's done more than 5K worth of mods and I still hated the bike. So did he, he sold it but hasn't bought a replacement. Perhaps the T 700 killed his passion too.
The T7 was killing my passion to ride just like your friend. He needs to try another bike and find that the T7 is just not fun. He spent a lot on that bike. Take him for some test rides on other bikes, like the Tuareg 660.
If you want better suspension buy extreme version or worl raid with better suspension and more capacity fuel tank (also heavier of course). Bike is reliable for reasonable price. Tube tyres are better option for offroad adventures, can be easily repaired after puncture... If you want premium bike, try ktm but there are problems with camahafts...
Finally someone being truthful about the T7 had enough after 6 months of soft suspension and a very top heavy bike .Especially for a bike that sold for well over retail.
This bike has not sold well recently as most bikes are not selling… and certainly not at over retail in quite awhile. Try $8k for a new 2024 at more than 50% of dealers in US.
@ half kidding. I actually have been renting a T7 to ride to BDRs and I am planning to buy a bike between 1/1 and 5/1. Planning a 2 week trip in June with a few friends
No bike is perfect that's for sure. For me the T7 looks amazing, sounds amazing, and handles amazing. I hate the weight and the top heaviness. Plan to get the safari low tanks at some point to correct the top heaviness. That being said if they come out with a tenere 500 single cylinder, my T7 will immediately be for sale. I think what the T7 does well is short to medium road travel with primary 2 track offroad focus. It's at home on long trips on gravel roads. If you want a long trip bike it's gotta have a good seat and cruise control. That's why I think the Aprilia Tuareg is better in almost every way.
Or ride a different bike. I have had other bikes that provide much better wind protection. I live in the southwest, where the wind blows all the time. I little more wind protection makes the rides a bit quieter, and helps keep me a bit drier when its raining. Long days in the saddle are not fun if the wind is pounding me.
I had a test ride of 30 km on the highway and it was enough to suffer from the bad ergonomics: The handlebars are too far and too straight - the angle of the palm is unnatural and uncomfortable. Wind protection was also very bad and I think it is also because you sit far back - then there is more space for the wind to come between you and the windscreen. After waiting a long time for this model to come out I had to sadly accept that it is not for me.
Last year I was preparing my T7 for my trip to Alaska. It happened they stole my bike right before to go on the trip. At one point I had to buy my next bike to go this year to Alaska. My choice this time was Aprilia Tuareg 660. I chose Aprilia because of all the reasons you mentioned in the video. I am way more happier with my Aprilia Tuareg than T7. And here it is the bug BUT….as I said I love my Aprilia but if I go on around the world trip I will choose T7 because of the complicity.
I understand where you are coming from on the simplicity of the T7 and its reputation for reliability. The Tuareg is much easier to ride and is more fun to ride too. The Tuareg is a better bike in all areas except it can't beat the T7 reliability.
@@advmatt Reliability can be a questionable subject. I have 22,000 miles on the clock on my Aprilia Tuareg without any issues whatsoever. To me this motorcycle is reliable, but……. you never know 😁
I sold my T7. Primarily it was too heavy to handle alone when things went wrong off-road, and I had an issue with side winds at highway speed. It was the worst bike I have ever owned with cross winds; worse than my lightweight WR250R, 690, or 300 Rally (all of which I have owned). It would blow me off my line in a dangerous manner which I never felt on the other 8 bikes I have owned. Yes, I know how to ride in the wind, but there was something about T7. It downright scared me.
I had some scary moments on the T7 as well in horrible winds. This bike sits very tall making for more surface area for the wind to catch. I found in really bad winds I had to drop 10 to 20 miles per hour to make sure i wasn't blown off the road. To be honest though, I don't think my 390 would have done any better. Its was rough experience.
@@advmatt Yes, exactly. I would have to drop my speed to stay in the lane, whereas other bikes I could simply lean into it and cancel out the effects of the wind.
Hi Matt. Sorry to hear that the Yamaha doesn’t work for you. Do you still have the KTM 390 Adventure? Were you looking for a little more power with the Yamaha?
@@gscheben123 I could do that, or I could ride my Aprilia Tuareg for 10s of thousands of miles all over the west. I think I will choose the Tuareg over the recliner. Riding is about passion, the T7 has none.
@@advmatt have to agree with your assessment , i tried HARD to talk myself into this bike instead of another KTM/Husky /ect for the anvil like reliability and lower running cost but even with aftermarket suspension & brakes & ergo fixes i just could not see it ever becoming exciting........ possible reliability differences aside the KTM890/Husky901 absolutely OWNS this class of bike hands down , sorry not sorry but just fact
@@trentdelta473 hmmm, I thought this was supposed to be an adventure bike. Too heavy to be an MX or enduro bike. It requires a lot of skill to take it on single track. It's either an entirely overweight undersprung dirtbike or an under achieving adventure bike. Either way, it doesn't work well any way you ride it.
He didn’t buy a “dirtbike”. It’s not a KTM 690 or Husky 701. He bought something marketed as an adv bike at a premium price. Adv bikes are supposed to handle well (enough) on and off-road. And at that price (Norden 901/Tiger 900 RP dollars) you get a less powerful, over weight bike with shitty suspension, poor on road handling and comfort, a rear end that doesn't hold traction well, and none of the extras of the others. How hard should it have been to address the exhaust protrusion and frame attachment issue? IMO the T7 is over-marketed, over-hyped and over-priced.
6:59 : Objection! I have reasons to believe you are in fact a highly skilled rider (something about riding two-up through winding, icy, mountain passes).
I had a similar experience with the super tenere and posted on advrider, everyone jumped all over me. Too many people take it personally when someone posts a bad review.
Owners are so loyal to their bike purchase choices. I agree, it seems to be very personal for many owners. I have been torched by BMW riders for my thoughts on the R1200GS. Its some sort of taboo to anything negative, whether it is true or not.
@advmatt I went and picked up the vstrom 800de and I love riding that way more comfortable way lower center of gravity and has a quick shifter better suspension..still a little soft but as bad as the t7
My review of every Yamaha (T7 included) I've owned: Good looking, doomsday proof reliability, if you want anything else get f***ed. DIY. My review of my Tuareg 660: "WOW! This bike is light years better than the Tenere in every riding category. It's the same weight, so why is it so much easier to maneuver at low speeds and pick up off the ground? Is my right leg on fire? What do you mean Dealer must reset service lights? Excuse me, did you say $500 for the 600 mile service?" 😆
@@chriscozine the riding experience of the Tuareg is worth the extra costs of ownership. I do my own oil changes and the service light is so small I don't even notice. I do have the big service coming up. I didn't find the heat off of the Tuareg to be much more than the T7, but that might more about my boots not breathing. Thanks for commenting.
Just buy the new Africa Twin 😅. Is tubeless. The seat is really comfortable, long hours is pretty good and you have more range, not even count with Apple Car/Android Auto and cruise control.
Matt, thank you for being so honest and telling it like it is. It is not very common on UA-cam.
@@gregs5738 thanks. I really appreciate your feedback. Everybody is afraid to say anything that might be negative about a bike or product. It makes reviews really hard to trust.
I appreciate the honest and detailed review. Too many reviewers sugar coat their reviews for fear of repercussions. I'm sure you also expect to get a lot of blow back from T7 owners, who don't seem to take criticism of the T7 very well.
@@erocnw1341 thanks. I do expect owners to come out in force to defend the T7's honor.
@@advmatt 🤣🤣🤣
Find me any bike owners that take criticism well, while you're at it.
@bluerodgers1662 none do. Ownership loyalty is like being in a cult.
A motorcycle that will satisfy everyone has not yet been built
That is true, but this one has a couple of glaring faults that should bother everybody.
@@geraldscott4302 People have different body sizes, different weights, different driving abilities, different places they live, so their expectations are completely different. This makes the job of engineers extremely difficult. Buying a motorcycle is not like buying shoes
I agree, we all have different sets of needs when it comes to bikes.
Well stated. That is why aftermarket companies do so well. We all have to try and get the stock bikes to work for us the way we want them to, not the way they rolled of the factory floor.
Maybe you're just starting to realize that biking isn't so funny anymore…
I had my first bike 18 years old, now 45 and it is not that funny anymore...
When everything is fun, you do not find all this stuff you "hate.."...
This was a good honest review and all valid points, I bought my T7 knowing that I would have to modify it to suit my needs and riding style, but this would be the case with any bike so I chose the T7 as it was the best platform to start with.
So far custom Suspension tune, modified rally seat, controls - pegs, levers, grips, etc, it's now perfect for those big 12hr days of riding 👌
Safari tanks here in Australia has developed a rally style tank which carries all its weight down low.
Love my T7. I’ve got 7k miles on it with plenty of 200-300 miles days mixed in. Love more today than the day I brought it home.
Glad to hear it is working for you. I do a lot of 450 to 500 miles in the saddle. This bike did not do it for me. I think for shorter days it can be manageable.
@@advmattthe Yamaha Rally seat was a comfort game changer for cheap 👍
@@dolbydarma I think you need to be 6’2” or taller to enjoy the rally seat
For most mortals it’s just too tall 😊
I love your honest appraisal.
Thanks.
The T7 is not for everyone, but neither is any bike. I love my T7, but mine has tubeless wheels and the Acerbis tank. Ride what make you happy 🤙🏼
Right on!
Curious what tubeless did you go with?
@@verbalwidget7267 I went with Alpine only because VMX wasn’t making them for the T7 at that time, but they are now so I would go with VMX now.
@@2wheels.are.better.than4 thank you.
I can just look at that seat and say, no.
I’m really considering the Tenere. The rally seat would be my first change. You are IRON BUTT for just sticking to horrible seat that everyone knows is just horrible.
I completely agree with you about tubeless . 👍
Wow, that was a bold move to publish such a statement, but, this is perfectly understandable as nothing is for everyone. I myself am not a T7 fan for similar reasons you have stated. I haven't even thought of a possibility that a bike taking the fun and 'want to ride' out of you, but that is a compelling reason.
Thank you much for honest opinions.
@@realzeti thanks for the feedback. I thought I would try it and I am now full of regrets.
Sorry to hear your frustrations. It's not fun when don't enjoy the bike. I have 26,000 miles on my T7. It's a great tourer for me. I put an Air Hawk on the seat and is comfy as heck. I've never had a problem with fuel range. It's easy 180-200 miles. The reserve however does come on very early so I use my milage as my fuel gauge. I did put a stiffer spring on the rear and have had no issues with the front. There are pros and cons on tubes and tubeless. Totally depends on your preference. Fully loaded it can be a handful off road and it's not the easiest to pick up. I put a Puig extension on my windscreen. Works great for keeping the bugs off my face shield and no buffeting. It's been bullet proof, low maintenance costs and sounds wonderful! Hope you have better luck with the Aprilia and it's creating that passion again. 😊
@@seisamigos397 thanks for sharing you experience. It's the right bike for you for sure. The Tuareg reignited my passion. I just never meshed with the T7.
I can't think of any pros with tube type tires other than for an MX bike. An adventure bike should absolutely have tubeless tires. This is not a dirt bike. It is at best a dirt road bike.
@@geraldscott4302 I can, saw a video just the other day of a flat in a tubeless tyre , it came off the rim they tried for 2 hours to get it re seated, tried aerosol , tie downs etc but they gave up and put a tube in it, and they were very experienced outback riders, the small compressors we carry just don't have enough volume to seat a bead, My first option is a can of tyre goo, seals a hole and pumps it up to pressure in seconds quicker than a tyre plug. If that fails then I throw in a spare tube.
@@silverdale3207 That is possible, but extremely unlikely. In order to fix a flat with tube type tires, you HAVE to support the bike somehow, remove the wheel, and remove at least one side of the tire from the rim. I have done it many times. But I am 65 years old, and partially disabled. There is no way I'm going to be able to remove a wheel or tire out in the middle of nowhere. I would be stranded for sure with tube type tires. There is a 95% chance I could repair a flat with a tube type tire. I've also noticed that tubeless tires are way less likely to have flats than tube type tires. I have found objects sticking in my tubeless tires while inspecting them at home that had actually punctured the tire, then sealed the puncture. No way that is going to happen with tube type tires. On almost every tube type tire I have repaired a flat on, the object that punctured the tube had wiggled around in the tire and shredded the tube, making it unpatchable. I've also almost been killed a couple of times when a tube type tire blew out at high speed on the highway. When a tubeless tire is punctured, it almost always loses air very slowly, allowing you to notice the problem, slow down, and pull off the road. The ONLY place I see for tube type tires would be closed course competition, like motocross. Definitely not for highway use or long distance adventure riding.
@@geraldscott4302 Yes , I've changed many tyres and fixed tubes as well, I,m 60 and have no problems ,takes about half an hour. But I think you've just shown why there is such a disconnect between those of you that want tubeless and those of us that like tubes when you say the tyre goes flat slowly so you can pull off the highway, those of us that like tubes don't like highways we ride in the bush on rocky trails etc and tyres don't go flat slowly there they generally come off the rim from hitting a rock or denting a rim and are near impossible to re seat with small compressors. If I had a road bike then yes I'd want tubeless but these bikes are designed to be ridden in harsh terrain ,this is where tubes come into there own. I run a tubeless tyre with a tube in it on my T7and haven't had any problems. Also had a flat in my old BMW and fixed it in a couple of minutes with a can of tyre goo, it did another 3000km on that.I understand why some people want tubeless for their type of riding I just wish they would understand why some of us want tubed for our style of riding and stop ragging on manufacturers for putting them on bikes that are designed for the type of riding that require tubes.
Sold mine. I ride mostly alone and was afraid to go down certain trails in case I laid the bike down. I did drop my T7 once in the sand and I could not pick the bike up. Laid flat. On road was fine, but the buffeting was bad and the bike was heavy to me in the twisty's. Not comfortable. The T7 sat in the garage and I would walk by the bike and think that's a good looking bike, sunk $3,000 extra into it, but not ride it. Bought the KTM 390 Adventure and love riding it on road off road everywhere. So much fun.
My experience as well. The T7 looks really good, but I walk past it every time I want to go for a ride.
Sounds like you do a lot of off-road. I don’t blame you for going to a smaller/ lighter bike. I can pick my T7 up from the ground with little effort however, smaller bikes are easier to stop from falling over. I had to mod mine for better weather protection
@@murlyn2 I had a lot of trouble getting the T7 up on a really rocky steep ascent. The bike just jumped out from underneath me. I had to drag it around to get the wheels downhill. It was still really hard to lift.
Great vid, honest. Thanks I felt the same. Then bought a transalp, and am very happy.
@@chillinchevapchichi you made a good choice.
Thanks for your honest review, Matt. I was thinking of a T7. I knew about the top-heaviness, which put me off a bit, but you have filled in the rest of the disadvantages!
@@arsenvokrug4198 glad you found this helpful. Good luck in your search.
Each to their own...absolutely love my T7, had it for 4 years. All day comfortable for me..and that bullet proof engine is a peach. And surely upgrading and modifying your bike is a pleasure..part of the fun! I can't think of a single thing i ' hate ' about my fab T7!! Cheers Steve
@@stepheneldridge6998 glad to hear you and the T7 have gotten along so well. Not many do.
Great review!
What will be your next bike?
Last April I purchased an Aprilia Tuareg and haven't looked back. It's a better bike in every way.
I love my T7! I agree it’s not very comfortable at highway speeds but 60 mph or below it was fine for me. Suspension, especially the rear needs a better spring. My only complaint….the bike is very top heavy. I can lift it np off of asphalt but I’ve had a few times off road in mud or a ditch and it took everything I had to lift it back up….and I’m not a small guy. One of the best engines though….and makes up for everything, at least for me.
@@martin4819 the engine on this bike is stellar. The fuel mapping could be better. I also got into some trouble when I lost my rear end on a steep rocky ascent. I struggled to get the bike back up even after dragging the wheels to the downhill side.
Matt,
I lowered mine 40mm back, 20mm front, added comfort seat, rallyraid wind protection, tourtec pegs, camel under seat tank. Now yours well and I feel comfortable on it. Will be reprinting and valving suspension shortly. Test rode T7 with 45l safari tank, soo good centre of gravity amazingly better, have ordered one!!
Lance from Aus/NZ
@@lancewhitehead549 wow, you really put a lot of thought and mods in to your bike. You have really transformed it. Nice job.
I installed winglets and big windscreen and 6.1 gallon fuel tank and with a tall wide seat concepts. Easy fixes unlike unfixable ktms.
Soft suspension is nice for long days on bdr.
6’5” 220 lbs.
Agreed on tubes. Wish we could do ether one.
Yep top heavy but works fine for my 36” long legs.
Thanks for your vid!
I’ve got 36,000 miles about half that off road.
Hoping for a t900!
Sounds like your bike is really setup and for someone so tall it is the perfect bike for you. The bikes I ride would feel cramped for you. Glad it is working for you.
Is that you Pol?😁
Funny. Just sold mine after 5K km in 6 months. Same to me, I didn't like the weight, and didn't enjoy riding it.
I am back on my old DR650 and love it!!....
@@topan5091 you get it. Back to old reliable. Cheers.
Hey Matt, thanks for your review. It’s good to be honest and give viewers a different perspective on a bike.
I think your problem with the T7 is also a skill issue. I hope you don’t take that the wrong way. Everybody should be able to ride and have fun. But the choice of bike matters a lot. For me buying an R1 for road riding, would leave me unhappy, because my skill level is completely inadequate for a bike like that.
Granted, the suspension absolutely has to be replaced, which is something that shouldn’t necessary. They should have at least made the KYB forks, that come with the world raid, standard. After that though, this bike will let you do whatever you want to it. It wants to be ridden hard and keeps up with you all the way.
I think most people forget that off road riding is not that easy to get into and requires a lot of practice, experience, damage, falling and getting up. I did that from when I was 12 years old and at 34 years of age am able to abuse this bike the way it should probably be ridden.
You can check ariemann’s channel to see how the bike does when handled well and you wouldn’t want to put a Touareg in his videos, because it wouldn’t get to the end of most of them.
That being said, the negatives you pointed out are very valid for weekend warriors that have little to no background in fast/extreme off roading and are trying to get in to it at an older age. That level of experience doesn’t cut it with a bike like this. It can, but it will not give you the fullfillment you’re looking for. You made the right decision getting rid of your T7. It led to losing your passion, as you pointed out and that is clearly not what you want, when you buy yourself an expensive bike.
Sorry it didn’t work out for you. Happy to read you’re happy with your Touareg. Funny how two people can have a different bike in the same category but both wouldn’t consider swapping it for anything. That just shows you that we all have different likes and we can keep these discussions going for years to come.😂
Cheers! Thanks for the review!
@@PimRademacher no offense taken. I have said it often that the T7 requires a very skilled rider to get everything the T7 has out of it. The Tuareg is significantly easier to ride offroad for me. I have ridden similar tracks on both bikes and I felt like I was fighting the T7 where the Tuareg felt like it was working with me. Adam is expert rider that could take any bike the places he goes. If the T7 work for you ride it. Like you said, different bikes fit different riders.
@ I think that is what makes the difference. When I go onto a trail I’m not looking for a bike that makes it significantly easier for me. I want to challenge myself and get punished when I make a mistake so I can learn from that and become a better rider. Ofcourse those mistakes hopefully become less frequent, otherwise you’d spend more time picking up your bike than riding. For me the trail riding is the fun. The destinations and experiences there are the cherry on top.
Still the T7 is not perfect. Not for me. Probably not for Riemann either. But the anti-squat and the engine give me a certain thrill when I blast through some corners and that is something I didn’t have with any other bike yet. I am gonna pick up a Touareg for a weekend though, so I can find out what the fuss is all about.
@PimRademacher I was just about to recommend you test ride the Tuareg. Take some time and try to dial in the suspension for how you ride. You won't regret the experience.
Just finished riding my T7 around Australia .Did 18500 kms.The Bike was awesome!!
No complaints at all.
What a downer this video was.
Matt you need to swallow some cerment and harden up mate!
Maybe I do need to harden up, but why should I when there are better choices of bikes that fit my riding style. The T7 was such a disappointment for me for all the reasons I stated. It might be a good bike for some, but for anyone looking at this bike should see how others experiences have been. Its not all good.
@advmatt what bike will make Adventure riding better for you Matt?
@@camerondonaldson4918 I purchased the Aprilia Tuareg last April and I have put 11.5k miles on it in six months. This bike does it for me. I love it and the riding experience is amazing.
Mine has done 25000km of pretty hard riding in Australia while there are some short comings with this bike it does handle off road pretty well I road it for a while before upgrading to rallyraid suspension and im 125kg just messed with the compression and rebound. Yep I have put some money into it rear camel tank touring screen bigger winglets I would rather put the money into a good platform and make it into a bike for me and have peice of mind for the distances and remote areas that we have in Aus rather than another manufacturer that may have all the bells and whistles that end up back at the dealership for warranty work leaving you without a bike. only my opinion.
I think that you are right for the remote riding you are doing. Reliability speaks very loudly. I can understand why it is better for you to upgrade the T7 than it would be to go with another bike.
@advmatt Yep we are all different with different wants needs and opinions she'd be a boring old world if we were all the same good luck for the future. But I do love my T7 😉
I can go well over 200 miles before I start looking for gas. I have ridden over 10 hours with short breaks and usually ride 5-6 hours and am completely comfortable. Are you wearing a peak on your helmet? I use an Arai Quantum X and its breeze. Yes, quiet and comfortable. Tube/ tubeless? You should have factored that in before you purchased it, so that's on you. I came from a 2022 KLR and am in complete heaven on the T7 and having a blast. It is balanced for me, fun and fast enough. I can blast over the Sierra Mountains and hit desert roads or travel fairly long on Forest Service roads, all in a few hours. I bought it in late August and am over 4k already. It is total fun.
To all your points. My T7 and me are a perfect match. Best of luck to you.
Glad the T7 is treating you well. I am surprised at how many miles your are getting on a tank of gas. I don't ride with a peak on my helmet. I ride at road speeds too much. You have some great riding in your backyard.
I wonder if you’d gel more with one of the versions we don’t get in the US. They’ll still be “top heavy”, or more so, but upgrades suspension and bigger tank. I bought my dream bike and quickly realized we were a mismatch. Doesn’t mean it was a bad bike, just a mismatch.
@@steveh545 I don't the T7 will ever do it for me in any version until it get tubeless wheels and an electronics package. I could live with it much easier then, but it will not. It's a hard to pill to swallow when you find out the dream bike is more of a nightmare.
If you can’t pick it up….shouldn’t be riding it.
Love mine, and wouldn’t trade it for any of the other mid-weight offerings.
Fair enough. Glad the bike has worked for you. It is a lot personal preference.
Marketing and hype steer a lot folks the wrong direction. It’s great that guys like you share the reality of these bikes.
Thanks for doing what you do!
@@Kmagmoto thanks for the feedback.
You called it out! All true.. My set up includes Acerbis tank, Dubya tubeless wheels, Tractive suspension and Seat Concepts comfort. Still a SOB to pick up tho!
Cheers to you and yer great channel!
Thanks for the feedback. You have really setup your bike well. I am sure your riding experience is much better now. Cheers.
Thanks for your honest opinion, you very rarely see that in UA-cam reviews, and I'm a big fan of your channel. Not a T7 owner but considered buying one, and was interested in hearing your opinion. Ultimately I went with the Tuareg 660 for many of the issues you bring up, and have been very happy. However, I would say that if a riders highest priority is absolute reliability over many 10's of thousands of miles, and having several dealerships in their vicinity, then Japanese is the way to go, and the T7 in particular. Thanks !
Thanks for watching. I agree, if reliability is the number priority then you can't wrong with the T7. However, if you want to really enjoy all those miles and never stop riding, for me, this was never the bike. The Tuareg showed me the difference. Glad you are enjoying the Tuareg.
I have a 2023 T7. All fair points you made. I have modified mine to cure some of the issues you point out. It cost a lot extra though. I have over 13,000 miles on mine in a year so I like it a lot but I likely wouldn’t buy another. I found that I have reached the age that I want more weather protection and comfort from the showroom floor without having to modify it. 20 more horsepower would be nice too
a few extra ponies on these size of bikes is really nice. Long distance travel is so much better with a little more weather protection.
We're all different, and that's perfectly fine. For some the T7 is the best thing since sliced bread (ex Adam Riemann) because it fits his style and requirements. I'm in your boat, ie ,Touring Adventure . I went for a GS 1250 as it rides and feels like nothing else for ME, the other popular brands just somehow reminded me of my Dual Sport bike. For someone else a KTM1290 is the best bike ever, or the AT. Ultimately ride whatever you enjoy for the type of riding you do.
@@vanschr well said, I agree. I don't understand how Adam is over the moon with the T7. Likenyou said, it depends on how bikes fit us.
I agree with most of your comments, with a few exceptions, and understand why you wouldn't mesh with the bike.
I ran the MABDR and NEBDR (around 3500 miles looping back home) as well as the Smokey 500 last year, then ran the TAT this year (over 7000 miles) and it has been a great partner for these trips. I've put 26K miles so far in the last couple of years and am absolutely loving it. Is it perfect? Hell no. I've had to outfit the bike to suit my needs for sure (springs, protections, comfort, etc...), but have loved the process and loved how reliable and tractable that engine has been and how well the bike has performed as an adventure bike overall.
The bike is the do-it-all for me, but certainly not great at anything.
In the end, it's great to have choice in the segment since we're all different, with different thresholds and expectations.
great point. It is great we have choices of different bikes in this segment. If Yamaha made the T7 with an electronics package, tubeless wheels and a bit more comfortable it would cost as much as the 890 or BMW. It was built as a budget bike.
It's not a Harley. You shouldn't have to completely rebuild it to make it right. It is not a cheap bike, it should not have a lot of the problems it has.
@@geraldscott4302 Did I say I completely rebuilt it? I sprung it for my weight and added protection. That's the customization I've done. In today's world, it is quite an inexpensive bike, though.
The problems you perceive are not felt by everybody. Fuel range is fine for me, as is the comfort over long distance, off road capability and simple nature of the bike.
Do I wish it had tubeless rims? Yes, but not a deal breaker for me.
Nice review, its a shame if you cant enjoy your bike. Hopefully your next bike will bring you more joy. But I can't relate to everything.
Did a 3600 km trip in 7 days with offroad parts, 1st and last day 800 km per day, no problem at all with stock seat.
What is more important: the look of your bike or the fuel range and material of the tank?
Stock suspension isnt great indeed. I changed my rear spring.
Weight of the bike... I am 1.72 m and rode a stock bike offroad through the Alps.. without major problems. But perhaps that was luck 😅
Its my dream bike. But I am looking forward to the new Suzuki drz 4s.
@@MVonClausewitz glad you were able to make this bike work for you. I have broken my elbow and left wrist and have shoulder issues. Holding the throttle open for eight to 10 hours a day was painful for me. I now have an Aprilia Tuareg. It has the best riding experience of ant bike I have ever ridden.
I wanted to like the T7 but at 5’10” it was too top heave to be so tall. The lousy display, wind protection, range, inner tubes, and lack of cruise control for long highway miles was a deal breaker for me. Ended up with a BMW F850 GS and though its on the heavy side after my KTM 390 adv I love riding it. I would have looked at the Aprillia Touareg but it hadn’t been released at the time.
@@zzzsydneyhom1379 spot on with your experience. The BMW is a good bike.
Fair comments, however my Question to you is, Why did you buy this bike, surely you would have researched the Pro’s and Con’s of owning a T7 before spending your hard earned. In Australia this bike is hugely popular, whilst not perfect ( no bike is ) the reliability of the T7 in remote areas is a deciding factor. As for tubeless, bend a rim in remote Australia you wish and many do have tubes. The old saying, A tradesman never blames his tools comes into play.
I replaced my R1200GS with the T7 to reduce ownership costs and weight. I wanted to do long distance travel and forest roads on this bike. The test ride I took did not reveal all the faults. I knew about some and I thought I could deal with it. Also, every review of this bike that I saw was glowing, stating how good it was. I needed to experience it myself to see how it didn't fit me and nobody really discusses how bad this bike is for most riders.
As for the tubeless wheels. I must not ride hard enough because I have never damaged a tubeless wheel. I also don't lower my tire pressure to protect the wheel. Unlike many others I also carry spare tubes in the event of a catastrophic failure. Tubed wheels are overrated in the Adventute community.
The T7 is the kind of bike that suits a very specific type of rider. You will either love it or hate it. I Appreciate your contribution in giving the side that most people are afraid to speak out. TBH this applies to all bikes which makes it great. There is a bike for everyone. I chose the Ktm 790 advR and absolutely love it
I absolutely agree with you. The T7 has been marketed as the do it all, ultra capable bike. In reality I think there are very few riders that will actually like this bike and will get the bikes full potential out of it. It is not good anything, and is only okay at everything.
Agree, it is for people that lean more toward offroad or rough track or remote riding. I have one and love it but wouldn't buy one or a KTM790/890 either if my riding was mostly big days of highway riding.
Can't stand tubed wheels 🛞🛞... Just bad & overlooked design imo, i have the '19 CB500X & really enjoy that bike it's tubeless, quick enough & comfortable. Getting Moore Mafia ECU tune & slip-on exhaust next mod... Great video & keep it up!
Thanks for the feedback. I agree, tubes are so last century.
Obviously, you’ve got a lot of visitors who don’t watch your other videos. They don’t know about your other bikes. Taken in isolation your negative T7 comments sound like just complaining because you can’t ride it, but regular viewers know your history and how much touring you do. Your opinions are just as valid as there’s.
Thanks for your feedback. I appreciate it. Yeah I have noticed by the comments many viewers don't know my riding experience. That's okay, I happy to engage with everyone. Cheers.
Interesting Video. But as a T7 owner myself I need to respectfully disagree with you one 3.5 of your complaints. I do a fair bit of touring just finished back to back trips of over 2200kms each. I find the bike with distance very comfortable and ergonomically as someone who’s 5’7” I find it perfect. Fuel range I am getting I am getting and average of 420-450 kms per tank that is about 260-280 miles per tank. I agree that some bikes out of Japan are tube but the Majority are tubeless. As to the Tenere while it comes tubed if yo notice the rubber is tubeless. The best option is outex tubeless conversion. The Yamaha factory team uses it as do I and It is a game changer and it is about $150. For the kit to do both wheels on the Tenere.
I do agree it has a high COG and it is a baller but when riding I can lean pretty well wit f falling.
You seem to have better riding skills than I do based on how you described your riding. I am really not sure how you get so many miles out of the standard T7 tank of fuel. I can see that kind of mileage out of the World Raid. I am not a fan of tubeless conversions. When they fail, and they will eventually fail, if you don't have a spare tube with you its a disaster. I think the VMX cross spoked wheels for the T7 are a good solution to go tubeless. I spent many 450 to 500 miles days on the T7. It was the worst bike I have ever ridden that kind of mileage on. By the time I upgrade this bike to suit my needs I should have just purchased another bike for the same money.
@@advmatt i can respect that. I do not think that I’m necessarily a better rider I think its how we ride:). OF course years of racing does help in cornering lol. But seriously. I watch your videos and enjoy them. I also think that MAYBE the newer T7’s may get better MPG. I can’t think of any other reason. My tank is stock, 16 literswcich is 4.5 gallons. But I can say that when I am touring is when I get my best MPG’s IF I am riding in town so to speak that goes down. Thus the reason I usually ride my Serow ( XT 250) around town lol.
DO tubeless kits fail I am sure at some point BUT this is my second bike I have used them on and I have had great success. The times I find I need the greatest care in during Tire changes. BUT when touring ALWAYS care a sore tube… safety.
Anyways keep making the videos. I’ll keep watching. Rubber side down!
He bought the bike, he rides the bikes He is telling what he feels about the bike. Why are people so angry?
Its all good. Most of the comments that are unhappy with this video don't watch any of my other content to understand my riding experience. Its okay. I still like the engagement. Cheers.
Hard to deny that Matt has the experience to state a real opinion because he spends a lot of time on 2 wheels and has ridden a bunch of comparable bikes for longer than test rides. Not surprised that the T7 fanboys have come out of the woodwork. Most of them with likely limited experience on as many bikes.
@@jacknimble1 thanks for the support. I really appreciate it.
Appreciate the honesty brother. Getting sick of biased reviews and the reliability subject. I think the Tuareg is a better choice for me. Cool vids man keep em coming.
Thanks for the feedback. I am working on a comparison video between the T7 and Tuareg. It is striking how different these two bikes are and the difference in the riding experience. Should be posted in a week or so.
I have about 16k miles on my Tenere and absolutely love it except for the suspension. I dropped some money into the suspension and it transformed the bike. I do prefer the top heaviness of the T7, makes it feel like a giant dirt bike and it corners better at high speeds compared to a lower cg motorcycle due to the roll axis. Ive had no issues with the high cg at lower speeds I just got use to it.
I think the suspension upgrade you made really did make a huge difference for you by the way your are describing the feel of the ride. There are some nice features to this bike, which I cover later.
@@advmatt You made valid points in your video. The good thing is that there are so many options now to choose from. I added a 2024 AT to the stable, see how that works out for me.
@@socaladventure2340 nice. You have great options for hitting the roads and dirt.
At last , someone who gets the benefits of a High COG, I've ridden low COG bikes ( BMW650GS and KTM890) and they didn't handle or corner as well as the T7, I'd even say they were horrible at low speed on road. A test was done on race bikes years ago and they found the High COG made the bike faster, because it handled better.
Having upgraded fork and rear springs installed this week on my T7 and I’m well below 180 lbs. 🤦 Every manufacturer cuts corners somewhere to reach their desired price point. I may add another bike to fit another purpose but I’m not selling the T7. Love it! Fair review but it sounds like the T7 was the wrong bike for you from the start.
I am in full agreeance with you on this. I sold my T7. But I won't say that I hated it, it was good, but I always felt unstable on it.
Hate is strong word, but for my riding style, long days on the road to ride the dirt, it was absolutely miserable.
I would agree that it isn't real comfortable or exciting on long highway stretches, the rear brake is non existent and the suspension needs some work...but to see the comments that this bike is not fun blows my mind. I can drift the bike in gravel going around turns a 50+mph and drift on trails every chance i get as it tracks amazing and always goes where i want it, its a blast on trails and I can keep up with my buddies on there 501's, wheelie it all the time, and it handles great on pavement as you can lean it until the pegs drag. No offense, but I would argue if you aren't having fun on a T7, you aren't riding anywhere near it's potential.
@ryancooley8783 I agree 👍. It rips offroad and corners well. It rides well when ridden aggressively. I did get the suspension done on mine, well worth it. I also like the lack of electronics.
I think your riding skills far exceed my own. You are able to tap into it's potential. I will never be able to ride this bike like a big dirt bike. As I mentioned in the video, a very competent rider can get a lot of this bike. For the rest of us mere mortal riders, well, it is a difficult bike to ride. It was for me anyway.
I think it also depends on what tyres are fitted. Ditch the stock ones and get some decent rubber.
You bought the wrong bike for YOU
@@bosoceansport2068 yep, I did. I also think this bike will be the wrong bike for many riders that ride the same way I do and for riders that are not as skilled.
Greetings Matt,
As always another brilliant detailed video production 🇺🇲🍾🎉🇺🇲
Thank you so much for sharing.
What is the next motorcycle for you?
(I was about to purchase one)
I purchased an Aprilia Tuareg last April. After 11.5k miles, I am a very satisfied owner. I had an issue that was eventually sorted out. The riding experience has been second to none.
@@advmatt thanks for the quick response.
Do you have a review on the aprilla
@@rosarioroberto5823 I do have a review of the Tuareg. Here is the link to the video I posted. I am working on a comparison video between these two bikes. ua-cam.com/video/Uwnhwk6fsis/v-deo.htmlsi=GOzGmrsZEmr8LZC7
Very interesting take on the Tenere.
I agree with all of it. While never an owner, I have ridden four bikes and the only one I enjoyed was a factory lowered one.
The other three felt insanely top heavy. And that's a dealbreaker for an offroad bike IMHO. - Frank
@@OneOldManRiding this bike was built to undercut all the others in price which shows in riding experience.
Matt, I agree with you, I was 390 Adv owner, and now 450Mt owner, pretty happy with the inprovement in the 450MT, I think the 450MT will suit your riding style.
@@hectorgonzalez68 thanks for commenting. I need to give the 450MT a test ride.
I had a 97 Moto Guzzi EV1100 it had tubeless wire rims. I'm with you.
Agree on all points. T7 has a cult following and I do love them for what they are but it's definitely not even close to the best bike in any riding situation.
Couldn't agree more. The T7 is not good at anything and just okay at everything. For the money, there are better bikes. So many riders are highly modifying their T7s to suit their riding needs. After all the expenses there are better options.
the price is to the roof now too for what it offers, that head start in the segment and very good marketing really did them well.
These are the points with this bike ! I'm trying different bikes to choose the good one. I have made my mind and I think I"ll buy a norden 901, may be the expedition one (but it's too high I believe). 901 seems to be more adapted. It may be the solution for all the negatives point you mentionned. For the fork and suspension I think it's better. But it's more expensive for sure.
Try one if you can. Perhaps you will enjoy it !?
Hi from France.
Ride safe.
✌️😉👍
Thanks for the suggestion. I purchased an Aprilia Tuareg and have not regretted. It is a better bike in every way. You should give it a test ride and see what you think.
@@advmatt Aprilia is a wonderfull bike but for duo and luggages on long distance it's limited. For one guy I would have choosen it.👋 😉 👍
@@calebasse3110 yeah I agree with you. If you riding two up you really want a bike with 100+ horsepower, maybe more than 125+. I think it is a great solo bike but I would want more power and a little bigger bike like you are talking about.
I put 7,000 miles on my T7 only about 1,500 off pavement. Loved the engine but I agree with most of your practical points. The standard tank will easily do 200 miles but ignoring the flashing low fuel indicator for 50 or so miles is irritating. I spent circa $3,000 on various upgrades/farkles to try and make it perfect for me. But in the end stupid hard to explain falls when off pavement exhausted my patience. I bought a Norden Expedition. It solved all of the problems virtually stock. I added Double Take mirrors and a mesh seat cover. That’s all. Now at 19,500 miles. The difference in performance is very marked and the confidence it gives when off pavement is difficult to get across to folk who haven’t experienced it.
@@davidmathers1141 I hear where you are coming from. I had the same experience going from the T7 to the Tuareg 660. It's a night and day difference between these bikes and the riding experience.
@@advmatt I have heard great things about the Tuareg. I didn’t even think about trying it because of the engine size. Probably my mistake. But I have to say the 105hp and “nutter” mode above 5,500rpm on the Norden works very well on the road.
@@davidmathers1141 the Nroden is a great bike. I haven't ridden one, but everybody raves about it. You made a good choice.
Interesting to hear your experience on the T7. I have a 2023 KTM 390 ADV and it definitely inspires me to go ride as much as I can. Curious to hear your latest thoughts on the 390 vs the T7 as far as just having a good riding experience.
My riding experience on the 390 was much better than it was on the T7. However, after purchasing the Aprilia Tureag 660 both of those other bikes sit much. The Tuareg is my favorite bike.
@@advmatt I see a lot of reasons for the popularity of the Aprilia Taureg. But so far, I am loving my 390 Adventure, and it will do nicely for a long time.
@@RYwoodview if you still really love your 390 Adv there is no reason to get another bike. I do recommend installing the Veridian Cruise Control. I have one sitting in my garage I need to install. It will really make the bike better for long rides.
@@advmatt I look forward to your install video. The Viridian is a little expensive ($400+) compared to the minor mods I've done to my 390 and is somewhat time-consuming to install. But, like cars, all motorcycles should come with cruise control.
I have the occasional stall from low speed that implicates the throttle body on my 390 that comes along with speed control by wire that makes adding cruise control possible. Modern technology is full of Catch-22s!
There will certainly be a lot of T7 owners that won't be too impressed with your review. That being said, your points are valid. The one thing the T7 has going for it is it's reliability.
Yeah, I expect the T7 owners will come to defend the bikes honor. You can't ignore the reliability.
@@justsomedude445 it will be. It's filmed, but pretty thin on content.
reliable as an anvil but just as exciting also
@@justsomedude445 you said it.
I own my black T7 for 18 months now and all 5 points are non issues for me.
The stock seat is firmly comfortable and I can flat foot the bike at 6’ with stock suspension.
Spring rates are a non issue for me at 210 lbs just 5 clicks of pre load on the back and I’m good.
Wind protection is improved with a taller screen but for offroad juants I prefer the stock one(4 plastic screws)
I get 140-150 miles of range before hitting the reserve if you’re getting 120 on a full tank you should check your fueling.
Just like you I only ride sensible trails/offroad
At 56 I know I’m no Paul Tares 😅
Dropped it once and my friend and I picked it right up 😊
I have rear Tusk saddle bags which protect the stock pipe and upfront on the engine/fairing guards GiantLoop bags which also prevent it from laying super flat.
I ride 28 psi offroad and did not get a flat there yet.
On road I try to keep the OEM recommended pressure 32 F 36 R
Did get 1 nail on the rear but the stock Pirelli STR’s are so firm I rode it home and only saw the nail when I got there (tire was a bit bouncy but did not fail for those 20 miles 😊)
Love my bike but thinking of one day upgrading to the 24’ Africa Twin with electronic suspension and tubeless spoked wheels 🍻🍻
Never to a 7/890 or Tuareg… my religion is: RELIABILITY 🤪🤪
Cheers 🍻
I had to lower mine to get more comfortable riding it and lessen the tip overs at sloooooow speed . Don't have much seat time in it for a variety of reasons but am going to get a smaller displacement bike to get some skills back and have something easy to load in my truck and hit places that will be a lot of fun on a less heavy bike and still get around comfortably on short Hwy stints .
I got a Rally Raid 95nm rear spring lithium battery Touratech large windscreen Touratech crash bars Tusk panniers with Tusk bags Motoz Tractionator ADV tires and still haven't got the Cyclops Aurora pod lights on yet .
Maybe the CF Moto 450 might work for you . For me it would be too close with less power so what will work for me is probably a CRF300LS or the Rally and get a Performance 550 ECU upgrade for it .
You have a well setup of T7. I fell in love with the Tuareg for a lot of reasons. I put 11.5k miles on mine in six months. I agree the CFMoto 450MT is nothing more than a lower power version of the T7. Not sure that is a good solution for many people.
It’s an interesting video. I think you’re right in every aspect of your video. I will say that I’ve never seen Yamaha putting performance suspensions on any street legal bike (price positioning). If you are looking reliability Yamaha is the way. Another point to consider before buying this bike is the price, I think this bike is the most affordable bike in the segment, you can’t spect a better bike with that MSRP. You want more fuel range and comfort BMW 1300 GS / down size = more weight, higher cost of ownership. Every other bike has its value proposition. The big problem IMO is that we suck buying bikes.
The market went crazy when this bike was launched: good price, rally looking bike and Pol Tarres marketing. Made it almost impossible to find one bike in a dealership and now I’ve seen tons of buyers getting rid of their T7s due to every point that you’ve have mentioned in your video. But as I mentioned before many riders bought this bike due to Pol Tarres videos doing crazy things on the bike. But it requires lots of skills and the bike can’t do that by itself 😂. So just consider that most bikes are made for AVG riders, avg. riders don’t travel around the world and they don’t do 5 feet jumps 😂 on the top of a mountain 🏔️. In conclusion, we’re all victims of the good Marketing in Yamaha 😂
I agree I was sucked in some by the marketing. I replaced my R1200GS with the T7 to a lighter long distance touring adventure bike. It sucked at it. I purchased an Aprilia Tuareg in April and I have put 11.5k miles on it including many sections of BDRs out west. I should have purchased the Tuareg to begin with for my style of riding. Like you said, we suck at buying bikes. I bought the T7 based on logic, its reliable. I should have made an emotional purchase. Would have ended up with the Tuareg. Such is life.
Its a nice looking bike and good review. After having spinal cord surgery I am finding my Africa Twin 1100 to be a little hard to handle (do to weight & height) I thought about a T7 but like you I do some longer road rides as well as a few BDR's I wonder if the Aprilla 660 would be any more comfortable on the road? I know ppl say they are not as top heavy, Now that my legs dont work right even being 6'+ I find the Africa Twin to feel quite top heavy did not notice is so much before
I have a lot of content on the Tuareg 660. This bike is so much easier to ride than the T7. I have racked up some big miles on it since I purchased it six months ago. It is easy to ride offroad as well. It is the most intuitive bike I have ever ridden. The electronics package is amazing. I am working on a comparison video between the T7 and Tuareg. It should be released in about week or so. I hope you are able to find a bike that really works for you.
I must admit that I too was disappointed when I had the opportunity to ride the T7. I rode my Honda CB500X Rally Raid and swapped for my friends T7 on a 200 mile ride, a mix of asphalt and rough dirt roads. The suspension was very harsh on the stock T7 suspension and I was happy to get back on the Honda. I love the sound of the motor and the standing riding position on the T7 but the suspension and top heavy “tippy” feeling put me off.
The T7 is a great bike in the hands of very skilled riders. For the rest of us, its a beast.
i tried soooo hard to talk myself into even just kind of liking this bike ! i looked into aftermarket suspension & brake seat and windshield bars risers ect. upgrades looked into intake/exhaust/tune to see what kind of improvement might be possible looked into aftermarket fuel tanks for more range and maybe one that holds the fuel lower like the 890/901 to help with its top heavy feel........no matter how much $ you throw at it you arent going to do much about it only having 70hp and being so top heavy , it is not exciting , good choice if your a long haul paul rider doing iron butt miles &/or touring in 3rd world countries where you absolutely need anvil like reliability but if you are like me , like the vast vast majority of riders i have to believe , working full time + and have limited time off to ride , the bike needs to be exciting , the T7 is a YAWNN
both of the friends i have who bought them modified the crap out of them , one of the two really going all out full suspension and all , both of them sold them within 3000-4000miles ... sorry but the bike is a yawner i agree
@@justsomedude445 you said it so well, yawn. I am with you, with limited time your bike has to ignite a fire in you. The T7 doesn't do it.
the bike you wish for would cost yamaha 14000-15000 on sale.... everything is a compromise and the T7 is not for everybody.
i do love my T7 and it is an extremely fun both on and off road. Long range is the sole point I take an issue with, but only after +8h in the saddle. That being said I will keep it and learn on it, feel that if I deal with the Tenere, I will be able to deal with any bike.
For sure, if you get really good riding the T7 you will have some mad skills. Riding any other bike will feel easy, and almost like you are cheating. The T7 requires skills.
Back in about 86, I was very interested in the KLR. The magazines called it a triple purpose bike. Dirt, street and touring. Fast forward to 2022 when they updated it, I went and bought one thinking it would be great for long distance riding. Didn’t even test ride it. Boy was I in for a huge disappointment. Not a good touring bike. Probably a 6th gear away from a good touring option.
Yeah, that bike without a six gear and now heavy than the previous models has kept me from even test riding it.
I have owned two carbureted KLR650s. They were so so, except for the tube type tires. I wouldn't touch a computer bike with a 10 foot pole. When those electronics fail on you in the middle of nowhere, there is no patching it up. It's dead.
14 hours in the sadel! Not a problem ( have the touratech low comfort seat) 3,5l/100 km give you range enough.
Have flashed ECU , airfilter kit,acrapovic and 44 rear sprocket.
Have moved handelbar. 1” back im just 169 😄
Nice setup. I have also thought of dropping the teeth on the rear sprocket. I think this would really help this bike. Seems like you are really enjoying your bike. Right on!
@@advmatt yes, and you gain longer weel base, more stable on gravel and on road! ( weel axel further back) 👍
I love my T7, but i do agree with you. I wish upgraded suspension, a better seat, and lower CoG were somehow available. I gotta give extra credit because the thumbnail wasn't clickbait.
Thanks for the feedback. Yeah I really gave a lot of thought to sinking thousands into this bike but in the end, its still a T7.
Different strokes for different folks. It isn't the bike for me for those things you mentioned and many others, I did like the 1200 but it is just so far out of date now. Never had a problem with it starting though. Thanks for telling it like it is.
Thanks for the feedback.
Didn't you not know all of this prior to purchasing it? LonghaulPaul loves his and has oodles of miles on it.
I knew about a lot of the issues that became serious complaints for me. I thought I could live with them but when this bike starting taking my passion for riding away I had to reevaluate the bike. I don't the same kind of time as Paul. I have short one week trips and occasional multi week trip. I want those trips to be as exciting as possible and a slog like it was on the T7. I Paul would enjoy a bike with cruise control and some electronics and likely ride even more miles.
Cheers to you for being honest! I wonder if you'd like the WR250R?
@@maybeerainmaybeesnow I think Ibwould like it, because I would ride it offroad, single track and not try to travel on it.
Don’t bring the KLR into this!! Haha. It’s such a workhorse and I love my 2004 KLR. It’s an adventure how scary it is sometimes and how terrible it is at stuff, but it’s reliable and does anything you can throw at it. Great video though man, I’ve been on the fence about getting a T7 but I think I want a lighter KTM 500 EXC.
If you are planning more technical riding with single track you can't go wrong with the 500EXC. I don't know how you do it on the KLR. Props to you.
I can relate having had a KTM890; the seat height was so high I dropped it at least 12 times, whereas I have never dropped my CRF250 or 390 Adventure. The combination of a tall seat and weight made it such that if I was losing my balance on the 890 I had to just jump clear of the bike. Not inspiring. (I did love the 890 for traveling- phenomenal acceleration).
Yeah, that was similar to the T7. The handle bars are over an inch taller than my Tuareg and the seat height, even with a lower seat, made it hard to catch the bike when it started going over. Its a beast of a middle weight bike.
I'm with ya man, I decided to sell mine after the first long trip I took. I bought the bike because I got sucked into the marketing and Pol Tarres videos and as a hard enduro/XC racer I thought it would be perfect for me. It wasn't any better off-road than my africa twin and it was just far inferior on road. Don't get me wrong, for general gooning around it was fun! But on paper the bike should have offered something better off-road. In reality it's most fun in and around the city, and out of it's element on long trips. Yamaha had everyone out there drooling over "anti-squat" and the dakar look. I'll take the AT further into the gnarly stuff than the T7 every time. I have a lot more fun on the bigger bike. The poor suspension and high center of gravity on the T7 just makes it a real handful and a bit of a struggle even though it's lighter. I could fix the suspension for some $$$, but still be stuck with a low power small displacement bike that I need to stop and fuel up 6-8 times per day on trips. I can bang out 1300km days regularly on the AT, but the T7 sucks gas so fast when it's loaded that my record was only 1060km in a day. That was with a camel tank installed - an extra 5L, and it was a 15 hour ride. I've had highway fill-ups where I got to the gas station and had less than a liter left after only riding 2 hours from the last fill-up. I've also ridden unloaded and only riding slow back roads and gotten nearly 500km out of a tank. With the bags and 120 to 130km/h the bike just doesn't have the displacement to deal with the drag. With bigger bikes you have to sustain 160km/h+ to drink fuel that fast. I remember when the Africa Twin first came out reviewers were all saying that it was great off-road but too small, light, and under powered to be a good ADV bike! Where does that put the T7 and the rest of the "mid-weight" bikes?
The only thing I disagree with is the tubeless tires. Tubed tires is the only thing I know, and I know I can fix anything that goes wrong with one out in the middle of nowhere. I'm not sure I could even get a tubeless tire off the rim without a second bike with me (I'm alone 99.9% of the time). Tubeless rims usually have that extra little bead retainer that makes it really hard to push the tire off the bead to remove it road/trailside. On my AT I'd get 2 or 3 pinch flats a day sometimes just because I could ride that bike harder off road, but I'd hate to be pooched with a bent tubeless rim that I couldn't remove to stick a tube in to make it hold air. It doesn't take much to bend a rim either even if you're just cruising an otherwise smooth dirt road. A patch of embedded rocks or a small washout hiding on a blind corner is all it takes.
I'm sure if a T7 was the only bike I'd ever ridden I'd be on here commenting about how great it is, but for me it just wasn't the right bike either. The short gearing and screaming engine makes it feel like you're going really fast, so it can be fun on short rides like a 125mx bike. But for me even the Africa twin is pushing being too small at this point and I'm looking at bigger bikes now. The irony is that as a life long off-road guy, I have more fun on pavement with the more powerful street oriented bikes than I do on these "mid-weight" off road orientated bikes. But of course I'll always own something that can work in the dirt too.
Thanks for your comments. I feel you. As for the tubeless setup, I carry spare tubes for catastrophic failures on the trail. A good set of motion pro bead breakers can pop the bed no problem, if you have some patience. You right about the T7 screaming at highway speeds. It nice to hear someone else who also had fuel range issues. I am seeing comments that just don't make any sense to me. I have also grown to enjoy road riding equally as much as dirt roads. In the end it comes down to personal choice and we need to look beyond marketing, which isn't easy.
I got rid of mine because it was top heavy. I wish more reviewers had mentioned that issue. It was a deal breaker for me. Only had the bike for 6 months as a result. Which is weird because I thought it was my dream bike.
The top heaviness is the most documented complaint of this bike.
@@AllenJeter20 yeah, I knew about the weight issues. I underestimated how much of issue it would be for me, a barely average rider.
@@CodyAsh86 not when I bought it. It was early on and people were just raving about the bike at that point there was a lot of group think at the time.
I do not understand why people buy a new motorbike, instead of buying a used one, like an XTZ 750 SUPER TENERE,or a BMW 1100 GS or BMW R 1150 GS/1200/1250/650/700/800 ,or a HONDA XRV 750 AFRICA TWIN, or a HONDA 600/650 TRANSALP....These are very good bikes,in my opinion
Agree with all you have said. I would STILL buy it again. What is you next purchase?
I want to see if the Aprilia Tuareg 457 is going into production and when will it make it to the states. I will likely hold out for this bike. I think it will be a great bike based on my experience with the Tuareg 660, which I absolutely love.
I agree with everything you mention here, i was so close to getting the Tuareg but went with the "smart" choice of a T7. I'm lucky to have 4 Adv bikes in the garage and find its the bike that inspires me the least to ride.
@@Scram1200 yeah, as an owner of the Tuareg and T7, the T7 sits all of the time. It doesn't do it for me.
Sold mine, purchased Suzuki V-strom 800de, never look back.
Great option. I have not really looked at the 800DE. Maybe it is worth a look.
I think you’re looking for a unicorn. I agree the T7 has its share of issue but you’ll be paying way more with Euro brands.
I purchased an Aprilia Tuareg in April. I put 11.5k miles on it in six months. The riding experience is a night and day difference. For me it is worth the added cost to enjoy my hobby. The T7 wasn't it for me.
I have a ‘22 and knew I would be dropping close to $4k in suspension. My brother got a ‘23 model and what is odd is that even though our settings were exactly the same, my stock suspension was by far better than his. Not even close! Which had me wondering how many other T7 riders were dealing with what may be poor suspension quality control? Mine was acceptable but not great, his was awful.
@@Tencenttourguide great observation. My suspension was really soggy. I am still trying to dial it in with the new springs. $4k on the suspension is huge investment. Do you thinking was worth it?
It was a hard pill to swallow but yeah I was worth it. I added the rally seat for better comfort on long rides. Not a perfect bike but I like its pure simplicity. Not to mention the reliability aspect
Honda Africa Twin 1100 adventure manual with quickshifter should do you well?
I purchased an Aprilia Tuareg 660 back in April. I absolutely love this bike. It is the same weight, more power, full electronics, better ergonomics and blast to ride.
Well I sold mine for a 690 enduro r, for other reasons, however after over 10,000 BDR miles on the T7, I loved it..
That's great to hear. I think there are still many riders out there that love the T7. I am beginning to see a trend from the comments, the better or competent a rider is the more they like the T7. Advanced riders get the most out of this bike.
The t7 has always been overhyped as it was the only available middle weight adv in its class. It revolutionize the industry in a way but that was when no competition was available. We have choices now .
@@trailrider1980 so many choices.
100%. It’s over-marketed, over-hyped and over priced. For that price here in Australia, for those looking at an actually capable on and off-road mid sized Adv bike you could get a Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro or similar. Or go the other option for less and modify a 701 or similar for the lighter off1road biased Adv build.
The T7 has issues no AUD$25K bike should have.
Have you had any experience with the new Transalp? I'm torn between the two. Thanks for the informative review.
I just test rode the Transalp this weekend. These bike are very different. The Transalp has less clearance and a very budget suspension. The engine felt like it had a little more character. It has rider modes which I like and it is easy to add an aftermarket cruise control. If I had to choose between these two bikes and I could only choose between these two bikes I would choose the Transalp. I think it is easier to ride and with some aftermarket parts easier to fit to how you ride. The aftermarket cruise control is a big deal for me due to the long miles I ride. I think the base price for the Transalp is lower too. Try to get a test ride on each bike so you can feel the difference.
@@advmatt Thanks a lot for the helpful reply. I'll test ride both
Try the Suzuki 800de
Yup. I love the looks, like the price, and I'm a long time yamaha fan and mechanic. So I test rode one. Hated it. I thought it was just that it needed some tweaks, so I swapped bikes with an acquaintance for part of a BDR ride. I was riding my Husky 701. I practically had to pry it back away from him. He's done more than 5K worth of mods and I still hated the bike. So did he, he sold it but hasn't bought a replacement. Perhaps the T 700 killed his passion too.
The T7 was killing my passion to ride just like your friend. He needs to try another bike and find that the T7 is just not fun. He spent a lot on that bike. Take him for some test rides on other bikes, like the Tuareg 660.
If you want better suspension buy extreme version or worl raid with better suspension and more capacity fuel tank (also heavier of course). Bike is reliable for reasonable price. Tube tyres are better option for offroad adventures, can be easily repaired after puncture...
If you want premium bike, try ktm but there are problems with camahafts...
It's not offered in the States.
Finally someone being truthful about the T7 had enough after 6 months of soft suspension and a very top heavy bike .Especially for a bike that sold for well over retail.
I am so glad I was not one of those riders that spent thousands over retail. That would have hurt much more. I tried to like it but just never could.
This bike has not sold well recently as most bikes are not selling… and certainly not at over retail in quite awhile. Try $8k for a new 2024 at more than 50% of dealers in US.
@trailrunnermike I need to look into a discount that low. That seems very extreme.
@ half kidding. I actually have been renting a T7 to ride to BDRs and I am planning to buy a bike between 1/1 and 5/1. Planning a 2 week trip in June with a few friends
@trailrunnermike try to get a test ride on a Tuareg before you buy.
No bike is perfect that's for sure. For me the T7 looks amazing, sounds amazing, and handles amazing. I hate the weight and the top heaviness. Plan to get the safari low tanks at some point to correct the top heaviness. That being said if they come out with a tenere 500 single cylinder, my T7 will immediately be for sale. I think what the T7 does well is short to medium road travel with primary 2 track offroad focus. It's at home on long trips on gravel roads. If you want a long trip bike it's gotta have a good seat and cruise control. That's why I think the Aprilia Tuareg is better in almost every way.
I agree with you completely. I do like the way the T7 looks. Its just not a comfortable long distance bike.
You want weather protection, get a car.
Or ride a different bike. I have had other bikes that provide much better wind protection. I live in the southwest, where the wind blows all the time. I little more wind protection makes the rides a bit quieter, and helps keep me a bit drier when its raining. Long days in the saddle are not fun if the wind is pounding me.
@@advmatt I put a wind extender on mine. Works fine.
I had a test ride of 30 km on the highway and it was enough to suffer from the bad ergonomics: The handlebars are too far and too straight - the angle of the palm is unnatural and uncomfortable. Wind protection was also very bad and I think it is also because you sit far back - then there is more space for the wind to come between you and the windscreen. After waiting a long time for this model to come out I had to sadly accept that it is not for me.
@@insights15243 I should have known. I thought I could manage on this bike, but sadly I could not for the issues you mentioned.
Last year I was preparing my T7 for my trip to Alaska. It happened they stole my bike right before to go on the trip. At one point I had to buy my next bike to go this year to Alaska. My choice this time was Aprilia Tuareg 660. I chose Aprilia because of all the reasons you mentioned in the video. I am way more happier with my Aprilia Tuareg than T7. And here it is the bug BUT….as I said I love my Aprilia but if I go on around the world trip I will choose T7 because of the complicity.
I understand where you are coming from on the simplicity of the T7 and its reputation for reliability. The Tuareg is much easier to ride and is more fun to ride too. The Tuareg is a better bike in all areas except it can't beat the T7 reliability.
@@advmatt Reliability can be a questionable subject. I have 22,000 miles on the clock on my Aprilia Tuareg without any issues whatsoever. To me this motorcycle is reliable, but……. you never know 😁
@@MotoPavilion I feel the same way. Reputation speaks volumes, but I have heard from a lot of happy Aprilia owners.
I sold my T7. Primarily it was too heavy to handle alone when things went wrong off-road, and I had an issue with side winds at highway speed. It was the worst bike I have ever owned with cross winds; worse than my lightweight WR250R, 690, or 300 Rally (all of which I have owned). It would blow me off my line in a dangerous manner which I never felt on the other 8 bikes I have owned. Yes, I know how to ride in the wind, but there was something about T7. It downright scared me.
I had some scary moments on the T7 as well in horrible winds. This bike sits very tall making for more surface area for the wind to catch. I found in really bad winds I had to drop 10 to 20 miles per hour to make sure i wasn't blown off the road. To be honest though, I don't think my 390 would have done any better. Its was rough experience.
@@advmatt Yes, exactly. I would have to drop my speed to stay in the lane, whereas other bikes I could simply lean into it and cancel out the effects of the wind.
Great Video
thanks.
Hi Matt. Sorry to hear that the Yamaha doesn’t work for you. Do you still have the KTM 390 Adventure? Were you looking for a little more power with the Yamaha?
I actually replaced my R1200GS with the T7 thinking it would better suited for long distance travel. I was really wrong.
Personally i love the T7.
Just spend 30 000$ on a bmw instead, and sell the T7 to someone who appreciate it. Easy..
I purchased an Aprilia Tuareg on discount for $500 more than a T7. It's a much better ride in every aspect.
I understand exactly why you hate riding this bike. I’m a buyer at $5k.
@@trailrunnermike the riding experience at that price is still bad.
Maybe so. I guess I have become use to it.
Matt. You should try the "lay-z-boy". It is ultra comfortable, and you'll be able to spend 1000's of hours in the saddle.
@@gscheben123 I could do that, or I could ride my Aprilia Tuareg for 10s of thousands of miles all over the west. I think I will choose the Tuareg over the recliner. Riding is about passion, the T7 has none.
The T7 is a fantastic machine! I can't wait to watch this to see what you hate... harsh!
I expect the hate will be extreme. Just like my feelings for this bike....
@@advmatt have to agree with your assessment , i tried HARD to talk myself into this bike instead of another KTM/Husky /ect for the anvil like reliability and lower running cost but even with aftermarket suspension & brakes & ergo fixes i just could not see it ever becoming exciting........ possible reliability differences aside the KTM890/Husky901 absolutely OWNS this class of bike hands down , sorry not sorry but just fact
@@justsomedude445 I get it. The bikes we ride need to be exciting and drive us to ride.
Bro bought a dirtbike and is complaining about it being a dirtbike!
@@trentdelta473 hmmm, I thought this was supposed to be an adventure bike. Too heavy to be an MX or enduro bike. It requires a lot of skill to take it on single track. It's either an entirely overweight undersprung dirtbike or an under achieving adventure bike. Either way, it doesn't work well any way you ride it.
He didn’t buy a “dirtbike”. It’s not a KTM 690 or Husky 701. He bought something marketed as an adv bike at a premium price. Adv bikes are supposed to handle well (enough) on and off-road. And at that price (Norden 901/Tiger 900 RP dollars) you get a less powerful, over weight bike with shitty suspension, poor on road handling and comfort, a rear end that doesn't hold traction well, and none of the extras of the others.
How hard should it have been to address the exhaust protrusion and frame attachment issue?
IMO the T7 is over-marketed, over-hyped and over-priced.
I hope the Tuareg is working for you. Cheers
It is working great. I love it. I am working on a comparison video between it and the T7. Should be out in a week or so.
You could get the Acerbis tank and hydro dip it in a Yamaha blue. Definitely would stay better than paint.
Yeah, that would look much better. Unfortunately it only fixes one of the problems I have with this bike. But it is an option.
Off the pavement is where the T7 is really for!
@@leoliu8189 yeah, it's crap on pavement for long distance travel that includes lots of forest roads.
6:59 : Objection! I have reasons to believe you are in fact a highly skilled rider (something about riding two-up through winding, icy, mountain passes).
Thanks, it was really luck and sheer grit. Having a good travel companion also helps.
I had a similar experience with the super tenere and posted on advrider, everyone jumped all over me. Too many people take it personally when someone posts a bad review.
Owners are so loyal to their bike purchase choices. I agree, it seems to be very personal for many owners. I have been torched by BMW riders for my thoughts on the R1200GS. Its some sort of taboo to anything negative, whether it is true or not.
so get rid of it
I am planning on it, in the spring, now is not a good time.
I did have one and after 1200 miles I got rid of it for the extract same reasons you said..
@@gabrielkopp2036 yeah, mine is on its way out in the spring. I don't like to ride it.
@advmatt I went and picked up the vstrom 800de and I love riding that way more comfortable way lower center of gravity and has a quick shifter better suspension..still a little soft but as bad as the t7
@gabrielkopp2036 I hear great things about the 800DE. I need to try one out.
@@advmatt I think you will love it. I does put off engine heat but what adv bike doesn't put off engine heat?
My review of every Yamaha (T7 included) I've owned: Good looking, doomsday proof reliability, if you want anything else get f***ed. DIY.
My review of my Tuareg 660: "WOW! This bike is light years better than the Tenere in every riding category. It's the same weight, so why is it so much easier to maneuver at low speeds and pick up off the ground? Is my right leg on fire? What do you mean Dealer must reset service lights? Excuse me, did you say $500 for the 600 mile service?" 😆
@@chriscozine the riding experience of the Tuareg is worth the extra costs of ownership. I do my own oil changes and the service light is so small I don't even notice. I do have the big service coming up. I didn't find the heat off of the Tuareg to be much more than the T7, but that might more about my boots not breathing. Thanks for commenting.
Just buy the new Africa Twin 😅. Is tubeless. The seat is really comfortable, long hours is pretty good and you have more range, not even count with Apple Car/Android Auto and cruise control.
I purchased an Aprilia Tuareg. Its basically a lighter version of the AT, with tubeless wheels, cruise control and long distance travel capable.