[belgiancx]

I just got back from a 2627 mile trip on a rented Tenere 700 around VT, NH, ME, NB, NS, PEI. MotoVermont was awesome to rent from and I would strongly recommend them. On to the bike. The Tenere 700 is a Price Point Bike, and it shows. I would describe it as a cheap smaller version of the Africa Twin. It's a solid bike but not a great bike. I left unimpressed and think the bike is WAY OVER-HYPED. It's target buyer is a budget buyer or rental company IMO. It looks like it's a big dirt bike but it is NOT, get a KTM690 or Husky 701 if you want that. It's an adventure bike but for the weight, power, and comfort there are better alternatives if you have a few extra thousand to spend.

The bad. At first glance the blinkers look like child's bathtub toys, and the rental place said they often vibrate right off the bike. Another issue no one talks about if the oil filter is right behind the bash plate between the engine and the front wheel, terrible design for an adventure bike, one log or rock and you are dead on the trail. Small bump compliance on the road is terrible. Wind protection is no better than the Norden, which I am not thrilled about. The seat is average and should be replaced. Power is average but the torque is great, the power is plenty to pass but not thrilling by any means. It's super top heavy, especially compared to the Norden. The low fuel light comes on at about after about 2.6 or 2.7 gallons are used leaving 1.6 gallons, a blinking fuel light, and lots of anxiety. The black and white TFT vibrates and shakes all over the place which is just annoying.

The good. The engine is brilliant, despite flaws above. Torque is very good and the power is all usable. Lights are great. Looks cool. It's cheap to buy. Traction control on the front wheel was good, not great but good and it let you know gently that is was engaging.

If I bought one, which I would not, things that need to be fixed are: Big metal skid plate and crash bars to protect that protruding oil filter, full suspension upgrade especially the rear, change out the blinkers, new seat. You'd be within a few thousand of a Norden and then you'd have NO quick-shifter (which I love on the Norden), no cruise control, no traction control options, no full TFT, reliable fuel monitoring, etc.

Let me say, there is nothing really wrong with the Tenere, I actually liked the bike, it's solid in the places that matter. I just don't think it's the value bike everyone is claiming nor do I think it's all that impressive. It's very basic and I dare say kinda cheap. It doesn't do anything great but most things good.

In one sentence: It's a price point budget bike that is a perfect rental bike or a bike for someone that is going to thrash as it will hold up to the abuse I think, but there is no luxury or performance advantage and is neither a dirt oriented nor good road adventure bike.

 

[DarkWhiteChocolate]

Very interesting report, the T700 looked good on paper, but it seemed cheap to me in person and the dash seemed a little dated. I love my 901! There's a few things I have and still need to update on the Norden to make it perfect, but feel like I would have done the same stuff and more on the T700...

 

[Mooseb]

Good review. I've only seen the Tenere. I like the looks of it but at the same time it didn't look impressive. There were some things on the Norden which I thought were over the top and I wouldn't really need or use but after an 8000km trip I love the quick shifter and now feel cruise control is indispensable for long tours.

 

[sisobmw]

Ahoj. Bol som hrdým majiteľom T7.
To co hore pise je pre mňa zvláštne. Už len pre to som mal aj Africu CRF 1000L. Môžem porovnať všetky 3 moto : T7, CRF, NORDEN. Keby som sa chystal na cestu okolo sveta, vybral by som si T7. Dostačujúci výkon, slušný podvozok, jednoduchá konštrukcia, overená pohonná jednotka.
Keď mám porovnať voči CRF, stačí príklad, keď som ich mal v jednom roku.
CRF 1500 km a T7 17 000 km. Ta motorka bola famózny. CRF v zime isla na predaj, aby uvoľnila miesto pre N 901. No žiaľ sa posunula výroba o rok. Tak som kúpil KTM 790 adv. R.

 

[belgiancx]

@sisobmw The T7 would make a good around the world bike for reliability perhaps? But what roads? What's the advantage? I'd take a more comfortable, better equipped, traction control, MTB, longer range, and other electronics? I'd take an old GS if takiing paved and gravel roads and was worried about parts and beating the piss out of it (Check out Tramp Justice, good guy from Germany I met in the Nova Scotia). But if your doing hard core back country roads it will take you a few years to complete that trip and who does that, other than Itchy Boots and a few other YouTubers, the 300L is perfect like she is riding but suspension needs big time upgrading. But let's get back to the real world.

What's the advantage of the T7? Any new bike should complete a RTW trip with few problems. We ride everything here in Colorado from gnarly jeep trails to highway. Aluminum panniers don't work, I've destroyed a set, no more hard panniers for me and none of my buddies use them. Heck I've blown apart soft bags, even Mosko Moto. On rough stuff, I'll take the Norden over the T7 anyday on anytrail. The Norden out performs the T7 in every way, except the unknown future reliability? And two up? Norden hands down. The Africa Twin is a gravel/road bike, I had one, wasn't thrilled with it, good bike, but not for Jeep trails IMHO. And like the T7 the AT are both super top heavy. Loaded with camping gear in tough rocky steep terrian, it's too much. The lower weight and handling of the Norden is great. Here's my quick test. Do a hard throttle J turn on each bike, which is easiest? The Norden is the easiest. That says alot right there.

But if one is going to ride easy roads two up as it looks like you are doing, with Al panniers, then any of those bikes would work but a standard GS 1200 would be the best of the lot for that kind of work.

 

[belgiancx]

AND the Achilles heel of the T7 that no one talks about is that stupid design of the engine with the Oil Filter sticking out between the engine and the front wheel!!!! One big hit to a log or rock and you are dead in the water no one will have parts to fix it anytime soon, and I don't see how a really solid skid plate can protect it without really low bars to brace it, it's a terrible design for this kind of motorcycle. The super Tenere 1200 is the same design. Big strike in my book against the T7.

 

[Black99s]

AND the Achilles heel of the T7 that no one talks about is that stupid design of the engine with the Oil Filter sticking out between the engine and the front wheel!!!! One big hit to a log or rock and you are dead in the water no one will have parts to fix it anytime soon, and I don't see how a really solid skid plate can protect it without really low bars to brace it, it's a terrible design for this kind of motorcycle. The super Tenere 1200 is the same design. Big strike in my book against the T7.

If Pol Tarres can’t break it why worry. Suzuki V-strom is the same filter- forward design but local dealer has never had to repair.

 

[belgiancx]

Do you really think those bikes Pol Tarres is riding is anything close to stock? And how do you know he hasn't broken 10 or more of them?

And how many videos are there of him breaking some thing on the T7's he rides? If not, does that mean he hasn't broken a single thing?

 

[belgiancx]

I just looked it up, the T7 Pol rides is crazy modified including a CUSTOM BUILD BOXY SKID PLATE made by Mototech (which is not for sale) with reinforcing bars wrapping around the sides and front of the engine where that oil filter is, guess they saw that same Achilles heel....