Indeed. You are spot on. The design from the start is wrong. Although wrong maybe seems a harss word. I can't complain about the durability. That is very good. But to use the lack of "extra's" as a sales pitch and marketing is also a bit " neahhh " . I have been riding the T7 for a bit more then 3000 km. The really big two problems i have with it are the tubes and the really really big problem is that it is much to topheavy. When offroad in a slow corner you feel like constantly wanna topling over. And that is on a naked bike. With no luggage. In my group a lot feel the same way. And this edition is even more topheavy then the stock edition they say. For more then 35 years i ride long trips. Sweden, Norway, Hungary, Romenia, Turkey, Armenia and so on. With luggage. Although very minimalistic compaired to others riders. Cause the fun is going away from the Tarmac. And when you are alone you are taking a risc. Plain and simple. I do not feel that this is the bike for me combined with that purpose. I will be looking at the new Aprillia Tuareg 660. And most likely sell this bike. Although i will loose a few thousend bucks with it. That i had to earn with hard work. But this is still better then riding on with and taking the fun out of my longer rides when i am 5 till 6 weeks away with my bike. I hear very good things about the new Aprillia. Otherwise it will be a 890R Adventure. Probably i should have made that jump instantly but sometimes you make the wrong decision. The T7 is also a bitch when you have to pick it up. Not normall anymore what you have to put upright. It is very easy to hurt yourself. Not from the crash but by picking it up. When you ride with someone else. Never do this alone but always with another person. It is horrible when you have hurt your back and still need to ride offroad. And for the older dudes with decaying bones it can become hazerdous to pick this bike up when alone. You can easily fracture your spine with lifting it up cause you have to give everything you have got.

Completely agree and I've posted up the same sentiments a few times. Glad I'm not the only one out there who thinks this way.

Remember they put spindly ass 43mm on the super tenere absolutely obliterating its handling. That bike went through three iterations and Yamaha still stuck with the 43mm forks.

Thanks Adrian. Enjoy the bike when you get it. JB

Yes, the bike will be fine for this kind of thing. The screen and fairing gives better wind/weather protection and it's a comfortable ride. I suspect it's on the limit of acceptable performance given 220kg and (just) 72hp - two up with luggage it's not going to have the zip of the 100hp competition - and as some say here, it would be nice to have the added security of tubeless tyres in that scenario. For the lone traveller-adventurer it's fine. Horsepower isn't everything, but in 2022 I think we expect more than the power-to-weight ratios of the 1980s...!

Its what I use mine for and the Raid is just brilliant at it, as for 72bhp, the ratios are so short I find myself in 5 and 6th gear almost straightaway and lets face it, its not a 2 up kind of bike...

@@Percivallis true it was designed for offroading

Yamaha suggested the CoG is the same for both bikes. Bigger tanks here but the top is lower than the std T7. There's a pump that equalises the levels in the tanks too, although I'm half-sure from my knowledge of physics that if you just ran a pipe between the two the levels would adjust naturally (am I right?). It's certainly an act of faith on Yamaha's part to not go big on electronics. Love my T7 too, just 6000 miles so far but all of that has been 50:50 road and trail. Love the jump on and go nature of it, no fuss!

@@RustMotoCollective Having seen some of the diagrams, they dont use a pump to equalize the tanks. In the left tank there is a regular fuel pump which takes the fuel to the injectors. On the right side there is a solenoid valve, which allows fuel to distribute between the two tanks. In the tops of the tanks they are connected by a small 'breather' hose so that the air can also distribute between the two tanks (communicating vessels and all that). From what I have heard, the fuel level only equalizes when the bike is turned on, so not when you are at the pump, which is kind of annoying. That would mean if you want to fill her all the way up, you will always need to open both gas caps.

Having taken delivery of my Raid on Saturday after trading in my T7 2020 model, I can say the centre of gravity is much improved, the bike no longer feels top heavy, the riding position and seat are improved, the pegs make a massive difference and you don't notice the tank, its a better shape and easier to move around, the suspension is much better and the balance of the bike improved, I would not go back to my old bike, also the dash and switchgear much improved.

@@Percivallis very useful insights, I’ve seen comments that it’s more complicated to turn off ABS, has it bothered you in your riding?

@@sarnbradshaw7382 TBH I haven't tried to switch it off, still running it in and yet to go off road, but I figure once you get used to it, won't be a problem!

Fair comments there. The silencer/subframe issue was raised in discussion with the man from the design team - we'll publish his response in the written article. On price, I think the rising costs of everything is taking its toll. The base model is now £9900 so at £11,800 the WR is £1900 more and for that we're talking the suspension upgrade, the bigger tank and fairings, Ohlins steering damper, plus the TFT instruments, extra ABS option, LED indicators etc so there's fair justification for the price point. When it comes down to how many rally riders would take up the WR - well, we're waiting on the details of a customer programme Yamaha are planning to support this model and customers in rallying. Like you, we'll be interested to see what the take up is. Since the T7's launch in 2019 there's a lot more (tough) competition in the sub-900cc sector... Appreciating your comments, best JB.

@@RustMotoCollective Honda did a huge upgrade from the ATAS from 2019 to 2020, added tubeless wheels, cruise control, 6.5” tft with apple car play, cornering headlights, 6-Axis IMU plus lean-sensitive rider aids, detachable alloy rear subframe, all new bodywork and styling, better seat, stainless spokes, new suspension with kishima coating, etc, etc and the price only went up less than £500. Ref Yamaha and the WR customer bikes, thats the GYTR kit which will add a huge price to the standard bike for rally riders, different wheel, suspension, rally tower, exhaust etc. the T7WR is a very nice bike and I’d have had one if Yamaha had added T/L wheels and cruise. Yamaha failed to rectify the few issues the T7 has or fit the kit this type of bike should have. If you read the forums you’ll know many riders want a lighter better suspended T7 without the bulk and there doesn’t seem to be that much interest in this bike, hopefully I’m wrong and Yamaha will sell shedloads of them, sadly my local dealer won’t be selling me another T7 in the guise of a T7WR in its present form.

Thanks for the video. It’s a true shame they left the 43mm forks. Should have put 48 mm SSS forks on it. I wonder if they actually gave it a proper mid-valve or just left it the same and gave it the coating.

No word on an ST. Tried questioning them on any news of an MT-09-based Tenere, but they were tight-lipped.

@@RustMotoCollective hmm, I really am hoping that they stay with a parallel twin, a triple is too sporty and will need more revs!

@@gryphongryph have you tried the triumph? that engine is simply amazing. A triple is not too sporty at all

@@cfvgd true! I love the Tiger 800/900, it's a cracking bike, especially in the Rally guise.

ktm890r and T7 ktm is a great bike but we done a enduro track on both bikes and T7 was better. because the ktm tanks were getting in the way on the real narrow stuff.

I'd take Yamaha reliability all day long over KTM hoping.

thats not true ktm are in the shit because of the T7, NOW WITH THE NEW RAID THEY MUST BE THINKING MORE. i have seen a lot of ktm riders going to yam. the only fault is no cruse control. but yam riders want to keep riding. not stuck in a bike shop been repaired.

Yes it is, and yes if you crank it on (stiffer setting) it helps reduce deflection of the front wheel in sand and in rocks.

That is a tough one as I've not ridden the Tuareg yet. I have the standard T7 and for the UK I'd actually keep that one, not the WR version, as the kind of trails we have here are so technical you don't want the extra weight and bulk of the WR. I like, too, that the CP2 engine is so unfussy. It does slow-speed trail riding and it does high-speed motorway equally well. And in 6000 miles not an issue. I'm hoping to ride the Tuareg soon. Looks good, like a Euro-Tenere should!

@@JonBentman Thanks for replying,will be waiting eagerly for your tuareg review.. Take care & ride safe..

No kidding, we couldn't agree more.