Finally a worthy replacement to the trusty KLR 650

[Canuck750]

I have owned a couple KLR 650’s and each of my adult sons have one. I am first to admit the KLR 650 does not excel at anything but with modest performance can go just about anywhere and no bike has the aftermarket support, cult following and downright cheap factor to match. I have dipped the front wheel of a KLR in the Arctic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and been most places in between and rode my one 1000 mile day on one as well.
My 2015 is getting a bit tired and I have held off choosing a replacement, hoping the KTM 790 would be the bike or perhaps a Triumph tiger 800 or 900. Lack of dealer supply in the boonies, cost, weight etc kept me from biting. The GUZZI 850 looks nice but I have to put that in the category of typical paved road ‘adventure’ bikes like the BMW GS 1250, Honda Africa Twin etc, etc. I have watched those big heavy off road poser bikes sink into the mud too many times to ever want one.
I have been looking at the Yamaha 700 Tenere and after watching the new Fort Nine video I think I may see if I can get any trade on value for the KLR. The last statement in the Fort Nine video sums it up, ‘anyone want to buy a used GS?’ I am on my second Beemer tourer and like them but the GS is no trail bike.
Has anyone ridden a Yamaha 700 on single lane trails to comment on its capabilities?

[Perazzimx14]

Take a look at the DR650. 40lbs lighter than the KLR and even simpler with no water cooling. Better on and off road manners as well.

You probably will not too many people arguing that a 500+ pound 125 HP bike is a going to be a good trail bike. Heck even the DR at 40lbs lighter than the KLR is no gnarly single track bike.

[fotoguzzi]

DR>KLR
And has its own cult following and even cheaper factor :: plus a lot better on highway.
I've had both, with a few mods (bigger fuel tank) DR does everything better, and no stupid doohickey problem.

[Perazzimx14]

DR>KLR
And has its own cult following and even cheaper factor :: plus a lot better on highway.
I've had both, with a few mods (bigger fuel tank) DR does everything better, and no stupid doohickey problem.

Or valve shims to fool with. Screw and nut valve adjustments on the DR are almost as simple as a Guzzi.

[rjamesohio]

I see we're starting to head down the DR 650 road, but the OP asked about the 700 Tenere...

I think the little Tenere looks awesome but they are way more expensive than a DR or KLR so if the 'cheap factor' is really important it's simply not there.

Part of the fun of these old thumpers is exactly that - they are relatively inexpensive. And simple.

I had a DR 650, really fun bike and would often go back and forth between a /5 BMW and the DR; the DR had better brakes, was faster, and would go off-road although it's a bit heavy and a 250 would probably be better suited.

Which brings me back to the Yamaha - beautiful bike, would love one. But like the DR650 - maybe a little heavy for genuine off-road work. That said - that extra bit of weight probably makes them better true DUAL sports.

Will be interested to see what others think of the Yamaha...

Ron

[Perazzimx14]

I see we're starting to head down the DR 650 road, but the OP asked about the 700 Tenere...

I think the little Tenere looks awesome but they are way more expensive than a DR or KLR so if the 'cheap factor' is really important it's simply not there.

Part of the fun of these old thumpers is exactly that - they are relatively inexpensive. And simple.

I had a DR 650, really fun bike and would often go back and forth between a /5 BMW and the DR; the DR had better brakes, was faster, and would go off-road although it's a bit heavy and a 250 would probably be better suited.

Which brings me back to the Yamaha - beautiful bike, would love one. But like the DR650 - maybe a little heavy for genuine off-road work. That said - that extra bit of weight probably makes them better true DUAL sports.

Will be interested to see what others think of the Yamaha...

Ron

At a not so svelte 452 lbs (86 pounds heavier than the DR650) I'm not sure the T-700 is going to be that much fun on anything more than groomed fire roads or 2 track??   

[bodine99]

Might want to check in at ADV Rider Forum under thumpers anything other than chapter. www.advrider.com

[Canuck750]

The DR 650 is a fine bike but I want something with fuel injection, better suspension and more power. Both the KLR and DR were great bikes but they are 25 year plus technology. The KLR, even with a front sprocket swap is a 70mph bike (85 tops!!!) but lacks passing power. KLR’s are dirt cheap which the 700 Tenere is not but cheaper than the KTM 790. All dual purpose bikes are full of compromises, that’s to be expected. There are a lot of fire roads and trails along the east slopes of the Rockies where I spent many years as a kid trail riding and want something that at a slower pace can get me back into that type of riding without having to trailer a bike to where the pavement stops.

[steven c]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WJvQqeQpe8&t=5s

[analog kid]

I have no personal experience with the Yam, but here's something:

https://advrider.com/2021-yamaha-tenere-700-tested-for-over-1500-miles/

.

[Moparnut72]

I am unable, don't know why,  but I can't post a link to Utube but a guy going by Different Spokes has posted a couple of videos on this Yamaha. Actually he traded his Stelvio for one.   
kk

[bigbikerrick]

The "piano company" hit a home run with the bases loaded with the T 700!
I want one!:thumb:
Rick.

[Caffeineo]

After watching this video I really want the Yamaha 700. I would not even think of doing what he does on my trials bike. :O
I know it's the rider not the bike.........but WOW that guy can ride.
https://youtu.be/eDxBGc9TD4c?t=145

[PeteS]

At a not so svelte 452 lbs (86 pounds heavier than the DR650) I'm not sure the T-700 is going to be that much fun on anything more than groomed fire roads or 2 track??

I pretty much suck as a dirt rider but have managed a few thousand single track miles on my Triumph Tiger 800XC without crashing. Much heavier especially up top than my KLR. For that reason I have decided to keep my KLR for doing trails closer to home. The OP sounds like he has traveled all over North America which usually means lots of highway. A bike with a 75 MPH cruising speed doesn't cut it today.
My only advice is keep the KLR and get something with a bit more power for the distance rides.

Pete

[LowRyter]

Agree that Yamaha twin is pretty nice ride.  One of the locals here had the naked version and it's pretty neat.  If I wanted to roll dice and throw money at an alternative, those KTM 790/890 models look pretty cool.  Again, perhaps not with my money or dice but it's a tempting thought. 

[stormshearon]

Why not an SWM Superdual X or T? Proven Husqvarna engine, fuel injected, comes ready to go and it is Italian.

[steven c]

 How about a KTM390 Adventure?
https://youtu.be/Im-hM_wVIrg

[rjamesohio]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WJvQqeQpe8&t=5s

Excellent video from Fort9.

Looks like a fun bike.

But -

$12000?????

Oh my. Not for me. I still want a thumper again, and a DR would be nice.

THen again - anyone have a Baghira for sale?

[Siamese]

It'd be a DR650 for me.  Just sold my Yamaha XT250 cuz it didn't really go down the road fast enough to get me to the dirt roads and trails.  The only reason I haven't already replaced it with a DR is I have a trip or two planned this fall, so maybe I wouldn't get to use it enough before the snow shows up here in Michigan.  It's a lot of bike for the money. 

[DesertPilot]

My own inexpert take, watching from the sidelines, is that the Yamaha and KTM are a bit heavier than the equivalent big dual sports, every bit as capable with the right tires... but much more expensive to drop.  If I had to drag a fallen DR650 around on rocky slope so I could pick it up, no big deal, that's what the bike is for.  If it was the KTM, I'd wait for help.  And cringe.  There's also the maintenance issue.  One pays a price for the extra cylinder, power, and RPMs.

I almost got the Yamaha, but it would have been overkill for the dirt we don't have around here, so I went with the V85 instead and haven't regretted it for bad roads and easy gravel we do have.  If we lived in the Sierra foothills... T700 or DR650.  With TKC 80s -- we'd have them stacked up in something like a Pez dispenser so we could dispense a new one every time we needed it.  But I'd lean toward Pete's advice -- some adventure bike for long rides, and a dual sport for harder stuff if that existed closer to home.

[nick949]

2015? 'Getting a bit tired'?  Come now Jim, are you sure it's not you that's getting a bit tired of it?

I thought KLR's were like cockroaches https://youtu.be/rvGZS5fqxrk. Perhaps you're just looking for moral support to justify your urge for the new Yamaha.   

Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course.

Keep us posted.

Nick

[mobiker]

I pretty much suck as a dirt rider but have managed a few thousand single track miles on my Triumph Tiger 800XC without crashing. Much heavier especially up top than my KLR. For that reason I have decided to keep my KLR for doing trails closer to home. The OP sounds like he has traveled all over North America which usually means lots of highway. A bike with a 75 MPH cruising speed doesn't cut it today.
My only advice is keep the KLR and get something with a bit more power for the distance rides.

Pete

I'd say it depends are where you live (not sure where you are) and one's touring style. I've toured over a bunch of Canada and the US and its all pretty much been under 75 mph. I won't say there weren't times I wicked it up to 80 for a few miles, but not very often. Even when I had a bike capable of sustained triple digit speeds, all my touring on it was under 75. Anyway a bike with a cruise speed of 75 is probably quite adequate for many of us.

[Seventy One]

My first bike was a new DR650. It was good bike but I wanted something heavier for touring. Wind really bothered my DR650.

I ended up with a new 800XC. It ended up being too heavy for off-road use and way too unreliable for touring. The maintenance was tedious, frequent and expensive. Parts were always a 6 week wait.  A couple back-to-back repairs would punch a 12 week hole in my riding season. The bike was fragile and expensive. 94HP + knobbies x miles = $$$

I finally got a ride on a stock, low mile KLR650. This is the bike I should have bought instead of the 800XC.

It does everything the 800XC did and at half the price. It was engaging to ride and, unlike the Tiger, had an actual personality. I  understand why people love them so much.

If you need 100hp to have fun on two wheels, you're doing it wrong.

[SIR REAL ED]

Sounds like once you get past two wheels, it's all personal preference!

There are kits out there to convert a DR 650 to fuel injection.  I thought about it.  MX Rob has done it.

I recall reading an article about it, then looking at two pictures.  One picture of what you take off the bike, and a second picture of what you add to the bike.

Those two pictures did it for me.  It was not simplification by any stretch of the imagination.  Kinda defeated the purpose of having a simple bike.

[JohninVT]

70hp is a real sweet spot and the Tenere engine is great.  Plenty of power, with a nice delivery and huge maintenance intervals.  I think ten grand is a lot of money for a bike you’re going to flop on its’ side repeatedly but tens of thousands of people disagree judging by all the KTM’s I see.  If you don’t mind more frequent servicing you could look at the Desert Sled too.  They have similar performance on and off road. 

[Shorty]

 For me seat height and cost are the disadvantages of the Tenere 700. I looked to replace all my bikes with a newer one and the Tenere was a contender. Good power, Yamaha reliability. Then, I had to wait to see a Tenere after all the online drama, which gave me enough time to find out the DR650 has a means to lower it (from the factory) down to a managable level for my little 30 inch legs. Add a very healthy aftermarket, and I got a late model DR (with the extras I wanted) for way less than half the price of the Tenere. And, I get to keep my XT250, to boot. 

[JohninVT]

For me seat height and cost are the disadvantages of the Tenere 700. I looked to replace all my bikes with a newer one and the Tenere was a contender. Good power, Yamaha reliability. Then, I had to wait to see a Tenere after all the online drama, which gave me enough time to find out the DR650 has a means to lower it (from the factory) down to a managable level for my little 30 inch legs. Add a very healthy aftermarket, and I got a late model DR (with the extras I wanted) for way less than half the price of the Tenere. And, I get to keep my XT250, to boot.

There’s a low seat option for the Tenere 700 that drops it to 33” and there are fork springs and shock linkage kits that’ll drop it another 1.5”. 

[timonbik]

As a direct replacement for the KLR I'd seriously be looking at the KTM 390 Adventure.  Bigger bike than than what the name portrays.  More HP than a KLR and a price sub $8000 CDN with factory crashguards and skid plate.

Tim

[Canuck750]

2015? 'Getting a bit tired'?  Come now Jim, are you sure it's not you that's getting a bit tired of it?

I thought KLR's were like cockroaches https://youtu.be/rvGZS5fqxrk. Perhaps you're just looking for moral support to justify your urge for the new Yamaha.   

Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course.

Keep us posted.

Nick

What me tired? You bet I am! I have my KLR in the back of a U Haul trailer behind my little Kia Soul on my way back from Phoenix to Edmonton, Canada as I write this. 65mph on the highway makes for long days!  I sold my place in Phoenix last week due to - travel restrictions and an inability to purchase travel insurance, probably would not to be able to go there for at least a year and my wife is immune surpresed and can’t risk getting the virus. I was able to fly down as a US home owner and drive back across the border. I have no insurance for - on this trip so not taking chances. I wish I had been able to ride the KLR but had to get rid of the car and belongings. I have a lot of time to think and the 700 Tenere keeps coming to the top of my list. I have my BMW K1600 GTL for touring and my Italian vintage bikes for city riding and short local rides. I want a good gravel and fire road bike with more power than the KLR but as light as possible with good suspension and though I think the KTM 790 is a ‘better’ bike I can’t get used to the looks of it. One of the local Yamaha dealers also sells GUZZI and loves old Italian bikes, I am going to see if I can work a Laverda or Ducati into a trade.

[nick949]

 
Stay safe Jim.

Nick