MCN Fleet: End of the World (Raid) - Steve’s time with Yamaha’s T7WR is over. So how was it?

3300 miles in four months isn’t exactly big miles, but when your two-wheeled time is as limited as mine, it’s about making every mile count. The adventure bike is now being prematurely beamed back to Yamaha HQ to make way for a Tracer 9GT+ and while I’m mega-excited to grab the keys, I’m sad to see the WR go.

Another 500-mile-plus day out before the bike went back, this time to Cheddar Gorge for lunch before heading into Wales for a run over the Black Mountain road (which to my horror is now controlled by a 40mph limit and average speed cameras) was easy and so much fun, I only wish I’d had the time to go further. It’s a proper horizon-stretcher.

It’s not perfect; fully loaded the weight and the drag make the engine feel weak, I can’t reach the floor in anything but thick-soled adventure boots and the twin filler caps continue to aggravate. The Öhlins steering damper seems little more than a flashy bauble too, because despite the extreme pics of pros launching the Tén off dunes and the like, the WR isn’t really a hardcore adventure bike.

In fact a back-to-back ride with KTM’s fire-breathing 890 Adventure R showed what a big softy the T7 really is. The twin’s gentle power and slightly feeble brakes feel more like the big trailies of old.

Of the £2700-worth of extras Yamaha sent the bike, only the screen extender seemed pointless as the ride was quieter without it. Everything else (boxes, bash plate, heated grips, rad guard, and centrestand) were useful bolt-ons, but they also add a load of weight. For such a lithe silhouette, the Ténéré 700 World Raid in this trim is quite an effort to push around or even lift off the stand.

But riding it brings nothing but joy. The high-quality KYB suspension soaks up even the worst of our crumbling tarmac. Combined with a well-shaped and padded seat, high, wide bars, decent screen (for an adventure bike) and plenty of leg room, it’s a bike you can just keep going on. I never achieved the claimed 300-mile tank range, but 255 miles is realistic. Standard fit Pirelli STRs are excellent on the road and have enough tread left for double this bike’s mileage.

The T7 shrugged off a couple of off road drops easily too, bearing a few scuffs on either side but nothing more. I’ve always been fearful of the damage a spill on the trails would do to a big bike (and to me), but the build quality, finish and toughness of the Ténéré have withstood everything I’ve thrown it at [sic]. 

But would I buy one? There’s no question the WR’s suspension makes the standard T7 one feel cheap and under-damped, but in every other way (size, weight, price…), the standard T7 is the better bike for me. And I could get a suspension upgrade with the money saved.

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Update three: ‘Time for a dirty weekend’ – Fully-loaded T7WR heads to the Adventure Bike Rider Festival

Published 05.07.23

Damn it! Pinned, face-down in the mud with my leg bent the wrong way, I had plenty of time to reflect on my mishap while I waited for the marshals to lift over 220kg of Ténéré off me. The banks of the water crossing, at the bottom of a 4ft ditch, were thick with mud thanks to overnight rain and the numerous riders to traverse the section. 

Maybe attempting an expert part of the 30km Bridgestone trail on 2000-mile old standard Pirelli STRs wasn’t the best idea… Clogged to the point that they resembled racing slicks, the little bit of throttle I used to drive off the top caused the bike to slew sideways.

The WR is too tall for me (my ego refused the low option), too top heavy, and it was on top of me before I could do anything about it. Annoyed and embarrassed I ‘skied’ clumsily to dry ground, cleaned up my tyres and made it a few more kilometres before dumping it again on a difficult rocky section. My imposter syndrome had never fired harder.

The ABR festival, held each year at the magnificent Ragley Hall in Warwickshire, is a mass-gathering of the tall, knobbly and gnarly. Throngs of GS and KTM models rub bar ends with less common adventure, trail and enduro bikes. My World Raid never looked more at home than when we pitched up with a couple of mates on Thursday’s VIP evening to enjoy the chilled vibe, live music, beer, and a good choice of chow.

The event features a packed schedule of talks from well-known overlanders like Nick Sanders, Austin Vince, Vanessa Ruck and others, plus bikes, displays and adventure films. It’s a fantastically well-organised event with a lively but not riotous campsite (with decent loos and showers, too), and and great atmosphere from like-minded folk.

Then there are the routes. From the sidelines the TRF trail looks a bit too hardcore, while the beginner loop offers 5km of gentle trails to practice on. So we head straight for the main trail, obviously; 30km of grass, woodland, gravel and dirt trails with optional expert sections (if you don’t fancy it you can take the road to the next section). It’s well organised, expertly marshalled and fabulous riding.

If I’d been on my own Honda CRF250L I’d have smashed it. If I’d ignored the expert sections I’d have enjoyed it, but the T7’s mass, scale and the fact I’m very rusty on the dirt made it quite a challenge. Back at base camp I rest, thank the universe for proper enduro boots and take in some of the show (the historic Ténéré display is a suitable highlight). 

In the late afternoon sun we hit the trail again – but thankfully not so literally this time! It’s still an effort for me on the WR, but hugely rewarding and makes me remember how much I love riding off road, and how capable big adventure bikes can be. I felt genuinely gutted packing up on Saturday morning to get back home on boring tarmac. 

As my mates turn right for another go at the trail my USB cable craps out, my phone battery dies and I begin the last leg of my adventure – navigating the 89.9 miles home without a map…

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Update two: Pennine perfection – Steve and the World Raid bond over a 500-mile big day out

Published 31.05.23

The rarest of things; a whole day free. One ENTIRE day. Doing what all two-wheel junkies do best, I plotted to spend the time riding a long way for no particular reason.

I’ve passed the entrance to Kielder Forest many times on the way to Scotland but never ridden it. I quickly threw a route together – just over 500 miles. I’ve ridden that far (and more) in a day before, and the T7WR seems to have the chops for it.

After a couple of hours I’m in Middleton-in-Teesdale; gateway to the good stuff. I love riding in the Pennines – possibly my favourite place to ride in England with its picturesque villages, gnarly views and gnarlier roads. Except today it’s enshrouded in thick mist and it’s very cold.

Terrifyingly tight corners and on-edge sheep appear from literally nowhere. It’s snail’s-pace until Mother Earth flicks a switch and we’re suddenly birthed into Alston’s almost-sunshine. Hell in the mirrors, heaven ahead. Weather is weird.

The next part of the A686 is perfect adventure bike hunting ground – bumpy, tight and twisty – including a triple switchback hairpin on a 10% gradient – and the Tén eats its fill. The B6139 and B6320 to Kielder continue the rollercoaster. It’s almost too much to resist going back for seconds.

Kielder Forest Drive is a £3 toll road and the 12-mile adventure-riding equivalent of a gravel driveway. But it’s a beautiful, tranquil place to pull over and stuff your face with baked goods. Save the one camper van that trundles past, it’s just me, the bike and the birds. Bliss.

I whoop over the whoops on the A68, finally convincing the T7’s impressive KYB suspension and Pirelli STRs to part with the tarmac (the roadholding is superb though it has a tendency to run wide in corners), then spend the dull hours from York to home wishing the Ténéré had cruise control.

510 miles, 12 hours and some Britain’s finest roads – it’s the best ride I’ve had in months and the perfect antidote to the daily grind.

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Update one: Bring on the world – Is Yamaha’s rally raider worth the extra over its brilliant base sibling? 

Published 26.04.23

The Yamaha Ténéré 700 World Raid offers significant upgrades over the standard 700, including 23-litre fuel capacity for a claimed 300-mile range, longer-travel suspension, TFT dash and Öhlins steering damper. Our zero-miler also comes with travel accessories pushing the price well over £14,500. As we get busy running it in, has it made a good first impression?

The kitchen sink effect

The upgrades over the standard T7 are already impressive enough, and our bike comes loaded with extras. The £1644.70 Explorer pack (ally side cases, side case frame, bash plate, add-on screen deflector, centrestand) plus heated grips (£181), topbox and carrier (£463 + £234.50) and radiatior guard (£179). That’s just over £2700 of bolt-ons on top of a base price that’s already £1800 north of the standard version.

So far, the cases and centrestand have proved ace, the bash plate and rad guard might be useful one day, while the screen deflector seems to add turbulence and the grips don’t feel as warm as the ones fitted to Yamaha’s Tracer 9 GT. It adds a good chunk of weight to what’s already a top-heavy bike (and 16kg heavier than a standard T7), too. It looks mega, though; purposeful and adventure-ready.

It’s just a gentle giant

With ‘only’ 72bhp it’s never going to ripple the tarmac, but the CP2 engine has a wonderful character and note; soft delivery and a lovely spread of torque. Keeping under 5000rpm for the first 600 miles, it seemed happy plodding around. But the first 200 miles after the service were fabulous as I got to explore the top of the rev range. The 21in front wheel and knobbly tyres cause a bit of a weave at high speed but it’s an easy, comfy, vibe-free ride. 

That’s not cruise! 

It’s so good over distance, the one thing the T7WR doesn’t have that I think it should is cruise control.
Teasingly, there are buttons on the left switchgear that look like they’d operate cruise settings, but they’re (perhaps annoyingly) for switching between two trips when you have the bike in ‘Raid’ mode. It’s to help with navigation on rallies, which is all very authentic, but utterly redundant for the majority of WR riders.

Brilliant on bad roads

Having ridden both back-to-back, on and off road last year, the long-travel KYB forks and upgraded shock with remote adjuster are worth every penny over the stock Ténéré’s basic bouncy bits and cope brilliantly with crumbling roads. The enduro-esque seat is firmer than the stock T7, but a trio of 200-mile+ rides were clocked off with ease; no back-ache, bum-ache or complaints in any area of comfort. Though at 890mm, it’s a bit much for my 31in inside leg.

How many miles?

Dakar-style twin fillers add character but are, frankly, a bit of a pain. You have to brim both to get a full tank, meaning swapping keys and fuel nozzles in a fumbly flap while trying not to get petrol all over yourself. You get used to it, but it’s as inconvenient as having to fuel two bikes every stop. To get the theoretical 300 miles from the 23-litre tank you’d need to ride like a saint too. Personally, I’m seeing the fuel light blink at 200-ish at an average of 50mpg, making my actual range more like 255 miles.

Fit and finish

Pirelli Scorpion Rally STRs (90/90-R21 F; 150/70-R18 R) are perfectly matched to the Ténéré. They give great confidence and cope well with a bit of modest, dry trail riding, too. Overall finish seems high, but in gloss black it’s a sod to keep clean (being an adventure bike it wears a bit of grot well) but after 300 miles I have already worn away the paint on the left heel guard.

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My favourite bike of 2022, the Yamaha Ténéré 700 World Raid arrives loaded with metal luggage, screen extension, heated grips, bash plate, rad guard and centrestand… and zero miles on the clock.

Contact: steve.herbert-mattick@bauermedia.co.uk