Yamaha’s Colorado Adventure
The T7’s inherent charm over the RMAX is engagement – you must do a lot more on the motorcycle. Tire placement is much more critical, the chances of falling over are much higher, and the skill required to traverse tough terrain is in another league compared to what is required to get the RMAX over obstacles. Compared to the T7, the RMAX is an easy button, but that makes the ride on the motorcycle so much more rewarding. After getting to know the T7, it was clear that it just wanted to be ridden like a normal dirt bike, without special treatment because of its weight. When you let the bike work, it will shock you with how agile and capable it is.
Yamaha Ténéré 700 Specifications:
Engine Size: 689cc liquid-cooled DOHC 4-stroke; 8 valves
Wet Weight (curb): 452 lbs
Length x Width x Height: 93.9 x 35.6 x 57.3 in
Wheelbase: 62.8 in
Tires: 90/90R21 Pirelli® Scorpion® Rally STR Front, 150/70R18 Rear
Wheels: 21” Front/18” Rear Spoked MX-style wheel
Front Suspension: 43mm inverted fork, fully adjustable; 8.3-in travel
Rear Suspension: Single shock, adjustable preload (w/remote adjuster) and rebound damping; 7.9-in travel
Fuel Capacity: 4.2 gal
Transmission: 6-speed; wet multiplate manual clutch
MSRP: $10,499
Yamaha Ténéré 700 Highlights:
- Plush ride at cruising speeds
- Incredibly smooth and torquey CP7 engine
- Rides like a big dirt bike
- Simple, reliable, and elegant
- Will take you anywhere you desire
Yamaha’s Colorado Adventure
We had the opportunity on the second day to sample a variety of slippery terrain, not just relegated to slick fire roads. We played in the sand wash for a short stint, which went as expected – pin it, and the bike handles the sand great. Slow down, and it reveals its weight, quickly begging you to go back to the throttle. Nearing Moab, we got a couple of chances to play on the slickrock with the T7. Here it was a blast, showcasing its incredible stability for climbing steep inclines. The bike has great weight distribution, putting a lot of weight on the front tire to keep it stable. This hurts it a bit in the sand, but it makes up for it elsewhere. During these stops to play, it was fun to watch Ryan, Travis, and Damon climbing sheer walls and airing out their T7s, while the rest of us mortals stayed relatively low to the ground.
At the end of the second day, we were clearly more physically tired from spending 100+ miles on the T7 than we were doing a shorter loop in the RMAX. Both proved to be plenty capable of getting us anywhere we wanted to go and delivered a different style of ride in the same vicinity. The motorcycle is more visceral, closer to the edge. The RMAX is rewarding to drive hard but comes with a big added safety envelope. It’s also more than twice the cost, which is a lot to consider depending on your budget. Either way, you will have to wipe the smile from your face forcefully, because these machines are both wonderful. The only thing that beats them is the scenery.
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