Editor Mikko is sending me on a real journey of discovery that I enthusiastically signed up for due to a passion for any two-wheeled ride. Up to this point that has predominantly been in the form of sportsbikes, given my association with MSL’s sister title, Fast Bikes magazine. Of course, I have the knowledge I need to understand the adventure market but have not totally submerged myself into it until being offered this awesome opportunity. After three months of testing the quite brilliant BMW F900 XR it was returned to be replaced by this, Yamaha’s Ténéré 700.
I suppose it depends on how you define the term ‘adventure’ as to what you may expect to be riding. In truth the BMW did not quite fit into my thinking of adventure, though there are plenty of adventures to be had on the tarmac on board a bike with the capabilities of the F900. But as the T700 was wheeled out of Yamaha it immediately ticked the boxes of what was my initial expectation of this project – a bike that is simple in form but with a wealth of capability both on and off-road.
Before I had even swung a leg over the bike I knew that things were about to change and that there are numerous considerations to running a bike like this. The ride will be completely different from what I am used to with the high seated position and centre of gravity, larger wheels changing the dynamics of the ride and even my choice of riding gear. As he handed the keys over to me, Jeff from Yamaha stated that I would have to change those for a start, pointing at my trusty sports boots. Not to mention a helmet designed for your chin to be nearer the tank as opposed to upright and partially shielded behind a Dakar styled screen.
Esta historia es de la edición January 2023 de Motorcycle Sport & Leisure.
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Esta historia es de la edición January 2023 de Motorcycle Sport & Leisure.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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Honda CRF1100L ES Africa Twin
Without panniers he was adventuring nowhere - so at least Bertie's got something sorted now
BMW R 12 nineT
Chad gets a track day surprise when BMW's R 12 nineT turns out to be surprisingly fun on track
Test fleet: VOGE 525 DSX
After testing the Voge's abilities on a long ride, it was time to take it to the Cotswolds and see how it would manage on the rougher stuff
Portuguese Perambulations
Nearly over before it had begun, a brief workshop stint allows Spain and Portugal to be explored
Highway to Heaven
Three friends take on the challenge of riding the length of Canada, from Vancouver in the southwest to Inuvik in the north. The road is long, the conditions merciless, and wildfires are tearing through the country. To top it all off, the final leg of the journey is the ultimate test of gravel riding skills, nerves, and courage - it's the legendary Dempster Highway...
Battlaxes at the ready!
We tend to take tyres for granted, never really looking at them in any detail, or at how they work, just hoping that they keep us shiny side up at all times. Even in the wet
Ducati Riding Experience
When I rode the Ducati DesertX to France last year, I did have a bit of an explore on some easy fire roads and gentle green lanes in the wilds of the Médoc area, but was left with the feeling that, had I the experience, the DesertX would have been capable of taking me along some more extreme trails to some even more exciting places. If only there was a way of finding out just how well the Italian adventure bike could cope with some more extreme terrain...
Four pot flyer
Many said that sports bikes, and particularly bikes in the traditional Supersports class that was populated by 600cc inline fours, were dead. Maybe they spoke too soon?...
Eastern adventurer
With an increasing interest in smaller capacity adventure bikes, the market expands with a new entry
First Time Lucky?
It's ironic that the first all-new MV Agusta model to hit the marketplace right after Italy's No.1 trophy brand was acquired by Austrian giant Pierer Mobility, owner of off-road titans KTM, should be the company's first dual-purpose model of the modern era, powered by MV's all-new 931cc three-cylinder engine that's destined to form the basis of a whole series of new models in coming months and years.
