Battle of the Middleweights*
With the new Yamaha Tenere 700 and KTM 790 Adventure having just been released, how do they stack up against each other, and against the existing bikes from Triumph, Honda, and BMW?
* Middleweight is the common but technically incorrect term referring to bikes in the ‘middle’ of common engine capacity sizes, with motorcycles over 1000cc being Heavyweights, and motorcycles 650cc and under, usually single cylinder, being Lightweights. In reality there is often not a significant difference between the weight of middleweight and heavyweight bikes.
| www. AdventureRidingNZ .co.nz |
BMW F850GS | BMW F850GS Adventure | Honda CB500X | KTM 790 Adventure | KTM 790 Adventure R | Triumph 800 XC | Yamaha Tenere 700 T7 |
| CC: | 853 | 853 | 500 | 800 | 800 | 700 | |
| Power (HP) : | 95 | 95 | 46 | 95 | 95 | 94 | 72 |
| Torque (NM) : | 92 | 92 | 88 | 88 | 79 | 68 | |
| Wet Weight (KG) : | 229 | 244 | 195 | 209* | 209* | 215 | 205 |
| Power to Weight KG/HP= |
0.4148 | 0.3893 | 0.2358 | 0.4545 | 0.4545 | 0.4372 | 0.35 |
| Seat height (CM) : | 860 | 810 | 830 | 880 | 845 | 878 | |
| Ground Clearance (CM) : | 233 | 263 | 239 | ||||
| Tank Capacity (Litres) : | 15 | 23 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 16 |
| Front wheel Size : | 21 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
| Rear Wheel Size : | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 |
| Number of Engine Cylinders : | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| * KTM 790 Wet Weight is guesstimated based on a dry weight of 189kg, plus 20 litres of fuel at .74kg/l, plus 4 litres of engine oil, plus fork oil and water | |||||||
The first direct comparison of the the Yamaha Tenere 700 and KTM 790.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zNUDTDZ27xE
I saw an interesting comment on Facebook today from a new KTM 790 owner who also owned a Yamaha Super Tenere.
Basically his Super Tenere had done 198,000 km without any issues but his KTM 790 has done 2000 in 2 months has had to go back to the dealer twice in that time. If he was looking for a new bike now he’d buy the Tenere 700 over The KTM 790.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jAkS9c7vqU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klHv9A8swa8
Spoken to one owner who by now probably has 5,000km on his – including the Dusty Butt. He is rapt with it – loves the engine and the way it turns on gravel. He is getting a taller seat (he be a long bugger).
Also spoke to a Mr Birch and feels that the KTM is far racier and more than most people need. He likes the look of the T7. It was great that he didn’t just come straight out and bag the Yammy.
As an S10 rider who values reliability, I know which one I’d get…