With the emergence of the Tenere 700 on the scene as the hot new bike in the ADV segment, many owners are looking for ways to personalize their recent purchase. At the same time, there’s been a rush from aftermarket accessory manufacturers to create new parts for the popular machine. But let’s not forget Yamaha already has a full line of purpose-built accessories ready to go for the T7, and there are certain advantages that come with opting for OEM parts.
For one, the products have been tested by Yamaha engineers to be compatible with your machine and are guaranteed to have a factory fit. You also know any parts you install on the bike won’t negatively impact your warranty. Moreover, the upgrades can be ordered from the dealer at the time of purchase, so you can roll the cost into your monthly finance payment. And the parts can even be used as a bargaining chip during negotiations — perhaps a free installation might sweeten the deal?
We’ve had an opportunity to ride with several of Yamaha’s factory accessories on our Tenere 700 test mule, so let’s take a look at what’s currently available and perhaps you’ll find a few upgrades worth considering for your own T7. All of the parts listed here can be ordered online or through your local Yamaha dealer.
One of the first things some may notice when riding a Tenere 700 is that it has tall bars in relation to the saddle. Shorter riders may prefer to keep the lower seat height, but the sit-down ergos can be significantly improved by going with the optional Rally Seat. At 1.6 inches (41mm) taller than standard, it raises the seat height from 34.4 inches to 36 inches. This results in a flatter seat-to-tank transition, allowing you to scoot forward more in turns, plus you have less distance to travel each time you change from the seated to the standing position off-road. On long highway rides, you are rewarded with more leg room and a cushier perch as well. MSRP: $219.99
The OEM’s never like us to call them crash bars because the lawyers don’t want to imply you might crash, but we all know that going off-road means you will crash at some point. So why not plan ahead to avoid potential costly damage? Made of high-strength 1-inch diameter tubular steel, with a crossbar to help dissipate force, the T7 ‘Engine Guards’ not only provide protection for the engine but also the upper fairing. They can also hold your auxiliary lights too if you get the Factory Fog Lights (see below). MSRP: $329.99
The stock Tenere 700 comes with a small skid plate that gives enough protection for light off-roading, but it can be a liability on more aggressive rides. Even a well placed stone could potentially cause damage on a mellow trail ride. Yamaha’s accessory skid plate uses 4mm aluminum, which is several times thicker than the stock plate, and offers a much larger coverage area. It’s a big upgrade in protection for your critical engine components and frame. Plus it features ample cut outs to ensure your engine stays cool on hot days, and you can easily flush out any debris that might accumulate during your rides. MSRP: $379.99
If you look at the rear sprocket of any off-road bike, you’ll notice they all come with a Chain Guide. What does it do? It keeps the chain from jumping off the sprocket and also keeps things from getting pulled into the sprocket like small stones or your pant’s leg. Chain Guides offer some impact protection in rocky terrain as well, to help you avoid getting a wobbly rear sprocket. Yamaha’s factory chain guide is made with durable UHMWPE (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) and is designed to flex, not bend on impact, while providing protection for both the drivetrain and rider. An upgrade definitely worth considering for those who intend to venture off the asphalt with their T7. MSRP: $79.99
If you are looking to protect your new investment until the day when you decide to sell it, one simple upgrade that can really pay off is a tank pad. The area where the tank connects with the front of the seat gets a lot of contact and is susceptible to scratches from belt buckles, zippers or snaps. Adding Yamaha’s rubberized tank pad gives the T7 a custom look, while ensuring your bike stays looking sharp for many years to come. MSRP: $34.99
When that long day of riding turns into evening, having a set of bright auxiliary lights can be very useful. Working on a 6000 Kelvin color spectrum, Yamaha’s T7 Fog Lights mimic daylight colors, making it easier to identify any trail or road hazards quickly. And they are LED bulbs so they have a lower power draw of just 8.5 watts total. A high-quality reflector throws a long-range beam for superior visibility in clear or foggy nighttime conditions, and they even improve your visibility to other drivers on the road in the daytime. The PIAA lights are fairly compact with a 70mm (2.75-inch) diameter, so you can mount them on your crash bars or under the headlight, depending on which mounting kit you choose.
The light kit comes with everything you need for a truly plug-n-play installation (no splicing) that hooks directly into the T7’s wiring harness, along with a left-side mount handlebar switch. MSRP: Light Kit $499.99; Engine Guard Mount Kit $79.99; Under Headlight Mount Kit $69.99
A rear rack is one of those essential adventure bike upgrades that comes in handy for short rides and longer ones alike. For soft luggage riders, it gives you a perch to mount a top bag and a solid anchor point for soft pannier mounting straps. You’ll also be able to mount your top bag further back, off the seat, to provide room for a passenger or to get your body back on technical descents. The rear rack is solidly built with high strength 1-inch tubular steel and comes with the mounting pucks to attach Yamaha’s accessory Top Case. The rack also comes with a set of integrated passenger grab handles, which will come in handy next time you need to rescue one of your non-Tenere 700 riding buddies who breaks down on the trail. MSRP: $369.99
Another rear rack option is Yamaha’s Mono Seat Rack, which replaces the rear passenger seat. This gives you a nice flat area behind the pilot seat for cargo storage when you aren’t riding with a passenger. It features cutouts on the sides to use as anchor points for strapping down luggage or other equipment you are carrying, and it retains the bike’s streamlined appearance. Better yet, you can quickly switch between the passenger seat and the Mono Seat Rack with just your ignition key. MSRP: $199.99
Adventure Bikes used to come with center stands standard, but we’ve seen that trend fall by the wayside with all the manufacturers in recent years. The Tenere 700 is a relatively light bike for its category, but try propping it up on a boulder or tree stump for a tire fix and you’ll find it takes a lot more effort than your dirt bike. A center stand not only comes in handy for maintenance and repairs, but also when you need to park on soft sand or load your panniers in the driveway. For those of us that prefer the convenience of a center stand and don’t mind adding a little extra weight down low on the bike, this upgrade is a no brainer. MSRP: $364.99
Sometimes off-road riding really gets you off the road… into the bushes, where an unprotected radiator can easily get punctured by a nasty branch. Small pebbles from your riding buddy’s roost have also been known to ruin a radiator or two. And if you don’t realize you are overheating in time, you could have more than just a broken radiator to deal with. Yamaha’s matte-black and aluminum finished mesh radiator protector is not only some sweet looking bling for the T7, it also offers protection that can save you a lot of money down the road. MSRP: $159.99
Ready to travel on your Tenere to the far corners of the earth and beyond? Hard luggage is a better deterrent against thieves when you are exploring off the bike. Yamaha’s side cases are made with durable aluminum and offer a combined capacity of 72 liters. You can also add a top case, which comes in either silver or black, to add an additional 42 liters of storage capacity. That’s big enough to swallow a full face helmet in the top box and all of the cases can be keyed to work with your ignition key. If hard bags aren’t your thing, you might still consider getting Yamaha’s pannier racks alone to use as a structure for mounting a set of aftermarket soft panniers. MSRP: $427.99 Side Cases; $419.99 Top Case (Silver); $499.99 Top Case (Black); $427.99 Pannier Racks
Let’s face it, not every rider is blessed with a 34-inch inseam or the skills of the late Gaston Rahier (2x winner of Dakar @ 5’5” tall). For those riders that are looking to get a more solid footing on the ground when riding off-road, Yahama has options. For starters, there is a Low Seat that lowers the perch by 0.8 inches (20 mm) below stock. It’s also a single-piece design that aids riders in transitioning weight balance from front to rear. Riders can get the T7 even lower by adding the Suspension Lowering Kit — a set of dog-bone lowering links that offer a quick and easy way to drop the seat height an additional 0.7 inches (.18mm). And you’ll have peace of mind knowing that these lowering links are factory approved for use on the Tenere 700, so your suspension should continue to perform the way it was intended to. When you combine the low seat with the lowering kit, you get a total of 1-½ inches (38mm) of confidence inspiring seat height reduction. MSRP: Low Seat $129; Lowering Kit $114.99
Yamaha has made the process of customizing your Tenere 700 a little easier with their handy online configurator tool. It lets you pick from different available accessories and instantly see how they look on the bike with a slick, interactive 3-D viewer. Plus it automatically calculates a price for your custom T7 configuration, then lets you search dealer inventory or have a dealer contact you with a quote. Give it a spin and let us know what you think.
Nice options, just got a few goodies!
Right in time for my birthday! ?
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