Yamaha Tenere 700 Mods: Here’s Why You Need Them

Yamaha, it seems, has hit the nail on the head when they came out with their newest offering, the T7. Countless world riders, weekend warriors, rally fans, enduro riders, and just about everyone in between has switched to a T7, and the world’s still obsessed with it. If the bike’s as perfect as can be, do you even need any Yamaha Tenere 700 mods?

Yes and no – it all depends on what you’re planning to do with it. If it’s just fun rides and weekend trips, and if you’re a beginner rider, a stock T7 is probably plenty of bike as it is. If you’re hoping to do long distances, enter a rally race, or abuse your Tenere on more technical off road trails, on the other hand, the bike could do with a few simple modifications. Most of them can be done in your own garage – and some of them can make a big difference.

Here’s a list of our favorite Yamaha Tenere 700 mods:

Crash Bars and Skid Plate

Ok, crash protection isn’t necessarily a bike mod, but it’s something of a must if you’re planning to rip up dirt. Decent quality crash bars, skid plate, and engine case will protect your bike from falls and spills as well as loose rocks and debris your tires will kick up. There are plenty of brands to choose from, and although good crash protection isn’t exactly cheap, it’ll save you tons of cash (and headache) in the long run.

Yamaha Tenere 700 Mods: Exhaust

One of the most common Yamaha Tenere 700 mods among dirt riders is the exhaust. The T7 has a low-slung exhaust that’s vulnerable to crashes and damage. In addition, it’s long, and it’s welded on, which means a harder tip over on the right side could damage the subframe, too. Not great, if you ask us – which is why swapping the stock exhaust to a higher-slung aftermarket one is a good idea. It doesn’t necessarily need to be an Akrapovic – it just needs to be good enough and high enough to prevent potential damage.

Handguards

Barkbuster has long become a synonym for sturdy, protective handguards. Do you need them for your T7? Yes, if you’re planning to ride singletrack, forest trails, and more technical terrain: these things are built to last, and they’ll protect your hands better than the stock handguards.

Suspension Tuning

Yamaha Tenere 700 has an adjustable suspension, so you don’t necessarily need to shell out for a custom suspension build – but you do need to dial it in acording to your weight and the type of riding you do. Some riders prefer to get an aftermarket schock and springs for more off-road capability; that’s entirely up to you, but tuning in your suspension, stock or othwerwise, is key.

Rally Footpegs

The one thing most bike manufacturers – inlcuding Yamaha – get wrong is the footpegs. It may seem like a minor detail, but good footpegs are curcial for safe and controlled riding.

Wide, sturdy, grippy footpegs offer more comfort when you’re riding standing up for hours, and rally footpegs are positioned slightly lower and backward giving you more control of the rear wheel.

Got a T7? Share what Yamaha Tenere 700 mods you’ve done on your bike in the comments below!