BBB #9: Yamaha Ténéré 700 Tail Tidy Creation

EDIT: R&G have announced a tail tidy for the T7 here: www.rg-racing.com/browsebike/...
...and also check out this one (likely much cheaper) from T7Rally: t7rally.com/shop?olsPage=prod...
In this episode I take a hacksaw to my new Ténéré 700.
The rear end of the T7 is undoubtedly its worst feature. The horrible sticky out plastic number plate hanger construction spoils the otherwise brilliant lines of the bike. And the Yamaha official tail tidy isn't much better.
So, it's time to fix that. Channelling my inner James May, here comes a custom made tail tidy creation for you to enjoy. I'd put this in the "slow TV" category.
Plus some measurements of the Rally seat compared to the standard seat, and a look under the fairing at the back of the bike to see where all the bits are.

[@sucramsucram3558]

Nice, looking very neat now. Lovely work and great presentation.

[@zenden6564]

Good job and relaxing to watch you do it!

[@stepheneldridge6998]

Great stuff....bike looks so much better!....Now I know how!! Cheers, Steve

[@MotoGuzziMoto]

Nice work. Thanks for the tips.

[@yourealwaysright6770]

This is by far the best way of fitting one,I noticed all the ones available for sale have made no provisions for the handrails and also they expose the underside. I have had to replace an entire ECU,loom and lockset on one as a direct result of this. When I do eventually get to fitting my own I’ll be copying yours for sure 👌

[@mikepritchard4930]

I used to love Blue Peter, making stuff from old bits....Great informative vid from Tobers who is Tobinators incase you were wondering) for the more technically minded amongst you . Just for the record does looks heaps better. Did the same mod myself (with an R&G tidy) on a Street Tripple RX I had but you do sacrifice road spray.

[@alpap1980]

Excellent work with the seat. the Rally one is about 4cm taller than the standard and about 6cm than the low one.

[@ToCoolToBeOld]

Brilliant very neat. Don't you just love it when you buy the right part by accident. I had tobinators fitted to my 1150gs adventure years ago. Brilliant idea. I don't think you'll get any more spray coming up the back. On a bike you get wet & dirty when it rains whatever you do. I shall definitely try this tail tidy when I get my T7....😊👍

[@beardedbaldbikers4634]

Bruce Stott Thanks for the great feedback for being a Tobinator customer!

[@SUPERJKJEEP]

Great Job. From So. California 😊

[@NeboaRR81]

Nice work, looks so well. But you have forgotten to put the rear catatrioptic.

[@timcarter7051]

Great craftsmanship l will do that with mine when they FINALLY reach the States unless the smaller Africa Twin beats it here then l will buy that...hurry up already Yamaha!!!

[@hovishill2779]

Nice set of scales, I’ve got some just like that 😜

[@seangray4512]

Looking good, Must be the first offical T7 mod on the net?

[@osmanidris8494]

I hope you applied some loctite to all those bits and screws to secure them .:D I remember parts dangling down from my friend's bike after an offroad ride.

[@EscapePlan97]

Nice Daytona btw!

[@zeitgeist5050]

Thank you for uploading, what an excellent watch. Is there any reason you didn’t go for the Rally pack? As this would include, amongst others, the Rally seat, tail tidy and LEDs.

[@beardedbaldbikers4634]

zeitgeist5050 Yep - I don’t need all the other Rally bits and am keeping costs down. Plus the Yamaha tail tidy still sticks out too far IMHO

[@white-rider]

Looks like the rear wheel might hit the licence plate when the suspension compresses. Especially if you change your tire to something with knobs.

[@dennisoven9259]

Maybe putting some rubber washers on 4 bolts, to reduce vibration to new holder

[@beardedbaldbikers4634]

Good idea - I might do that further back actually as the holder is in 2 pieces.

[@scolarichris]

Hi nice work, lovely bike. If i ever get this bike i would need to have a top case at the back. Do you know if there is a braket available? Cheers. Chris

[@beardedbaldbikers4634]

scolarichris There is some sort of Yamaha mount available. Looks pretty substantial. Check their accessories pages (maybe use the UK Yamaha website)

[@laughingdog1125]

would it void the warranty... if you off road it will it smash off ... you might get a muddy back

[@biffaozzie2373]

So, no reflector now.

[@ExplorerJude]

Great mod, well done. I also think the tail is not looking good.

[@adriantompson]

looks good yamaha make it so hard to do . puting one on an xsr was a lot messing mt10 was a bit easier . the standerd ones all look crap.

[@Banditmanuk]

Great vid well made. Like the look of tail tidys but you are going to get even more road filth sprayed up your back.

[@beardedbaldbikers4634]

Heading off road tomorrow so will see what happens. I suspect you are right so it’s likely I will move/tilt the plate further back to compensate a bit.

[@weareonebrain1610]

I guess you need that reflector to avoid trouble with the police...do you get wet now, isn‘t the mud and water now flying over the tail?

[@beardedbaldbikers4634]

WE ARE ONE BRAIN Dunno yet, will go find some mud and report back :-). I need to pop the reflector on there too.

[@oic1968]

After tail tidy have your moved the suspension to full compression to see if the tire eats the plate?

[@beardedbaldbikers4634]

I have not, and it would, so I have since changed the angle of the plate to give much more clearance.

[@deanminiken]

Pints and tinkering, I would have had a nap and then accidentally cut a wire!

[@ericstephenson3607]

Do you still have the t7, wondering if your still as happy with it as I'm looking myself. Thanks.

[@beardedbaldbikers4634]

Hi Eric. Sorry for the late reply. Yes, I still have the T7. Fantastic bike. I’m typing this from a ferry that’s about to leave from Santander back to the UK after a 10 day tour with the other Bearded Bald Bikers. Bloody excellent. The T7 doesn’t half shift when you want it to, and is a blast on the twisty roads over here. Hope you have bought one by now.

[@BlackThor15]

Great video, well done! Have you already consider a front fender too? It look completely different.

[@peterziegler8204]

Good your watch is worth more than the whole bike!😂😂👍⌚

[@beardedbaldbikers4634]

That is well observed!

[@alpap1980]

Is it a lithium battery the stock one? if not how much does the stock battery weigh? there could be a possible 2kgs weight loss if a lithium one is installed...

[@beardedbaldbikers4634]

No, the stock battery is a standard brick. Definitely some weight loss possible from a lithium one.

[@ronaldbrandsma492]

@@beardedbaldbikers4634 weight can go from 3.2 to 0.8 kgs (-2.4 kg)

[@wildone2163]

damn, these days we get new bike and we have to correct after factory right away the look and, remove emission BS, ergonomics etc etc

[@marcobeutler65]

Have a look at this: www.rg-racing.com/browsebike/Yamaha/Tenere_700/2019/LP0277BK/ R&G have just now announce a tail tidy for the Tenöre 700!!

[@beardedbaldbikers4634]

Thanks - I'll take a look at that. Seems there are a lot of accessories coming to market now the manufacturers have got their hands on the bikes.

[@legghorn]

You are aware that the number plate will hit the tyre

[@beardedbaldbikers4634]

Yep I did mention that in the video. There's some flex so I think it will be fine.

[@paulgurling5510]

Andrew, I have a T7, just about run in, not too far from you I susoect,, we should, compare notes

[@charlescummings1484]

Nice job thanks. Sir, can you do me a favor please for a future U.S. buyer with only a small shelter for the bike. Could you measure the bike, tire end to tire end, height to top of shield and width of handlebars. I have no garage, only a shelter and I'd like to find out if the T7 will fit in it. Thanks in advance.

[@beardedbaldbikers4634]

Length tyre end to tyre end 230cm Height to top of screen 147cm Width bar end to bar end 91cm

[@charlescummings1484]

@@beardedbaldbikers4634 Many thanks Andrew ! Cheers from a fellow adventure rider in the U.S.

[@davidmoss1012]

Great mod until wheelspin in mud

[@thinkingoutofthebox.9421]

Your need to stick on a reflector and big original number plate on mot day in 3 years.. Briefly...

[@insights15243]

Yamaha are so disappointing. There are a few cases in the new tenere where form comes on account of function. The license plate holder is one of them. The lack of reasonable place for a pilion - pointy and narrow seat, bad place for the hands, no reasonable place for a top case rack, are a few others. Why? Why? Why? Why ruing a potentially great bike just to look "cool"

[@gelul12]

Could be worse.. the new ktms have oil issues. Amongst other things

[@insights15243]

@@gelul12 Agree. That's what frustrates me, that two giants spend (together) almost 10 years of development of a true adventure bike - that amongst other things should be reliable and carry pillion and luggage, and the result is that you have to choose between oil leaks; non-functioning rear break light (WTF?! Is it such a technological challenge?!); bubbles in the gauge cluster; the look of chaos; and more... and between the seat and (no) luggage rack of a WR250; no reasonable pillion handles; ugly rims (where have all the silver rims gone?); bad plastics (that scratch from easy fall); and metal tank (that bends)

[@insights15243]

@@sys-administrator The purpose of such a bike is to be truly versatile. That means it should be good also for commuting to work through traffic (with a top case) and also for trips with a pillion. If someone wants and can have one bike for on-road commuting, one bike for trips with a pillion, and one bike for solo trips, then you are right - but there are many people of the first type that this bike is aimed at. Now let's ask ourselves what's the disadvantage of having reasonable handles for a pillion and reasonable top rack - you don't have to put the top case itself all the time. The price in weight is negligible - less 2 kg at most if planned correctly. The price in money shouldn't be that bad either and I (and others) would prefer paying for these things rather for fancy LED headlights (if we have to choose). You can see all other adventure bikes - including the much-more-offroad-capable 790 R, have much better seats, pillion handles, and rack, arriving as standard, so seems like it's a matter of "making it look cool" (at least to some people's taste) rather than a functional reason.

[@insights15243]

@@sys-administrator You will find top luggage rack + pillion handles in the official Yamaha accessories offered for this bike, the analogy to the Panigale is not right. You also ignore the simple fact that the much-more-focused 790R has all these things as standard - just like any other non-pure (offroad or sports) bike I can think of. There's a difference between what YOU want to do with this bike and what Yamaha aim it at - and like I wrote in the first sentence obviously Yamaha aim it at more than solo and pure adventure.