OMG! 700 Tenere Frame Failures!

Someone posted a video here on KZbin about breaking two T7 "frame rails" in two years. I've seen countless FaceBook threads and forum threads about the video. People appear to be quite worked up about it.
The video is posted here: • Tenere 700 Re-Review: ...
This is my take on the failure.

[@mccabemichael]

Probably worth mentioning that if it did break… it’s a pretty easy part to replace and not that expensive. Like $110ish or weld it.

[@TheWrigle]

I saw that video from ride adventure as well. Found it interesting they wrote the frame off as an issue with such anecdotal evidence. If this was a wide known issue, I think the community would have caught onto it by now.

[@erocnw1341]

They didn't "write the frame off", they said that they liked the bike and would continue to use it in their rental fleet, but that they did have issues on two of the bikes. Just something to keep an eye on, nothing to get excited about.

[@CommieHunter7]

I think they may have misunderstood exactly what that tube does. He kept referring to it as a chassis component, but it's just a mount point, it's not part or "the frame"

[@manybikes]

“Wear and tear caused by abusing your shit” is the best description I’ve heard in a long time! Ride it!!! Nice video ;)

[@MeerkatADV]

Pretty much the same thoughts I have. My T7 has 29k miles on it at this point. Over 11,000 of that was off road and I have no idea how many times the bike has been down or hit the bash plate. Not a single issue, and this is the first of this "problem" I've heard. In any case, they're a replaceable part, so what's the problem?

[@deltabravo1257]

I saw that video pop up in my KZbin feed but haven't watched it yet. I didn't know what "broke" since I didn't watch the video yet. If the T7 was prone to "breaking", your T7's would have broken a long time ago. The stuff you put your T7's through is pretty amazing and is a testament to the durability!

[@markymark2967]

25k on mine and too many crashes to count (plenty of proof on my channel), I've destroyed the stock skidplate and the touratech one, now have a BlackDog. On top of that, I know people who own these that have also broken several KTM's in half. I've never seen or heard of any frame issues until this video.

[@kennethdeleon2426]

looks like they have outback motortrek crash bars, that mount to these "frame rails". Looks like you're spot on with your assessment, side loads from impact broke the rails.

[@MikeEpps72]

Great observation! My Adventure Spec crash bars have that same mounting point and after one of the crashes I noticed it got really close to touching that frame rail and was wondering what would happen if it hit it.

[@tdr30]

That video is from Eric Lang at Ride Adventures in Bend, OR kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaG5h6yapKaqqZo Go to minute 4:00 FWIW I've ridden one of his T7s, it had Outback Motorteck bars, not Heeds. Don't know if the bar design contributed to the failure. He suggests he might make his own replacement bars without the hole in them. Anyone else had these bars break?

[@bojankovac5218]

No bike is perfect!! But the T7 is awesomely close!! Thanks Cory for a nother great video 💪🏻

[@sew-tec]

I also saw that video and knew right away that this guy doesn’t understand the bike and how it’s built. I am glad that you spoke up and I’m sure YAMAHA is too! Thanks Cory.

[@mikehull2814]

Thanks Cory for your input great video as always .Your experience and Expertise is invaluable To all of us T7 Owners What's up with the Virginia City Grand Prix this coming season ? Look forward to seeing you up there.

[@MrLachlancrawford]

The heed crash bars are only like that on the left side - I welded a gusset in there on that side and it stops that flat piece from bending and pushing into the frame rail. Works great.

[@cherianrajith]

Most enthusiasts run some form of fork and shock upgrades. This helps in absorbing the impacts better than the stock setup which is way too soft and the forces get transferred to the frame once the fork and suspension bottom out.

[@billpeat8984]

Searched the video, and can't see the issue he raised as a issue being one that would stop you continuing a ride . They to me a sacrificial part .

[@cdapplecraft3594]

I saw the same video from ride adventure. I was looking forward to your response Cory/camel Adv. everything you say makes perfect sense plus I watch your videos and I can tell you ride the shit out of your bikers .. thank you very much for your wisdom and expertise

[@pauli6570]

Jesus the Tenere owners are easily scared by a single video with unverified claims about breaking frames…

[@hokogan]

*The online motorcycle community in general 😂

[@SmokinZen]

Great analogy from a great company thanks

[@davehartsock9106]

I saw that video yesterday as well. Glad I now know to keep check these parts for possible breakage. The bottom line is we want these parts to break and not the engine. I do find it hard to believe Yamaha build a bike like this that can’t be jacked up by the skid plate. Maybe they are covering their ass because of the light duty skid plate. Just about everyone who puts on a heavy duty aftermarket skid plate jacks their bikes up from the skid plate. I can not see these vertical members being compromised just by jacking up the bike. If you are bashing over logs that would do way more damage than jacking it up. Thanks Cory for making this video right away. My Camel ADV delivery is due in the next day or two.

[@PatchedBandit]

Awesome video and explanation! Thanks

[@scridercoach]

Thanks Cory. Total agreement. I'm also super happy to see a T7 that's more beat to hell than mine!!

[@C_R_O_M________]

The parkour analogy made me remember my ACL tear when I was in my early 20s as a professional athlete. I had super strong legs but after a rundown to get an opponent and block his shot (basketball) a teammate of his, about 120kgs, slammed on the side of my knee as I was absorbing my 120kgs from the jump. Needless to say my knee had seen better days before that incident. Side loading something that is meant to hold forces on a different axis isn't a good idea. Which brings me to such products and how they seem safe when they are not. In any case these are not part of the actual frame but complimentary to, as you said, hold the skid plate. No biggie.

[@brandenhellman4381]

All hail,….. Camel ADV. Purveyor of logic and wisdom. LOVE YOU!!!!

[@leracer]

One thing I noted about the 'frame failures' in the Ride Adventure video is that the reviewer did not see the actual failures himself as the bikes are overseas. I would not exclude a problem simply occured in transit, while shipping the bikes.

[@Toonces311]

You pretty much just defined confirmation bias

[@leracer]

@@Toonces311 I'd like to clarify my point a bit here; He was refering to failures on 2 of his fleet of 10 Ténéré 700, that is a substantial 20% occurence rate. Yet, as noted by Cory and others, that type of lower frame rails damage is not mentionned anywhere else in the many groups and forums about the T7. It is just my opinion that something happened specifically to thoses bikes, to cause that exact type of failures. And I want everyone to know that my theory is just a wild guess...

[@mrcreative6020]

Well thought out. I was nearly considering not buying a T7 because of this issue, but I feel much better about it watching your video

[@grandefromage4607]

Thank you for taking the time to address this. :)

[@samhill3496]

Cory, glad you picked up n this, maybe an opportunity. Will be interesting to find out some more specifics as to how they happen.

[@lifeisgoodon2wheels869]

I love your videos!!! You guys are an inspiration for all of us lesser skills adv rider's. I love the camel adv rally exhaust from you guys, sounds amazing!!! 🤗 and the pegs are awesome to, can't wait to get the camel rear brake pedal for my 22 tenere 700 thanks again for all the awesome vids and informative content, we all appreciate what you guys do 🤘

[@SPENJERE]

Brilliant deductive reasoning 👍, PARKOUR !!! 😉

[@snarrdental]

Thanks for your opinion on this topic. I highly appreciate your input. Love my tenere700.😊

[@luisbraz-ruivo]

Now we just need to wait for the follow up video from Ride Adventures....but I wonder if the crash bars were the reason for the failure, would we have seen more T7 with broken frames? Could these two bikes that have broken frames been manufactured at the around same time and it is a problem with a batch of those frames? In manufacturing although the processes are identical, the parts quality could vary by mistake.

[@Budokid]

do you sell those decals for the bike if ppl buy enough camel upgrades? they look so good

[@porlalibre2830]

I saw the video from the person you’re mentioning, the first thing that came up to my mind was your channel, I’ve seen you doing really crazy things on your bike, and didn’t see any failure like that on your bike. Thanks for the clarification video 🙌 awesome content!

[@Chris_Z.]

There is a short video on the Ride Adventures channel re a correction and possible follow up.

[@stevewiley3539]

That being said, Giovanni Spinali the #1 plate for 50 and over in the Score Series raced a Tenere last year in the NORRA 1000 and broke the frame in two places around the top engine mounts. The motor dropped about 5 inches pulling off the coolant hoses. Had to have a local weld the frame back together. I was unable to attach a pic.

[@CamelADV]

I know Gio (and his brother George). I set Gio up with a bunch of products for this T7 before the NORRA race. I talked with him after the race about the failure and he told me it was 100% his fault as he had the upper/front motor mount bolts out and forgot to tighten them before the race. They rattled loose, the motor rotated down and was sitting on the skid plate. After slamming and banging for XXX miles of the race, the rails finally let loose. If you know him personally, ask him about it.

[@stevewiley3539]

@@CamelADV yes upon clarification you are right. I have known Gio since high school. He worked at my wife’s family motorcycle shop. Currently wishing him well with his recovery.

[@C_R_O_M________]

@@stevewiley3539 thanks for posting this and gave the clarification a chance.

[@hardworkingamerican8847]

Well now I have to untarp my T7 and see just how the Touratek crash bars attach , if I remember correctly I didn't put any bolts around that area .

[@jeffferritto]

What would your first ADV bike be? Im looking for a new bike and like the Norton 901 but think the T700 is a better fit. I'm a dirt bike rider now. I've had a CRF450R and ride a 22 Te300i now. also do the D100. New sub love the videos. thanks

[@CamelADV]

I've had 12 or 13 ADV bikes.. the T7 is best for me and the riding I do.

[@jeffferritto]

@@CamelADV thanks for the reply

[@PisgahGravelProject]

Easy fix on the problem of smashimg the bottom 'rails' Take a trick from European hardenduro community. They'll drill small holes in the frame rails, mix up a bunch of jb weld and use a syringe to put the jb weld into the frame to make it solid. Some guys use silica sand for the same thing. Have to weld the hole shut if using sand, but i guess its a little bit lighter

[@jeffbrown6880]

Agree Corey, when you stop and look at the break it looks more like a side loading failure. Not sure I agree with the jacking from under the skid plate ether, the rail would be in compression at that point. More to the story me thinks.

[@BlazinBlades]

Great stuff! Knowledge and a healthy discussion is what makes us tick 🍻🍻

[@jagdhillon254]

I watched the video, they complain of a vertical support aft of the engine but above the small sprocket - please address that if you can.

[@rockbiterhd]

Don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story

[@denchua]

Saw the vid. Our preemptive solution is to simply put a clamp around it to prevent it from flexing.

[@therealtashiro]

Here's the video by Ride Adventure kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaG5h6yapKaqqZo

[@pvflyer67]

👍

[@MotoSwagger]

Yeah saw this recently as well, thanks for responding... If anyone is going to see this happen, it will be you guys 😊

[@mwilsbach]

Thanks Cory, I say the video from Ride Avdentures as well. I thought of the same things you mention in your explanation. I dont believe it is abroblem with the Bike - just watch your accessories and how they connect to the bike. - Anyway - thanks again

[@olliechristopher467]

News flash in regards to frame failures: Any vehicle taken off road can and will break components.

[@pmfilmsUK]

Nice one.

[@superwag634]

Let me abuse my bike! Oh no, something broke 😂

[@eugrules]

I think that the skills of many riders actually surpass the durability of some bikes. I ride my T7 often like I ride my dirt bike. A T7 IS NOT A DIRT BIKE, but they work.

[@JacoT7_ADV]

Saw the original video he’s commenting on. Have to agree, not sure on the setup on the rental bikes, but they’re rental bikes. They probably took a lot of hits in ALL the wrong places with who knows what crash bars or where the mounting points are. I have the AltRider crash bars on mine which have a tie in point on those support bars…fully expecting to crack mine at some point because I ride the bike how it was meant to be ridden and crash it. But these bars are there to be a support/fail point instead of breaking off stressed members/engine mounts ie the ones Eric talked about in the original video on the Hondas. It’s a “good to know” thing and not a weakness of the bike. Luckily these bars are a quick and easy replacement! Thanks for the heads up Cory (and Eric)

[@erocnw1341]

Well put. I also thought the Ride review was mostly positive, but people really took offense.

[@JacoT7_ADV]

@@erocnw1341 I did at first and watched it again. I don’t think he meant it as click bait, but it kind of came across that way. I think it was more of a heads up kind of video than anything. I’ve never heard of it happening, most people haven’t either, but it’s good to know and watch out for any stress fractures starting and maybe the aftermarket will come up with a stronger replacement if needed. I just don’t know if there would be a market for it since it appears to be extremely rare.

[@racetorx9702]

Good Vid, I have mentioned this a few times on some of the posts, this was a much better idea to clear it up from all those seeming concerned and slating the bike when it's nothing to do with the bike. Respect bud.

[@enrique60033]

I have SW-Motech bars and those bolt to the actual motor ear bolt which I hate. After lots of hard crashes the tab put a dent on the rail, it bothered me at first but it hasn't changed in several miles so I think I am ok. Will send you pictures via email .

[@raven669669]

Which is the reason I didnt decide for SW Motech or Yamaha crash bars as these are bolted to to the engine 👍🏼

[@CanadianTexaninLiguria]

A video about a video?

[@tdr30]

More from Eric kzbin.info/www/bejne/jqPYYqWGlKmtiKc

[@MusicalMemeology]

I think you’re mixing up rode adventure (USA) with ride adv (AU). The guy was usa based I’m pretty sure

[@2254mau]

If you don't know the video, you should watch it before calling out the people, I'm not defending the video but they never said that the bike is dangerous or weak

[@andrewsoldan6050]

well, TBH I don't like that design. Attaching skid plate to such weak pipes is kinda risky, if they go, skid plate can hit the engine. I'd rather have bent frame in the middle of the nowhere then hole in the engine case....

[@robsonenduro3316]

my same thoughts exactly.

[@Tsuchiyaaa]

Six months after this video, here (kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3uln5SpfKyppMU) at 0:16 you can clearly see they are running Outback Motortek crash bars (at least on the Teneres) which they will say on a future video, but I did my job as I'm getting my T7 next month and I'm really concerned about what crash bars to install. So after seeing what bars that clamp to those rails can do (easy fix yeah but why don't just avoid it) I'll go for HEED or GARDA. Definately the best options among all out there.

[@ownyourworld]

Aren’t they a adventure school with hire bikes ? They will be abused as they are hire bikes . It’s like comparing a privately owned Ford Fiesta against one that’s been rented out all it’s life , more stuff will break.

[@DaleFairdale]

I ride my bike hard so I fix it and accept that shit like this happens. It's my fault not the bikes. Nothing motorcycle is indestructible. If I rode casually and bopped around some dirt roads this isnt even a concern. People love to think they ride harder then they do and those are the people who are concerned about this. It's a non issue.

[@erocnw1341]

Hmmm. Maybe you're not shitting on Ride Adventures but you are quick to dismiss their findings and it's apparent that you didn't even watch the video. Had you watched the video you would have seen that the reviewer had very positive things to say about the T7 and that they would continue to use them in their fleet, but that they did have two specific frame rail failures. The reviewer also went into detail about where and why the frames failed.

[@MeerkatADV]

Cory explained perfectly why the frame rail failed. Ride Adventures findings are a data point of two out of the thousands sold worldwide. Cory has had more Tenere's than that and he's ridden them harder than anybody other than maybe Pol Tarres. I would also be interested to hear what crash bars were mounted, and what bash plate they use. A rental fleet beat up their bikes? I'm shocked.

[@erocnw1341]

@@MeerkatADV The only thing Ride Adventures claimed was that 2 out of the 10 T7's in their rental fleet had frame failures. Other than that they gave a very positive review of the T7. "Cory explained perfectly why the frame rail failed." Huh? Cory has never seen the failures, doesn't know what type, if any, crash bars were mounted, and doesn't know any details about the failures, so how could he possibly explain perfectly what happened. I understand people love their T7's. I do too. But if you're going to criticize someone else's video, at least watch it first.

[@MeerkatADV]

@erocnw1341 he watched the video and has had to replace the frame rails on his own T7. The video showed where the rails failed and he demonstrated perfectly why that would occur. Did you not watch both videos?

[@erocnw1341]

@@MeerkatADV I did watch both videos. At the beginning of Cory's video he says he is responding to Facebook comments about the Ride video, not directly to the video itself. The funny thing is that I think Cory and this other guy are basically in agreement about the bikes, but people are making comments without actually seeing the videos are misrepresenting what was said. "The video showed where the rails failed and he demonstrated perfectly why that would occur." The video showed where Cory's failure occurred. The failures in the rental fleet occurred in a different location, which you would know if you had watched the other video.

[@MeerkatADV]

@@erocnw1341 the failures occurred exactly where Cory said they did, where they were shown to have occurred in the other video. And I know that is the same location because I have a T7 and know where the hole is in the frame rail. Not difficult to understand.

[@cyclopathic998]

Watch his video and look at the pictures that's not where they had the frame failures. It's not the rails. Most likely it's from engine vibration and while being a guided tours they are not abusing their bikes to extend you do. Most likely the riders are just threading carefully and hitting the resonance RPM frequencies FWIW.

[@ogasi1798]

probably posted by a sore duke x owner 🤣

[@gordonblackley8863]

Well said, that other film was horse shit 👍

[@cavscout62]

Idiots will be Idiots. To each their own but I must point out that these Bikes are, despite the moniker “adventure bike” are PLAY BIKES in the dirt! They aren’t RACE Bikes, they’re street bikes with a little suspension for PLAYING when the pavement ends. FFS!

[@patrickevrard313]

and this is erupting now? where are the 2019, 2020, 2021 broken frames??…. 2 broken rails since then?? others brands will be jealous! 😂

[@anony955]

Summary of this video: I don't have any details, but here's why they're wrong. And on my one bike, I didn't have problems so clearly it's not a problem. Seriously?

[@clayderouin857]

Actually he's had a couple T7s, the 1st one well before anyone in NA, his lady has one also, and he and friends ride the crap out of them. And... Cory makes parts for them that are sold worldwide! Maybe he knows enough about the bike to express his opinion ?!

[@patw9175]

You're being even more reductive than you're accusing Camel of being.

[@MeerkatADV]

Tell me you didn't watch the video without telling me you didn't watch the video.

[@SmokinZen]

Great analogy from a great company thanks