By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Adventure
BMW F 900 GS (K81) vs Yamaha Tenere 700 (DM07)
BMW F 900 GS vs Yamaha Tenere 700: long days, loaded bags, one choice to make.
Rolling the throttle open, the BMW F 900 GS hands over power that's easy to use and never feels like the wrong tool. The Yamaha Tenere 700's twin snaps forward on low-end grunt.
So which one do you buy?
The F 900 GS has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Nose ahead: F 900 GS
On a twisty road, the F 900 GS edges ahead. The difference is harder acceleration. Not by enough to settle it alone.
Real off-road capability
Narrow edge: F 900 GS
For dirt roads and trails, the F 900 GS makes slightly more sense. It's down to more low-end pull. The difference is modest at best.
Comfortable long-distance riding
Edges it: F 900 GS
The F 900 GS is slightly easier to live with on a long day. Slightly.
The Tenere 700 has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Inches ahead: Tenere 700
For the ride to work, the Tenere 700 noses ahead. Thank lower running costs and simpler maintenance for that. Don't let that alone make the call.
Keeping running costs low
Slight edge: Tenere 700
On upkeep, the Tenere 700 asks a bit less of your wallet. The difference won't change your life.
What makes each one tick
F 900 GS
From the first mile, the F 900 GS's wide bar and controls sit where a season of ownership would've put them. On broken mountain pavement it tracks clean through steep elevation changes, and it doesn't wrestle you for a line. The brake lever sits right where you reach for it, with cornering ABS working through each stop even mid-corner. The Akrapovic silencer growls low.
Nils rode the F 900 GS in Portugal in 2024, and in the Canary Islands in 2025 (NastyNils Testride).
Tenere 700
The Tenere 700 leaves grip to its tires and your inputs, with nothing electronic stepping in between. Corner entry on Kane Creek's loose dirt comes down to the tall front wheel and just 452 lb (205 kg) of bike, and it doesn't fight you on the way in. There's real punch from low revs in the crossplane engine. Long KYB legs swallow rocky trail.
Nils rode the Tenere 700 in 2020, in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2021, and in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Pyrenees in 2022 (NastyNils Testride).
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Tenere 700 has the lower wet weight: 452 lb (205 kg) vs 483 lb (219 kg).
- The F 900 GS makes more peak power: 105 hp (77 kW) vs 73 hp (54 kW).
- The F 900 GS makes more peak torque: 69 lb-ft (93 Nm) vs 50 lb-ft (68 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
F 900 GS
Strengths
- Planted on rough tarmac
- Easy to live with daily
- Controls fall right to hand
- Livelier than the Adventure version
- Genuine off-road capability
Trade-offs
- Stock suspension folds off-road
- Enduro Pro Package near-mandatory
- Buzzy across the rev range
- Expensive when configured with packages
Tenere 700
What owners say
Strengths
- Engaging CP2 parallel-twin engine with broad torque
- Outstanding off-road capability for a middleweight adventure bike
- Simple, analog character with minimal electronics
- Excellent value for money
Known problems to check before you buy
F 900 GS
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
Tenere 700
- Front brake caliper mounting bolt recall (select 2022 models) Recall 23V472000 Certain 2022 Ténéré 700s were assembled with incorrect front brake caliper bolts (thread length too short). Repeated removal could damage threads, risking caliper detachment and brake failure. Yamaha recall #990168 / NHTSA 23V-472 affects 211 US units built July–Aug 2022.
What they share
- Engine
- Parallel twin
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Fuel economy
- 55 mpg (US) / 4.3 L/100 km
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 90/90-21
Where the spec sheets split
| F 900 GS | Tenere 700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 34.3 in (870 mm) | 34.4 in (875 mm) |
| Wet weight | 483 lb (219 kg) | 452 lb (205 kg) |
| F 900 GS | Tenere 700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 895 cc | 689 cc |
| Power | 105 hp (77 kW) | 73 hp (54 kW) |
| Peak power at | 8,500 rpm | 9,000 rpm |
| Torque | 69 lb-ft (93 Nm) | 50 lb-ft (68 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 6,750 rpm | 6,500 rpm |
| F 900 GS | Tenere 700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 3.8 US gal (14.5 L) | 4.2 US gal (16 L) |
| F 900 GS | Tenere 700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 305 mm | 282 mm |
| Rear tire | 150/70-17 | 150/70-18 |
| Wheelbase | 62.7 in (1593 mm) | 62.8 in (1595 mm) |
| Ground clearance | 9.8 in (250 mm) | 9.4 in (240 mm) |
| Front travel | 9.1 in (230 mm) | 8.3 in (210 mm) |
| Rear travel | 8.5 in (215 mm) | 7.9 in (200 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| F 900 GS | Tenere 700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Traction Control | Standard | Not offered |
| Ride Modes | Standard | Not offered |
| Cruise Control | Option | Not offered |
| Quickshifter | Option | Not offered |
| Smartphone Connectivity | Standard | Not offered |
| USB Charging Port | Standard | Not offered |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPMS) | Option | Not offered |
| Heated Grips | Standard | Not offered |
| Luggage System | Option | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
