By NastyNils· ·
Motorcycle comparison · Adventure
KTM 790 Adventure (MY2023) vs Yamaha Tenere 700 (DM07)
KTM 790 Adventure vs Yamaha Tenere 700: which one you'd rather spend the big miles on.
You'll feel a broken tarmac edge come up through the KTM 790 Adventure's firm suspension, which is set up for pavement and doesn't hide the hit. The Yamaha Tenere 700's long travel soaks up rocky trails.
So which one do you buy?
The 790 Adventure has the edge if…
Comfortable long-distance riding
Small edge: 790 Adventure
Deep into a long ride, the 790 Adventure asks slightly less of your back and shoulders. The difference is more range per tank and better wind protection. A small margin, and seat fit can overrule it.
The Tenere 700 has the edge if…
Keeping running costs low
By a nose: Tenere 700
The Tenere 700 is a touch easier on the wallet to run. Condition still matters more than the model.
Daily commuting & city riding
A touch ahead: Tenere 700
For the ride to work, the Tenere 700 noses ahead. Credit lower running costs. Don't let that alone make the call.
Real off-road capability
Narrow edge: Tenere 700
In the dirt, the Tenere 700 edges ahead. Not enough to decide it alone.
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Inches ahead: Tenere 700
Through a string of corners, the Tenere 700 feels a little more eager. Most of that is more feel through the bars. The gap is small, so ride both.
What makes each one tick
790 Adventure
Under the adventure bodywork, the 790 Adventure sits you forward like a road bike. Its front end turns in the moment you ask, holds a clean line and doesn't lose its poise at walking pace. The throttle feeds 95 hp (70 kW) out of a corner, and the traction control won't cut in as it reads lean angle on a wet or gravel-strewn exit. Twisty roads wake this chassis up.
Nils rode the 790 Adventure in Carinthia and Styria in 2023 (NastyNils Testride).
Tenere 700
On gravel and dirt, the Tenere 700 earns its keep with mechanical grip and your skill, not electronics. On a loose corner, its 452 lb (205 kg) won't fight you as the bike tips in. The crossplane twin doesn't wait for revs before it pulls. Its cable throttle answers with punch.
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 481 lb (218 kg).
- The 790 Adventure makes more peak power: 95 hp (70 kW) vs 73 hp (54 kW).
- The 790 Adventure makes more peak torque: 65 lb-ft (88 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
790 Adventure
From Nils' own saddle time
Strengths
- Best traction control in class
- Range that catches you out
- Rev-happy, hard-pulling twin
- Sharp and willing on tarmac
- Strong brakes, honest ABS
Trade-offs
- Suspension quits off-road
- Bars too low standing up
- Notchy, imprecise gearbox
- Features locked behind a paywall
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
790 Adventure
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
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
- Front tire
- 90/90-21
- Rear tire
- 150/70-18
- Rear travel
- 7.9 in (200 mm)
Where the spec sheets split
| 790 Adventure | Tenere 700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 33.9 in (860 mm) | 34.4 in (875 mm) |
| Wet weight | 481 lb (218 kg) | 452 lb (205 kg) |
| 790 Adventure | Tenere 700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 799 cc | 689 cc |
| Power | 95 hp (70 kW) | 73 hp (54 kW) |
| Torque | 65 lb-ft (88 Nm) | 50 lb-ft (68 Nm) |
| 790 Adventure | Tenere 700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 56 mpg (US) / 4.2 L/100 km | 55 mpg (US) / 4.3 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 5.3 US gal (20 L) | 4.2 US gal (16 L) |
| 790 Adventure | Tenere 700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 59.4 in (1509 mm) | 62.8 in (1595 mm) |
| Ground clearance | 9.2 in (233 mm) | 9.4 in (240 mm) |
| Front travel | 7.9 in (200 mm) | 8.3 in (210 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| 790 Adventure | Tenere 700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Traction Control | Standard | Not offered |
| Ride Modes | Standard | Not offered |
| Manually Adjustable Front Suspension | Not offered | Standard |
| Cruise Control | Option | Not offered |
| Quickshifter | Option | Not offered |
| Smartphone Connectivity | Option | Not offered |
| Navigation | Standard | Not offered |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPMS) | Option | Not offered |
| Heated Grips | Option | Not offered |
| Adjustable Seat Height | 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.
