By NastyNils· ·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike vs Adventure
Yamaha MT-07 (MY2025) vs Tenere 700 (DM07)
Yamaha MT-07 vs Tenere 700: where they split, and which one to buy.
Hit a sharp bump on the Yamaha MT-07 and it's gone, soaked up plush with no bounce after. The Yamaha Tenere 700's long-travel legs swallow rocks and ruts whole.
So which one do you buy?
Buy the MT-07 if…
Daily commuting & city riding
Better bet: MT-07
When the bike has to work for a living, the MT-07 wins the commute clearly.
The MT-07 has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Nose ahead: MT-07
The MT-07 is a touch more fun when the road starts bending. Just a touch.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Edges it: MT-07
The MT-07 nudges ahead as a first bike. Don't let a gap this narrow outweigh how it fits you.
What makes each one tick
MT-07
The MT-07's twin pulls hard through its middle revs without ever snatching, and that's what keeps San Francisco traffic easy work. On a winding road, it hustles. The brake lever doesn't grab; its bite builds the harder you squeeze. The bike stops short, right where it's asked to.
Tenere 700
The Tenere 700 skips riding modes for a plain cable throttle, and its grip comes from the tires and the rider's skill. There's grunt from low revs. A small roll of the throttle gets an answer from the crossplane twin right away. The twin keeps pulling all the way up.
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 MT-07 has the lower seat: 31.7 in (805 mm) vs 34.4 in (875 mm).
- The MT-07 has the lower wet weight: 403 lb (183 kg) vs 452 lb (205 kg).
- The Tenere 700 has the larger fuel tank: 4.2 US gal (16 L) vs 3.7 US gal (14 L).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Not suited: MT-07
The MT-07 gets left out of the long-distance question. It's built for a different kind of day.
There's no real gap on running costs. Sit on both and let fit and price decide.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
MT-07
What owners say
Strengths
- Impressively refined suspension
- Competitive price point
- Modern TFT dashboard and connectivity
- Strong and progressive brakes
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
MT-07
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
- Displacement
- 689 cc
- Engine
- Parallel twin
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Power
- 73 hp (54 kW)
- Torque
- 50 lb-ft (68 Nm)
- Peak torque at
- 6,500 rpm
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Fork
- Upside-down (USD)
Where the spec sheets split
| MT-07 | Tenere 700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 31.7 in (805 mm) | 34.4 in (875 mm) |
| Wet weight | 403 lb (183 kg) | 452 lb (205 kg) |
| MT-07 | Tenere 700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Peak power at | 8,750 rpm | 9,000 rpm |
| MT-07 | Tenere 700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy | 59 mpg (US) / 4 L/100 km | 55 mpg (US) / 4.3 L/100 km |
| Fuel capacity | 3.7 US gal (14 L) | 4.2 US gal (16 L) |
| MT-07 | Tenere 700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Front brake | 298 mm | 282 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 | 90/90-21 |
| Rear tire | 180/55-17 | 150/70-18 |
| Wheelbase | 55.1 in (1400 mm) | 62.8 in (1595 mm) |
| Ground clearance | 5.3 in (135 mm) | 9.4 in (240 mm) |
| Front travel | 5.1 in (130 mm) | 8.3 in (210 mm) |
| Rear travel | 5.1 in (130 mm) | 7.9 in (200 mm) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| MT-07 | Tenere 700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Traction Control | Standard | Not offered |
| Ride Modes | Standard | Not offered |
| Manually Adjustable Front Suspension | Not offered | Standard |
| Cruise Control | Option | Not offered |
| Smartphone Connectivity | Standard | Not offered |
| Navigation | Standard | Not offered |
| Heated Grips | Option | Not offered |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
