Fingers Crossed. Yamaha T7

Don't be obnoxious; the Buell XB12X Ulysses Adventure only cost $11,499 when it first went on sale, weighed 425 lbs wet, produced 103 HP (limited), and didn't have a spec of chrome on it. It also got a easy 55 MPG in fuel economy and had a lot of patented technology that effected the price:



I'd bet money the now out of production for nearly a decade old Buell will spec for spec (power, torque, economy, suspension travel, braking distance and cost of maintenance) beat the snot what ever Yamaha brings into mass production with the T7, and lap it on any track surface from paved circuit to MX.

If your thinking is going off the Carducci, that's not a fair comparison as that's not a mass produced motorcycle, it's a one man show, hack/conversion of a HD Sportster, and even there it surpasses all your sarcastic specs rather nicely.

The snark, hostility, insults, sarcasm, ignorance of facts, physics, basic engineering and critical thinking in this thread has really jumped the shark in ceaseless religious rant and belief that Yamaha will deliver some sort absurd level of mass production ADV perfection building a bike out of re-purposed OTS parts.

Let me rephrase it: it is ridiculous already.

All I can say is: WOW! *respect* Nice Bike Mano! I can't feature how you're as excited about the Yamaha T7 as you seem to be (owning and having built) this. For reference my air-cooled v-twin is a Moto Guzzi Stelvio; and it does weigh a lot, though no more than my Super Ténéré. I kick myself every day for not having bought the Buell when it was still in production.

Awesome! Maybe I'll replace my Africa Twin with something like this.

I don't have the space to build a bike now, but after riding something similar I have to say that it impressed me beyond expectation, and I expected to like it. So, I'm all on board with wishing HD would do something like this, as just like my Stelvio is the only Moto Guzzi that could ever interest me in owning an MG; this is the only HD I'd be interested in owning. Even better HD should go crawling, and beg Erik to come back into the fold (with a public apology to Erik). As their hold on all his patents is about to expire it would be a smart time to get that ball rolling...

I like this creation myself:

When you look at the issues the Apricot Twin is having, and the real cost of ownership; for someone that lacks the tool space, and a place to work that could seriously be a generous and compelling offer!

A lot of HD owners (and Buell Uly owners) take for granted just how low the cost of ownership and low drag maintenance their bikes is: no valve adjustment, no cooling system maintenance (or failures), forks that can be serviced on the bike, very easy oil and filter changes -- where Japanese bikes now require substantial disassembly just to change an air filter.

Add to this that the Japanese economy is in the toilet (and we're not far behind) and the consequences cost and corner cutting that's going on in QC and even design quality and part selection is starting to rear its ugly head; look no further then the AT threads..

That is a very modest comparison, the KLR is a nice old Japanese bike, a Sporter Scrambles/Dual-Sport/Desert Sled, even though it's in as many ways frozen in time (and that's a good thing for the owner that wants to DIY), it surpasses the KLR by many orders of magnitude in every regard, and I'd even hazard to guess you would NOT trade your Sportster for an AT in an even trade -- I sure would not!

They dont weigh 425 wet (closer to 500), I heard the great MPG claims but mine never got better than mid 40 mpgs, often in the upper 30's as the fuel boiled in the tank and it SUCKED off pavement if it was anything loose/deep.
While they did work on it for several warranty issues, it was super enjoyable being generally snubbed at the Harley dealer too.
They are neat bikes and I dont think of them as a normal Harley product but I would like to try another one day, though maybe a Lighting Long.

The weight, 425 lbs is the claimed weight; but it's a bike I've ridden, and it feels very light for it's class... As well while I don't think anyone will ever confuse it for a dirt bike, like any heavy ADV machine sans and even with knobs its a handful off the slab, but as well mannered as many. As to the fuel economy I got 57 MPG at the pump riding in traffic, and 38 MPG riding hard -- with some dirt roads and trails mixed in. Like any bike with over 100 HP it invites you to ignore economy, but if you ride it legally the XB12X does deliver impressive economy.

I had a different experience with mine.
I have owned and ridden a few heavy ADV type bikes including a couple with 17" front wheels.
Off pavement the Ully tried to throw me on the ground and hurt my feeling worse than any others.
SUPER tall first gear was an issue on that bike too.
I saw it as a lot like my current Tiger 1050, a tall sport bike/sport tourer not really an ADV bike.

I do believe those in cooler climates probably can get better MPGs.
Regardless of how I rode it mine boiled off a lot of fuel, the fuel in tank was often percolating.
Fuel use (and smell) was something I brought up under warranty that never got better/resolved.

https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesoci...aha-t7-concept-to-go-on-sale-within-18-months

An article from last year, but it seems to suggest they're shooting to be more off road orientated than existing middle weight options (650 strom, NC750), which is honestly what excited me when I saw the photos. Would be very interested in such a bike or something like the CRF500L that has been teased/built by some members here.
The upper price range heavyweights are not only out of the purchasing power of many younger riders but are also less interesting to many. I personally think we have enough road orientated adventure tourers and would be excited to see if Yamaha can pull off a more dirt orientated bike that is still suitable for highway jaunts with gear. Really hoping that can hit a price point that is attainable as more and more people ride as a hobby.

Ginger Beard,

What do you think of the Desert Sled as a beastie project bike?
Air cooled.
Plenty of beans.
Strong Holigan genetics.


Type L-Twin, Desmodromic distribution, 2 valves per cylinder, air cooled
Displacement 803 cc
Bore x stroke 88 x 66 mm
Compression ratio 11:1
Power * 54 kW (73 hp) @ 8,250 rpm
Torque * 67 Nm (49 lb-ft) @ 5,750 rpm
Fuel injection Electronic fuel injection, 50 mm throttle body
Exhaust Stainless steel muffler with catalytic converter and 2 lambda probes, aluminium tail pipes
Standard ** Euro 4
Emissions and Consumption CO2 ** 5,1 l/100km - 119 g/km

456lbs
Odds are the Yamaha will be 435-455lbs.

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The DR650 is the best platform for Building a MC, agreed.
Hopefully, the Versys X 300 will offer a great platform in the next 3 years.
I'm not sure about DUCATI.

IDK, I know XB12X owners that have had an endless honeymoon with the bike, some had early aspiration issues that got fixed and all they did after that was put gas, oil and tires on it and rode the shit out of it. The couple days I had one to ride were screaming hot so I don't think it was ambient temperature, and the dealer said 'go ahead and ride it like you hate me' -- which he probably knew I wouldn't do, but I did ride it pretty hard, it's certainly a better mount then any Triumph triple in the dirt... Boiling fuel, can't say it happened to me but I only had the bike for a day and a half...

Succinctly said, and as you know this is what I expect too... I'm sure it will be a great first bike for a lot of riders, and for someone looking for a longer legs mount on a budget. That said if I had a project bike like yours, I'd much rather spend the loot taking it to the next level, with a really fat Sachs fork, maybe a Carducci swing arm, and of course there's a slew of fun you can have with the HD power-plant... You and your bike warrant a blog ere on ADV!

would love to see a Uly in action on our local fireroads.
prediction: it will never happen.

Ducati desmo right?
What do you think those intervals are and do you know what they include?

You should re-read your own posts..

"""I'd bet money the decade Buell beat the snot what ever Yamaha brings into mass production with the T7, and lap it on any track surface from paved circuit to MX"""
""The snark, hostility, insults, sarcasm, ignorance of facts, physics, basic engineering and critical thinking in this thread has really jumped the shark"""