T7 or 690/701: Detailed Comparison & Buyer's Guide
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- čas přidán 16. 12. 2022
- KTM 690/Husqvarna 701 & the Yamaha Tenere 700 - how do they compare?
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CORRECTION:
I didn’t leave my 701 at the dealer for two months, but I waited for the part for two months. They did a temporary fix that stopped the leak so I could ride to work while waiting for the gasket.
- Johannes
I’m going the opposite way. I’ve just sold my T7 and I’m looking to buy a 701 but I’m in Australia. My T7 ended up weighing 220kg fully fueled as it had crash bars, barkbusters, skid plate etc fitted and it was nearly impossible to lift the bike if I dropped it. It’s a great bike and lots of fun on gravel roads but any technical stuff it was a handful. The 701 will be at least 50kg lighter and off road light weight is king especially if you have to lift the bike by yourself.
Sounds like you have analyzed your situation James and I can definitely understand that the much lighter 701 is better for general riding in the land down under! When you’ve made the switch, please let me know how you like it 😊
which is why i ride an exc500 🙂 it is the BOSS off road if you can ride, it can be a bitch on road compared to bigger bikes but i dont care about tarmac in all honesty, i care about fun and not being caught out by terrain or fatigue
@@ogasi1798 I' have a Beta 430rr for that
CRF450l for the win
And it's not only the weight but the T7 is top heavy.
A lot of us riders tend to overthink our bikes. We spend hours, days, months just comparing them, analysing their purpose, looking for pros and cons, trying to find the best choice for us. Pavlin from Motorcycle Adventures who I respect most among all motorcycle travellers said that the best adventure motorcycle is the one you have in your garage. I have never heard anything more clever on that topic. Cheers!
That is a very good point. It’s a lot of fun to compare bikes, try out gear and find what’s ‘best’ - but in the end it doesn’t really matter all that much, completely agree with Pavlin. Thanks for chiming in 😊
Back in the day you talk to some guys and bought somethi k you liked. Nowadays social media is flooding us with analysis, comparisons etc..
I owned a T700 for 18 months and have changed to ktm 690. For me the KTM is better for my riding. My style of riding are 4 day trips covering 2000kms, as much dirt as possible
, the gnarlier the better. The engine of the 690 is stunning, love engine braking.
Iv had my 690 for about 2 years now. I love it. I did have the clutch slave cylinder blow out while i was dirt biking solo (desert far south east California). I was able to get going by essentially neutral dropping into 2nd gear from a push start and limped 25 miles of trails home. it was replaced under warrantee. i still love the bike but i always keep that little breakdown in the back of my mind. it would have been a long hike out.
@@FaceSmashingtonthat's why I am scared to buy one. I've got a massive Honda ATAS with shitloads of upgrades. It's too heavy offroad. But don't know what to buy, from Honda, there is nothing at the moment... If you can't repair the bike yourself, you can't buy ktm..
I want to say a big thank you for this video.
It is very rare to find a person who has real experience with two motorcycles and can share useful information. I watched all the videos with great pleasure, for all the time you have never expressed information tied only to your opinion or due to love for one of the brands.
Most bloggers create the illusion of the only right choice and keep quiet about things like the skill of the rider or what kind of terrain the bike will be used on.
All the thoughts that came to me when I started diving into the field of touring enduro were expressed in this video.
Your video is a gem in the world of reviews.
I appreciate the kind words my friend and it makes me happy that you found it helpful. Happy rides and stay safe!
Well I had my T7 for 2 years & 20,000 km, nice engine & nice road bike but never got on with it off road because it was much too top heavy, the center of gravity was too high & with the weight 200 kg plus when it went down it happened very quick. Now I have a 701 & I really love it. Fantastic performance both on & off road.
Thanks for sharing Gary. I can definitely relate to your experience. The T7 is a lot of bike to handle offroad. Ultimately the 701 wasn’t comfortable enough for all the tarmac I cover here in Norway.
I live in Québec, Canada and we have a lot of gravel roads verry close to my home (over 1 million km of dirt roads in the province of Québec) so I decided to go for the 701. I had in the past a Suzuki Dr Big 750 and had a lot of fun with it and the 701 remember me of it. And I will keep my KTM 1190 ADV for road and easy gravel roads and my trial motorcycle for very difficult trails. Your comparison of the two motorcycles was very informative and well done. It cost less to view your video than doing the bad choice.
Thank you very much Johannes for what I believe is an honest, well-reasoned and very fair comparison. Thanks to intelligent, well-informed riders like yourself, novices like me can evaluate our choices. Keep up the good work and good riding to you!
Appreciate that very much William, happy to hear you found it helpful. Ride safe my friend!
Great comparison Johannes. Your videos are very informative. Cheers
Cheers mate!
Difficult this. Thanks for your help. Happy new year.
Really great review and insight, thanks!
Thanks a lot Emile! Awesome hair the picture is you 😁
Good discussion! For highway use, we are sure different. I don't mind highways on light bikes. It's mainly power and vibrations for me. My KLX250S is fine. It doesn't vibrate much, and clean air is a breeze. It's just a bit underpowered.
The DR650 got the power but vibrates more. It's a bit better all around that a 701 since it's relaxed on the highway and can tractor up trails at a slow pace. But not as playful as a 701, of course. It needs suspension work.
T7 is a bit annoying buffeting but keeps the pressure away. Long trips on tarmac, I'd probably pick the T7 also.
Planning a trip to Portugal/Spain and not decided on T7 or DR650 yet. I love clean air cruising down twisties. Like a stock 701, CRF300L or Desert Sled.
When riding highways i like the motto of Pavlin at motorcycle adventures. You're going to high speed if you get fatigued from day to day.
I once did a superslab day on a RnineT scrambler. 16h fast highway on a naked wasn't really pleasant, but the day after in the alps was awesome!
Hi, thanks for extensive and detailed comparison. I rode my former '21 701E over 14.000km of TET in France and Greece, not one reliability issue. But like you, I avoided highway with 701 after I tested it twice, over 500km and 750km. I finally sold the 701E, replaced by a '22 500excf (2nd hand with low hours) that I adventurized, and put it on a trailer to reach the TET tracks. Already 7.000km on it. In parallel, I bought a 890R for road use long trips, after testing T7, Tuareg660, DesertX, AfricaTwin. The most expensive DesertX was my best, the less expensive T7 was my worst, I hesitated between 890R and Tuareg, I prefered the KTM engine, and got a good deal on the 890R. 20:49
Thanks for this great and profound comparison! I had a 701 and it got stolen, then I got a WR450F because I thought the 701 was too heavy. Finally I changed my mind because this riding with a knife between your teeth became too dangerous to me. Believe me or not, I am riding now a Triumph 1200XE Scrambler and I am enjoying the torque and the fantastic adventure bike cruising attitude this bike gives to me, many thanks again and take care!
Thank you very much for the kind words Rainer! Too bad your 701 was stolen, but seems to be a blessing in disguise as you're now enjoying the 1200 Scramber. I haven't ridden it myself, but I think it looks awesome and I can imagine it's a fantastic bike. Ride safe and thanks for watching!
Super helpful video! Thanks a lot
I went from a 2023 super adventure S to a 701 enduro 2023, it is less confortable but definitly both bikes are cool.
Most of the time i go to work with it and you know what ? It is very good on tarmac. Don’t listen to youtuber bullshit (especially when they make video on each bike saying it is the best and then change again) just buy the bike you like and wich gives you a big smile. The rest forget it.
This is the best review on the Internet on these two bikes.
I want to mention something that I have never heard discussed...
The weight of a tire and tube can make a HUGE difference in stability on the highway. I own a DRZ400s and I replaced the stock front tire with a super hard and heavy compound Tusk D-Sport tire PLUS a heavy inner tube PLUS I added rim locks.
This tire setup changed the whole dynamics of my bike. At speed, it creates a gyroscope effect and makes the bike MUCH more stable.
The only problem is the unsprung weight, right? It tends to plow through sand but the tires grip well.
My old tires were the stock death wings.
Thanks for the video!
Really great video! As someone who owned a T7 and now owns a 690r I agree with pretty much all your points
Thank you!
very good to be completely honest with yourself
That was very useful, thanks mate!
Great video!
Not sure if possible with the new 690/701 (probably yes but I guess more expensive) but with the 2013 and older models you could easily remap the throttle body butterfly valve to your liking with TuneEcu (even during a trip through phone and cable!) to be as soft or aggressive as you want. Unlike the true enduro platform (like 500 and less), 690 has motorized throttle body so the input you give it with the throttle is translated to the butterfly valve opening with this "EPT" map.
For example, if you set it to 1:1 on the 2013 model, it will open the throttle as much and as quickly as you open the throttle, producing very aggressive (and fun on the asphalt) throttle response, like a race bike. Good for hooliganing around. However, very challenging for adventure or rally riding because just a tiny bump or movement of your wrist would throw you around.
On other hand, there's an EPT map from a Finnish guy called AMa RPM relative which has super soft throttle response in like 1/3 of the throttle opening and then gradually being more and more aggressive while being 1:1 up from like 60-70% of the throttle opening. It's my favorite: bike is extremely behaved, doesn't want to "go faster" like you mentioned in the video, small movements of the throttle don't do much so you can easily ride standing up while being relaxed. But if you open it up, it picks up the revs and goes really aggressive.
It's too bad we can't easily modify the EPT mapping on the newer 690 as to me, that's one of the biggest selling points of this bike for adv riding in comparison to bikes like KTM 500: the throttle body is controlled by a motor/map, not by your wrist. It's a little "funny" hearing how 690 has this and that throttle/engine and that AJP PR7 is better behaved just due to this reason. I know what you mean and I know it's probably not cheap (or possible at all?) to be able to do this for a newer 690 but the hardware for it is there... If you decide to visit Slovakia one day I can borrow you my old 690 so you can try what I mean. :D
Thank you Rastislav and thanks a lot for chiming in with your knowledge!
I’ve heard the older generations of the 690 could be tuned on the fly, which sounds awesome. The ECU on the Euro5-bikes (21 and older I think) is locked to keep people from tuning them so they’re not longer meeting the emission standards. Just recently I’ve heard about companies being able to ‘trick’ the ECU so it doesn’t take it back to stock settings or throw a check engine light. It’s really sad because the LC4 engine is so good with lots of potential.
Thanks a lot for the invitation, I’ll let you know when I pass by 😁 and likewise if you come up north, my house is open as long as I still live here (which I don’t think is that long 🥶🥶)
@@JohannesDalen Just bought me a 690 and I can't speak for Norway but here in the Netherlands the T7 has almost the same price as the 690 and because I bought the 2022 model (which is the same as 2023 apart from the plastics color) I even got a 1000 euro discount. Also tuning the ECU can be done by all the tuners I know in the Netherlands. There are some CZcams films to be found. Costs about 250-300 euro.
great comparison video
Thank you kind sir!
A lot of excellent advice, Johannes! If you want to ride both roads and off road and are rich, get both! If you are on a budget, like me, get one second hand adventure bike and one second hand off road bike. If you have winter storage, check the listings just before winter and you can have a lot of fun without breaking the bank! See you in the next one!
Thank you Matt!
Dont forget the fact that heavier bikes/twins are more tiring to ride off road even if you are an experienced rider. I would narrow it down to what do you like most to ride…dirt or road? And then choose your bike. If you are a dirt lover you will not mind to suffer on the road to get to the good stuff. If you are a wannabe adv guy then twin is ok. Don’t forget single are for real dirt riding and twin is for mainly road. Of course if you can owning different bikes is the best way to go. Bring the right tool for the job/ride.
That's a very good way to put it, it's kind a like knobby tires they suck on the road but once you get to the dirt it's all worth it
Thoughtful and well tried and tested review Johannes, thanks. PS 2 months without your bike is absolutely a deal breaker.
Thank you Dion, appreciate the kind words!
An honest, down to earth comparison, thank you!
Thanks for watching, ride safe my friend!
Nice video. Do you have any info on any videos about the button controller you have on the left side of your handlebars.? I have heated grips and barkbusters and there is little option when it comes to space.
24:53 Johannes.. I love your room, the photos of your friends etc !
Thank you! It's a lovely picture of a fantastic gang, love them!
I have a T7 and find it a challenge to get through the woods or sand with that motorcycle. Of course it will be easier with a 690. but I love the sound of the T7. and it is super reliable.
Immensely helpful- thanks!
I’m about to make my first dual sport or adventure purchase.
Im leaning toward DR650 for reliability & ease of repair.
Coming from 1Liter naked bikes, I’m concerned I’ll regret the difference in power.
I’ve been considering the 701 as well- however you described my scenario- 3 hours to trails!
I’m not yet any closer to a decision, but appreciate the content you covered.
Very happy to hear Bob!
I think both the DR650 and the 701 would be great for your situation. The 701 is much higher performing, but also much more expensive (and complex). There are other bikes that would do too, but with 3 hours to the trails you want that power to sit comfy on the road. With so much road I’d even consider the ‘middleweight’ adv bikes, but those are much more to handle in the dirt and not good bikes to learn on. The DR is probably the best here as the 701 can be too much for those new to dirt riding. It’s a monster, for good and for bad.
Good luck and if you ever need any help you know where to find me 😊
That was a good talk. I'm looking to start my motor bike hobby, I will probably start in the the 300-450 weight group. Thank you.
Although I haven't had the pleasure of picking it up, I'm enjoying the extra weight on my 22KLR also, compared to the other lighter bikes I've owned. thanks
Another good, fair video and analysis. Would you consider a desert X? I’ve ridden two, and found it to be an amazing piece of kit….. and it’s fun on the twisty tarmac too. The set up on the standard equipment does make a big difference on it too. Lots to play with.
I took my 701 out on the twisty tarmac again the other day, and was reminded how wonderful it is. The brakes and power, just so good.
Thank you Alan!
I would absolutely test ride one and ride it like there’s no tomorrow if they offered me it (obviously 😁), but I wouldn’t buy it myself. I’m very happy with my T7, and the Desert X is quite expensive.
Yes, the 701 is just so good in the twisties, magical!
Just discovered this video, and I think you’re offering great advice. For quite some time I followed reviews of the 690/701 and videos of amazing rides with these bikes in the deserts and mountains of the US southwest and Rocky mountain states. But I live in Massachusetts, and unfortunately that type of riding simply doesn’t exist around here. I decided what’s practical for me is the Tuareg 660, similar to the T7, and I’ve been extremely happy with the Tuareg. Looking forward to more of your reviews!
Hey there Rory, thanks a lot for the kind words! Sounds like you've spent some time figuring out what bike suits your current needs, and the Tuareg 660 is an excellent choice, what a machine!
Ride safe!
I take my my T7 off-road all the time. I've taken it the same places I've taken my wr250r. As long as the T7 is in motion, it does not feel heavy in my opinion.
Happy to hear you’re using your bike! And I agree, it doesn’t feel as heavy when it’s moving, but when it stops 🥴
Interesting topic but one thing to take into consideration when thinking about bike choice is also your definition of adventure.
Every bike made is an adventure bike but some can broaden your scope for adventure, everything from a Honda CT 110 to a GSX R 1000 has been ridden around the world but the GSX R will not go the places a CT 110 will go.
Also take into consideration your budget, not only for the bike but the running cost of the bike, a rear tyre for my T7 is about $280A dollars, a rear tyre for my DR is about $160, chains and sprocket prices, brake pads, servicing cost, simple things like changing spark plugs, the T7 can take hours my DR with the standard tank five minutes, larger aftermarket tank 20 minutes, valve clearance check and adjust, T7 half the day, DR 45 minutes, it all adds up especially if you have to pay a mechanic to do the work.
An adventure bike in my eyes is a bike that does not limit your ability to explore, more to broaden your imagination of where you can explore, itchy boots is a prime example, she has ridden around the world on basically low tech simple bikes and will ride just about anywhere, if she was riding what is marketed as an adventure bike she would probably turned around more often, and she started as a novice rider.
My own personal opinion is that many riders will make a decision on an adventure bike to fit in to their local area because that is all they know, which is understandable but venture away from the know into the unknown then that idea will change, and adventure is about the unknown, Eastern Europe is different to Europe, the conditions of the roads can be very different, Asia is different again, South America is different to North America and so forth.
Adventure should be about exploring different countries or even your own country in places that are different to where you would normally ride, the enjoyment should be about seeing different cultures and scenery and less about how quickly you can ride from A to B.
Light is right every time, putting up with a little discomfort on the road is 100 times better than trying to wrestle a big heavily laden monster up some muddy rock strewn hill, never mind the decent.
Great advice, I ride my ktm500 exc on the highway sometimes, it’s a very exciting experience in the wind 😂
That sounds absolutely terrible 😁
Me too, I did almost 400miles with no sleep the night prior. Kept me awake!
I think you are the first person other than possibly "the Dork in the road' who understands that it is how you use the bike that is important. I am much more likely to get out on my T7WR than ever I was on my LC4 just because its a much nicer place top be. The LC4 was a hoot on the technical stuff, but like you, it was a couple of hours ride away, so I ended up never actually going. Now I do many more miles because of the bike, I am more into the scenery and the experience than overcoming technical tracks, so for me the T7 works so very well.
I’m happy to hear that you’re enjoying your T7 Simon, ride safe!
Hello brother rider from Cincinnati Ohio, USA, I'm planning on a new bike and your video was pretty helpful, I'm more off-road than on and I'm learning towards the 701 thanks
Hello there my friend!
If you’re all about the offroad the 701 is a fantastic bike - ride safe 😊
Light definitely isn't always right... but offroad weight is one of a small number of "key factors" that determine what the right bike is for each task.
On the road weight can also be bad but too little weight can be a problem too (so just being lighter is definitely not automatically better).
The use case for the T7 imo is as an affordable tarmac/light dirt ADV bike... especially for users who want simple electronics.
The use case for an ADV prepped 690/701 (which is nearly DOUBLE the cost of a comparably equipped T7) is for rural paved (no interstate/autobahn) and dirt biased (up to moderate offroad) ADV.
If I would go RTW trip tomorrow - I'd take T7. Just for reliability peace of mind.
All other use cases, for me 701 every day. For more than 15 years I've beed riding over 200kg bikes and, again for me, that is less-fun-zone.
701 is my only bike as I do not like to have multiple motorcycles, so it is a perfect middle for me.
Thanks for the video, Johannes! 👍
Thank you Rafal 😊
Great video.. a subjekt I’ve been thinking a lot about. Still waiting for my little Honda and after that i will have a better ground to “stand on”
Thank you. Yes, while this video was about the 701 and T7, I wanted to talk about the philosophy of use as well - lightweight adv bike vs a heavy adv bike.
Johannes, you are quickly becoming my favorite Moto Journo...
You are covering topics I often think about....and we are of similar size so I can relate.
If I may, Can I ask your opinion on what is being discussed quite often in my part of the world?
With the current events happening in Eastern Europe...and the proclaimed shortages of energy (as it relates to manufacturing and industry), my understanding is that manufacturing is going to take a big hit it the coming years.
What do you forecast the availability of bikes, and their parts/service will be?
As things become more scarce, this becomes more important.
Thanks man.
Thank you for your kind words May!
That is a very interesting question and topic - my answer will be completely speculative as I’m not up to date on the situation. I think we will see a decrease in production, but I also think the biggest manufacturers learned from the covid situation how to deal with issues like energy shortage and dealerships getting shut down. It will be interesting to see. What do you think, will we see a motorcyclr shortage?
Merry christmas to you 😊
Great comparison.
Wish i would have had this video when i picked up my 690 a few years ago. I was a bit blinded by all the raving reviews of the 690 as the unicorn, but after half i year in Norway with around 30% highway riding and lots or asphalt riding daily, i found that a multi cylinder adv bike fits my style way better.
The 690 was awsome at dirt and gravel, not so much as a daily commuter with over 100km work commute.
Currently on a Ktm 1190 ADV R, wish it could have been 30kilos lighter, so i might swap to a Tuareg 660 next season.
Thanks! Well, I’m happy I gave the 690/701 a try and the experience. Trying different bikes is a part of the journey, right? 😁
The Tuareg 660 is a great bike, felt 20kg lighter than my T7 even though they weigh the same.
@Johannes Motorcycle Adventures Absolutely, that's why I'm at all the demo rides i can go too each summer😀
Yeah I did test ride the Tuareg and it was great, felt lighter than my 790 adv r aswelll which I sold this fall.
Thank you - this was extremely useful. I currently have the T7 and I love the bike, but I am not a big guy (5'8"), so it can be challenging to ride in the harder offroad stuff (like heavy sand).
I am really happy to hear that your comparison between the 2 bikes was exactly what I was hoping - I am considering adding the KTM 690 to my Garage as more of a technical offroad bike that I can handle more easily on my local, deep sand and mud trails and keeping my T7 dedicated for true the 50/50 ADV rides (like BDRs).
Hello there, I'm very happy to hear you found it helpful!
A T7 and a 690 is a sweet combo no doubt about it, but may I ask why you're not considering something even lighter than the 690, if it is for deep sand and mud? I guess that comes down to how far you have to travel to get to those trails. If it is a couple of hours a lighter offroad bike can be taxing on the road to get there, but once you're there a light bike like a Husky FE350 is a completely different animal than the already very capable 690. Just trying to help you out the best I can :)
You’re certainly right that weight contributes a lot to a planted feeling on the street (especially in windy conditions) however I invite you to also consider that wheelbase plays an important role in stability at speed.
The T7 has quite a long wheelbase compared to most bikes and is about 4 inches (or 100mm) longer than the 701/690, and even more when the suspension sags under rider weight!
Congrats on the 350, very sweet bike👌🏼
That is a very good point, and it’s easy for me to say now, but when I said talked about angle of the fork and rake, I actually had wheelbase in mind 😅 that makes a different as well, no doubt and thanks for pointing it out!
Thank you, and Merry Christmas 😊
Don't forget about wheel weight, it plays a big role also. But hey, embrace the leaf in the wind character and stay below 130km/h
@@JohannesDalen Thanks and a happy new year to you Johannes! Enjoy your two wheelers ;) Btw a very close friend just moved to Stavanger so I’ll probably go see him and get to visit your beautiful country in a few months👌🏼
Great comparo thanks ! - Yeah as much as the 701 appeals to me, at 57 years old I think it is the T7 for me, I have ridden a DRZ400e for 10,000 klms mostly on road and concluded weight (and wind protection) matters ! - I have to ride through a windy/wet mountain freeway , as part of my 2 hour trip into the city.
Thank you John! Weight and wind protection definitely plays a role - I recall being absolutely exhausted after riding highway on the 701 for extended periods of time. Not the bikes fault, not meant for highway riding, but it is often a necessary evil. T7 sounds like the better choice for you!
Fairplay what a great informative video very honest and straight to the point, I think I’ll getting a 710.
Happy to hear Jon, best of luck with your 701, it's a great machine!
Out of curiosity, how much faster does the 701 feel compared to the T7? Is it a considerable difference?
They both have an amazing mpg or kpl much better than a lot of the 450s -500cc Enduros out there
I really like your video, I have a WR450F and a GS1250 which is a fantastic duo, one for off-road rally or travel in off-road and the GS for long trips. I considered the 701 for long trips off-road and road… then considered a 250 for enduro then I am pack to what Pavlin says that best bike it’s the one you have. I could think of 10 bikes that we definitely need lol. I think your review it’s really important as from 701 you jump to T7 or KTM 790 and your points are really on point. There are no bad bikes, but depending on what you want, there is one for you. Just cannot do it all with 1.
Thank you very much Marco. A 450F and the mighty GS sure does sound like a nice combination! Ride safe my friend 😊
I think I'd get the 701. I have more highways to cover and I don't have the most trails, but the main offroad riding I'd have is sand dunes and the speed limits where I live is 80kmh. With a fork stabilizer, a windscreen, and a wider saddle, I just wouldn't notice the difference
Thank you for the thorough comparison between the T7 and the 701 because both of these bikes are my ideal bikes. It's clear: whatever the bike you choose you will be glad, it's only up to everyone to know what driving conditions face the most.
Nice that you did come back to the T7... It says much about this wonderful bike! But wouldn't you better buy the T7 World Raid variant? It has slight lower center of gravity, bigger deposit and better suspensions, besides other minor upgrades over the basic T7, although it's a fatter lady.
It does, and I've made a few videos explaining why I went with another T7 and why I didn't go with the WR. Comes down to cost really, the WR was significantly pricier than the standard version. The WR price was close to an 890 adv r, used Africa Twin and many other adv bikes, so if I decided to look closer at the WR, I would have to consider many other bikes as well, whereas the standard T7 was much cheaper and would do the same thing as the WR. Hope that clarified my choice :)
In addition to that, the center of gravity of the WR is actually a little higher than the standard version because the bike has taller suspension and carries more fuel. Probably not very noticeable, but neither an improvement imho.
@@ebmm97 Yes, you are right. But normally the bike does not go with the deposit filled at its full capacity, hence most times the actual center of gravity may be situated slightly lower, because the deposits are located at the sides of the bike more than on top.
Nice vid mate, but you overlooked one aspect of these two bikes, you can put a supermoto wheels on 701, and that opens whole other dimension for 701 ;)
Thank you for the very detailed comparison based on real experience. I have a 701 I am building (rade fairing, etc) and a little concerned about long distance road travel (preparing for a trip to Mexico/Baja). I tried to buy a T7 in 2021 - but was not willing to pay a dealer markup of $3000. I also have a 950SE and the heavier bikes are more stable at 120+ km/hr. If you have a stabilizer on the bike, crank it down on the freeway - it helps!
Note- sorry to hear about the gasket - ktm parts are usually very quick to get in the states.
Outstanding comparison! I just picked up a 2017 Husky 701 to add to my fleet. I seems like the "unicorn" to me. Fits in between my 350EXC and 1190R. It will do pretty much everything the other bikes will do. The flip side is it doesn't do anything as well. Is it me, or is the 690/701 platform more of a blank slate than any other KTM?? Its begging for modifications to personalize and make it your own! What a era we live in to have so many amazing machines to pick from!
Thank you very much!
Congrats on the new Husky, I like the previous generation better than the current one with less tech and longer suspension travel.
Extreme good review! I am looking in between these two with AJP PR7
Thank you Petter!
Can’t go wrong with either. T7 is the better adventure bike, 690/701/PR7 the better offroad machine - it all depends on your typical riding and trail availability. I think the PR7 is slightly more ‘exotic’ than the 690/701 😁
@@JohannesDalen I would so much like a review by you of the PR7.
Well done!
Thank you Ralf!
Hey Johannes I live your videos. I own a 701and I love it. I do agree with you with regards to highway riding. Lucky for me I don't need to do to much if it. My question is did you ever try different gearing? I'm thinking of trying a bigger front sprocket for the highway and then switch to a stock sprocket for single track?
Hi there Jason and thank you very much for your kind words 😊
Different gearing did cross my mind, but I never got to try it myself. Ride safe and enjoy your 701!
Thanks for the review and I have to agree with your conclusions. This thing we all seek, 'the unicorn', is so subectively defined that it is as difficult to answer the question as it is to find the bike. My journey has been 1090 Adv R - 690 enduro - t700. All great bikes and no question the 690 leaves the other two for dead on the technical trails but the overlap between the two types of bike is greater than I thought and you don't have to push too far chasing the 350/450s before the 690 starts to feel like a bit of a bus. As a one bike family, I got the 690 because I wanted an allrounder that best tackled the most difficult things I wanted to do. I have moved to the t700 as I have learned I actually want an allrounder that best tackles the things I do most often. Life would be dull if we had all the answers :-)
Thank you Andy! I like how you end your comment, «if we had all the answers». Even though I’ve spent a lot of money buying, modding and selling bikes trying to find the ‘ultimate’ bike, the journey has been really interesting and a lot of fun. It’s all about perspective 😁
@@JohannesDalen and we love the journey...
I have a Victory Cross Country and even on it I still avoid highway riding like the plague... 😉 Even though with an ADV, I'll be doing even less highway riding and I'm an experienced off-road single track rider, I still feel the T7 is the best choice for my intended ADV uses. I also plan to do very little to it, front
ear springs for my weight, a high exhaust, proper hand guards and maybe a set of Fasst Flexx bars...
Thank you for such an in-depth look at both bikes 👍
Had to Google the Victory - that looks like an amazing bike for the highway 😁 cool to hear that you’re experienced with offroad riding, that’s a very important factor when it comes to these heavier adventure bikes.
Thanks for watching my friend 😊
@@JohannesDalen ... The big ol' Vic is most fun on the back roads and Twisties ..I really don't like being on the highway, I only ride them if I have to make time. Mostly I ride single track and Enduro on a Husky TE250.
Didn’t know you uploaded videos too, subsribed! Looking forward to some single track action, that always gets me in the right mood 😁
@@JohannesDalen ..Wow thank you 😎. I'm not crazy active on making vids, but I get them out when I can. Now it's winter here so I won't be out much until March.
you're right it all depends on skill!
What do you think about the ktm 890 the norden expedition 901 and honda 750 transalp? If bigger is better?
sold my 701, bought a GS1250…. destroy my back and looking back to buy a new 701 enduro again. lesson learn at the hospital.
Good video again. Did you try KTM 790 adventure r or the 890?
Thank you!
No, not recently. I’ve ridden the 890r in the past, and it’s a great machine. Actually, now with all the new videos about the 2023 890s I have to admit it’s growing on me 😬
Good content. Was curious about your thoughts on the 701 vs Tuareg660. (Personally im split between these two. Apples to oranges but who cares, im split between these two)
Great summary of two very different bikes. Frankly, the T7 has a wet weight of 452 pounds and my 2011 GS has a weight weight of 505 pounds. Yes, my GS is again heavier than the Yamaha but with the lower cylinders, it doesn't feel nearly as top heavy. The other problem with the T7 is that if it does fall over, it's like a dead buffalo lying flat on the ground where with my GS, the cylinder heads (and guards) keeps the bike up off the ground by 20 to 25 degrees which makes it far easier to lift. My point is that for a 1200 cc motorcycle, it is easier to go off road than the T7 and more comfortable. As stated by Johannes, if my purpose was to do technical off road riding, I would sell the GS and go to the KTM 690 and forget about the T7 altogether.
Fantastic comparison, more food for thought. I was locked into the T7 until finding the 701... still unsure.
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Thank you! I saw your other comment, an hour each way to the TET is doable in my opinion. But personally I’d still go with the T7 because I like to travel further than only the local trails. Yes you could continue to ride the Spanish TET for several days, but what if you decided to ride to France or down to north Africa? Trying my best to help you out 😁
@@JohannesDalen if I were to guess, there are many local trails but the Spanish TET (which you are likely aware) can be taken down to Gibralter and into N. Africa or done in a circular route up through all of Portugal, across the north of Spain through Bilbao, and back down to my starting point near Valencia. To be honest I have always despised highway travel on a bike, would much rather stay on secondary roads 99% of the time if possible. Coming form (my Enduro racing days looong ago) a 110kg Bultaco Alpina and Matador I love the thought of lightweight.. I have a T7 with Ohlins in the back of my mind, and still not warm and fuzzy about the Valencia 701 dealer network, and that is a big factor also.. I have a solution for you, a car and bike trailer for the 701! 🤑
For $5,800 I got a 2015 wee strom adventure fully loaded with 17,000 miles on it. I knew the type of writing I wanted to do I wanted to see places take dirt roads to camp spots explore remote locations and do it and comfort and I’m in no hurry it’s the perfect bike for me. Just be realistic with yourself!
I’ve watched your video and just purchased a brand new 701 ! 😂👍🏻
(I do live in Portugal 🇵🇹 Algarve though !) 19:49
Nice, congrats! For Portugal the 701 makes all the sense in the world. Are you Portuguese or moved there? I'd love to, sick and tired of Norwegian winters..
In Australia, the bikes are within $200 new but you have to spend $1000+ on the T7 suspension and it’s top heavy. If you don’t like 200 kg bikes or you want modern electronics, there is only one choice.
You're either talking about the 701 or the DR650 - did you mean want or don't want modern electronics? That will decide :D
@@JohannesDalen not sure why the DR is mentioned here, it’s only about the T7 vs the 690/701. I’ve had 3 DRs, including a 790 which was pretty impressive on the road. Great point you make re analysing where and what terrain you ride on. I avoid sealed roads where possible and trailer my bike to rides so road comfort is secondary.
Reason it could have been the DR is because I didn’t understand if you meant that one wanted modern electronics or not. And you’re from Australia (where everyone rides a DR it seems) 😁
But yeah, I can imagine the 701 being a perfect bike for most Aussie conditions. I really like Dave Darcys videos starring the 701, makes perfect sense to have a bike like that in those places.
Having ridden the T7 and own a 690 I’d have to side with the 690. T7 is great and a giggle to ride off-road as in ‘I really shouldn’t be boosting drainage ditches on a 220kg bike but it’s fun to do and I know it’ll get away with it’ for me T7 is a bit down on power for serious touring and more of an entry level adv bike over the 890/1290R.
690 as stock is a bit disappointing and doesn’t live up to the enduro branding (suspension is utter crap) but with SX forks, a 300mm shock and 10kg diet, it’s great at long distance trail riding, rally racing and not too bad at hare and hounds so wins for me. Also if I could afford multiple bikes for off-road stuff it would be a 390-450 enduro bike for racing and a modded 990R adv for TET stuff but the 690 is a strong compromise between the two. It does depend on where you live and what trails are around you, it they’re all graded gravel roads and you’re not fussed for rally or Baja then the T7 works best guess and a decent rider will be able to hustle a 200+ kg bike round easier than a newbie could a Freeride so it’s all relative
Thanks for chiming in Ricky. I found it particularly interesting that you say the WP Xplor is utter crap. As stated in the video I'm not able to ride it very hard, but I found it to be much better than most bikes I've ridden, besides the PR7. Perhaps KTMs done a really good job marketing the Xplor package as a "premium" suspension package as many reviewers call it the best for adv riding in the 890 adv r.
@@JohannesDalen it’s probably more than ok for 50/50 ADV riding but not so much for proper off-roading.
The support feels linear over the stroke of the which is a road bike thing. For off-road stuff we tend to want compliance off the bottom with some progression from about half way through the stroke. This gives plenty of feel and grip for the slow speed stuff with enough support left for the bigger hits etc kinda that bottomless enduro bike feeling. The linear set up tends to feel more crashy and wallows so you end up all kinds of stability/grip issues at higher speeds and rougher terrain.
Granted there’s a lot of marketeering involved with anything in the adv/dual sport/enduro sector because they can get away with it as everyone has their own definition of what their type of riding is and the terrain is that varied across all sectors hence why we have to spend a fortune modifying our bike to make the fit for our purpose
@@rickybobby7660 Interesting, what did you do to make it 10kg lighter?
@@alexanderzhulin3528 battery, exhaust and ditch the abs
Different arrows in the quiver for different applications.
Hi, very nice your video, and, one question: for tarmac, if forgot about hightway, for crowd city night commuting, more cold, lots of cars, what you prefer? 701 or t7? Thanks. 🤗
Thank you!
Easily the 701, it rips around with such ease. Quick off the line and quick to slow down 😊
I don’t understand why you can’t own both bikes? I currently have 4 in the garage. 2021 Husky 701E, 2017 Honda Africa Twin (comparable to T7), 2014 Yamaha FJR100ES (cross country touring 2-up), and a 2017 Triumph Bonneville T100 for cruising around town on warm days. Even with so many bikes, they still don’t even add up expense wise to one single high-end sports car. The only hard thing is deciding which one I want to ride each day.
As a complement to an excellent video, I will add from my asian experience that 701 is more for a week end in Europe or USA, T7 lack of tech. becomes an advantage when you are far from the dealer and you cannot fix easily a minor fault.This is not a problem when you live in France or Norway but becomes quite an issue when you travel in India or Philippines where you don't need to look for adventure as it will come to you on the road.
Thank you Edouard!
The design of the KTM seems to be a happy median for balance so playing around with tank placement may move you closer to a solution.
Light isn't always right but it is if you've dropped your fully loaded bike on a steep hill.
I'm lucky enough to have several bikes and if it's technical and there's a chance of dropping the bike then light is the only choice
You're absolutely correct, the 701 definitely pushes you to ride faster and test your comfort zone. I'm finding that now I want to ride a bit slower and enjoy the views, so probably selling 701 for a T7 plus just love that T7 engine sound. Yo from NZ
T7 is a more relaxed bike no doubt about it. Are you set on the T7, or any other mid weight adv bikes?
Yo right back at you, NZ, that's incredibly exotic!
@JohannesDalen G'day Johannes, 😁 yeah, NZ's great place to ride. Here in Nelson we are surrounded by endless back country trails and gravel roads. You can link up dirt all day but equally the highways are amazing aswell. Most riding I do is not so technical and normally on some type of old farm road or 4x4 track. 701 is a great bike and the weight is great. But I'm finding I'm getting tired on long days in the saddle. I'm not interested in 790 or 890. I've been keen to try Africa twin1000 but I think T7 is perfect middle ground for me soon. Cheers ridelifenz
Good job ! did you changed the front or back suspension springs on T7?
Thank you!
Yes, stiffer springs for my weight both front and back, but nothing else. I have a whole video regarding the suspension on this bike 😊
Light is always better…
The t7 is a top heavy monster, it’s only popular for 2 reasons
1. It was the first midrange twin that was considered reliable
2. T7 fanbois who had the original.
Having thoroughly watched your videos with relative content i'm trying to find an answer in a very specific question. On medium to hard pack gravel (with enough stones..) the Tenere with its xtra weight and its XL dirt bike behavior achieves a quality ride relieving the stress from riders hands - even when sitting on the seat. On the same type of road, a pure enduro like a TE250i, jumps from stone to stone due to its harder suspension, lighter and stiffer frame. A bigger adventure bike like a Tiger 800, has slower reactions, requires more attention, its suspension works overtimes and in the end just tells you to get out of the gravel and return to asphalt. Which behaviour do you believe that feels closer to 701's traits and habbits? Does it have enough plushness (!) or it feels rigid and stiff as an enduro bike on gravel? I didnt have a chance to ride so far an 701/690 on dirt and i would really appreciate your opinion on the quality of the ride on gravel comparing to the Tenere. I am pretty sure that it will be more capable in tight stuff but is it comfortable on lighter stuff (on dirt) also? Thanks in advance!
Great channel, amazing landscape, analytical videos. Keep up the good work!
Thank you very much for your kind words!
That’s a great question. I think the 701 is closer to a T7 than it is to a proper dirt bike. It is more twitchy than the T7 on gravel, and not as comfortable but much quicker to slow down, corner and accelerate. The T7 is very comfortable on gravel, if that is due to weight, suspension or frame geometry I really can’t say, but I guess it’s a combination.
If you enjoy covering gravel in a comfortable way, T7 wins, if you’re more of a racer who likes to push it, 701. T7 can of course be ridden fast, but in my experience the 701 didn’t enjoy to be ridden slow, it wants to go.
I highly advice you to test it yourself, remember that I’m just your average rider 😁
All the best to you!
I plan trip from Europe to Dacar .. i will drive on send to ...so i'm closer to 701 with LR tank mod
That’s why I cancelled my norden 901 expedition order. I didn’t want any issues or wait months for parts. The T7 is the perfect ADV bike. It’s supper simple, reliable, parts are always available, aftermarket support is huge. Dealer network is way better then ktm/husky.
In short, the answer is one bike is not enough 😂
Well summarized Jose 😆
3 minimum. ;)
You hit the nail on the head, I have a 701 but have to drive far to the trails, looking now to buy a tenere 700, we are in the same boat and have to drive long way to the trails, so highway comfort is a important thing
I have not ridden the tenere but I will say my 701 is more user-friendly in the trails than a 450. Not necessarily in weight but engine management. The lc4 rolls on so smoothly.
I would be very interrested to hear your view on the KTM 790 / 890 Adventure R and how it fits between these two bikes
I have ridden the 890 before, but that’s a long time ago and I’ve improved a lot as a rider since then, so it would be really fun to ride it again! Too bad the local KTM dealer doesn’t seem to offer test rides. I’ll see what I can do Julien 😊
@@JohannesDalen I'm really wondering if it would be the ''Unicorn'' for people like us. I've got a very similar profile to you. I've got a T7, my first dirt oriented bike but I live in central London. Getting to a trail takes me hours so I need something for road use but when I'm hitting technical muddy trail I struggle a lot with the weight and the top heavy tank. Lifting the bike is ok, but can become very challenging... I also did a few rallys last year including the Gibraltar race and my god, the T7 was so hard to use for me. The 701 is where my heart is going but it will be too light for my use like you ....
So I'm wondering if the 890 R is the solution, as confortable as a T7 on the road but the low center of gravity should help us a lot in technical parts and also to lift the bike up when on the ground. Curious to hear what you think.
Yeah, and based on what I’ve heard and experienced myself I’d say the 890 is closer to that ‘unicorn’ than the T7. Have you ridden or considered the Tuareg 660?
London, cool, are you going to the ABR festival this year?
@@JohannesDalen I haven't checked out the Tuareg 660 and not planning too as I find this bike pretty ugly in my humble opinion ... I like nice looking bike and the Aprilla doesnt do it for me :)
Unfortunately, I'm not going to the ABR festival as I'm getting married that weekend ! Guess you will be around ? Let me know if you need safe parking in central london for a layover.
Looks is important, and I agree, the Tuareg isn’t the prettiest. The newest 890 looks excellent!
Oh, nice, congrats! I might go there, I’ll have to see if I have the time. And thanks for the offer 😊
Since you’re a Londoner, I just have to ask, you’re a Gunner right? 😁
Great video mate. For someone who has great riding of all varieties at my door step it's not a matter of which bike, but how can I afford both? As a rider still heavily into enduro (I also own a Beta 300 and Honda CRF450X), it's the 690/701 for me when I can make that happen. I currently own a 625SXC which I've had my fair share of problems with though so i'd buy another pumpkin with trepidation. If only Honda would man up and release a CRF650L, or Beta a 650RR then life would be better than it is already. Greetings from Northern Rivers, Australia :)
Thanks a lot Bill, appreciate the kind words. Even though there's no CRF650L or Beta 650, it does sound like you're doing all right, with trails and all those great bike to ride :) Thanks for the greetings, right back at you from cold southern Norway, ride safe!
@@JohannesDalen I'm doing real well. My problems are purely of the first world variety. I'll be keen to hear your experiences of the T7 when you've had it longer. Cheers mate.
Hello. What navigation mount do you have installed?
Hello Marcin - I have a video about my nav setup if you look through my videos 😊 it’s a Samsung tablet in a Brodit holder.
i ve choosed 690 enduro R. unicorn bike!
Light is always right.
This comparison only makes sense if u can have one bike. If you can have at least 2 then 100% skip the 690 for the t7 and get a ktm 350 or 500 for off-road
I was looking on a T7/desertX for a long time but the more I'm thinking the more I consider it's just better to get something lighter off road capable and put it in trailer and just do those long boring highway miles in comfort and safety of my car. Being exposed to high speed traffic, weather conditions is boring and unnecessary imo. I'm thinking to get to desto in a car with trailer and hit the trails from there. I would like to hear some opinions about this :)
I almost sold my 701 to get a T7 but once I added the Coober piggyback module and Rade Garage gas tank it has become the perfect adventure bike. I did also add the Rade Garage Rally kit as well. Before the Coober it struggled at 70mph. Now it purrs at 80mph. Offroad there is no comparison. The 701 is WAY better.
Happy to hear, for offroad the 701 is the clear winner. Just got to ride it again down in Portugal, a fantastic machine. Cool to hear the Coober works, it’s very jerky in stock trim.
@@JohannesDalen Yes, the Coober made an absolutely amazing difference in everything. It is super smooth and and it feels like it added 25HP, not sure the actual numbers but the power is substantially better. I used to struggle riding on the freeway but now it is super smooth and is not working hard like stock. I have 9 other bikes to choose from so I am not selling myself on this, it literally has become the bike I enjoy the most. I would certainly take my Harley or GS on long distance travel over the 701 but the 701 I can ride for 100 miles to my off road destination and be perfectly happy and much more capable when I get there. I used to own two diff KTM1290ADR's and they were great but offroad was just not fun. I truly believe that the 701 or 690 with a few mods make for THE best adventure bikes and I experimented for years, love your channel btw!
@@chrisvantassel8867
Do you have the Euro 5 Husky 701 (2020+)?
I heard the Coober piggyback does not really work on those.
@@FulTrotl I do not, I have a 2017. Have you contacted Coober? I would imagine they will develop one that works on the Euro 5 models but that is just speculation. It would be a shame if they did not develop anything for the newer models, mine went from a bike I was gong to sell to my favorite bike I own it was such a great difference. Good luck though.
This is a great comparison over all. In one point i partially disagree with your conclusions. I own a 2020 701 with the rade kit. When it comes to high speed riding (i dont go our german Autobahn on a motorcycle, but i sometimes come in the 160+kmh range when overtaking or just having fun in tha Alps) i found that it seems not only to be the weight that gives the T7 its advantage. It is the low front fender. After changing to a low fender the bike felt completely different. It is stil a kind of nervous if you grab the handlebar too tight, but if ridden properly it is like a scalpel now. I would recommend every 690/701 rider with the rade kit to remove the high fender and go for a fast test ride. Costs you nothing and you can see if it makes the same difference for you as it did for me.. Best regards, Simon
Thank you Simon and thanks for chiming in. That makes perfect sense - the high vs low fender thing completely slipped my mind.
Did you really park the 701 2 months at the dealer for that minor sweating gasket?
You are right in pointing out the priorities of the rider are key.
I still have a 2010 690 R with +72,000 km and counting and I rather compromise on comfort than on performance.
When I lived in Mexico I rode some 46.000 km in Mexico and Central Amerika with a 2014 690 with the confidence, that the bike and suspension will survive any hidden obstacle, any tope, any deep hole in road and would get me through almost any terrain. It has proven to fulfil that expectation more than once.
This year I bought a 890R for long-distance riding and even took it to the TransItalia Marathon. Same as for the 690, the suspension of the 890 is very capable. The additional weight is felt, but as I got more comfortable with this bigger bike, I have to admit, that the 890 is almost as capable as the 690. Just more physically demanding.
As you said, on long road distance the twin 890 rides more comfortable and less tiring than the 690.
I plan a South America gravel road trip for next winter and, I guess, I will take the 890.
Correction, I didn’t leave the bike at the dealer for two months, but I waited for the gasket for two months. My mistake, adding a correction at the top of the comments too.
Interesting to hear your experience, it echoes mine. The middleweight adventure bikes are surprisingly capable even though they are heavy, and a lot more comfortable on the road.
Love your review. However I live in Oz. For the riding I do with my wife (who rides an AT1000 and CRF300iF & I have KTM1290s and R) we both found the T7 was just too heavy. In fact even at low speed the 1290R actually feels lighter. Also we both found it very boring and lacking in character.
I’ve ridden a friends 690r but ended up with a 701 because the link rear suspension is just better at holding on in difficult single track conditions.
Again great comparison.
Thank you very much!
You and your wife are right, the T7 has a strange way of carrying its weight, it feels heavier than what it really is. Seems like the middleweight adventure bike that’s come out since the T7 have all learned from this and put in a serious effort to lower the center of gravity. The Tuareg 660 is the same weight as the T7, but it feels like 20kg less at least.
Thanks for watching and chiming in, ride safe both you and the wife (awesome that you ride together!)
@@JohannesDalen Thanks: 😃👍
Great comparison video. What are your thoughts on a four year extended factory warranty for $1000 for the T7? Think it is worth it?
Thank you Dave!
Good question. This is only my approach to it, but since the T7 has a proven reliability record I don't spend any extra money on warranty. I do all the service work myself too, so the warranty is probably already voided on a new bike. Did the same with my first T7 too. With my 701, because it's not as reliable based on the research I did, I took it to the dealer.
@@JohannesDalen thank you very much for your speedy reply. Very helpful!
Dont know how it is in Norway but in Sweden the T7 comes with 6 years warranty standard, and if you do all the oilchanges with Yamalube and save and register recieps at a Yamahadealer you get 10 years or 150 000km engine warranty.
@@rasmusfagerlund6694
Wow, that’s pretty amazing compared to what we have here in the US. So here is what they offered me at the dealership over the cost of the motorcycle which comes with a “12 month factory warranty”
1st option: 4 year extended warranty for $991.00 which makes it a 5 year with the one year that’s included.
2nd option: 5 year wheel and tire warranty for $494.00
3rd option: 5 year battery warranty for $299.00
If I were to do a lot of hard-core riding the wheel and tire might benefit me only because of the wheels but we all know 95% of us would change out the tires to something else when they wear out.
Not going to do the battery warranty because when that goes I would do a more liter option.
We know the CP2 engine is bulletproof so I’m not worried about the motor but is the $991 worth covering electronics and wiring?
Oh, they do offer a VIP prepaid maintenance plan but I didn’t let him finish because I plan to do my own maintenance.
@@davehartsock9106 Okey, but I bet a T7 is cheaper in the US, my 2021 Rally cost 14000$ here in Sweden