After 400 miles, the T7?s seat was getting hard, but the LED headlight performed brilliantly as darkness began to envelope the desert.Photos by the author and Steve Yates.

Based on Kevin Wing?s first ride on the all-new 2021 Yamaha Ténéré 700 (Rider, August 2020 and on ridermagazine.com), I knew the T7 worked quite well, wherever one chooses to ride it. With more than 65,000 adventure-heavy miles on my 2009 BMW F 800 GS, I?m looking for a newer replacement and the T7 could be it. When I was offered one equipped with a host of Yamaha accessories for a long-term test, I jumped at the chance.

Off I went, into the desert and around California?s Central Coast, to check out the T7 when it?s dressed up, loaded down and ready to roam. After 3,000 miles of mixed riding ? everything from fast freeways to wide-open desert roads, twisty canyons and off-pavement excursions ? I?m impressed. My rear end, not so much. Initially comfortable, the narrow seat became a pain in the butt after a few hours. 
Sandy washboard roads stretch to the horizon in the Mojave Desert. The T7 ate them up and asked for more.

The first add-on was Yamaha’s heavy-duty Main Stand ($364.99; shopyamaha.com). With a spot-on balance point, the centerstand elevates the rear wheel while keeping the front end easy to lift, simplifying chain maintenance and flat repairs. Given the T7?s tubed tires, there?s no plug-and-go option.

Before hitting the road, I packed my gear into Yamaha?s Aluminu...