manager of yesteryear and motorcycling legend ) used to tell me many years ago – the throttle goes both ways , learn to use it properly . The Yamaha makes it easy . On the road the 689cc DOHC , liquid-cooled , parallel twin engine is plenty quick enough . It ’ s flexible and efficient , well enabled by six excellent gear ratios that match engine performance extremely well . Some riders may feel they need more power and they could be right ... but I ’ d say only really with the added load of luggage and or a pillion . However , for gravel roads exploring and blasting I doubt a larger capacity bike will much be quicker – the Yamaha will eagerly show 160km / h on the dash on gravel straights . This kind of riding would guarantee a big bike ’ s rear tyre being toast at the day ’ s end if you ’ re properly on it , while the T700 should still have reasonable tyre life left .
SWEET CHASSIS The chassis , handling and suspension are not too far from the engine in the ratings stakes frankly . The brakes too are great at both ends with plenty of power and feel across all potential conditions from tarmac to slick mud . On the road the steering is agile , yet planted and stable . It is confidence inspiring . Full knobblies reduce the planted feeling and grip , but this is completely understandable and normal when using knobbly tyres on the road . Obviously , the payback comes with vastly superior offroad grip , gravel road precision and greatly reduced wheelspin when pressing on . On gravel with quality knobbly tyres the T700 will reassuringly slide the front a little in to a turn and we already know it drifts great on the way out . It ’ a truly capable and fun in turns as well as stable at speed .
KIWI RIDER 57