Ténéré 700 World Raid

Last year Yamaha teased us with the T7 Ténéré concept and the media went crazy.  Every website and magazine article talked about the possibilities a smaller Ténéré could bring to the "adventure" crowd.   The competition already had smaller adventure motorcycles in the 700/800 class but Yamaha was still pushing the very old 660cc Ténéré.   Another year has gone by and while everyone expected Yamaha to announce a production model for 2018, a new concept was announced instead.   What a disappointment at least on my part.  This time we get the Ténéré 700 World Raid.

Courtesy of Yamaha

Don't get me wrong, the World Raid is a beautiful concept and I think Yamaha is going in the right direction but, come one Yamaha, by the time you finally release this model the competition will have taken over the market in this range.   Maybe Yamaha is just waiting to sell all the Super Ténéré before they announce the new model but I believe there's a market for both models and the wait will do more harm than good to Yamaha.

Using the rugged rally-inspired character of the original T7 concept bike and using the information gained from intensive testing of the T7 during 2017, Yamaha developed this prototype model which is being used to develop the final specification of the production model. 
The 700 World Raid prototype uses the same highly acclaimed 689cc 2-cylinder crossplane concept engine that has been used in the popular MT-07.

Test riders will be riding the Ténéré 700 World Raid around the world throughout 2018 as part of a “World Raid Tour but there's still no word on a production bike in sight.

Cameras

As I start planning for my new trip I have to look back at my last big trip and re-examine everything I did.  My trip to Alaska in 2012 was only 34 days, this new trip will last much longer and involve much more diverse terrain.
Getting weather predictions for a 34 day ride to Alaska in the summer is pretty easy.  There was only one country border to cross, even though I crossed the Canadian border a few times, and it is pretty easy for American citizens.  On my new trip I will be crossing lots of borders with various degrees of difficulties and requirements.

As I keep reflecting back on my trip, one of the issues that keeps popping up is how much I carried and what I will need to carry this time.  The selection of what to include as part of my kit is made more difficult due to the changes in weather, altitude, terrain and the duration of the trip.  The "how to" pack everything on a motorcycle also complicates things, as everyone knows, space on a motorcycle is limited. Another major issue is the carrying capacity of the motorcycle while at the same time keeping in mind that weight is a killer when adventuring off road.  Below is my Yamaha Super Tenere when I rode to Alaska.

I definitely do not want to be like the riders below.

As the start date counts down I will be making a series of post discussing my preparation and the various pieces of equipment I will be taking.  On this post I will be talking about cameras and supporting equipment.

During my Alaska trip I carried a Canon T3i 35mm DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) with two lens for the camera and a small Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T99 point and shoot camera in my tank bag.  Sometimes I would hang the small camera around my neck and inside my jacket so I could pull it out fast and photograph something even while riding like the photos below.  I know, it's not safe but I only do it when I'm alone on the road.  I did manage to break the Sony's back screen and even though I could still use it, I discarded the camera after the trip.





For high-quality photos, there’s no substitute for a DSLR camera. The biggest problem with DSLR's is they are susceptible to being damaged due to vibration and dust specially while changing the lens, and the bulky size makes them difficult to store on the bike. I have been spending a lot of time researching cameras to find out what would be the best compromise between quality and weight.

I'm a photographer and for my photography business I use two Canon 7D's, a full frame Canon 6D and my trusty Canon T3i that I took to Alaska.  For last year's trip to Alaska with my wife in an RV I bought a Canon PowerShot SX60 HS because of the 65x telephoto lens which is equivalent to 21-1365mm SLR lens.

The SX60 is a great camera when you need to take photos from very far as the photos below show.  The sequence of photos below were taken from the top of a mountain in the Alyeska ski resort in Girdwood, Alaska.  I believe on the last photo I actually used 2x digital zoom combined with the 65x telephoto zoom.

Having a great zoom range is not very important when you want to take photos of landscapes as it compacts the image, in fact a wide angle lens is much more useful to expand the surrounding landscape.  The long telephoto lens only comes in handy when you have wildlife to photograph or you can't get near a location but you still want a closeup.  A long telephoto lens is also useful when you want to take candid photos of people without them knowing.

You might be asking yourself now, why am I mentioning all these specs? and that's because I wish one camera could do everything, unfortunately that's never the case, there's always compromises.  The 7D is a very rugged camera used by professional photographers and I'm sure it would be able to withstand the trip and the harsh conditions but it weighs 860 g (1.90 lb) without a lens.

Below is the weight of the Canon cameras I own:
EOS 7D 860 g (1.90 lb) Body only
EOS 6D 770 g (1.70 lb) Body only
XS60 650 g (1.43 lb) with 65x lens
T3i 570 g (1.26 lb) Body only

These are two new Canon cameras I'm considering:
SL2 453 g (1.00 lb) Body only
M6 343 g (0.76 lb) Body only

Since weight is very important as mentioned at the top, I'm now considering two new cameras.  The SL2 is probably the smallest and lightest Canon SLR on the market and the M6 is one of the lightest mirrorless cameras.  The SL2 is almost half the weight of the 7D and the M6 is even lighter.  All these cameras accept the EF-S lens format except for the 6D and the XS60.  Since I own quite a few EF-S lens I will stay with Canon, if I were to buy from a different manufacturer it would entail buying all new lens.  So it all comes down to weight and lenses.  I'm leaning into buying the M6 and pairing it with my 10-22mm lens, a great wide-angle lens allowing me to capture landscapes like the ones below.





I am considering taking the XS60 for the amazing 65x zoom but it's heavy and bulky, would probably take too much space in my tank bag and definitely could not be hung around my neck.  It's also not waterproof but I envision needing a camera for when it's raining or for the occasional dip in the ocean. I might take one of my telephoto lens for whatever camera I end up buying but that means swapping lens, not the ideal when you need to get something fast and certainly not good when in dusty conditions.  The ideal would be a small waterproof camera with a very good telephoto to complement the DSLR I will end up taking but I don't think that camera has been invented.

Camera equipment can be very expensive and the more you carry the greater the risk of damage and theft, however with a little bit of planning these challenges can be overcome.  A DSLR will reward you with stunning photos, much better than anything a point and shoot camera can capture.  Hopefully I will find a solution to these issues because one of my main objectives on this trip is to carry as little and be as light as possible but still be able to capture the stunning scenery I plan to ride.

More to follow as I continue to research.

Yamaha XSR700

Yamaha has released images of its new XSR700, a retro-styled production model based on the FZ-07 and designed in collaboration with bike builder Shinya Kimura.   The XSR700 pays tribute to the classic XS650 but with modern technology, including the 689cc Twin engine and uses the same motor and frame as the FZ-07, one of the best bikes in Yamaha’s stable.

The parallel-Twin engine has an uneven firing interval and 270-degree crank, part of Yamaha’s “Crossplane Philosophy”.  Yamaha claims a maximum output of 73.8 hp at 9000 rpm and 50.2 lb-ft. at 6500 rpm, and with fuel consumption at 54.7 mpg it should provide a range of about 200 miles.

The XSR700 has the same 10-spoke aluminum wheels of the FZ-07 with four-piston calipers stopping the 282mm wave-style dual front disc brake while the rear brake uses a 245mm disc. Yamaha claims a dry weight of 410 pounds and ABS is offered as standard.

A two-texture leather seat, headlight brackets, an aluminum fender and fuel tank, mesh side panels, a short exhaust and a host of manufacturer accessories complete this retro model.   The digital speedometer is a masterpiece of simplicity and beauty while offering all needed information in a modern motorcycle.

The XSR700 will go on sale this November in both Forest Green and Garage Silver and though the price hasn't been announced, expect to pay a little over the $6,990 FZ-07 price.

Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin

Honda has finally come out with a new dual-purpose motorcycle, the all-new CRF1000L Africa Twin.  The adventure motorcycle is based on its hugely successful predecessors which helped originally set the performance standard for large capacity adventure motorcycles, both on and off road.

The Africa Twin adventure bike is a 1000cc Liquid-cooled 4-stroke 8-valve Parallel Twin with a 270° crank. The compact parallel twin engine offers 94 horsepower at 7500rpm and 98Nm of torque.  A 270-degree crank shaft provides a distinct character to the power delivery and excellent feel for rear wheel traction similar to the Yamaha Super Tenere.

         

The Africa Twin has a switchable ABS and a multi-mode Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) available for optimal traction both off and on-road. The rider will be able to turn off the ABS system to the rear wheel.

The tank holds 5 gallons which should give it a decent range.  With a dry Weight of  458lb and 502lb wet, the CRF1000L Africa Twin with its 21- and 19-inch wire-spoke wheels remains true to the go-anywhere ability, rugged durability, easy-handling and all-day riding comfort.  The Africa Twin appears to be aimed at serious “adventure” riders.

Motorcycle art

Last year I attended a motorcycle event at the New Jersey Motorsport Park and while walking through the vendor area I came upon an artist in the middle of painting an image of a motorcycle.  What caught my attention was the canvas on the floor and him leaned over it.  As I  approached I also noticed he wasn't using a brush but some kind of stick and he seemed to be splattering paint on the canvas.

I stood there admiring his paintings and then when he paused I quickly grabbed the chance to ask him his name and about his technique.  His name is Makoto Endo and he was born in Niigata, Japan.
He worked as a graphic designer at an advertising agency in Tokyo and eventually moved to New York.  He not only paints motorcycles but also enjoys long rides on his motorcycle.

1947 Harley-Davidson knucklehead

1975 Ducati 900SS

Makoto paints with the canvas on the floor with a blanket to cushion his knees and pairs of chopsticks.  He splatters, sprinkles, drips and spreads paint on the canvas using various chopsticks and the result is amazing artwork.

1972 Kawasaki Z1

Want your motorcycle painted?  Makoto will paint it for you for between $1,500 to $2,500, all he needs is a photo and about a week.

Kenny Roberts 1981 Yamaha YZR500

 Makoto Endo

List of Motorcycle Blogs

I follow a lot of motorcycle blogs and use Google Reader to read the blogs.  Google Reader is a great tool, it allows me to see unread articles in each blog and mark articles read but the problem is that Google Reader shows only the blogs I have subscribed and it does not show a snippet or pictures from the blog unless you actually click to read.  It's a slow process and sometimes I wish I could just see a picture or read a snippet before clicking to read.

It's also only a list of blogs I follow, it is by no means a complete list of blogs.

The ideal world would be to have a growing list of blogs and have them sorted by post date.  Blogs with new posts at the top and blogs with little to no posts start dropping to the bottom.

Today I had an idea and this new blog is the result.  It's not perfect since you can't subscribe because there will be no posts from me.  The solution is simply to save as a favorite on your browser and visit whenever you are looking for something to read.  You will be able to quickly scan through hundreds of blogs and click on anything that interests you.

I have included a large number of blogs but there are many more out there.  If you know of a blog that you would like to add to this page, click on "Suggest a Blog" and send me the link to the blog with a brief description.  This list will be only for motorcycle blogs.

Please check it out and let me know your thoughts.

Motorcycle Blogs