Long Distance Motorcycle Travel Gear - at 178,000 kilometres
Below is a run through the accessories and changes I made to the bike. Please keep in mind that most of these were added around mid 2020. At that time the Tenere 700 was quite new to the market and accessories were only just becoming available. I am sure there are many more options now.
Having said that, hopefully this will give you a good idea of how my choices performed over time and whether I feel they were worth adding. So don’t judge these products by their appearance in the photos below. Most photos were taken in Ecuador after some 65,000km. Unless otherwise stated they are still in use at the end of my trip, so have had a pretty demanding life.
Yamaha Tenere 700, 2019
The bike was built by MBK, France in late 2019 and delivered in Australia, April 2020. I chose the Tenere 700 for it’s simplicity, reasonable weight, perceived reliability, being a Yamaha and appropriate power for my needs. I am still very happy with my choice.
I ended at 178,000 kilometres (updated July 2025). These have all been riding in the conditions you see on this website. No commuting. Plus, at times during the pandemic it has sat idle for up to 6 months. The rear wheel bearings wore out and the 2 and 3 gear indicators no longer show on the LCD screen. The clutch switch needs replacing, but a spray of electric contact cleaner helped for a while. It’s not so pretty these days but it’s still a rock solid reliable performer.
Custom Seat Upgrade and Suspension
The Tenere 700 seat isn’t really set up for long distance travel. I sought out a motorcycle seat upholster in my town and got their suggestion on improving the comfort. This involved adding completely new foam, resulting in an increase in height, width and definitely comfort. I’m very glad I did it. The photo was at around 40,000km of use. I had it recovered in Austria at 140,000km but she used the same foam.
I also had a heavier rear spring fitted to better suit my weight and luggage load. I suspect it could have been a little stronger, but it is fine. I tried stronger springs in the front forks but that was a mistake and became bouncy. I am now back to standard suspension except the rear spring.
T7 Rally Seat Joining Kit
This kit simply turns the two piece seat into one. It just makes life a little easier to remove the seat in one go with the turn of the key, whereas the front section was bolted down originally. Maybe Yamaha has revised this design by now?
The seat has been on and off many times now and the kit is performing fine. There have been no signs of impending breaks.
Website link, although it may be discontinued – T7 Rally Seat Joining Kit.
Enduristan Luggage
Deciding between hard or soft luggage is a personal choice. I have stuck with soft luggage, and Enduristan from the start of my motorcycle travelling. I have two Monsoon 3 bags that gives me 60 litres for the heavy stuff like clothes, electronic gear, cooking equipment, tools etc. Up top, I have a Tornado 2m for lighter items such as my 2P tent (Nemo Dagger), first aid kit, sleeping quilt, sleep mat and laptop. And lastly there is the large size Pannier Topper for my camera, water bottle, snacks, foldaway backpack etc. I don’t know if it is by design but it has hook straps (rotate the hooks) that connect it perfectly to the Hepco Becker enlargement rack, below.
I’m very happy with this set up. Here’s the – Enduristan website. And – Motorcycle Adventure Products is the excellent Australian distributor.
Andy Strapz Pannier Frame
Part of my decision to go with soft luggage was the lower weight and potential lesser width. Keeping the motorcycle narrow had a big influence on my buying decisions. I actually started out using the Enduristan Monsoon 3 bags without any pannier racks. But it put too much strain on the bags.
Then I found the Andy Strapz Pannier Frame Set. They are narrow and lightweight, and made in Australia. I picked them up during a trip and easily fitted them out the front of the shop. Despite their lightweight nature, they continue to perform well. I have done over 160,000km with them so it’s not surprising they have some rub marks. An offcut of U channel aluminium acts as a heat shield. I’m very happy with them and would buy them again. Their website – Andy Strapz
Hepco Becker Rear Enlargement Frame
As mentioned this frame works perfectly with the Enduristan Large Pannier Topper. Those four slots take the Topper’s buckle straps perfectly and it’s a pretty quick process to connect it up each day.
The frame is solidly made and going fine. Like most products here it has lost some paint through rubbing but all else is fine.
Website link – Hepco Becker Enlargement Rack. Also in Australia from – Motorcycle Adventure Products.
Kedo Passenger Footpeg Lashing Bracket
This is a useful part that I use to strap my Enduristan Monsoon 3 bags to the bike. You simply remove the passenger footpegs and put this bracket in place. The paint has worn off from the strap rubbing for so long. Off course it would be easy to create a DIY version also.
I also bought quite a few other protection parts from Kedo such as the Rear Brake Cylinder Cover, the Front Brake Caliper Cover, the Aluminium Side Cover Set, the Rear Brake Cylinder and the Rear Brake Fluid Reservoir Cover. I have no evidence that they have really served a purpose so I won’t cover them here. But they are lightweight so maybe there is no harm. I am not going to remove them, for example. Website – Kedo Tenere 700 Parts.
Komine Motorcycle Clothing
Komine is a Japanese brand. I own a jacket, pants and gloves. After 65,000kms, in all types of conditions, the photo from Ecuador is not a good portrayal but they look pretty sharp when new. They just keep on going. I have since bought a new Komine jacket and pants in Japan. Their pricing is great value for the features and quality. My winter gloves are Held Goretex and wool inner gloves. They are very effective and I never felt the need to replace my heated grips after they failed.
This is the website – Komine. And the excellent Australian distributor – Zarkie. Zarkie also sell Venture Heated Clothing. I am amazed that my heated jacket just keeps going. Update – my Venture jacket eventually failed in Japan. I ended up with a Kemimoto heated jacket that is going well so far and almost gets too hot.
Sidi Adventure 2 Riding Boots
I have always taken protecting my feet seriously. In fact I got over enthusiastic and bought a pair of Gaerne SG12 at first. But didn’t adjust to the stiffness.
So I bought the Sidi Adventure 2. My feet have been fine when stuck under the bike during a few minor falls. I don’t feel my feet getting hot, or no more than the rest of my body. They are also good for short walks or scrambling up hills to get photos. I did order them a little tight but they have adjusted and fit just fine. I have just replaced my first pair at 4.5 years and 125,000 kms while in Germany. The construction and buckles were still fine but they were no longer waterproof. All in all, not cheap but a very good buy. Website – Sidi Adventure 2.
Cliff Top Phone Holder
I have had this phone holder since I bought my first bike, a KLR650. It was going fine, so I transferred it across to the Tenere 700 and it is still going fine. So that’s around 190,000 kilometres of adventure motorcycling. It has held a Kyocera Duraforce Pro, a larger Nokia XR20 and now a Gigaset GX6 Pro. Given some of the road conditions, the vibrations are quite acceptable and I can read Locus Maps fine.
It uses a ball mount and arm for fixing. Cliff Top are in Taiwan and I have bought directly from them on a few occasions. They are good to deal with.
Their website – Cliff Top.
Cliff Top USB Charger
This is another well made Cliff Top product. I bought it when I got the Tenere 700 and mounted it where Yamaha had a cigarette lighter 12v charger(?).
On numerous occasions I have not put the cover on while riding and charging in the rain. I just make sure I let it air dry in some nice weather as soon as possible and it seems fine. I did need to change it in Japan at around 65,000km but that was my damage from yanking on the cable. I still use a similar Cliff Top model 90,000km later.
Their website – Cliff Top.
Navigation with a Phone
For all my navigating activities and my daily phone I use a Locus Maps App and a rugged Android phone. I started with a Kyocera Duraforce Pro, then a Nokia XR20 and now a Gigaset GX6 Pro. I think the Kyocera is the most durable but can be hard to come by. I do always carry a spare or two. Although rugged phones are often tested to a couple of metres underwater, 100 kmh plus of wind pressure pushing water into your phone can take a toll. Plus, finding your preferred phone in many countries is highly unlikely.
For navigation I use Locus Maps 4 Gold subscription. It costs more but includes all offline maps, Live Tracking, an online Planning Tool, and Track Recording and synchronization. I do use Google Maps around cities. Website – Locus Maps.
Tenere 700 Fuel and Capacity
I can get around 350km from a tank, if I just ride gently and keep below 90kmh. I have come close but never run out of fuel. Oddly the only time I coughed and spluttered was in the centre of Tokyo. Occasionally I have needed a greater distance. In those locations I would just buy an extra fuel container like in the photo and give it away when I had finished with it. A larger tank might be convenient but I personally don’t think it is worth the cost and space.
I have never had any real problems with poor fuel. My engine loved Japanese fuel but did get a little clogged in some African, Central Asia, and South and Central American countries. It even had 80 octane in Turkmenistan for a short time. But it just takes an occasional bottle of fuel injector cleaner to get back to normal. I just buy the stuff for cars and adjust the dosage.
Kedo Windscreen Adapter High & Low
I have spent a lot of time trying to reduce wind noise and buffeting. This kit allows you to experiment with the height of the windscreen.
As you can see I have lost a couple of the adjusting knobs. I think it would have been better painted black also. And all the spacers are a bit fiddly.
It functions fine and I am glad I put such a product on, it has helped me optimise the height. But I would probably look around at alternatives, rather than instantly buy this one again.
Website – Kedo Windscreen Adapter High & Low.
MRA Touring Windshield
As part of my efforts to reduce wind noise and buffeting I also changed the windscreen to gain more height and protection. It has worked and I have found a reasonable balance between height and visibility. I also have height adjustment plates from Kedo.
It comes with a funny plastic strip that covers the edge of the windshield. I guess it is because the windshield edge is quite thin and potentially sharp. I ended up fitting it, but it came loose eventually.
I am 6’2″ and my seat is higher than standard also. I expect that whether this product works for you will be a personal outcome. Website – MRA Motorcycle Windshields.
Camel ADV Tail Tidy
The original tail tidy on my Tenere 700 model did not have a lot of fans. Early on I decided to get the Camel ADV Tail Tidy. It certainly looks neater. Does it provide the same amount of mud protection? I’m not really sure, I do get some mud up on my rear Enduristan Pannier Topper (maybe I would anyway?). But if that is getting mud, then there is mud everywhere else and it all becomes a little academic. My Australian plate is quite small, so I added the reflectors (stick on tape and still working). I picked up the new tail light and reflectors online from ebay suppliers.
I did have a problem with a small crack on the first Camel Tail Tidy. It was out of warranty so I thought I’d just send an email to give them some feedback. I was very pleasantly surprised that they provided a replacement unit of the new design. Great service. Website – Camel ADV T7 Tail Tidy.
Tyres
Finding the right size and type of tyre can be very difficult. Often you will just need to take what you can get, sometimes too early and sometimes a little later than you might like. I have had one puncture. Maybe it is luck, or good tyres, or picking a line where rubbish does not gather, or keeping the tyre pressures up?
With long distance travel you will end up riding on just about every conceivable road surface. My personal preference is to find a tyre with around 60-70% off-road orientation. I don’t ride that fast on sealed roads anyway. I’m in no hurry and you just tend to miss too many sights and use more fuel. I do make sure I buy well known brands. My preferred tyres are Motoz GPS in front and Motoz Tractionator Adventure for the rear, one actually lasted 50,000 km+. Never had a puncture with Motoz.
Eastern Beaver Japan Wiring Loom
This view is from under my seat. It is congested by the excess wire from my Daytona Mio Dashcam. I have never needed the dashcam. I think it is still recording though.
What I am trying to show is the wiring loom and white connectors from Eastern Beaver. See their website is best. My memory is hazy now on just what configuration I bought from them but it allowed me to correctly and safely make electrical connections for at least – heated grips, USB charger, heated jacket 12v power and another USB charger.
Website – Eastern Beaver.
Pivot Pegz
Actually the original Tenere 700 footpegs was another part that didn’t quite live up to expectations. I wouldn’t complain about them but I never felt quite comfortably “planted” with them.
The Pivot Pegz are good. I am very comfortable on them and I like the pivot action. It just seems to give a more connected action to the bike. They have not marked the sole of my boots at all.
Here is the website – Pivot Pegz
Hepco Becker Lower Engine Protection Bar
As you can see from the photo it is just as well this was in place over the years. The bars are looking pretty untidy but they are still functioning fine and doing their job. Between the lower bars and the Hepco Becker Handle Guard I have not felt the need to add any upper protection bars. I did have one problem when I dropped the bike heavily on a concrete road back in South Korea (story here). It pushed the crash bar and it slightly pierced the oil pan, causing a leak. But I kind of feel that was on me because I hadn’t pushed the bar out from previous drops. Perhaps Hepco Becker has also modified the design since? I had the hole welded and it is still fine today.
Website Hepco Becker Lower Engine Protection.
Hepco Becker Engine Protection Plate
This is another protection part that has been taking the pain to protect the engine. You can see the paint has been removed as gravel and rocks have been thrown up by my the front wheel. Occasionally I will hear large rocks strike the plate but nothing has ever got past and caused damage. It’s a keeper.
Website – Hepco Becker Engine Protection Plate.
Hepco Becker Centre Stand
The Hepco Becker Centre stand is heavy but I am glad I put it on. I don’t use it that much but it is just convenient to have. When I am not using it I don’t really know it’s there. It springs back in place fine and I never notice it moving around or banging during riding.
Website – Hepco Becker Centre Stand.
Hepco Becker Handle Guard Set
The Handle Guard Set has also earned it’s keep, again with no damage getting through.
I am not completely sold on these. They are heavy and I think the bolts that were supplied to me are too soft and the heads have begun to strip. Although maybe Hepco Becker has improved these by now.
Website – Hepco Becker Handle Guards.