Good protective equipment is essential for motorcyclists and their motorcycles, whether on the sidewalk or off-road. Have you ever run through the edge of a bush and thought it was just leaves and a branch hiding that hit the shin guard of your boot? I have. Then I take a moment to say thank you for purchasing these boots. Usually, you can limp a motorcycle back to civilization even if a major component is dented, bent, or broken. Getting out of the wild becomes much harder when a major component of your engine is smashed by a large rock or limb.
the Yamaha Tenere 700 comes from the factory with an underride guard that protects the engine from stones that the front wheel could hit on a forest road. If you are sure that you will only drive on asphalt or paved dirt roads, then the factory-fitted underrun protection should be sufficient for your investment.
However, if you are like thousands of Ténéré 700 owners around the world, and I am, take your motorcycle anywhere you are motivated. That means you will encounter obstacles that can dent, smash, break, or shatter your engine and exhaust manifolds. I definitely needed full protection underrun protection for the planned adventures. That’s why I have one Touratech RallyeForm skid plate ($ 450) for that Ultimate motorcycling Yamaha Ténéré 700 Project Bike.
The RallyeForm underrun protection plate is stamped from a single piece of 4 mm thick aluminum and therefore has no potential welded weak points. It’s made from a much thicker material than the stock skid plate and protects much more of the front of the engine.
On my first ride with the device installed, I drove up a steep and rocky 4 × 4 trail and heard and felt the skid plate studded with stones being thrown up by my front tire. It’s not just the log over the path or the step bar exceeding your ground clearance that can ruin your day – it can be the boulder flying around. I could actually hear the Touratech RallyeForm Skid Plate protecting the vital parts of the Ténéré 700’s engine.
A loud bang in particular caught my attention. However, it only created a small pit in the aluminum, right where it could have destroyed the exhaust manifold.
The underrun protection plate is made of aluminum and the mounting brackets are made of stainless steel. They are screwed into the same fastening points as the standard underrun protection plate.
Installing the Touratech RallyeForm underrun protection plate was a simple project. It took about 30 minutes on its own, although it would be quicker to hold it with a second pair of hands.
Loosely install all of the brackets first, then step back and tighten. To change the oil filter, you need to lower the underrun protection plate, but that should only take about 10 minutes to change the filter.
I take the products I am reviewing in real life situations, but I am not trying to destroy them or myself to prove their worth. Sometimes the value just shows up and the Touratech RallyeForm Skid Plate did exactly what it was designed to do.
Touratech RallyeForm underrun protection rating photo gallery
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