Bear Motive 7 Review

Editors' review

Hunters from all around should be taking a double take at the 2013 Bear Motive 7. Bear engineering has been advancing for the past few years and has done so once again for 2013. The very top end of the archery market keeps getting near for Bear who continues to advance, but they still don't have the top manufacturer reputation yet. Consumer's reviews and input seem to be one of the top priorities to Bear and the company reflects it in there products and customer service. This bow possesses speed and comfort that is shooter friendly.

Finish

The multiple color options include Realtree APG, Shadow Series (black), Realtree APG Snow/Black, Red/Black, and Green/Black for the Motive 7. There appears to be a flat finish on the camo colors with a shinier finish on the red and green colors. The finishes appear long lasting and there have been no reports of flaking or chipping at this time. The company has added more color options for 2013 for customers to choose from.

Riser/Limbs

The riser has a 32" axel to axel measurement to go along with its all new design. Although it is 3.25" shorter than the Anarchy it has the same ATA length as the Motive 7. The riser is wider with more gentle edges than last year's Anarchy. It does, however, still have the dual offset string suppressers integrated into the riser that has been prevalent on Bear bows as of late. The Max Pre-Load Quad Limbs on the Motive 7 furnish an abundance of power along with an even draw. Zero Tolerance Limb Pockets fasten these limbs to the riser. An interference fit is furnished with these limb pockets between the limb, the boot, and the pocket to cancel out all movement of the limb in the pocket. Vibration is largely dampened with these limb pockets. The 7" brace height is produced with this riser/limb combination. It is a smooth and forgiving bow to shoot, especially with its generous brace height. The shorter ATA make it even more suited for hunting.

Grip

The Motive 7 comes standard with two grip options. There is a standard panel grip and it has a rubber over mold grip that wraps over it which can be removed. The over mold has a comfortable feel in the hand and comes with the Bear trademark emblem on the entire mold. It looks cool is thicker than just the panels. The rubber mold is also warmer on the hand in cold weather. The grip helps to make the bow feel sturdy with no torque on the hand.

String Suppressers

The dual string suppressors that have become accustom to Bear are still present on the new riser of the Motive 7. With the presence of these suppressors it allows the bow to remain steady in the hand without shock or vibration with the string contact they make. The near silence of this bow is also thanks the dual adjustable string suppressors. The adjustment allows one to customize them to their shooting style. At the ends of the suppressors are heavy rubber boots to pad the contact made with the string.

Eccentric System

New for 2013 Bear has introduced the Synchronized Hybrid Cam System that the Motive 7 is equipped with. This drive system is impressive. The H13 cams are also new and these dual cams come with easy to adjust modules that rotate without the use of a bow press. This allows for the draw length adjustment to be made simply from 25.5" to 30" in .5" increments. A flat draw is produced with these H13 cams without a hill to get over that is common on the majority of bows with higher speeds. The available weights on this bow are 50, 60, and 70 lbs. It has great speed for having a 7" brace height with a 340 fps IBO.

Draw Cycle/Shoot Ability

For a speed demon the draw on this bow is nice and smooth. The draw is consistent throughout without a big hill to get over. The bow feels equally balanced in the hand and seems to ne nearly shock free at the shot. This bow has a good and solid backwall with no hint of softness. The valley created has lots of comfort with room to relax enough without the string wanted to jump back forward. With as good and balanced as the Motive 7 feels a stabilizer would never hurt for decreasing that limited amount of hand shock or decreasing noise. The dual string suppressors really cancel out the large majority of any vibration that would be created in this bow. The 4x4 Roller Guard system returns for Bear which makes the draw even smoother.

Silencing Package

The Motive 7 does not have any noise issues. Along with being nice and quiet there is not an over abundance of shock or vibrations either. Bear's dual adjustable string suppressors have always done their job well and continue to do so. They have not added anything to the string for additional silencing that isn't needed and would only slow down the speed of the bow.

Comparisons

Bow	Bear Motive 7	Bear Motive 6
Version	2014	2014
Picture
Brace Height	7 "	6 "
AtA Length	32 "	32 "
Draw Length	26.5 " - 31 "	25.5 " - 30 "
Draw Weight	40 lbs - 70 lbs	40 lbs - 70 lbs
IBO Speed	340 fps	350 fps
Weight	4.0 lbs	4.0 lbs
Let-Off	75%	75%
Where to buy Best prices online	$399 Compare prices	$550 to $600 Compare prices
	compare more bows

With Bear's fastest and probably most popular bow this year being the Motive 6 the Motive 7 is extremely close behind. These two bows will most likely be Bear's top sellers for 2013. With nearly identical specs the Motive 7 is 10 fps slower on its IBO speed due to its 1" longer brace height. With the speed that is given up it is a little more forgiving at the shot than the Bear Motive 6. Archers with slightly longer draw lengths may like the Motive 7 more also and its draw length will go out an inch further to 31". Both of the Motives have MSRPs of $899.99. They are pricey especially for Bear at this time when many of the very top companies are selling bows at this price range. Bear is thought to need a little more time before they can have that top manufacturer approval by the public.

Perfect Usage

The Motive 7 can have a few purposes, but hunting would be its primary function. Recreational 3D shooters would be perfectly happy with it also and maybe even some 3D competitors. With decent speed and a good feel there are a few types of shooters that would find a liking to this bow. It is shorter that most 3D competition bows, but each has their own liking.

Summary

Bear has produced a sweet shooting bow with the Motive 7. Their engineers have made another great move with the Hybrid Cam System. This bow has good speed and changing the draw length is a snap on the dual cams without the need of a bow press. It has a great feel and is forgiving. The riser gives it a new look of its own yet it retains the dual string suppressor look of Bear. There is a large size range of archers and hunters that this bow will fit with all the different weights and draw lengths available. The Bear/Trophy Ridge customer service has received some amazing reviews in how accommodating they are to their consumers. For those with big enough pockets, the Motive 7 will not fail to enthuse.