XT6: OK for tar touring?

[Slorider]

just wondering if these bikes are ok for on tar touring,or is up n dwn throttle work their forte vs long steady continuous revs

[fridayflash]

theyd be fine mate, nice big low stressed single dont mind the highway miles..depending on final drive gearing of course, big traillies make great road bikes in my opinion:niceone:

[Slorider]

are they ok at 90k (with road gearing) for an hr or two long distance highway riding or would this be detrimental to the engine......cant think of anything else these overweight gutless pigs wld be any gd for

[george formby]

are they ok at 90k (with road gearing) for an hr or two long distance highway riding or would this be detrimental to the engine......cant think of anything else these overweight gutless pigs wld be any gd for

Ifin yer talkin aboot an XT6hundy then ye should worry not. I put 70'000 miles on an XT 350, all I managed to do to the motor was split a carb rubber & mirror polish the cams.
Just change the oil regularly etc etc.
I rung the neck of that wee bike, moved all my possessions numerous times in a massive heap on the back, wheelied at every junction, and chased trials bikes up mountains in the snow. T'was a huge little bike.
XT 600's were a firm favourite of couriers in the UK, some had eye watering mileages on them, they wore the clocks out before the bikes.

Happy touring. IIRC your only worry is the seat & the brakes.

[Shadowjack]

Had a 2002 XT600 befor'n I got the TDM850.
Rode it all over Canterbury - 11,000 kms in a year. It was happy enough carting me around, no issues doing long distances at all. Only had to give it a tune-up, regular oil changes, a tyre. Solid bike.

[pete376403]

XT600 / DR650 / KLR650 - all fine for 90-100kmh road touring with the benefit that they are more than happy going up interesting gravel roads as well

[Frodo]

are they ok at 90k (with road gearing) for an hr or two long distance highway riding or would this be detrimental to the engine......cant think of anything else these overweight gutless pigs wld be any gd for

I presume that this is based on personal experience...

I rode my Aprilia Pegaso Trail (same motor as the latest XT660s) all over NZ. The motor did not burn any oil and was problem free when I sold it at 105,000km. I rode a BMW F650 (broadly similar bike) from Port Jackson on the gravel down to the Cascade River and up to St Arnaud in one day - over 900 km.

For one-up riding, the limitations are with the NZ speed limit. It is too small, in my view, for two-up touring.

[rustys]

The XT 600 is one of the best and most comfortable off road trail bikes you can get, in my opinion, i will never sell mine, its used every day, easily maintained and reliable.
I did a months tour on one, in Australia a few years ago Melborne to Perth, Great Australian Highway to Alice Springs William Creek station, CoperPeddy and Great Ocean Road, run by "Bike Tours Australia", these guys have been running bike tours all over Australia for 17 years, they had a fleet of XT600, at the time i went, the XT600 was no longer being made so they were trying out, BMW, Suzuki, Kawasaki, and the XT660 fuel injected was not up to it for the outback runs, they said the XT600 was the best bike they had ever purchased for what they were using them for. We were also doing over a 1000klm in a day at times, and did not feel like it. A very underated motorcycle, i have for mine also a set of 17inch spoked road wheels as well for highway use. What i like about the XT is the seat, its wider and more comfortable than most of the other 600s of its time. Quite hard to find a good tidy one around now.

[Slorider]

okeydokey-sounds like it will be ok@90k with a rest here n there (can do 100 but you know its working) .....as its an older 84mod one shouldnt expect too much from it,all in all its not so bad for its era-I hear the 550's were the better eng to have?

[george formby]

okeydokey-sounds like it will be ok@90k with a rest here n there (can do 100 but you know its working) .....as its an older 84mod one shouldnt expect too much from it,all in all its not so bad for its era-I hear the 550's were the better eng to have?

I think comparing older XT motors is like splitting hairs, like which orchestra you prefer for your Beethoven.
Speed wise I'm a tad puzzled. Is your bike on standard gearing? My 3 fiddly would & did sit all day at 60mph / 100kmh. Bugger all left for overtaking, though.
Before going any great distance on a bike that age I would give it a thorough going over if you haven't already. Cables, anything rubber, bearings, wiring, new fluids, carb love, brake calipers etc. Carb boots perish, throttle & clutch cables get sticky, bearings & links dry & wear etc, etc.
After that I would take on Africa via the Simpson Desert & Mongolia on one.

[JATZ]

Nah.... they're crap, only good for hard fill :D
'least the ex's one was.

[george formby]

Nah.... they're crap, only good for hard fill :D
'least the ex's one was.
XT's will still be roaming the earth long after we have gone matey.;)

[Slorider]

lets hope the newer generation who may encounter these old roaches keep em going vs swapping them for the latest and greatest new release......none of my nephews seem interested nor even impressed-electronic gadgets are where its at with them