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president(msfc)
25th March 2009, 18:51
Gday,,, im very new to kiwi biker but am looking for comment from anyone with any experiance with a new yamaha xt 660 for adventure rides. seems like a well set up bike for more serious off road/trail situations but I also need it to be cabable of decent open road kms? any advice out there?
cave weta
25th March 2009, 19:35
i test rode one for the weekend and loved it!
will be getting two in a month if I get booking inquiries for them.

rental will be as low as $97 per day for longer hires with hard panniers and and all riding gear.
BMWST?
25th March 2009, 19:38
i have seen a couple on trade me,both(one is gone now) have seperate wheels available for runniing road tyres/motard form.That would be good,use the road tyres all week then swap onto adv mode where required
pete376403
25th March 2009, 20:45
A friend had one, nice enough but he was pretty pissed that it couldn't keep up with a couple of old bits of Eurotrash (a Funduro and a Pegaso). Next time I saw him he had a SV1000
Padmei
26th March 2009, 06:45
Welcome to the madness President.

Your name is a bit intimidating tho... What gang is the msfc?
president(msfc)
26th March 2009, 07:32
Hi there, thanks for the welcome. the name need not be intimidating. its a wannabe club. m.s.f.c = mrs Stoner fan club. (if youve noticed Casey Stoners Mrs youll know where im coming from)
NordieBoy
26th March 2009, 07:52
Welcome to the madness President.

Your name is a bit intimidating tho... What gang is the msfc?

Microsoft Foundation Classes?
BMWST?
26th March 2009, 08:21
Hi there, thanks for the welcome. the name need not be intimidating. its a wannabe club. m.s.f.c = mrs Stoner fan club. (if youve noticed Casey Stoners Mrs youll know where im coming from)

ooooh yeah.:eek:
clint640
26th March 2009, 10:11
Gday,,, im very new to kiwi biker but am looking for comment from anyone with any experiance with a new yamaha xt 660 for adventure rides. seems like a well set up bike for more serious off road/trail situations but I also need it to be cabable of open road kms? any advice out there?

As the XT660 fits firmly into the heavyweight end of the single cylinder adv bike spectrum It would definitely be well capable of open road travel, but I wouldn't say it was the best pick for 'more serious off road/trail situations' I'd be looking at the lighter big thumpers like a BMW G650 X-Challenge or KTM 690 Enduro (a seat re work would be required on both for road comfort) or a Suzuki DR650 (suspension improvements probably required)

However it depends a lot on rider skill & your definition of 'serious offroad' so get out & try to score a test ride on as many of the above as possible. If you still love the XT660 it'd be worth having a go on a KLR650 too as they have a similar focus to the XT.

Cheers
Clint
bigfish
26th March 2009, 15:41
I have had mine from new,now done 12000 and still loveit. Im not a serious offroader but love the knarly bush roads and so does the bike.The south island adventure safaries use them and appear to rate them.Try one ,you might just like it. Cheers Keith.
bart
26th March 2009, 17:30
I quite like the look of the XT660. Certainly on the list to test ride when I upgrade, (along with the KTM 690E and BMW 650X).

I'm holding onto my pennies at the moment, and the DRZ400 is doing the job, but it needs more grunt for the road work. Long trips ain't fun. :crybaby:

The 400 certainly comes into it's own when you finally get to the fun stuff though. :woohoo:
bart
26th March 2009, 17:39
Just had a look at the specs

XT660=
48hp
165kg dry

not good numbers. Thought it would make more hp being fuel injected.

I know you can't read much into these figures, but it even makes the KLR look light.
Padmei
26th March 2009, 19:28
Fuck here we go again - better bump the KLRvs DR thread up again......
pete376403
26th March 2009, 19:40
Ayup. Over on ADVrider there's a huge thread about the new Tenere. Cant see the point meself, for $thousands less you could get a KLR thats lighter and similar power. The Tenere gets you EFi, and and extra disk and it's even uglier than the KLR, if thats possible.

However one buys what one likes. At least thats what I did.
Padmei
26th March 2009, 19:58
But I really like the new Tenere - and its ugly?... :no:
bart
26th March 2009, 20:03
Fuck here we go again - better bump the KLRvs DR thread up again......

Hahaha, bite like a shark. :whistle:

Must admit the XT660 look cool.
Woodman
26th March 2009, 20:10
But I really like the new Tenere - and its ugly?... :no:

One mans Mona Lisa is another mans grinning fat tart.
Frodo
31st March 2009, 20:38
Gday,,, im very new to kiwi biker but am looking for comment from anyone with any experiance with a new yamaha xt 660 for adventure rides. seems like a well set up bike for more serious off road/trail situations but I also need it to be cabable of decent open road kms? any advice out there?


Bike mag preferred the XT660R to the BMW 650 (single), Transalp, and Wee-strom. The Wee-strom was a better road bike, but the XT was more fun overall. PM me for a copy of the test.

As Clint notes, these are all relatively heavy bikes (the XT was the lightest of the four in the Bike test). It is lighter than the KLR and puts out more horses. But its heavier than the DR650 and puts out lots more horses, but less than the KTMs. Its priced in the middle of the bunch.

If you want to spend lots of time off-road, you'd be better off with the DR. But if you plan to do reasonable road miles, the XT would be much better. I have a Pegaso with a similar motor and am not at all fazed by 5-600km days - sufficient power one-up and the motor is very smooth.

Some do have fuelling issues. www.xt660.com offers a simple fix, but I'd invest in a Powercommander.

Cheers
Box'a'bits
2nd April 2009, 17:23
Got to say I really like the look of it <_<....ppl riding them in the UK seem to rate them too - for adventure riding :Punk:. Its all in the eye of the beholder.
Padmei
2nd April 2009, 19:30
Talked to a dealer today. He has already sold 2 & thinks they'll be in Aug/Sept. No price set yet tho but looking around 15-16K.
pete376403
2nd April 2009, 21:25
Talked to a dealer today. He has already sold 2 & thinks they'll be in Aug/Sept. No price set yet tho but looking around 15-16K.

What would you buy for the KLR if you had a spare $5-6K to spend one it?
Ohlins for the back, emulators for the front, a 685 kit for the motor, couple of sets of TCK80s, a bit of bling and you'd still have enough change for a tour of NZ.
Woodman
2nd April 2009, 21:39
What would you buy for the KLR if you had a spare $5-6K to spend one it?
Ohlins for the back, emulators for the front, a 685 kit for the motor, couple of sets of TCK80s, a bit of bling and you'd still have enough change for a tour of NZ.

A doohickey ????
The Stranger
2nd April 2009, 21:48
A friend had one, nice enough but he was pretty pissed that it couldn't keep up with a couple of old bits of Eurotrash (a Funduro and a Pegaso). Next time I saw him he had a SV1000

I gather he was into cruising and enjoyed the more sedate pace of the SV then?
NordieBoy
2nd April 2009, 21:55
A doohickey ????

Or even two.
pete376403
2nd April 2009, 22:07
A doohickey ????
Yeah, I mentioned a bit of bling...

Might pull the doo out at some stage to see how it's getting on. Being an '08 it's supposed to be "new and improved" over the earlier ones. Warranty expires in a couple of months. Should do it before then.
Woodman
2nd April 2009, 22:08
Or even two.

My doohickey paranoia went up a few notches today. got mine booked into my shed for June for doohickey replacement.
pete376403
2nd April 2009, 22:09
I gather he was into cruising and enjoyed the more sedate pace of the SV then?

He still got left behind because the Funduro was replaced by a KTM 950 and the Pegaso was replaced by a GS1200. So the SV1000 has made way for a new GSXR750.
Ruralman
2nd April 2009, 22:11
Always like these things - need to know how to kick start a bike though.
Great suspension on this model.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dual-purpose/auction-209895513.htm
pete376403
2nd April 2009, 22:11
My doohickey paranoia went up a few notches today. got mine booked into my shed for June for doohickey replacement.

Eagle Mike part? How much, if I may ask?
Woodman
2nd April 2009, 22:13
Eagle Mike part? How much, if I may ask?

I got eagle mike one, can't actually remember price now, was not expensive.
NordieBoy
2nd April 2009, 22:25
Always like these things - need to know how to kick start a bike though.
Great suspension on this model.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Dual-purpose/auction-209895513.htm

That is quite nice...
Padmei
4th April 2009, 07:10
That is quite nice...

Agreed but I've never seen one before. Not released over here or just not popular?
NordieBoy
4th April 2009, 08:07
Agreed but I've never seen one before. Not released over here or just not popular?

Very small tank, twin carb (same carbs as Nordie), kick only...

A bit big for bush bashing and a bit small for long distance work.