Xt 600

[buggsubique]

Anyone ridden / owned one and got advice on it? Heard they're a bit underpowered - so how does it compare against say the DR 650? My understanding is slighty less offrd capable, perhaps more tourable, 2up a possibility? Not wanting to go so far as a tenere, just considering something less "dirty" than the Doctor Z.

$ are a factor, so looking for bang for buck (well not literally - I want a bazillionty road miles out of it with the ability to carry me lunch and a can of beer).

[wysper]

I looked in to one of these a while ago.
Use the forum search and you will turn up heaps of threads and info on the bikes you are looking at.

[CrazyFrog]

Hey Buggsy, I owned one for about 6 months before I got my KTM640.
It was essentially a good do-it-all bike, but didn't excel in any particular area. Yes, they are offroad capable, yes, you can tour on them, but they badly need a suspension upgrade for any serious adventuring, and a bit more grunt. They are a bit underpowered on the highway, especially trying to overtake, over 120kmph, they just seem to run out of legs, you've really got to wind them up. Top speed around 150kmph. Power output 44hp, Weight around 170kg fuelled up, Fuel capacity 15 Litres.
In saying all that, a lot of rental companies used them for years because of their reliability and ease of maintenance.
Be aware of higher km's bikes, like over 50,000km, if they've done a lot of touring, 5th gear can be prone to being flogged out, requiring a gearbox overhaul.
Shop around for a lower km's model, personally, I wouldn't spend more than $5500 on one, because for anything more than that price you can start looking at DR650's. I paid $4700 for mine (in the middle of winter) with 20,000km, most others similar seem to sell around $5500. There's still some in dealers for around $7000 but I think they're dreaming when you consider the competition in the market.

PM me if you want any more info.
It will be more comfy than the DRZ but you'll prob be a bit disappointed and will end up lusting after more power. The later XT660R models are better, but also more $$. Which takes us back to the DR650 debate......
There's a nice DR650 on TardMe now for $5500, 33,000km but looks pretty tidy. Also another for even less but it doesn't appear to be rego'd, maybe just a dirt model.

[buggsubique]

wicked reply bro! The susp issue and weight was what turned me off the DR650, but I have geared up the 400 now and went for a leisurely adv ride yesterday up past Lake Argyle on SH63. Deliberately toned it all down and had a ball. Just lacked a bit in the torque and lacked hellishly in fuel range and economy the way its set up. I now know where reserve kicks in and where there aren't any gas stations...

So yeah, $ are a driving factor, so is reliability. Price of them seems attractive too. Seen both them DR's you mentioned. Zerax is in that market at the mo I think. Might keep window shoppin for now while I decide how much I can afford to divert from the mortgage to fund a new machine, but likely an XT or DR I'm thinking.

[bvaut]

As Crazy frog says i think they are a good do-it-all bike, but didn't excel in any particular area. My had done nearly 70k and still going well apart from some clutch wear and yes the cam does sound a bit noisey now but i don't think it is in need of replacement yet. The only mod i have made was to recently put on a WR exhaust which seems to have improved the performance somewhat. They are not made for speed but rather a good work horse and easy and comfortable ride. But my idea of adventure riding is not to get to go from A to B flat out but enjoy the trip on the way, so that might not suit your style, in which case then a faster stead like the KTM would be in order.

[CRM]

Check out an XR600 - there are a couple of good deals on TM at the moment. They've got the grunt and the suspension even though they are quite old now (stopped making them in 2000 I think).
I had a DRZ400 and in my opinion the XR is worlds better for adventure riding with the odd trail ride thrown in and general fun hooning - even though my XR is 9 years older than my DRZ was. I was totally blown away by how much fun they are. I'm putting a big tank on mine, done the carb mod (which is the only reliability issue they have) and getting a rack then I'll be off...

[buggsubique]

Yeah, there are a couple there for pretty modest coin. I know people rave about the XR 600, but I reckon they look kinda cheap and tacky (no offense!), but then again for a good strong bike, a lot of that can probably be overcome anyway (ie cheap feeling levers, painted plastics, flimsy lights etc). How many K's you got on yours? I'll certainly go for performance over looks.

[CRM]

Yeah, there are a couple there for pretty modest coin. I know people rave about the XR 600, but I reckon they look kinda cheap and tacky (no offense!), but then again for a good strong bike, a lot of that can probably be overcome anyway (ie cheap feeling levers, painted plastics, flimsy lights etc). How many K's you got on yours? I'll certainly go for performance over looks.

Mines just turned 28k. Looks like most of it's been on the road. It's been well maintained and runs like new. I'm really impressed with the design and quality. Cheap and tacky they ain't They can be blinged up to look really unique too for example the black one below.

Mines not that pretty yet.

Go for performance and looks

[buggsubique]

Fair call, that black one is tidy...I'm all for the Mad Max look. They are pretty cheap on TM...a couple look to have had a fair thrashing though. Still, 20 odd k for $3-4 grand seems ok.

[Motu]

My XT600 is not a bike that I love - but it is a bike I enjoy.It's not really a good off road bike,and it isn't really made to do much serious off road use.I use it for back roads and gravel,and can't really fault it's handling in that department,it's never done anything stupid that I can blame on the bike rather than the rider.

They were in production for 20 years....and there is some parts interchangeability between models.Mine is now a hybrid,with bits from this and bits from that - to me that's good,I like to personalise my bike,make it mine.I don't think there is too much between the big old school air cooled singles - but I do like Yamaha because so much interchanges not only through a single model,but between other bikes in the range.

[warewolf]

but I do like Yamaha because so much interchanges not only through a single model,but between other bikes in the range.

That appeals to me, also. In contrast, which brand do you think would be the worst at that - Honda? It always disappoints when the advertising literature for an essentially unchanged model boasts, "437 new parts".

[Woodman]

Why not a klr?? They have similar horsepower and are way heavier, which means more metal and that adds up to value for money.

[NordieBoy]

Why not a klr?? They have similar horsepower and are way heavier, which means more metal and that adds up to value for money.

If you're a scrap dealer...

[MXNUT]

If you're a scrap dealer...

[Woodman]

If you're a scrap dealer...

yeah, but the price of scrap has gone down the tubes, mind you I don't mind the weight (most of the time) and except for the front being too soft it handles off road pretty well, and no I haven't ridden a DR or XT so I may eat my words yet.