Due to leave on my Cape to Cairo this morning, but my KLR was wiped out on Thursday evening (footage in link at bottom of page) so frantically making a plan B over the next week.

Can anyone give me the low down on the XT660z specifically (as an overland bike) - one's available locally. (Done a forum search using phone/tapatalk but could find anything).

Keen to know issues and genuinely essential mods if I buy today and have a few days only to sort it out.

Thanks
Andy

Days 4&5: interesting developments | Cape Town to Bristol
https://temporaryescapee.wordpress.c...-developments/

This chap seemed to think it was pretty good.
[url=http://www.roadtrooper.com/african-motorcycle-diaries-by-spencer-conway/]Road Trooper – Independent Motorbike Touring Magazine

Well - take a look in this thread:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...z-tenere-83688

And this: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...rlanding-83304

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

The XT660Z 2008- is basically a very heavy bike for its size. A KTM 690 is 42 kilos lighter and a Suzuki Dr 650 is 35 kilos lighter.
And the big single engine is restricted and lumpy, is surging etc and has a narrow useful rev range.

I rode one XT660Z from Norway to Australia - approx 85 k kms and I have just turned around and will ride it back home now.

The engine is quite reliable and the frame are strong so thats good stuff.
The cush rubber drive in the rear hubb wears out quite fast - maybe only 15 k kms or so. Its useful to mod it by packing it with inner tube rubber or make small metal plates that fits inbetween the cush rubber and the hubb.
The rectifier is also a weak spot and many XT660Z owners have had to change those. Mine has however been fine so far.
The gearing is set up very high on stock bikes - cruising at 100 km/h the rpm is 4000. That is less rpm at 100 km/h than much bigger bikes. The stock chain/sprocket size is 520 so its imho a bit underdimensioned for such a big bike so I have put on 525.

And then the usual - suspension isnt top class, seat, handlebars, footpegs, headlights etc could use some improvements. But I guess that goes for many stock bikes.
And as mentioned above - engine is terribly restricted, consider new airfilter, exhaust and fuelling program improvements.

The XT660R is actually 20 kilos lighter I belive and by so a better choice. But it has a much smaller gas tank.

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Thanks for all this.

I have agreed a purchase of a 2014 bike with 8,000 kms on it.

Nasty spill, at least you went over the hood of the car, dissipated speed sliding and it wasn't a T bone and face plant into the side of the car, hope you are ok mate.

Good job you got it on video too, the XT660Z is heavy for a single, but its not a bad bike, have a good trip!

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Cheers
Grif

'11 KTM 450 EXC
'09 Suzuki DR650
'00 Discovery Series 2 V8
'95 Defender 90 300 Tdi Overlander
http://gipperstravels.blogspot.ca

I don't agree with some of these - it's not heavy for it's size, F800GS is heavier and it's smaller. KTM 690 enduro R is too small for taller people, bad ergonomics.
Tenere engine is pretty good and I don't feel it' restricted or surging, early models had this issue. I did on mine only 6k km but already know it's a keeper.
I have never ridden so comfortable bike, just finished a trip for 11 hours straight in saddle and no problems with my arse.

Why do you compare a single cylindred 650 with a two cylindred 800? Its like comparing grapes and water melons. Compared with a Goldwing or a Triumph Rocket the Tenere is superlight but compared to other single cylindred 600-650 bikes its heavy as shit. Its even 20 kilos heavier then the other two XT models the XT-R and XT-X. Even the old school Tenere from the 80's where 20-30 kilos lighter. Thats certainly not a development in the right direction. And compared with Dr and KTMs 690 as I mentioned above its just ridiciously HEAVY! And I have ridden several other single cylindred bikes and 90 k kms on a Tenere so I know what Im talking about. Its basiccally the heaviest single cylindred bike ever made except from the Suzuki Dr 800.

The seat - well good on you if thinks its great. You are most certainly the first person in the world Ive heard of that like it. All others riding long distances buy aftermarket seats and airhawks etc.

The engine is not restricted you say. Can you tell me how many revs you need in tallest gear for the bike to pull clean? Somewhere inbetween 3000-3300 right. Other old school single cylindred bikes pull clean from much lower revs. And why do you think theres such a huge market for aftermarket accesories to the engine for this model? Try to look on the forum of XT660.com and ask around there.

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

single or twin doesn't matter, they serve same purpose besides weight is not always bad. You do need to hang you luggage somewhere, don't you? besides have you ever ridden high in the mountains in windy day? I have and I can tell you I wish my bike was heavier. Problem with weight? go to GYM 206kg wet is really not a lot. New Africa Twin is like 232kg.

Why huge market of accessories? because it's in production since 2008,
regarding engine accessories? never seen even one on ebay, tenere has one of the most reliable engine on the planet today.

Every bike's engine today is restricted and will be even more with idiotic EU regulation. Luckily you can open it quite easily, start with the cans.

You're talking some nonsense here, tenere seat is well know as one of the most comfortable of all adventure bikes seat. Check travelers forums.

Can you hang luggage on weight??? That was new to me but as I am open to new ideas please explain...?

And again - why on earth compare grapes and water melons? And pull in the new AT? Its not comparable at all.

The 2008 Tenere is the heaviest single cylindered bike ever except from the Dr 800 and thats a fact. And its the biggest con with this bike - by far!

Well - if you havent seen aftermarket parts for engine tuning on this bike you must have been quite neglectful. Ill give you a very good advice - go on the XT660.com forum and look there. You might see something there and you might even learn something there too. By the way - you will also see there that there is a general concensus that the Tenere seat is shit.

I wonder what travel forums youre taking about that have a general meaning that the Tenere seat is great? Can you please enlighten me and the others at XT660.com?

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

you know, it's not our fault your arse is irregular for most people tenere seat is more then fine for all day riding. Sure, some add sheepskin covers to even more enhance the comfort, I will add too but that's abut it.

Wasting time with you, go ahead and buy your light ktm with aluminum frame which will brake on you and nobody will be able to fix it.

p.s.
BTW do you realize your tenere full fuel tank weighs over 17 kg?
Actually the weight of fully loaded dakar rally bike is not much less then tenere....

Thanks for factual and objective comments. What a really high level of arguing. I still would like to know all the travelforums you that says the Tenere seat is great?

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

I dont think its your business to judge neither me or anyone else. My only agenda - if I ever had one - is to share my experiences after riding a Tenere around 100 k kms and almost 90 k kms overlanding from northern Europe to Australia - with lots of detours. If that disqulifies me from sharing my opinion and adding some facts - than please explain me why? And I might stop sharing....

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In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Have to agree that the seat isn't the best for long distance..changed mine to Kahedo from Germany...major difference!..Off the road in Germany also have some good experience setting up the XT660Z, Engine is restricted so upgrade of the Air intake and a power commander make a big difference, gearing, suspension, foot pegs, handle bars etc all need upgrading as well to make it a great bike! Best proven adventure bike on the market as far as I'm concerned, I had a F800GS for half my world trip and sold it in the UK and bought the Tenere....what a difference! Broke down more than 25 times on the BMW!...never once on the Tenere!!...Yes its a little heavy but its extremely strong and keeps going even when you don't start it for months! The difference with the single its low compression so can handle low quality fuel and if you plan to go around the world then you will come across many questionable fuel stops, its also great because of the large capacity tank....I also have a 1190R which I love riding....but would never take that RTW due to the reliability, I know some have but for serious long distance with piece of mind...Take a Tenere XT660Z!

Well, i've ridden it from Cape Town to mid Tanzania so far. It has been very good.

My findings so far are:

Great on the tar - fully loaded is drinks the fuel a bit at 120kmph but below 100kmph happy days

Agree it wants to be up at 3k revs plus but actually fuelling is less fussy i think than the XT1200z i have in the UK (will test that when i get back home).

Handles well off road too i think but i am struggling with confidence, riding alone in remote places. I usually ride a 100kg KTM Freeride off road so the weight is an issue in my head (what if i drop it....)

I have dropped it twice in deep sand - I'm just no good at riding that stuff...

I have a couple of dings in the front wheel now from hitting rocks on gravel roads at lowish speeds (or perhaps potholes on bad tar), so maybe not the strongest

Did 900kms in my first day on the stock seat. Not a sofa but better than other bikes i've ridden over that distance. Using an airhawk when riding on tar now as a precaution.

Cheers
Andy