Can someone who has experience comment please :

* What is the difference with XT 600?

* Does it worth that money ?

* How is the vibration?

* Fuel consumption?

* If you need a bike for both all time riding and urban riding, would you choose a Tenere or Suzuki DRZ 400 S?

Thanks

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"where the traveller goes, nobody knows ! "

also interested to know advantages if any of the liquid cooled 660 verses the 3aj generation 600. I know chris scott talks of the original unfaired 600 as being the bomb proof pinical of the design but how much was sacrificed in reality to get the 3ajs fairing.

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My brother had the 660. It wasn't vibey by any means. It was a bit heavy, he reckoned and felt under-powered. Fuel consumption was pretty steep compared other bikes in the same class. In reality it wasn't under-powered but the size makes it feel a bit effortless so it wasn't exciting.
I chatted to a guy who ran a tour company. They use them and get rid after 20000miles as the timing chains start to go. I've heard of finish issues from the dealers and early ones had regulator problems.
My brother dropped his twice in low speed accidents. no damage, the impact protection did its job perfectly.
Also it's very pretty...
Hope this helps

Timing chains after 20,000 miles ????? I've never heard that or heard of any XT660 engine having timing chain issues and I know LOADS of people who own them with triple that mileage. Not sure about that dude.

Doesn't really make sense to sell a bike for the sake of a £60 timing chain either......:confused1:

I rode with a guy on one in Africa. His fuel economy was BRILLIANT. He got over 350 to his tank. Obviously it depends on how you ride. WAY WAY better than my DRZ400S.

Early ones had reg probs in the connector. Not the reg (so I believe).

I think the engine is overworked due to the weight of the bike (185kg dry), which is quite heavy but you can put it on a diet with an exhaust change etc.

Also, the cush drive rubbers fail early. You can apparently just stuff an old inner tube between them to solve the problem.

Ted

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

over on the XT660 web site their posting who's got the biggest !! sorry who's done the Highest mileage.

Here are some of the posts, seem that the engine in tried and tested .

240 km (86,520 miles)
Nick (XTZ, ??)-------------100,000 km (62, 137 miles)
Inkajoe XTR,04) ------------80,240 km (50,000 miles)
Major Fatty (XTR, 06)-------77,249 km (48,000 miles)
Robbi (XTR, 06)-------------70,167 km (43,600 miles)
dallas (XTZ, 08)-------------65,000 km (40,389 miles)
badga (XTX, 05)-------------57,666 km (35,832 miles)
dangerous74 (XTZ, 09)------56,327 km (35,000 miles)
this_is_was (XTX 07)--------46,300 km (28,770 miles)
uberthumper (XTZ, 09)------41,995 km (26,100 miles)
jahmann (XTR, 05)----------36,500 km (22,680 miles)
snakebasket (XTR, 10)------28,968 km (18,000 miles)
Pleiades (XTZ 08)-----------25,421 km (15,796 miles)
orangejohn (XTZ 09)--------21,457 km (13,333 miles)
chester0_1972 (XTX, 09)----20,921 km (13,000 miles)
Easy E (XTX 07)------------20,060 km (12,465 miles)
afk40 (XTR, 09)-------------19,312 km (12,000 miles)
jimmysimpson (XTZ)---------16,898 km (10,500 miles)
WhiteYamBen (XT?, 10)-----14,386 km (8,941 miles)
Keithblade (XTZ, 10)--------12,068 km (7,500 miles)
richardsracingmad (XTR, 08)--9,815 km (6,100 miles)

I had a 96 XTZ 660 Tenere and didn't have a problem with it for the 20,000km I put on it before selling. Of that 20k, 9k was in the one trip, half of it off road.

Do the normal things like change the oil and filter regularly and have a look over it for problems from time to time.

I was getting roughly 200kms to a tank off-road and more on-road.

My only complaint would be that I found them a little top heavy.

that's really nothing yet, look here 100k miles!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Isa5aBsoa9U


I do as well over 500km on the tank no problem.

I have an MZ Skorpion which has the same 660cc motor. I am over 50 000 km without any problems.
Skorpions came with a 39 tooth sprocket at the rear. Changing to a 43 tooth increases tractability at the loss of top end speed. Well, that is the theory. I know someone reckoned it actually went faster in the end as the engine did not run out of puff so quickly.
Basically it is free revving engine, which is a bit counter intutitive for a 660cc single, but lowering the gearing to make it rev easier improves the efficiency, fuel consumption and life.
MZ Baghiras are the trail bike version. Some lightly modified ones finished the Old Tourag Rally in North Africa one year. Reliable enough motor.

Had them all, brilliant bikes,

First mentioned was used 35 000 k in Latin America, almost without any problem, as long as you maintaned oil and chain.

The second one I have gone up and down in Europe, couple of times, and also crossed the Sahara. 40 000 k, and a graet bike! Never failed me.

Now I ride the new Tenere, xt660z and I am very pleased. Though I think its necessary to change suspention to get the full potensial out of it. Looking forward to a full scale tast when I am heading for The Caspian sea nex summer.

Good luck

Haakon

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Haakon
Check out: North Africa 2007 and The Great African Run