im planning a trip and the girlfriend wants to come, start in australia then into SE asia then onto india and back to the uk, i own and ridden my klr 650 one up for 12 years and it was alright but the suspension lacked a bit at times, i like it for its small and light, i find myself to confused as to what to replace it for a long two up trip? nothing against BMWs but they seem to be too large to go backroad exploring, i once rented a XTZ and gave it a good over and found it was good at most but i wonder about a long term life? we want to explore more then ride the paved roads, some sugestions please?


until then
edd

Hi,

When I first decided to go long distance I owned[and still do] a XTZ 750. The first mechanical problem I had with the bike put me off, everything is very unassessable. Even changing a plug is time and temper consuming. We have since bought a R100GS for the big trip.

I had a 1990 XTZ 750 a few years ago and have to say it was the biggest dog I have ever owned. Nothing but problems and expense. Maybe I was particularly unlucky, but it ate voltage regulators/rectifiers, going through 3 in two years. The exhaust rots through in no time, and it drinks fuel.

Also as the last post said, Yamaha's five valve twins are notoriously difficult to work on.

When it was running properly, it was actually a good fast road bike, but those occassions were few and far between! Didn't really take it off road except for some minor stuff.

I just return from a trip , Buenos Aires-Machu Pichu-Buenos Aires, 9000 kms on a XTZ 750. It is not the best bike for this kind of rides. Is hard to work on and run badly on high altitudes.

Good Luck

My girlfriend and I did England to Cape Town in 1995 two-up on a 1993 Super Tenere. I never changed the oil or spark plugs once, didn't touch a thing on the bike except punctures and the bike was 100% reliable throughout the whole 8 month, 15,000 mile trip. Then, after a quick service, I took it throughout the deserts of the Middle East and it has now done 40,000 miles with genuine 100% reliability. It has just been gifted it's 3rd set of plugs and new oil. I love mine.

Th XTZ has a great following here in Brisbane Australia. We seem to have quite few XTZ riders.
If you have a XTZ that has not had the electrics swapped to the TDM then you will have problems. This was supposedly fixed post 91 model.(Not to sure on this one)
It is a big bike like the beemers.
The frame does need some reinforcement if you want to take it seriously in the bush and load a lot of weight. The fellows I ride with have seriously given this bike some serious workouts at high speeds and they all swear by them.
That is what got me interested. I am 6'3 so the size of the bike is OK. First bike I feel like i fit on not ride on!
If anyone is in Brisbane area with an XTZ please visit us. We are keen to meet riders
of the same great bike.
Rob from Tyres for Bikes in Brisbane is a mad keen rider of his XTZ 850 TDM. What a beast of a bike. Belongs in the Paris Dakar. Carries some 75 liters of fuel. He has crossed the Nullabour and done some serious outback crossings. Dont overlook this bike.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/xtz750/
I have found this site to be helpful.
Philip


------------------
XTZ 750 89
Brisbane Australia
Love travelling
Adventure bikes I have owned include GPZ550 1985, XT600 1983 KLR650 1986, TE610E 2000, and now the best beast the XTZ750 89.

[This message has been edited by philipwibaux (edited 01 December 2002).]

__________________
XTZ 750 89
Brisbane Australia
Love travelling
Adventure bikes I have owned include GPZ550 1985, XT600 1983 KLR650 1986, TE610E 2000, and now the best beast the XTZ750 89.

I own an XTZ660 - the big single version - not sure how similar it is elsewhere but I really love it - it's 7 years old and only done 11000 miles (@20000kms) but it's great - apart from the obvious point that things in the engine area are hard to work on because of space the rest of the bike has given me no trouble - touch wood - Yet!

It seems in the UK they are pretty rare on the ground and spares are normally genuine parts so not too cheap but having riden a dommie and an SLR650 I can't get away from the comfort of the XTZ.

The fairings are just big enough to keep the wind off and the rain yet not too big.. It's easy to adapt things to - hade a rack and Touratech panniers fitted - you can get other stuff for it like engine guards and centrestands!

The bonus is the cost though - I couldn't even get close to affording a decent R1150GS or similar so look at why you need it?

Haven't done a lot of off road - only a couple of dirt tracks so would be really interested to know if anyone has ?

Cioa for now,

Tony.

__________________
Tony Robson
I'll try anything once, twice if it didn't kill me!

I did a lap of OZ on an XTZ660 last year. I put on Hepko Becker engine bars, Staintune exhaust and auxiliary 8 litre fuel tank (Nomad Tank made in Australia) on the rear luggage rack, and did the plumbing to the fuel tap. I was a great bike on road, and ok offroad - until you get to sand and the loose stuff where it wanted to throw me off at the slightest. I've never been so happy to see bitumen after that. Also when it got above 30 degrees, I found it lost a fair bit of power up top, and struggled fully loaded to hold 120kph into a head wind. Mind you my other bikes are a 900 Fireblade and 900 Sprint ST, so I'm a bit of a power junkie.

hi.

i have xtz750 96' from swiss.
looks like new one.
i make some trips around europe and across mid-east to africa.
after that:
1.chain is too weak. no.320 should be changed to 325 /like on TDM850/. after 10000 km you kill oryg chain if you take so many baggage on the bike /expecially on the top-end bike/
2. to replace plug /with hot engine/ you should have 5level magic skill!
3.european model have big fuel consumption, around 7liter/1ookm.
BUT swiss model has a little bit modifications inside carburators: small jets.
fuel consumption=5l/100km. 120km/h
/with or without passanger, with alu boxes and full equipment/
4. the windscreen is to small. buy higher or make /or buy by tuartech/ the second small winscreen and place it on the top oryg. winscreen. /i have it and its great!/

------------------
best regards
Grzegorz Zajac

__________________
GZ

We have done three big trips on Super Tenere's and we love them. In fact we are searching the world looking to buy another one. We would like one in immaculate condition, 1995-1996 model.
We are currently in Spain and we live in Australia.
Let us know.
Cheers, Patrick and Belinda Peck

------------------
patrick

__________________
Patrick and Belinda Peck
www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/peck

I owned a Super Tenere 750 in argentina and was very impressed with the engine response. She was in the heavy side and did have some ignition key electrical problems but I did a trip from Buenos Aires, Argentina through Uruguay and ended up in Florianopolis, Brazil and never had a single problem. I fell like 7 times due to bad road conditions and the poor thing took it pretty well. Would suggest much better side fairings protection. I broke my clutch in Prai do Rosa in brazil and drove all the way to argentina with out a clutch leaver, through sand dunes. I am particulary very impressed with the gear box after that long trip via sand dunes and no clutch. Carrying too much luggage at the back caused unstable driving light front, real bad for soft off road. I am currently planning to drive from california to argentina but will try the 650 Dakar, this time. I was sad when I recently sold her. I also noticed that the frame was cracked underneath the fuel tank, so if you are buying one, some how try and check it.

Overall I thought it was a great bike.

I agree with needing side panel protection. I fell off a hill in Wales and ruptured the metal coolant pipe (where it goes into the top of engine). Dumped coolant all over the place. Fitted engine bars and now well protected. Burnt out one cdi unit. Fitted stainless downpipes years ago-still good.
Very heavy when things get boggy.
Big end fell to bits on me at 55,000 miles.
Also chain snapped 2-up in France.
Still love it though.