high mileage xt600e?
 

I'm looking at a high mileage (~100,000km) 1996 XT600e here in NZ. Price is reasonable as it's an ex-rental machine and it's not cosmetically perfect. piston/rings/gaskets were supposedly changed around 20000km ago.

I'm not a total newbie when it comes to mechanical stuff, but is there anything that I need to be aware of with the XT? Apart from hearing that they run forever, how much/how hard is a rebuild? or is it worth spending and extra couple of thousand on a newer/low km bike? It'll be used for commuting + longer trips on and off road.

Thanks

Fifth gear
 

Hi apexTwin,

Fith gear problems spring to mind.

Unfortunatly it's probably living on borrowed time by now. If you search through earlier posts you will find plenty on the subject. They do break up eventually and the bits of hardened steed do all sorts of secondry damage. Replacing them requires splitting the crank cases and a special puller to remove the alternator rotor. Quite a pain, but if the price is right might be worth chancing.

Mark

Thanks for that Mark, I thought the later models didn't have so much of a problem but, it's certainly making me think twice. I don't mind doing a rebuild, but with the cost and effort involved it may just pay to get a newer bike.

Just a thought
 

It's always a pain, IMO, when your one and only bike is in bits on a workbench - if you are running more than one bike it never seems to be quite such an issue!

The XT is a stong girl but it has its limits..

65,000 miles is incredible mileage and the bike would have to be seriously cheap.

Unless there is proof of a rebuild, then assume they're lying. I've believed far too many people in the past and been stung.

The gearbox will be very tired as will all the main bearings. Even if the piston rings were changed, you have no idea how the valves are etc.

If its cheap enough and you have time and effort for a little home maintenance and maybe a bike to improve your spanner skills on, then by all means buy it.

As for a reliable overland bike for self proclaimed newbie.. STAY CLEAR !!

Not sure of the Availability of Bikes in NZ but you can pick XT 600's up in England for £500-£600, that one in question would be better off just being used as a trail Bike you take in your Van somewhere to ride.