Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Technical, Bike forums > Yamaha Tech
Is this xt600 worth buying? Is this xt600 worth buying?
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
Yamaha Tech Originally the Yamaha XT600 Tech Forum, due to demand it now includes all Yamaha's technical / mechanical / repair / preparation questions.
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11 Apr 2009
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: France
Posts: 4
Is this xt600 worth buying?
Hi,

I'm looking to buy an XT600 in France and saw this one on ebay,

YAMAHA 600XTE 2003 FOURCHE FAUSSEE BON ETAT SINON en vente sur eBay.fr (fin le 14-avr.-09 09:36:29 Paris)

Has done 93,000km and has a twisted fork but is apparently rideable? I'm going to have a look.

My question is whether it is worth biding for and how expensive/difficult is it to fix a fork yourself?

Bikes in France unfortunately seem more expensive than the UK.

Thanks...
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11 Apr 2009
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,673
Bent forks are a sign of a rather nasty smash (probably explains platic panels on tank)..

Fork tubes can be straighened buy its not recommended for anything serious. You are looking to replace the fork tubes, seals and maybe the handlebars and steering stem too if they have been damaged .. How can you be sure ???

I think its a £300 job to fix all the potential problems assuming the worst. (not including the wheel if its bent)...

That bike is VERY HIGH mileage too. Thats due a rebuild. I wouldnt bid more than £800 for it and thats only if your capable of doing all the work yourself.

Also consider the availabilty of all the spares you will need. Genuine prices will be crazy. You would have to spend weeks/months looking for a front end on ebay.
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 12 Apr 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Manchester
Posts: 150
93K, good of the seller to be honest but just wait for a normal mileage one at givaway UK prices, XT's are cheap bikes.
__________________
Yamaha TT600RE 2004
Yamaha YZ250 2 stroke 99
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 13 Apr 2009
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: France
Posts: 4
now been to see the bike...
Hi thanks for the comments - I went and had a look today. He basically slid the bike on its side but did not hit anything. There are a couple of scratches down one side and the steering is a couple of degrees out. Otherwise looks pretty good and runs fine. I read somewhere that it is quite hard to bend a fork and that often it is a case of alignment rather than damage. I have a friend with a garage so will take a change but will not bid above 800 euros (sadly about the same in pounds now!) and see if I get it....
Last edited by jules_wake; 13 Apr 2009 at 20:27.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 13 Apr 2009
BlackDogZulu's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: West Wales, UK
Posts: 753
You heard right. Forks are quite hard to bend - usually only in a serious frontal impact. But forks are quite easy to get out of alignment. The wheel twists one way, the bars twist another, and the forks get out of line. Usually just slackening off the fork pinch bolts at the top and bottom of the clamp, and then re-aligning the forks by eye, will be enough to fix it. Hope yours is that simple
__________________
2006 XT660R daily ride, 1994 XT600E about to be reborn, Blog: http://goingfastgettingnowhere.blogspot.com/
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 14 Apr 2009
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Scoootlund
Posts: 62
You can buy mine if you like!?!?! Nothing wrong with it apart from worn break pads. I put a new thread up today about it.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 15 Apr 2009
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: France
Posts: 4
thanks but I got my bid in with 1 second to spare (computer started playing up just at the wrong moment!) and ended up paying 720 euros so about £650. Taking it round a mechanic mates house next week to see whether the forks are really bent or not.....so fingers crossed...I may have bagged a bargain.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 15 Apr 2009
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,673
Id say you got it for what it was worth...

Good find thoguh. You will have fun fixing her up
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 16 Apr 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Denmark
Posts: 1,417
93.000km aint all that bad.

A guy here from Denmark bought a new xt600 sometimes in the 80s, and have riddend 250.000km before the piston gut stuck in the cylinder.

he got the cylinder bored and honed, got a new piston, and rode on it again.

Amazing what theese machines can manage, when taken care of.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 17 Apr 2009
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: France
Posts: 4
well i got it home in one piece - the previous owner was really nervous about me riding it with the bent fork, which of course made me nervous! he even rang to make sure I made it...in the end was not too bad...just slightly odd riding with one arm bent and the other not!

10 minutes later I followed the advice of richard and slackened off the pinch bolts and sure enough the bent forks were straight again.

Some of the plastic is a bit scratched up, the air scoop plastic panel is broken, and the neutral indicator light is not working. Any ideas on where I can find some cheap replacement panels and what might cause the light not to work?
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 18 Apr 2009
bacardi23's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: XXX<-Portugal->Azores->Santa Maria (island)
Posts: 1,544
Well, I've only found two websites from which you can get the plastics from.... one is CARENAGENS EM PLÁSTICO and the other one is HONDA PARTS - Consolidated Motor Spares - Search Parts ...on this last website you will have to search for the exact Yamaha OEM part number!


Safe riding!

Vando
Reply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Is this XT600 worth 1k stlg? andrewr Yamaha Tech 4 9 Mar 2009 01:59
ABS - worth it? existent80 BMW Tech 18 1 Mar 2009 00:42
Is it possible and worth buying a BWM in USA ride it, and then ship back to UK benhaines Which Bike? 2 24 Jan 2007 13:39
Buying XT600 in New Zealand? tsipi_r Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else 4 14 Nov 2001 16:43
Buying XT600 in South America tsipi_r Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else 1 22 Jun 2001 19:44

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27 2025
Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
CanWest: July 10-13 2025
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21 2025
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 13:49.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top