Newbie to the site and the XT600
 

Hi Folks,

I'm a newbie to the site, just bought a 2002 XT600E with 8300 miles on the clock and FSH. I suspect I'll be asking a lot of questions as I start to work on the bike and get familiar with it, so any help you can give will be much appreciated.

First question is my model no? My vehicle identification no starts JYADJ02. Is this my model no, or is there a three letter abbreviation of this more commonly used, such as JYA or J02? (ie: bubbla's bike is a "3AJ")

I will be kitting it out with hard aluminium panniers, a top box to match and a sump guard and taking it down to Portugal via the Plymouth - Santander ferry in around March time and doing a few days riding mountain trails with a mate. Plan to make that at least an annual trip, if not twice a year and do different parts of Portugal, Spain and France. I did a similar holiday in the Sierra Gorda region of Mexico a couple of years ago.

Otherwise it's going to be my everyday bike for commuting and trips into town and some green-laning.

Anyway, here's the bike.

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d...oKgbBLDOOV.jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d...iZGEBLEinh.jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d...K42BLEhkLC.jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d...3WBLEfTFE0.jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/d...m7kBLEkpo0.jpg

Looks a tidy bike... well done.

I'm gonna ask THE question - if ya don't mind answering - how much?

Thanks mate, it was £1500.

Loads of history, every old MOT, service receipts, tax disks, HPI clear, etc. Bike rides like new as you'd expect from 8300 miles, but not as you'd expect from a 7 1/2 yr old bike. A lot of bike for the price, but it's a second bike so I wasn't in any hurry to buy, so I've just been keeping a regular eye on ebay and autotrader for a while before taking the plunge. I've seen one other XT600 at £1500 but it had 27000 miles.

Think the carbs need some attention, sometimes runs a bit rough at steady low speeds, and cold starting can be a bit dodgy (or maybe I've just got too used to automatic choke, fuel injected bikes). Maybe gunged up a bit from lack of use. Doesn't like the fuel tap being left in the ON position for any length of time when the bike is not running.

Hi there and welcome to the forum.
The model you have is a 4PT if you take the seat of you will see this moulded into the top of the air intake and also if you take of the rear plastics you will see the CDI box underneath where you have the rear rack and this will also have a sticker on it stating the model number 4PT.
I have the same model that im currently rebuilding as a winter project that i bought as a stolen recovered write off so if you need any more help then feel free to give me a shout.
Hope this helps
Cheers

Ralph, yeah not a bad price fella....... good on yer.

I paid £1900 for me 2004 TTR600RE with 6000 km a few months back, with not much paperwork :oops2: but it all seem cosha, but who knows...

I've done +2000 km so far and its great fun, but can't stop upgrading (£££££'s), Ohlins shock, Acerbis bark-busters, louder end can, Acrebis 20ltr tank; etc :(

And thats after I promised meself I'd keep it standard and just ride it :rolleyes2:

I wanna get some beefier tyres (enduro knobblies) rather than the Pirelli Scorpians - not coz they ain't good tyres (they're superb) but just to make it look more hardcore :innocent:

Thanks very much Elv, that'll help no end when trying to get parts, etc

Where in Fife are you? I moved down from Bathgate this year. Kirkcaldy is my home town, but nobody left there now. Grandparents are all dead, aunts and uncles all moved out to the likes of Scotlandwell, Windygates and Cupar and my Mother and Sister have lived down here in B'ham for 22 years.

Somebody on XT660.com forum recommended the Continental TCK80 as a good compromise tyre for both road and trail. I have yet to have a hunt around the other manufacturers to see what they do. The TCK is standard OEM equipment on the R1200GS adventure, and since McBoorman created a boom in adventure bikes I'd imagine every manufacturer does something similar.

Cheers Ralph - B U T...... I had a new set of TCK80's on me old DR600, and they were pretty good, but they did wear bloody quickly !!!!!!

I want sumink with attitude.... even if it does make it ride like sh*te :cool4:

tyres
 

hi piggy i use michelin t63 handle well loook great seem to last well give them a try you wont be dissapppionted steve

Hi let us no how you get on i'm looking for bike at minute to do exactly the same just got over broken leg (3 spirals and broken ankle ) no more enduro's for me :innocent:

Hi all,

Im also a recent XT600 buyer, but from Portugal! Mine is a 1997 XT600E which i bought mainly for commuting and for some fun and am really enjoying it. I'm quite new to bikes in general but I have been lurking around here for a while and have already quite bit of knowledge which i hope to complement as time passes.

I have a few questions, but this post comes in handy for one I've been thinking about. I'm looking to change tires when the time comes, since I ride mainly on tarmac roads and feel like the current ones (don't know which they are right now, Bridgestone maybe?) could be 'improved' for this use. I will look into the Continentals and Michelin mentioned above and for other suggestions.

Thanks and have a good day!

For pure road (well, 90% road) tyres, you won't go far wrong with Avon Distanzias - very grippy, great in the wet, and seem to be lasting well for me. And a lot cheaper than your Anakees and Tourances.

Pirelli Scorpions are bloody good !

Thanks BlackDogZulu and Pigford, will look into these!

Just checked mine and they are (any good?):
Front: Bridgestone Trail Wing 41
Rear: IRC Trail Winner GP-110R

This year's winter is being especially severe compared to previous ones and raining nonstop and I don't feel too confident with my current tires especially when cornering in the wet... When it's dry, I can hear humming (?) from the sides of the back tire against the tarmac when cornering. Anyway, just hope I can find them here and aren't too expensive!

Hi Ralph

I have the exact same model as you, even the same colour. I bought mine with about 8500 miles on the clock as well. I have experienced the same 'carb' issue you speak of. It gives problems at constant medium speed. I had it down the Yamaha dealer and they had it apart for days, and cleaned the carbs to within an inch of their lives. Had them reset and everything. The problem still persists. Ive got the milage up to about 11000 now, and te bike ahs broken down a few times on me, leaving me stranded in this awesome winter we having here in the UK. I think there is an electrical fault somewhere. Perhaps previous winters corrosion on connections + fresh salt from this winter have taken it over the edge. What ever it is, its elusive and up till now, unfixable. I'm starting to worry that this model, or a least my bike, is a lemon. I hope not. My bike behaved very much like you discribe when I first got it. If you have a breakthrough and manage to sort it, let me know please. But hey, you never know, it could just be the carbs. :confused1:

My bike
 

Hi Mate,

Good to hear from you. Where in Portugal are you? We will be based in a small village between Fundao and Covilha, and will be touring the Serra de Estrela and over to the Sierra de Gredos in Spain.

My friend is just moving over from Mexico and still needs to buy a bike for this trip. Can you point me in the direction of a good website to look for bikes for sale in Portugal?

Oh dear, well I hope mine doesn't manifest into the same problems. I've heard a lot to suggest the CDI is problematic on these bikes, could this be it? Good luck with it.

ive just bought a 2003 xt600e black with 12000miles on the clock , had a few issues with the carbs , realised it was running very rich so fitted dyno jet kit and k&n and laser pro duro exhaust , it stays with my friends xt660r up to the magic ton , but is so much better off road than a 660

Hi -ralph-

I'm from Lisbon, but have only been to that region when I was much younger! I don't know if you're planning to go now, winter time, but be prepared because the weather this winter here in Portugal, especially the north and inland, is quite harsh with ice, snow and some roads closed. I would check ahead of time.

I usually check, and I found mine, on here (only in portuguese though): Standvirtual which can have some interesting deals at times.

XT600s are the business !
 

I also have a 4PT xt 600E. It has commuted,thrashed mercilessly and bounced its way across the Trans America Trail. I have had no problems apart from it using a bit of oil in Arizona with the temperatures pushing 50 deg. C I hope to return to the US this year to ride the continental trail.
Mod include, CRD bashplate, refoamed seat acerbis handguards,quest gps,Hepco and Becker racks Arrow exhaust can (fits with racks just a bit noisier than stock, loads lighter) Braided fuel and brake lines fuel filter,oil cooler from Kedo,Acerbis tank, fuel filter.Ked oil temp gauge, stainless front pipes
I 've found Pirelli MT 21 and Continental TCK80 tyres both give excellent grip and last about 5000 miles.

Where in Dorset you at, Transam08 ?

Downtown Wareham!

I'm other end of the county - bear Yeovil :cool4:

Have to me up for a mini "trek" sometime..... I love teashops (cake & a cuppa) :clap:

Sure, got any good green lanes up there?

Not a lot of legal stuff :( Salisbury Ranges & area is supposed to be good - just watch out for the TANKS :mchappy: