Hello dear XT-lovers,
I'm planning another trip to Africa. Previous adventures done with suzuki DR650 (www.crossingtheborder.be) and with Honda XR650. This time I like to travel with a Yamaha XT or Teneré. Both bikes are looking good for this kind of trip but i don't know which one to choose.

The XT600: lighter
The Teneré: standard bigger fueltank, better suspensions and seat?

We are planning to do as much as possible offroadtracks and pieces of desert. That's why i'm thinking that the lighter option is the smartest choice, otherwise the better equiped Teneré is handy also.
In case that the XT600 is the better choice: better a model of the 90-ties or is a newer model (from 2004-...)?

Is there anybody who has ridden both bikes on an overland trip?
Or somebody who has an opinion about this?

Tenere hands down, if you don't need the whole fuel load, don't fill it up. It will be nice to have if you need it. Same as the heavier suspension, you'll need it.

My 2 Cents...

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'84 XT600 is now bored to 2nd oversize and new OEM pistons and rings installed. No more smoking.

For mostly offroad I'd prefer the XT and get an oversize tank for it (though it still wouldn't have as much capacity. For the suspension, the Tenere is the same in regards to strength, a heavier spring maybe, but you can put that in the XT also. The 90's XT would give E-start.

It honestly is a tossup, one shines in the area that the other doesn't. Maybe a 3AJ model would fit the bill, kind of halfway between the 2.

thanks already for the responses,
i found a 2004 xt600e with 13000km.
its always well maintained.
im going to have a look next week.
i remember from my previous trips that the weight was quiet important.
every time we fell we were happy to have a not too heavy bike.
but i m still comparing the both of them
so e ery opinion welcome

personnally i would go with a xt600

mainly becouse i own one
they are great bikes
and parts are out there in good supply wich is important
changes i would do are put on different handguards better bash plate
do change the exhaust cous the original one is really heavy
also you can never go wrong with hyperpro suspension not all that expensive and better then the standard ones
and if needed maybe a different fuel tank
or add 5 liter jerrycans to your panniers like i did
and if you are planning for plenty of highwayspeeds consider a windscreen
(look at the secdem screen since they are the only ones i could find so far who make a xt specific screen)

Get another DR650 i've got both , the DR and a 660 Tenere .Took the DR to Maroc twice and this year took the Tenere !!!

The DR eats the Tenere IMHO it's easy to fix , but never had to !! i got a 20ltr tank on mine 400kms

The Tenere is a cracking bike and i'll not be getting rid but "it's horses for courses"

DR all the way

Phil

Hi, i own both (althought the xt600e is currently in bits) and would take the Tenere. Andy

Acerbis tank yamaha xt 600 - Te koop | 2dehands.be

Today great day, i bought myself a Xt600e from 2004 with 13.000km.
The bike is well maintained, a lazer exhaust and a lugagerack.
I saw when i was home that the frontsuspension was alredy fixed once due to a small accident,but the dealer repaired and calibrated the suspension again. For the rest the bike is neat and clean.
My first remarks: comfortable seat, smooth bike, quite heavy and underpowerd but it feels very strong and thats the most important for a overlandtrip i think.

Further i m looking for a bigger tank but its difficult to find a used one.
On the link above i found one but it was from a xt600 2KF...
Will it fit on my xt from 2004?
Someone has experience with this or a possible link to used acerbis?

Thanks for the replies
Greetings franz

play nice now--

Franze- xt e is the perfect choice

hello everyone,
First of all: i wish all of you a year full of adventures and crazy stories!

I found another acerbistank :
Grote Acerbis tank voor Yamaha TT/XT - Te koop | 2dehands.be

Can thisone fit my xt e ?

Greetings

i found a second hand acerbistank for a tt600 from 2000

the serial number is 11536.99

is the frame of a TT the same as a XT?

and will fit this tank:
Yamaha tt600r - acerbis 23l benzinetank - Te koop | 2dehands.be

on my XT600e from 2004?

anyone has an idea?

thanks already

ps.: the dates of the africatrip are fixed: from 1okt. to 24 dec.

greetings
franz

It all depends on your budget really. If you want a ready made tool for the job then by all means go for a Tenere model however if costs are restricted it makes sense to go for a Yamaha XT600E which can be easily adapted for a hard-core trans African adventure.

The Yamaha XT600E is probably THE most widely used BUDGET trans-African trail bike out there. It's a legend for very good reason - simplicity, robustness, reliability.

A bog standard XT600E will need a Acerbis fuel tank a bash plate (sump guard) and perhaps an uprated mono-shock suspension (Hagon). Do this and you will be ready to take on the world.

Invest in a sheep skin for the seat.

Good low mileage XT600E's are now getting pretty thin on the ground in the UK. Most have now been RTW to destruction. Prices are increasing all the time - I have seen low mileage minters selling for £2,500! Remember it's now possible to buy a newer Yamaha XT660 for less than £3,000.

As for older XT600 Tenere models these are even harder to find and they make silly prices. Most are now sought after by collectors and XT enthusiasts :confused1:. Pity the damn EU emission rules killed the air cooled carb engine.

There are a few other budget alternatives - Honda XR650, Kawasaki KLR 650, Suzuki DRZ400 etc.... These are also getting "long in the tooth" and are harder to find (although plenty of DRZ400 out there).

Reminds me of the excellent little Suzuki DR350 which is now a very rare find in usable condition.

The time will arrive quite soon when ALL older XT models are collectors items and prices will exclude them as budget RTW bikes. When this time arrives we will be left with the more modern water/oil cooled trail bikes (Yamaha XT660 etc).

I'd be looking at a more modern (recent) trail bike as these are easier to find for a bargain price. I spend hours on Ebay looking for bargains and they are are out there to find - be aware that there are plenty of sellers who are asking silly prices too. It never ceases to amaze me what you can get for £2,000 if you look hard. I will NEVER buy a new bike, I prefer to find low mileage older bikes in MINT condition. There are plenty of newer bikes being sold which have had a hard life and are being sold for a premium just because of their young age - you will get an expensive heap of SH1TE. Always go for the older low mileage bike which has been looked after (cherished)....

I often laugh at what some people expect to sell their modern (rusty) bikes for. But then you will always find idiots who will pay these silly prices because they want a current model. GO FOR THE OLDER MINTER if you want maximum "bang for buck"....

I wish you luck above all STAY SAFE.

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Triumph Bonneville 800 (2004), Yamaha XT600E (1999), Honda XBR500 (1986).

Hello Kentfallen,

Good words.

However, he bought an XT600E back last month. He is now looking for an Acerbis tank for it.

Nevertheless, others like him seeking advice on likely bikes for such a trip will find your observations of value.

thank you to Kentfallen for the extra advice about the XT.

like pusser65 told already, i already have a XT600 from 2004 with 12000km.
It seems to be a bike that is well maintained (bills of yamaha dealer)
But i found out that one of the leggs of the front suspension is already fixed once.but when i try to drive without hands to check if the suspensionleggs are straight, i don't feel anything wrong...
I'm going to test the bike on endurotracks, if the suspension works fine, i'll keep it like that.

Now my compagnon is lookig also for a XT600e. and here in Belgium it is quite easy to find a not to expensive XT600. I paid mine 1350euro....

Let's hope for another good deal.

The second hand acerbis is harder to find...

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If you look after the XT600E, it will look after YOU!

The XT series of trail bikes are legendary BUDGET trans-African adventure bikes.

I would have no hesitation using one for the purpose you propose here.

I wish you luck.

Ride defensively and above all - STAY SAFE!

Neil

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Triumph Bonneville 800 (2004), Yamaha XT600E (1999), Honda XBR500 (1986).