XR600
 

Hello guys. Hope you can help - I'm a regular on the XT forum, but not really been in here http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/wink.gif

I have been offered a really nice XR600 for a great price. I won't say too much, but the bike has been used for green-laning. It is a 1988 model without a single spot or corrosion, and just 16,000 miles on the clock. It is just over 1500GBP.

Does this make a good basis for an overlander? I am planning a bit of light touring in Spain and POortugal this summer, as a shakedown for my Atlandtic Loop trip this autumn.

How much do I need to budget for improvements? How are the bikes different from a 3AJ twin-headlamp Tenere? What are the known weak points? I have had a look around the web and even the late '80's XRs look amazingly modern to me...

*ANY* opinions or viewpoints would be gratefully received. If you have any pics of a prepped XR600 please email them to me.

Thanks, and happy riding, Honda people! http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

the XR is much more enduro than the XT. the suspension is way better off road. its more powerful, too. if you can find one, you can put a 40 litre tank on. I've heard that Bert Harkins might have found some more recently.

weak points ... narrow seat makes road riding less fun unless you put small hoops on and motard it ;-) rear frame is not too clever so you'll be wanting to reinforce that. if you're going to load it up and let it rip off road, I'd suggest the heavier spring that K-Tech can supply. engine is bomb proof, but alloy kick-start isn't so you'd do well to find a steel one. eg early dominator.

one thing I really like about the XT is that it has a separate charging circuit for the ignition so you can keep going if the alternator packs up. not sure that's really enough to recommend it, though. XR, by my reckoning is a better bet off road, but harder on the butt on road.