Light weight big tanked bikes, what do you recommend?

**Iain** · #1 24 Oct 2005

I'm after a back county, dirty track bike to do my next trip on and my main criteria are:

1) Reliable
2) Light weight.
3) Large tank.

I had decided on an XT600E, but the small tanks is putting me off and a larger after market tank is another £250 with shipping.

XTZ660 Ténére - Looks really good to me, but people don't seem to rate it as highly as the older 600 and say it's hard to work on.

KTM fits the bill, but I can't afford one!

Any advice much appreciated.

Iain.

[This message has been edited by iain (edited 24 October 2005).]

**big t** · #2 24 Oct 2005

What about a 3aj? 23ltr tank as standard.

**Iain** · #3 24 Oct 2005

I'm probably being a bit thick here, as usual, but that is a 3aj tank?

**BCK_973** · #4 24 Oct 2005

Hey
Have you try E-bay?
Here one in germany.Shipping to UK is not expensive.
http://cgi.ebay.de/ACERBIS-Yamaha-XT...QQcmdZViewItem

**oldbaldrick** · #5 25 Oct 2005

You could always buy my Suzuki DRz400s. It's lighter, faster and better on fuel than any of the other bikes already mentioned. Full details can be found at www.ebay.co.uk, Item number: 4584023694.

**lepium** · #6 25 Oct 2005

My biased opinion (I own one) would be a '90 -'91 Aprilia Tuareg 600 Wind. Check pix on Bikez.com or check e-bay, they show up from time to time.

Tank size: 17 l including reserve.
Weight: 165 kg dry.

Pros: cheap second hand. high specs (usd forks, dual disc front Brembos and single disc at the back, kick & electric start). Good compromise between road and off road capabilities (fine at both, great at none).

Cons: they were replaced by the Pegaso around 92 and not many were made so probably not many good used buys around. Parts are available from Aprilia specialists except for bodywork in Europe. Parts are not much available elsewhere.

Reliability: not much info on this area, I've only put 500 miles on mine so far from a relatively low mileage when bought. I've replaced kickstarter, reg / rectifier and battery which were already dead when I bought it and serviced carbs and valve clearances and it runs very smoothly so far. I use Metzeler Enduro 3 Saharas which work OK for Lagos's mix of tarmac with potholes, packed sand, gravel and flooded roads.

There's a report from the guy in adventure rider who bought one to have fun off-road.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...p?t=71862&page

Hope it helps and g'luck.
lepium.

[This message has been edited by lepium (edited 25 October 2005).]