Contact Overland Solutions for all your custom modifications and setup for overland travel.               Discover the extraordinary with Compass Expeditions.

Go Back   The HUBB > Technical, Bike forums > Which Bike?

Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
With more than 58 destinations worldwide, Edelweiss Bike Travel is Number 1 in guided motorcycle tours!
AMERICA’S PREMIER MANUFACTURER OF MOTORCYCLE SUSPENSION

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 27 Jun 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Southampton
Posts: 257
Xtz660

Does anyone have one of these to travel with?
First trip is Morrocco but then a longer trip or organised (gentle) rally

I like the look of them, however have a few concerns.
A BMW F650 is just bare-able 2 up for a week or so in Europe (short distances per day), is the Yamaha capable of this?
Cruzing speed? Can the XTZ keep up with motorway speeds 80 mph without vibrating you to bits, most of the world is paved roads so if the XTZ isnt up to that then I will look at something else.
What is the fuel range on a full tank?
The fuel injection is snatchy, anything to smooth this out (anyone fitted a power comander).

cheers
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 28 Jun 2007
Haakonbj's Avatar
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oslo
Posts: 95
I have used mine

all over, and lately in North Africa and across the Central Sahara. The tank contain 20 litres. From that you can get from 200 k to 400 k depending on how you drive and surface conditions. Normal drive, luggage and two people, 300 k incl reserve.

Before the last trip I changed the rear suspention to a stronger and more adusteble one from WP, and have never regreted that.

I am not sure about mph, but fully loaded and two people I have not problems going up to 140/150 km on highways in fx Germany, though 120 is more relaxed.

Happy trip!


Cheers
Haakon
__________________
Haakon
Check out: North Africa 2007 and The Great African Run
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 28 Jun 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 2,484
Wink 2 cents of thinking

Martyn,
No I don't have one; currently riding a TT600R, so similar principle; single cyl thumper.

I agree about the F650GS - I have tried my wife's bike with her as pillion (as she won't take me pillion in any circumstances - who can blame her!). Just don't want to do that for too long or too far - crash helmets bump into each other because we are so close together.
So, for my 2 cents worth, I am giving lots of thought about why we have 2 singles in the garage!! The whole thinking is leading to the conclusion that this is not logical, and part of that is what you are asking. I'm inclined to think that a V twin around 650cc, or bigger of course, is the way to go - this points toward the Vstrom/Transalp world of course.
There are loads of factors of course and I am not sharing them all here, but you may want to develop this argument for your own circumstances.

Dave

ps I much prefer to ride the F650GS at speed (boring motorways and that sort of thing) than the TT600R - completely different characteristics of course. Also, the GS does around 70 mpg consistently (range = 170+ miles easily and loads left in the tank) with the TTR returning around 45 mpg or thereabouts (10 litre tank and somewhere around 100 miles to filling up again).

meant to say: it all depends where you are going and what you are going to do with the bike along the way and when you get there!!!!!!!!!!
__________________
Dave
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 28 Jun 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Porto, Portugal
Posts: 194
Xtz660

I can't praise this bike enough for what you have in mind.... I owned one for 4 years.... kitted it out with Touratech stuff and a top box - 2 up for long journeys was great loadds of room - I even fell asleep on it with my better half riding..... Rear suspension needs changing if you want to use 2 up and fully loaded for a long time - apart from a stainless exhaust mine was stock- loved it - did UK and Ireland 2 up no problems - wishing we hadn't sold it but leaving the country forced our hand!!!!!

Buy and enjoy...

Tony.
__________________
Tony Robson
I'll try anything once, twice if it didn't kill me!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 29 Jun 2007
Contributing Member
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Powys, Cymru, U.K.
Posts: 98
XTZ660 or XT660R?

2 very different bikes. You mention fuel injection, so I guess you mean the current 660R. But Haakonbj mentions a 20 litre fuel tank which is not the 660R!
I'm confused.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 29 Jun 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 2,484
Well spotted OldB - maybe there is an Acerbis (or similar) aftermarket tank for the bike?

I noticed at the BMF show in May that Nick Saunders is now riding one of these in place of his RTW Yam R1.
__________________
Dave
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 29 Jun 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 2,484
Wink Nick S

For those in far away places who may not have been aware of NS up to now:-
This is him.
Nick Sanders - homepage
__________________
Dave
Reply With Quote
Reply


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

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
XTZ660 Suspension and gearing? bradley j Yamaha Tech 3 13 Apr 2007 07:59
660 raptor parts/ xtz660 futronix Yamaha Tech 4 4 Mar 2007 17:58
xtz660 spluttering/backfires,stops. scardemdogz Yamaha Tech 4 23 Feb 2007 09:14
rack for xtz660 jontyboy1979 Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? 1 14 Jan 2007 11:11
xtz660 batteries futronix Yamaha Tech 2 23 Oct 2004 03:04


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 19:59.