Buying a 2001 xt600e with 35,000km on clock, what should I look out for?
 

Hi All

I've been looking out for an XT600e for about 6 months now. I found one, its visibly in good shape, and has been used exclusively as a commuter on urban roads. I live in Johannesburg, South Africa, and want to do trips into my surrounding countries, with the view to doing a trans Africa in 2 years.

My questions are:

Does this bike have too much milage on it?

What are the areas of the bike I need to take a closer look at?

What work might I need to have done to make it the super reliable beast that it can be?

And for the South African guys, it R28,000 a good price?

Thanks Guys

Thats nearly 22 000 miles which does seem a lot but it shouldnt necessarily put you off.

The XT engine is very low tuned and reliable if it is looked after.

What you want is assurance of regular oil changes and servicing. If there isnt any then walk away.

5th gear issues can still be a problem so thoroughly test ride the gear box.

It its on its original clutch, that will almost certainly need replacing soon.

With that mileage you should be able to negotiate a good price and any niggles are easily ironed out.

Check for any smoking when its started from cold and rattles from the top of the engine.

Thanks for the advice. Service history intact. 5th gear seems fine, not sure what I needed to look for, but it engaged the same as all the other gears. On starting there was a white smoke, not oil though, it was more like petrol. Cleaned out within 30 seconds. Didn't see it again. The bike has been sitting for a month at the dealer, so I think it is a dirty clogged up carb. Problem?

At the moment just haggeling on price, but I think the bike has been looked after, and par the clutch story (which is fine at the moment) I think based on your advice and my general judgement its a solid buy.

Thanks again for the advice.

Hi,

My XT600E has done about 20,000 very hard miles ( or 15,000 of them were very hard anyway! ;) ) and I still consider it to be quite low mileage. I'd have thought it would be a good compromise on mileage/price.

I have a theory that overlanding miles are worth roughly twice 'ordinary' miles in terms of wear and tear (it's unproven and untested but a theory nonetheless! :) ) and I have only had two problems that weren't due to a: my stupidity or b: an accident, and that was my odometer giving up and a sticky carb, which was probably due to crappy fuel in Turkey/Iran. Cleaned it out and it was fine.

Look after it and it will go for ages. I think in terms of reliability, from my own experiences and garnering info. on the internet, the standard parts, like shocks etc. for the XT are as reliable as any aftermarket stuff.

XTs rule!

Matt :)

Oh, my bike coughs up a little smoke when it's been standing for a while, especially in the winter, it's normal and probably just condensation which has accumulated in the cylinder.

Matt

Bikes shouldnt smoke after a month unless its a bit of condenstaion. White smoke could be a small oil leak. Petrol doesnt burn with white smoke.

Its very common for a worn valve seal to weap oil into the cylinder and as you say, it will burn away in 30 seconds and then take 24 hours to weap again.

You should insist that the bike be left overnight and then started from STONE COLD and then check for smoke again and express your concerns to the dealer.

Its not a big job but still a pain.