Hello. I bought my 1990 XT600E 3TB about 3 months ago very cheap from a friend of a firend who had just been using the bike to ride around the hills abit, I know he's a good guy and takes real good care of his bikes, but like I said its a 1990, and it has had afew owners befor him.
So anyway, I have been doing the bike up a wee bit, mainly cosmetic stuff so far, long range fuel tank, new header pipes and exhaust and afew other bits, but now its time to get to the more important bits like the engine and electrics. I am just wondering what I should pay special attention to, and what I can worry about next year when I can afford the bits that wont need special attention!!! What can I get away with for now, or how can I try to improve the durability of parts, ie; vaseline on electrics??? Any info and pointers would be great. I know these are great bikes and I have fallen in love with my XT, I dont see why I cant do the bike up and not ride it to some far flung land just because its old and a bit tatty. While riding the bike everything seems fine, she pulls great, the handeling is spot on, on the tarmac there is just the usual vibration you would find on a big single, she can hit just over 160kph(on a closed road away from the public ofcourse!) and dosnt struggle getting there, I have taken her up heart in the mouth accents and poop in the pants decents, in a nut shell I think the bike is in perfect health, but I like to take care of my bikes, so hopefully in another 20 years she will still be running strong.
As for previous history of the bike I dont know much, but the guy that had it befor had the usual things like the fork seals etc sorted, other that that I dont even know when it was last serviced.
Thanks alot!!!

Yes electric is something to check, open connectors, clean with contact spray and verify that there are no sign of heating (brown color)

Electric cables are prone to be cut, specially under the steering tube.

Generally once that you see small electric problems, CORRECT THEM before they get bigger. For the rest, if you have the standard bike manual, there are things like grease on bearings that must be done following the time schedule.

Engine:
Valve joke check, and timing chain to be replaced after 40k km (u can check chain removing tensioner)

ah and the bloody joints between carburtor and head, when get old, they divide in two (rubber-metal part). You usually notice it from "explosions" at low regime.. once a while, with engine on, try to move carburetor and see if u get strange things (minimum not regular)

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