Hi all

I am seriously looking at buying one of the above machines, not sure which model yet, but i am becoming paranoid at what seems to be a lot of threads concerning people rebuilding the 1998-2003 bikes, i understand that they may have done a lot more mileage / harder work than my 1100 GS or the fact that you do not post if your bikes running okay, but i do wonder about the amount of tinkering rebuilding work people seem to do to the xt range.

Please reasure me that its only my paranoia.

Thanks

Simon

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simonp

Hi Simon,
In reply to your post, I have a xt600e 2000 mod with 42000 klm on the clock it's had a top end rebuild and runs as good as gold no complaints, just get on and ride, no blowing of smoke, no 5th gear probs.
I think with any model you are bound to get afew lemons. I had a Honda xl500rc when they first came out it went back 9 times for warranty claims.

Cheers Skeeny

just returned from trip to senegal on 1986 xt600. approx 12000km total trip it didnt miss a beat or burn a drop of oil. Ok the engine has been reworked 5000km before i left by Dave Lambeth at a cost of £1500 so i guess this played a major part in the reliability factor.
any second hand bike will be a gamble as you wont know its history.
http://www.davidlambeth.co.uk/ give them a call and see if they have anything which may be of help for you. he may have one ready to go already prepared.

I've been extremely disappointed with my 02 model XT600 over the last 12 months. I Bought it brand new myself, had no problems at all for the first 3 years, then this 'smoke billowing' problem reared its head seamingly overnight... It's only done 15000kms (9500 miles) and has been very well maintained, regular oil changes etc.
As Skeeny has said, i think i was one of the people who bought a Lemon.
Sometimes i wish that i spent the extra money and bought an XR650... But then again, maybe i might have struck problems with an XR too???
Even with brand new bikes, you just don't know.
Dan.

I have been driving the two of them the last 12 years. I like them both. Am now on a 660 going to Africa, and even if its a little bit more heavy, I find it better for longer trips. When you get used to it, no problem going off road. The 600, I drove 8 month and 30 000 k`s in Latin America, and it needed only small adjustments.

Cheers
Haakon

It's been many many years that I am living with a 1994 XT600E. Yes, it kills me to start it in cold weather, and I hate it that it does not have a kickstart.
But after years of practice I developed the technique and muscles to get it running. And once it runs, it takes me anywhere without any major trouble. Easy to fix anywhere on the road and I can find original and/or compatible parts if necessary. Consuming 0,5 lt. of oil in approx.1000km is another issue but I take it like old American cars that you add oil, but not change.

As a result XT600 is really an indestructible, reliable bike. You can make it reborn anytime you want and I believe that it is not the bike, but parts really matter. Punctures and wears on tyres, broken chains, leaking hoses, damaged circuits, blown fuses, rusted connections are the things we are struggling with more than this or that bike.

Best wishes and good rides