Hi

First please excuse my grammar if it bad my English could be better.

I'm am replying to this topic as 2 years ago when to Morocco. 3 of good dear friends took motorbikes these were my xt600 2001, friend on vstrom think 2007? And friend on 2005 xt660r.

First I agree with other writers here I would ignore bike 1 and bike 2 they are old and quite expensive.

So remain the bikes you list xt600, vstrom 650 and xt660. Well here my thoughts after 6 weeks riding in Morocco with these bikes in our group.

My bike xt600 2001. A good motorbike. Never gave me any trouble got me everywhere I required. Ok on the small Tarmac roads, OK on gravel roads, OK on easy off road piste. Things I not like and why I sell this motorbike not so good on highway can do it but feel very uncomfortable at over 100 kph for long periods of time. Fuel consumption was highly variable I think this because of 2 carburettor. If you got up speed for cruising fuel consumption got very high. Have to ride it easy or drinks the petrol at higher speeds. So stop throttle before second carburettor opens up. Xt600 stop making in Germany 12 years ago so old technology.

Vstrom: this bike was king of the highway from Germany to Spain and on highways of Morocco. Very good on Tarmac. Was OK on gravel roads but my xt600 and xt660 better I think. Not good for light off road. Hans could not follow us and several days we had to arrange meeting at end of day. He went on Tarmac we met at hotel for dinner and bed. So if you on only highway I think this bike good. But if you fancy even rough tracks this bike not so good quite heavy. Took 3 of us pushing it across sandy river bed. If only 1 person on your own would be bad problem. So quite limiting. I like to wild camping. with vstrom I would have to camp at side of road on the xt600 I was able to get off the road a small bit and find good camping. For me on a trip I do not like this motorbike. I don't like only Tarmac. I don't go off road much but I like to think I have option if ever need to.

Xt660: this bike was good. I really like the engine. Power to cruise easy on highway. Not as good as vstrom it was king but not so far behind. But this bike also off road was no problem. Not an enduro bike but like my xt600 was able to go anywhere in Morocco we decided. Fuel consumption very good I like this with fuel injection. Every time I fill up my xt600 the xt660 needed maybe one third less fuel. Very impressed with consumption. Of the three motorbikes in Morocco I think this is number 1 for me. Good highway, good off road and most economical. Still making this motorbike which is good new technology.

These are my experiences of 3 motorbike.

Other thing I say is get bike which is as near ready to leave as you can. If you need to buy a bash plate or up rating suspension can add price to normal bike. I try to bike which is most overland ready as seller usually discounts these things. So purchase monies might be higher but cheaper overall. Example in Germany change front fork seals is E100. So if you need some small jobs before depart can get expensive. So I buy motorbike that most work done and ready to go.

Grube und danke

Horust