newbie question: TTR 600 - problem changing gears, or is it just me?
 

Hi, I test rode a 2003 TTR 600 with 13000 km on the clock today. It looked pretty good, no scratches, motor's dry, minimum price on eBay is 2250 Euro. I am seriously considering buying it at that price for a Germany to Cape Town trip next spring. It'd be my first motorcycle.

Thing is, I had a problem shifting gears smoothly. The gear shift just didn't seem to move much up or down. I managed changing gears alright, there were no noises or whining in any gear, but it felt different from what I'm used to. The owner didn't seem to have any problems though, so I'm asking: Is this normal for a TTR or a Yamaha at that? I'm worried I'd have to spend a fortune on a transmission overhaul.

Thanks guys,
Julian

Hey thats interesting. I was looking at a Suzuki GS. looked pretty old like 70s era, a 450 I think, and the clutch lever was rock hard; the previous owner must have had arms like tree trunks!

It can take a bit of getting used too; my first bike I took back casue I though there was a problem with the shift but it turned out I was not putting into first correctly.

Question to ask yourself though eljulian is do you feel comfortable riding the bike now? If no, move on mate.

Yeah, it's probably just my inexperience.

Question: Can this kind of behaviour be indicative of a transmission problem? Or is it something unsual and it's unlikely that there's anything wrong?

It's just that I'm a student and not exactly rich, and the last thing I can use are bike problems eating up my Africa budget.

these are enduro bikes and good ones the gears are not going to be smooth I would blame you as these gear-boxes are strong and robust I use my clutch only for the necessary I give my TTR arse-holes and it loves it.
Again good bikes a bit light for touring though un less you like getting blown all over the show

What i would do is what a friends dad did. Find a local motyorbike mechanic and agree with him to have a look at it (just a quick one) and then take the bike for a test ride and pop into the mechanic so he can have a look at it.

Its an idea. Also consider the luggage requirements, can it cope with all the stuff you need to carry. Like craig sadi a bit light for long range touring, have you considered an xt600?

hi,

I clocked over 70.000km with my TT600R and am in Brazil now. Although the clutch lever is pretty tough if you are used to hydrolic clutches the gearshifting is smooth as always.

As with the most bikes, shifting down from higher gears when standing still is not smooth, but definately it should be smooth when riding. If not, there's a potential problem IMHO. Is there a lot of clutch drag? (means: does the bike wants to crawl forward when standing still and in gear?) this might indicate that the clutch is not properly adjusted.

i love the bike, for luggage go to Startseite of, when you have plenty of money, vistit metalmule. (although you might want to consider softluggage through africa). Oh, i bought the OTR TTR luggage system with the Zarges cases and the are useless offroad. In all of my trip i felt once with 5 km/h and there's a crack in it. Also not water and dust proof. Cheapest though. The ORT rack is good, very good. The Hebco& Becker cases option might be better.

Kickstart is usually not a problem. Although my bike hates humid air.

You might want to bring the rims to a professional to check the spoketension before you leave. I have had a cracked rear rim, replaced it with a DID and now my spokes break when i do offroad. Strugling with finding spare spokes in Argentina/Brazil at the moment..

If you have questions, please let me know.

suerte,
sander

My 2004 TTR600RE (4500 miles) gear change is a bit "notchy", but it changes OK......
Try running it along in 2nd - on & off throttle..... as long as it doesn't jump out of gear, then its probably OK..... Could just be a gummed up shift spline or as already said, slightly dragging clutch. My clutch is loverly & light !!!!

Oh it's heavy enough for me, alright. I'd go for a DRZ if they weren't so expensive, a DR350 if they all weren't so darn old or an XR400 if they weren't so hard to find.

Yeah, I remember saving a few pictures of your bike to have as a reference for a rack I might ask my uncle to build me.
Have a good trip.

Thanks for the tips, Sander. I'm planning on going with soft luggage. Cheaper and simpler. All in the spirit of Mondo Enduro :-)
Slightly off topic, but have you heard of any tanks for the TTR larger than the 21 liter Acerbis?

No, no slipping clutch. No jumping gears. No drag in 1st with the clutch pulled. It's only got 13000 km anyways and looked well taken care of.


Looks like I'm taking it. He agreed today to sell it to me directly for 2250 Euro.

oh, it's the RE. has the XT engine if i'm not mistaken, so i cannot judge the clutch behaviour.

The 20 ltr acerbis tank is all i could find, i don't think there's bigger ones. Tailormade can be an option. There's a dutch guy making a 7 ltr aux. tank specifically for the bmw f650 Xchallange: Hotrod Welding | Products - Motorbike accessories - Xtank BMW G650XC. Might give you an idea.

thought about upgrading the RE suspension to the R suspension? Supposed to be better.

There's a german TT600R(E) forum: http://www.tt600.de/ lots of info, but in german....

eur. 2250? thats a good deal!

good luck with the prep. looking forward to follow your trip reports! wil you keep a blog?

sander

I'll go with the 21 liter Acerbis then. You can get them used over here in Germany.

The site is Yamaha's ultimative Enduro and very good indeed. Been reading the forum a lot recently.

I'll set up a website and post the link on HUBB, so you guys can follow my (hopefully safe and successful) journey.

Julian

I have seen a TTR with an alloy tank about 30 litres, also saw a write up on this site about a guy who bought an alloy tank and it leaked from day one nhe had a hard time getting it sorted.
Have seen a TTR600 rally bike with large tank and screen it cost about 1300 euros for the tank.
I think 20 litres is plenty big enough

Off the road makes custom tanks for allmost all models, 35 liters plus, starting at 700 Euros though. I think a pair of plastic jerry cans for remote areas will do nicely.

Plastic and Fibre tanks