Hi Dave: yes, it is quite strange that Yamaha should have taken this line. I tend to consider Yamaha to be the original "dual sport" concept originator with the XT500. What we want aren't necessarily rally replicas, but bikes that are as tough and with similar capabilities. The original Tenere was close to that, but its evolution seems to have taken two parallel lines; one toward greater complexity (e.g., XTZ750, XTZ660 and XT660R/X) and a worse than backward direction where we saw the first XT600E losing the tacho, alloy wheels, larger tank and better quality suspension of the Tenere series in favour of low purchase cost. I'm glad that one of the traditions has continued in the XT660R, but sad that it wasn't a combination of the best of both evolutionary lines of the XT. Shame.
I saw a Baghira at Ray Dentith's a few years ago and liked it. There is a lot of potential there, I think - but with Yamaha reliability. I wouldn't want to do my Portsmouth to London commute every day on one though! The seat would be the first thing I'd change. Out of interest, which part of Portsmouth do you live in, and how far is your commute?
Stig
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Tall men see everyone else's bald patch but their own.......
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