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Sounds like a great ride. Nothing better than putting big miles under the wheels. Glad you were pleasantly surprised with the XT. A couple of mates and myself are planning a ride from Vladivostok to UK in 2013 on 'old' 83-86 XT600s. Mine's a '83 Tenere, the other 2 are XTs with larger plastic tanks. We've 2 years to strip the bikes right down and replace all the dodgie bits. The Tenere seat is supposed to be good, but I'll be throwing an airhawk and a dead sheep over the saddle just in case. It'll be around the 25,000km I guess. We're still debating hard verses soft panniers, who's going to be in charge, west to east or east to west and a million other issues. We're all fairly 'senior' and my wife thinks we all mad. We're all from Oz and live in Melbourne We did a ride from the IoM TT in '08 to Damascus and back on eBayed XJ900s. Did around 17,000km in 7 weeks.... sheep skin worked great.... mainly to keep the saddle cool when we were off the bikes. We all paid no more than 1000 quid for the bikes, incl. the panniers and apart from an oil change in central Turkey, no issues, not even a puncture. here's a blurb re the trip, if you're interested. One of the guys is a journo. http://smh.drive.com.au/bike-news/ride-of-a-lifetime-with-no-backup-20110524-1f163.html cheers

Kyo, great bike! I've acquired 2 RT3s over the last year with the view of restoring one to original and the other close to original, but not so good that I'll be afraid to drop it in the bush. I'm in Melbourne Oz. and the RTs are pretty scarce out here. One is was the same colour as yours (but currently red) and the other is a rare one; metallic dark grey with silver oil tank. I figure its a very late Japanese 'home market' model that found its way down under. Yours' looks pretty close to complete.... I envy you. Mine are both basket cases, but I'll get there. cheers paul

Yes, it wasn't a real introduction was it. It was late in the night here in Oz when I joined. As stated i am in the process of restoring 2 RT3 360s. I am also a founding member of the SR500 club in Australia and have had SR500s for about 12 years ( www.sr500club.org). Also bought a XJ900 on eBay in the UK a few years ago, sight unseen for 900 quid and rode thru the UK, went to the TT and then rode the XJ to Damascus and back, doing around 17,000km in 8 weeks, then sold it again on eBay for 675. For touring and enthusiastic riding here in Oz, I have a '95 Triumph Speed Trip. The SR is good for a max. of about 500km in a day, whereas the Trumpie can easily double that. I am looking forward to making contact with RT3 owners for a sharing of info. Live in Melbourne, 61 yo. and do a bit of sailing Just about sums me up

Chasing up paint colours and engine number files. I know 'almost' all RT3s were Baja Brown, but i have a dark metallic grey one... original colour. Hoping to hear from RT owners. cheers