XT Alan

The new XT's seat is very comfy.

Just next to the Tesco Super Store.

Now that I am venturing off road with a purpose, I have found that my excellent Gaerne road bike boots are simply not up to the job. They are much too fragile and do not offer enough support. I have been on the look out for some dual purpose boots for a few weeks and until today was frustrated. I have looked far and wide. All there was around were either full on MotoX boots or, almost as ridiculous on the road, Enduro Boots. Very heavy and not designed for walking. Also the steel toe caps on all these boots are a bit too Mad Max for me. The Gericke boots that look Adventure Sports were too weedy for serious mud plugging. Today I found the answer: The boots worn by Trials Riders are perfect for dual sport/adventure biking. Good thick tread, water proof, supportive and rugged, yet with plenty of feel. Where did I find them? David Jones, just down the road (Welsh style 45 miles away), who run and sell trials bikes.

Actually, I remember Triumph replacing ALL the frames on one of their models without so much as a peep.

Honda are absolutely terrible, I know from experience, and, if you read last week's MCN, a customer had to, literally, get into an armed seige scenario, with cops the lot, to get compensation from Kawasaki. Suzuki are OK on individual claims, but not so hot when it comes to general faults ie rear sub-frames on Hayabusas.

Strange thing this :? You are right. You can FEEL when a chain needs lubing, just as you get a feel for when it needs adjusting.

I feel a Bank Loan coming on :?

Just heard from a fellow XT660 owner that the dodgy machining on the front of the XT engine cases is common to ALL the new XTs. The fault has been conceded by his dealer AND Yamaha (after a recitation from the Sales of Goods Act) and compensation in the form of Free 6000 mile service and freebies from the Yamaha Catalogue have been offered to my friend. All XT owners are free to pursue Yamaha now that the precedent has been established. Imagine Honda, Kawasaki or Suzuki doing the same.

Happy Birthday. If you ride an R1, life begins at a 140

Couldn't you get someone who wasn't past their sell by date? :?

If you know the Bible, you know This: On the 7th day God chilled out and created The Cool Guy :yes

What ever happened to the Silkolene lifestyle? First a Suzuki, now Wurth Dry Lube. Whatever next :shock: :?: Those Iridium Spark Plugs are looking vulnerable :roll:

Better late than never

Jack Findlay.............more memories from the Golden Age of Racing

I'll tell them, though the internet isn't really their scene. But, you never know, now that they are off Hondas they might discover a whole new side of life

I must be a bad influence or a trend setter. Just had an e-mail: Two of the three people who I toured Scotland with a couple of weeks ago have gone out and got themselves XT660Rs. One has chopped in his CBR600 and the other (I was shocked) his Africa Twin. This speaks volumes for the impression my XT's performance must have left on them. Mark (Africa Twin) hasn't even waited until 54 Reg day - too impatient. Now, I ask myself, why hasn't Steve got rid of his Deauville?

I mentioned in another thread - The Chinese are coming :roll:

Hopefully everyone will at some point be lucky enough to buy a brand new bike. Most will at least buy "nearly new". As you will know, nowadays most bikes come with a two Year warranty. What you might not know is this: The Sales Of Goods Act says that goods should work properly for SIX years from the time of purchase. This, your Statutory Rights, are not advertised by any industry. As bikes are gradually becoming more and more poorly put together, it is worth knowing that you can keep your dealer working for years to finish building the bike that you have just bought properly. Yes Pete! :shock: Even Suzukis have been known to go wrong :shock: You can download your rights from the DTI, who have a fact sheet

Totally agree about Rossi. If you can remember from a previous thread, he is in my all time top 5. Only Biaggi is anywhere near him today. If you remember back a couple of years, Biaggi kept Yamaha from 100% humiliation for a couple of seasons before he switched to Honda. It's a shame that Biaggi's mechanic (his own Burgess) died at the start of this season. Burgess is avery important part of Rossi's (and before him Doohan's) success.

The KR team have to do something, that's for sure! This current bike is slower than their old stroker. Pootling about at the back dicing with the WCM bikes is just a joke. I doubt that KTM could build an engine to challenge even the underpowered Suzuki, let alone the Yamaha or Honda. They simply do not have enough experience. Aprilia, KR and Suzuki have learnt the HARD WAY: F1 technology doesn't work on bikes. Thank God that in our sport, it is the rider that counts as much, if not more, than the machine.

Like I said Pete, these Bandits are being cleared out at very low prices. David Jones Bandits have been sitting in the showroom at knock down prices for months. The faired model is much more practical than the naked and I'm sure that your wife will be much more comfortable. Have a good look at (specifically) the engine paint finish, some are very rough and the paint peels easily on these. It's a heavy old thing with quite squidly handling, so two up you will almost certainly need to up the preload on the rear. The rear suspension is a known weak spot. Other things to look out for are: the headlight can let in moisture and attract dirt around the lower rim and, similarly the dials have been known to mist. Generally a good workhorse bike, a bit underpowered but it will go on forever or until you change again :wink: in 6 months.

The air/oil Bandits are heading for the History Books, by the way. They are likely to be discontinued as Suzuki are bringing out new nakeds based on the water cooled GSXR motors. Euro Emission Rules are killing air cooled bikes, as well as strokers. The Bandits have done well to survive this long. You'll find the 6 a bit underpowered two up I reckon, as it's a heavy bike for its power. Have you considered one of the new Fazers? Design wise, I think that they are a bit of a lash up, but they are considerably lighter and more lively than Bandits. Or even (gulp!) one of the new CBR600Ss - ABS etc for under £5K. OR one of the outstanding secrets in biking, the Suzuki GSX750F: The teapot fairing offers superb protection, it is very comfy, it is cheap AND it is surprisingly fast.

Well Pete, you are swinging around a bit now. Your psychologist would tell you that this is because you do not really know what you are looking for. The Bandit 6 is a good bike, although this new GSXR colour scheme is a bit naff, the old solid colours are a lot more classy. The price reflects the fact that the B6 is totally out of fashion (this is good!). Suzuki have been heavily discounting them for months. It is a lot of bike for the money and a better road bike (you get a centre stand) than the V Strom IMO. The oil/air cooled GSX motors are up there with the all time great engines and they are extremely reliable. In 600cc form it is a bit underpowered compared to a Fazer or a Hornet. It makes about 38 lb ft of torque and about 70 bhp. The handling is predictable and the brakes are OK+ you get the usual superb Suzuki Gearbox The B12 is only a little more expensive, but the extra cc and better quality running gear turn it into a truly great road bike. I had my 12 for 3 years and 24K miles. It is the BEST bike I have ever owned, bar none. Virtually as good handling as the CB13 (much better than the GSX14) and faster than the CB. If you buy one (6 or 12), take a close look at the finish on the engines, as the paint quality is patchy and variable, make sure you get a well finished one.

The new XT660 is very comfy. I am in better nick after a day's riding on the XT than I was on either the Bandit 12 or the CB13. As for speed - up to 80 it is very good on the road and quick overtaking is no problem. But overall it is a completely different kettle of fish to any pure road bike. I did the Devil's Staircase road from Beulah to Tregaron yesterday - this kind of road is where the XT rules. It was good putting faces to names yesterday, sorry I missed you Pete. The GSX14 sounded beautiful.

It definitely is better value for money - no question. Suzukis are always excellent value. Yamahas are pricey. Remember, I came at my bike from a completely different place. The CB was an absolute torque monster 86 ft lbs (R1 beating grunt!!!) and it put out a healthy 110 bhp at the rear wheel, with pretty sharp handling. After this a V Strom (even the 1000), which is a 100% road bike with off road styling, would have seemed a bit tame to say the least. My reasons for choosing the XT were to do with changing my whole way of riding. I was SO bored with zapping Subarus, M5s and AMGs. Not to mention out dragging sports bikes+ I know every road in Wales like the back of my hand and I need to get off the beaten track. My next port of call after a couple of years with this XT (if it stays strong), would be into KTM territory. So, we are moving in different biking directions.