XT Alan

Super Sports - R1 and ZX10 (dead heat) Sports 600s - Suzuki GSXR Other - Suzuki GSX750 Tourer - Yamaha FJR1300 Retro - Yamaha XJ1300 Giant Trail - KTM 950 Adventure Big Trail - XT660R Medium Trail - DRZ400 Odd Balls - TDM and VStrom DL1000 (dead heat) Big Utility - Bandit 1200S Medium Utility - Fazer 600 Small Utility - Honda CB250 Road Rocket - Kawa ZX12 Monster Munch - Triumph Rocket Exotic - New MV Agusta 1000

Agreed! XTs sit in the class alongside Transalps, Africa Twins, BMW 650 and 1200GSs and the KTM Adventure. Of all of these it is probably the most capable off road after the KTMs, but it is a lot more comfortable and forgiving and, I would imagine, more reliable and easier to ride. True, it isn't a dirt bike, BUT no dirt bike could do a 350 mile day in complete comfort, at Motorway speeds and no road bike could cope with a dirt road, track or muddy field. Dual Sport/Adventure Tourer sums it up perfectly. On the basis of "Horses for Courses" the XT can do more things than any other machine on the market. It is also a terrific city bike with really quick steering and initial acceleration.

Try www.motomerlin.co.uk also ET James in Rhayader might know what is around and about locally. The Serow is reputed to be a very, very good bike. I think that Kawasaki also do a good 4 stroke green laner, though I cannot think of the model name off hand.

Yes they were surprised when I changed! But, as I've said before the Honda was a huge disappointment. After the initial thrill of having it, I found that its attractions were only skin deep and that it lacked the character and bullet proof nature of the Bandit 12. Somewhere along the line Honda have lost the plot in my opinion. I've read recent tests where the new Blade, Pan and 600 all get a good kicking from the other three manufacturers' rival machines. They've become quite anal - VTEC, ABS etc - and have forgotten that bikes are not cars and need to stir the blood. The old Goldwing, for example, is a classic example of bike as vulgar and chinzy as a tart's make up. The new one is just a two wheeled Lexus. What I love about the XT is that the content is greater than the style. The new Blade with its electronic damper isn't the balls out widow maker that the new ZX10 is and is all the worse for it............ I could go on and on........

1st night - Saint Mary's Loch - great cafe nearby. Then Edinburgh - superb. 2nd night - near Rosslyn Chapel which is amazing! Then Glen Coe for a night. 2 nights on Skye. 1 night at Applecross. then back to the Borders then Hadrian's Wall. All of it was fantastic, like Wales, but on a much, much bigger scale. Edinburgh is a seriously impressive and beautiful city, with a huge centre. Only twice as many people as Cardiff, but feels as big as London. PS the Heine Gericke shop there sucks!, but the nearby Starbucks made up for it

1395 miles and 7 days later. The XT took it all in its stride. Oil used - nil. Coolant used - nil. Petrol used at an amazing 78mpg. Weather was pretty good. BUT the bloody midges, I've got bites everywhere :!: The XT was completely at home on this journey. The M6 from Chester Services to Moffat, with only one stop, was very boring, but the bike held 75 mph all the way and I was in better nick at the end than my mate on the CBR600. The Dullville is designed for this kind of thing, but the XT and the Africa Twin were almost on a par, with the Africa Twin offering better wind protection, but with hand numbing vibrations. Once into the hills the XT and Africa Twin were supreme. Moral of this story - Africa Twins, XTs etc are true touring bikes. Dullvilles are hopeless on the twisties. Sportsbikes are just toys, show them a bumpy twisty road and they cannot cope. Any bike COULD do this journey, but the trailies were just perfect. Which was better? Africa Twin or XT - I'd say they were about equal. XT more nimble and relaxed - Africa Twin more stable at speed with a little more oomph.

Bad luck Twisted, get well soon. Well done Pete, you have shown what the fellowship of biking is all about. Whenever I hear about a crash and someone gets injured, I think "Thank God! Not good, but it could have been worse". This pastime of ours is just so dangerous, that any time we survive an accident in, more or less, one piece, we should be thankful.

Yep. Bike is all fettled ready to go. 5 day forecast looks quite good

No. I've gone all sophisticated. I've got a new Coleman Tent Yes. This is like an anniversary trip. We did this journey from London about 15 years ago and spent a fantastic few days camping in Scourie. Funny thing: up there you see very few English people camping. It is mainly Scottish and Northern Europeans. German, Dutch and Danish Bikers are a different breed entirely, they are real tourers and they use proper bikes: TDMs, Africa Twins, Transalps, XTs, Beemers etc. PS Transalps have had good write ups in TWO and MV this month. No mention of gearbox woes. Very suspicious of this, I am, as the CB1300 tests make no mention of the rear suspension probs that several people have had. When the Bandit 12 had oil consumption issues the biking press went to town, everyone knows about the new R1s clutch - CB1300 suspension problem - silence. My question: Is everyone afraid of Honda? My theory is that dealers are running scared for fear of losing franchises. In my opinion they and not Suzuki are the REAL BAD WOLVES of the corporate biking world.

A couple of friends and I are going to the far north west of Scotland, camping. An odd assortment of bikes - mine, a CBR600, a Dullvile and an Africa Twin. We are meeting on the M6 from various starting points. 1) It is going to rain. 2) I'm too old for this. 3) Its a long way to go for a bacon butty. 4) I have a new tent. 5) After Preston and apart from around Gretna this is the best trip the UK has to offer. The north west of Scotland is the most beautiful place in Britain. 6) It IS going to rain, It IS GOING to rain, It IS going to RAIN, IT IS going to rain..........................

The XT660 is all day comfy, position and seat are excellent. I'm off on a 1000 mile trip next week - if I'm still able to walk when I get back this will be proof. Stand by for an updated road test.

I know the exact spot Pete.

Behind which they designed the greatest bike of all time..................The Cossack Ural

And got Ernst Degner to do the painting. It could have been worse, Suzuki could have stolen their engine technology from Harley Davidson

This is dangerously close to Suzuki Blue :shock: XTreme will have a fit.

Is BLUE the new PINK?

I must be drunk. :shock:

Gibernau has lost it! The pressure has got to him. It'll be Biaggi v Rossi, like I've always said. The 2 best riders out there and this is the first time that Biaggi has been on a competitive bike in his battle with the Doctor. I've always like Biaggi's style, he is sooo smooth, a throwback to the olden days. The new breed of racers are always spinning it up and sliding - fast for sure, but they shag their tyres and this is what did for Rossi yesterday. Think back 2 years and Biaggi was competitive (and a winner) on the original, totally crap M1.

I am more and more convinced that this, so called, legendary Honda build quality is a complete myth nowadays. Beemers, likewise aren't all they're cracked up to be. Think the unthinkable! Kawasakis, Suzukis and Yamahas are now the best built bikes you can buy.

Good call Pete. There is absolutely nothing out there to touch these XTs. They are simply brilliant. My 150 miles today was done in comfort, as fast as I wanted on the A Roads (easily capable of quick 80mph+ overtakes)and, more importantly, very good on the small bumpy single track roads I love to explore.

What's Yours? Mine: 1974 Norwich to London. I had a Triumph Tiger 650 (Bonny with a single carb). I had been up to see a mate and hooked up with another rider on a Norton 750 Commando, who I got talking to - as you do. Two Brit twins thundering down the A11 on a beautiful summer day. I can remember it as if it was yesterday. I've done 10s of thousands of miles all over the UK mainly and some in Europe and enjoyed them all, but this ride was pure biking heaven.

Yes it was me, on my way to Marteg Bridge, Pant y Dwr, Llanidloes, Machynlleth (via Staylittle), Dolgellau, Fairborn, Tywyn, Happy Valley, Machynlleth, Aberystwyth (tea on the Prom), Devils Bridge and then home to watch a video Max stuffing everyone in the MotoGP. 150 miles exactly.

Biaggi was supreme today. He was perfection. Like I've always said he is a great rider and is the only one who can live with Rossi.

That's sad, the end of an era. When I lived in London Jimmy Nail used to live in my road and we used to see the odd actor from the series around and about.

Don't count out Biaggi. I have a feeling that this could be his year and the tracks which are coming up suit his silky smooth riding style. Whatever happens, this is the best GP season for quite a while. Rossi's bike looked incredibly unstable today and the Honda's still have this front wheel chatter problem, so there will be a few offs, which helps make things even more unpredictable.