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Preparing Your Bike For a Long Distance Trip List here all the essential add-ons required to make sure you have all you need on your long distance trip

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  # 1  
Old 30-01-11, 20:43
eden eden is offline
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Cardiff
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XT660X touring trip to Italy. Advice please.

Sorry if this is in the wrong place but i cant find any specific areas for touring on an XTX.
Ive been saying it for years but finally have got get on and do it or i wont be able to for a great many years to come (pending family). I have a lot of family in Italy and go to the same place in the mountains each year. Ive always wanted to ride out and take in the sites but have just never gotten round to it. Last year i had to drive out as i got married but this year is my chance to do it on two wheels!
My only real question is how comfortable would it be to do the 1050 miles from Cardiff the town in Italy (each way) on an XTX? The most ive done in one go is 200 miles in a day in South Wales with no comfort issues at all. With a tall screen, sheep skin seat cover, allowing three days travel each way and mixing motorway and back rounds my gut tells me the bike will be more than up to the task and fun as well. The other option im considering (i can hear the gasps from the purists here) is to change my XTX for a bargain Kowasaki Versys which would be better on the open roads but i do have another reason for wanting to use the XTX. The mountain roads are awsome in that part of Italy! The XTX would be more fun than the Versys Plus there is a lot of off road i would like to explore in the immediate area, nothing major but off the tarmac. I planned on fitting some tires that could deal with a little off road (not a lot of choice for the XTX tyre size) so once i get to Italy i could strip the bike of its tall screen and luggage and have some fun locally. Was thinking of something like these (if you know of a better set let me know):
http://www.bits4motorbikes.co.uk/Tyr...tml?TryeID=122
The bike is already fitted with a 2 into 1 scorpion exhaust and a full TT sump/engine guard.
All in all im after advice from those who have done long trips on their XTX. Whats a comfortable sustainable mnotorway speed. ANy general advice atc?
Cheers
Dan
  # 2  
Old 30-01-11, 21:00
Denny Denny is offline
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Istanbul
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Perfect for the job, even better if you're going solo. I did a 5000 odd km trip around Turkey with the mrs using only an Airhawk for comfort without any probs or discomfort.

Do it and post the pics here!!
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  # 3  
Old 31-01-11, 07:39
chester0_1972 chester0_1972 is offline
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Not sure if it was someone on here or another forum but he did a euro tour of the best mountain roads and said the bike was brilliant.
  # 4  
Old 31-01-11, 11:07
Denny Denny is offline
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Location: Istanbul
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IIRC Dazzer went to Bulgaria and back with his other half.

We did Turkey back in 2007, which consisted a lot of mountain passes and the Mediterranean coastal roads which are really windy...if only I could have done them with no luggage (or wife )

As said before, more than capable
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  # 5  
Old 31-01-11, 11:21
eden eden is offline
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I'm fortunate as I will be travelling very light since family members flying out will take a suitcase for me. The plan is to take 2 weeks off, spend 3 days travelling out, the rest of the time using the house in Italy as a base for day trips and then 3 days travelling back. I guess the XTX will be fine. Not worried about reliability just comfort but doing the trip out over three days should make it good fun. Will let you know what I decide.
Anyone of good tires for a bit of offroad with the XTX?
Cheers
  # 6  
Old 31-01-11, 16:19
dawesdave dawesdave is offline
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your x will be fine.just keep off the motorways .ive toured on my x all over no worrys loaded up .im doing france/spain this year on mine. you dont nead a z just a petrol can! As for tyres avon Distanzias (THINK THATS HOW YOU SPELL IT )enjoy your trip
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