Okay, It's taken two years to clock up 10,000 km on my XTR. She's running great after the application of the Stage 1&2 DNA filters and Kev's fuel mod and O2 controller.

I changed oil and oil filter myself at 5,000 km and it's an easy job so I could do that myself again - but what else should I be doing on this milestone service? The maintenance schedule in the manual is pretty vague with check this/check that.

1. Would you guys suggest checking/adjusting valves? (manual says do that at 20,000 but that could be another 2 years away).
2. Is it worth flushing/changing brake fluid? (manual just says nothing about changing fluid only check)
3. What about steering head bearings? Wheel bearings? Swing arm linkage bearings? It's a pretty big job to dismantle just to check so is it okay to just rely on testing for free play? Free play seems fine for now.
4. Coolant change? Still looks clean and at correct level.

Anything else? I will replace the cush rubbers coz they are shagged - but if there is substantial work to be done I rather just take it in to the dealer because of my lack of skills and time. My only concern is that the dealer will do a rush job and not do things properly because when I first picked up the bike, the chain was tight as a drum, and if they can't get that right then how can I trust them with the internals... Dilemma!!

Well here's my 2p worth. Hope it's of some use to you...

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Thanks Pleiades - I appreciate your response.

While I was hoping the advice would be, "just whack in a new filter and some oil and you'll be right... ", I figured there'd be those critical things to keep on top of. I'm not mechanically very confident but you're right in that if the instructions are detailed enough then most monkeys should be able to have a crack.

I need to get my hands on a Haynes manual. Not easy to source in Oz it seems as even the local on-line retailers don't stock it and have to order it via the UK. Unless I'm missing something. Via Ebay they are $47AUD + $18 p&h from the UK and our local retailers/importers are not much cheaper. Halfords in the UK are out of stock by the looks - pity I didn't jump on the cheap deal when it was offered...

Anyway, I'll weigh it all up and decide whether to have a crack myself or place my trust (and coin) in the hands of a dealer.
Cheers... Dan

You know you can get Haynes manuals online, which might be an ever so slightly cheaper/easier option? Main thing with the online version is you don't have to worry about finding stock - you can have it now! Also it doesn't matter where you are or break down, as long as you have a smart phone and a data connection you can refer to the manual - beats carrying it.

The XT manual has only recently been added to those available in online as well as paper form. Only snag with an online copy is you need to take your potentially clean and very expensive laptop/tablet into the garage and you'll need WiFi where you work on your bike. Subscriptions are offered for a year or lifetime for a little more.

See here for the XT version from the UK site. They may well have it on the Australian site?

There's a cheesy video too...



Have you also downloaded the official Yamaha Service Manual from XT660.com? It's nowhere near as helpful as a Haynes, particularly for beginners as it's not written in a "walk-through" style and assumes a fair amount of prior knowledge, but it's free to download for supporting members (which you are) and a lot better than nothing!

See here.

You'll need a password which, if you've forgotten, you can get by sending CaptMoto a PM.

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Again, Pleiades my man, you are a fount of knowledge.
The only thing I don't really like about the online version of the Haynes manual is that you have to stream it to access it. I'd buy it if it was downloadable as a pdf but I've got dodgy internet access in my parts... They still haven't sorted the internet properly in parts of rural Oz - it's a big place.

I contacted Haynes Aust and incredibly, it's cheaper to buy the hardcopy from the UK than locally. And they don't have the online version available from here so it'd have to be via UK too... You'd think the colonies would've caught up by now.