XTR young rider impressions :) - .: XT660.com

Chris1811 · # 1 28-01-09, 12:23

Hey all bought my XTr back in september,
since then I have put 4k on the clock! I ride it everywere! It is the best bike I have ever had or ever been on the back of!

My XT wasnt brand new its a 57plate so its still a youngun like me!

Unfortunately though mine has a restrictor fitted at the moment but it doesnt seem to do much as I can still beat most other cars and bikes of the line! Can't wait to get that extra 11 standard BHP back!!! :P

This bike has fantastic aceleration both in gear and off the line. I had some sketchy moments with people pulling out on me and things but the awesome handling and acceleration of this bike has pulled me out of harms way! For a large enduro/crosser style bike its handling in my opinion is next to none! I have no problem keeping up with and even beating my friends who all ride ZXr 6's bandit 6 VFr etc around twisty turny roads!

The forks have allot of dive on them when you brake heavy and tend to extend allot when you accelerate, but thats what its designd for! Sucking up the bumps and ruts that most other bikes would throw you off on! Makes for a pretty exciting ride I think! the on road/off road hybrid tyres on the XTr are fantastic in normal dry conditions, but I find that they are a little fishtail like in the rain! But as long as your not trying to be Rossi into corners your fine!

Visibility over other cars is awesome! you are sat very upright on the bike which is a very comfortable riding position, allthough long motorway trips can be uncomfortable! Though by sliding back on your seat a little and tucking your self out the wind behind the screen I find its more comfortable. I plan on getting the larger screen from yamaha for doing long touring journeys.

I plan on doing some sort of green laneing with my XTr but I wanted to get peoples advice on that side of XT life first, what do people make of the r for green lanes and minor off roading??

Im taking my XTr to wales this weekend so hopefully ill get some nice shots and ill let you all know how it goes when i get back!

Hope this was a good report in awe of the XT's!

motonacio · # 2 28-01-09, 12:33

Spot on young man - and pics are mandatory on this site so show us some good ones - a few members here from Wales so you will probably get an offer of being shown the ropes by our experienced guys.

Chris1811 · # 3 28-01-09, 13:11

Cheers guys!!

and ill keep those tips in mind!!

I promise ill get some pics on soon! hopefully get a few good ones in wales so as long as you can wait out till then!

cheers

:P

maxwell123455 · # 4 28-01-09, 15:47

Your report is very true of the XTR, yes its not the most lively or doesnt handle like rossi's bike in the rain but its just so much fun. Being young myself (21) i understand how you feel coming from a 125 (hair dryer on wheels for power) to something with this amount of torque/bhp.

As for safeyness its just experience/getting milage under your belt, you soon learn to understand whos watching the roads and whos not!! Also as kiethblade said liftsavers and generally keeping awear of whats around you and infront mainly is key to being safe/smooth/fast rider.

Off roading you shouldnt have too much bother as long as you stick to dryish paths or rocky paths as the traily tyres arent too good in mud/wet stuff.

Off roading tips are basically take it easy the first few times, stand up on the pegs, make sure you look at the surface your going to travel over and not around you etc etc.

Chris1811 · # 5 28-01-09, 16:02

Thanks for the advice especially the off roading stuff!

Im fairly decent on the roads I jumped straight from a 50 to a 500 and now to my 660! I did 8000 miles on my GS500 in 7months including wales scottland cornwall and france on my own!! but i apreciate all the tips and tricks!!! you can never be too careful!! (or have too much fun!!!

p )

Cheers Guys hope to see you at the lakes!

Gas_Up_Lets_Go · # 6 28-01-09, 16:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keithblade

I can not give you advice on off roading because I am a novice with that skill too, however there are loads of riders on here that will help you out.

But we hope to have some good shots of Keith after the May meet....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keithblade

Gas Up Lets Go (Darren) is organising a weekend in the Lakes in May with some off roading and camping. You will be more than welcome. You may need a Passport for the Lakes (and a tendancy to have sexual feelings for big blonde sheep!!!!)

We have special sheep up here, you don't get them anywhere else in the country - they are much clever,rer than the Blonde ones that Keith is used to, as they know which way is home.....

As for off roading, there are some things it's best to understand, Take a look at this site: http://ww.trf.org.uk/ and havea read through the Green Lane Code, it's just common sense really. Don't try to run before you can walk, riding a straight forward gravel track is just as challanging for starters as 2 meter drop offs are for the Enduro Gods, sorry Godesses..... Stick to gravel or packed rock at first, and especially if you are alone - there is nothing more soul destroying that having to heave your bike through a mud bath on your own!! Try to avoid looking right in front of your wheel, look a good 20 - 30 meters ahead and plan your route, keep in a low gear so you have the option of power when you need it (drainage gulleys are a real *****, you'll need to power over them or you might just end up leaving the bike!). There is loads to learn if the dirt is your thing, best thing to do is go out with someone who has a bit of experience - watch and learn, experience will just creep up on you bit by bit....

There is one thing to be sure of, riding off-road gets you access to some much better views :

And this one is actually a tarmac road ->

statik · # 7 28-01-09, 16:29

I was asked by someone starting out Green laneing about extras for the bike. This is what I told him and he saw a fellow rider go down with all the toys on his bike. It was towed home due to a very monor fall. Hope it helps.

Don't fit crash bars to your bike if your coming green laneing. They catch on things and pull you off. Things go wrong very suddenly so keep the bike as smooth as possible. If it falls over with crash bars the bike will dig into the dirt and break. You want it to slide and there is less damage. There is less chance of getting hooked by the bike as it goes over a cliff. Your better off watching it slide away from you. Appart from hand guards forget the after-market crap, it's just for the movies mate.

A bit of foam rubber on the tank in the nut-bag area can be a good idea.

johnno · # 8 28-01-09, 16:43

Ive met Chris and his enthusiam is great ,his dad rides Moto Guzzi cant be bad.Enjoy and welcome

Gas_Up_Lets_Go · # 9 28-01-09, 18:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by statik

I was asked by someone starting out Green laneing about extras for the bike. This is what I told him and he saw a fellow rider go down with all the toys on his bike. It was towed home due to a very monor fall. Hope it helps.

Don't fit crash bars to your bike if your coming green laneing. They catch on things and pull you off. Things go wrong very suddenly so keep the bike as smooth as possible. If it falls over with crash bars the bike will dig into the dirt and break. You want it to slide and there is less damage. There is less chance of getting hooked by the bike as it goes over a cliff. Your better off watching it slide away from you. Appart from hand guards forget the after-market crap, it's just for the movies mate.

A bit of foam rubber on the tank in the nut-bag area can be a good idea.

I'd say that was a good point - not quite sure why you'd want crash bars,

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keithblade

Good point but a sumpm guard maust be a 'must have'!

Especially with the pipes routing under the bike - never understood why Yamaha made this change from the XT to the XT-R, the Z has the pipes going the correct way, and my TTR (the sort of XT stop-gap, but better spec'd) has the pipes taking the riight route too.......

Without a bash plate you really do run the risk of crushing the pipes on a rough bit of crushed rock - I had my TTR balancing on it's bash plat ethe other week!!!!

Chris1811 · # 10 12-02-09, 22:23

yea my next 2 investments are going to be a bash plate and hand gaurds, oh aswell as some ccc full length rounds!!

though i do have to shame my self, i dropped my XT in the ice! it was very embarrassing! coming back from wales and got caught in the snow! aghhhh!!

its ok though only came off with a bent brake lever easily fixed! if im honest i was supprised at how the xt just bounces up!! i was so impressed that it had no scrtches scuff marks etc!!! top notch and thumbs up to the XT and a slap for its owner!!!

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