4 Years and 25K miles
 

2006 bog standard model, TPS replaced under recall. think it might have had a remap at 6K service to improve the low speed fueling but now run CO at -10 from default which has improved things and I use it daily for city commuting
Let down one once after 18months with dead battery

Good points
Love the handling and its ability to hold corner speeds shows up many a sportsbike. B and unclassified roads are its natural home

Excellent fuel consumption, 65-70mpg open roads 55-60mpg city commuting

Comfortable and high visibility riding position but need me airhawk

Finish on frame, engine and cycle parts holding up well after 4 winters, due no doubt to the liberal application of ACF50

Ease and cheapness of the home service, though access to valve adjustment is very tight, requires removal of radiator if much cursing is to be avoided

A rear Metzler Tourance will hang on for about 10K

Still on original chain/sprokets, look to be good for 30K+, helped by a Scottoiler with duel injectors

Bad points

Motorways....not what it was made for It will cruise at 80 but me eyeballs start to bleed after a few miles

Finish on wheels is crap aluminium paint coming off

Lucky to get 5K miles of a set of EBC pads

Cush drive rubbers started to show wear at 15K

Would I get another one...NO... i'm sticking with this baby... we,ve bonded

Overall value 9/10

I wonder whether you've still got it. Good write -up. Going to buy one down here in sw Portugal. May get a new one. Question: have the small problems being eradicated? For example, the cush drive rubbers at 15K? I'm not at all concerned about dive. All trailies do it. Expensive KTMs included.

Now done 40K+ miles....still as reliable as ever.
Replaced cush drive at 30K...new ones had play after only 10K....(something i think i'll forget about)
Replaced c/s at 32K. Chain still within tolerance but gearbox sprocket well worn

Still going strong?
Looking at buying one.
Quite high spec
16k 2006 model
�2400
Good value?
How long do you expect the engine to last for?
Atb

cost seems ok.

the engines generally last 50k miles + some last longer

I'm about to pull the trigger on a 2006 with 14k miles, rack, box, engine bars for �2495, so your price sounds about right to me.

TheBreeze, that's great. 40,000 miles and no trouble but it's what I would expect. I used to have an XT500E in the 80s and it was dead reliable. I haven't bought the R yet but I want to do a long overland tour. I'd like to do it on my Buell Ulysses but don't trust it, although it would proably managae it. We're talking about 10,500 miles round Malaysia, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, after flying it in the hold of an Air Malaysia flight from NL to KL.
What spares do you suggest I take?

9 years and over 50K miles. Still as reliable, though engine is a lot noisier now but can still return over 75mpg. Its been used mainly for the daily commute and has worn well despite our British winters

Rear wheel and sprocket carrier bearings have been replaced.
Cush drive rubbers are a joke, they don't last as long as the tyres.
Metzeler Tourance tyres are good for 13K miles in the commuting environment
Headlight bulb has blown once.

They financial outlay and running costs on this bike has to be the best value for money bike i've ever owned. I've been tempted to upgrade to the Tenere but find it too difficult to part with the R

:thumbsup: