gear changes
 

posted this in the wrong section earlier - reposted in the X section

Hi All

Just been out on my XTX '56 for the 1st time since i've had it. Being in sheffield, the roads have only JUST cleared. The bike has been sat in the garage tempting me for over a week!

This is my first single, and my first bike in a few years. My first bike was a Yam Thundercat, to give you an idea of what i am used to.

I am loving the riding postion and feel of the bike, makes you ooze confidence. It feels nippy, but not over powered. Basically I feel in complete control of the bike and not just a passenger.

The only issue I am having is when to change gears. Due to the absence of a RPM counter, and it being my first single, I appear to be getting it all wrong.

I am reguarly at the rev cut out of the engine, which seems really early compared to what i am used to, and when i change earlier the engine is having a complete eppy and i have to change down again.

I understand that I will learn more about the bike as i ride more. However, any pointers / suggestions to help me along would be appreciated.

All the best, ride safe

Stu

You need to recalibrate your brain from the higher reving engine, the 660 single is a plodder, that said dont labour the engine as it hates it as you have found out. I dont have a rev counter either, you will soon learn how to ride the beast. There is very little to be gained by reving the nuts out of the low reving engine. You certainly dont need a rev counter for normal riding.

+1

If you want a better spread of HP & Torque you need a set of after market can's a DNA stage 2 air filter & a fueling device this will allow you to pull from a lower RPM & the bike will have more power across the RPM range & feels so much better to ride.

Thanks for the advice chaps.

How much would this set me back?

My bike is stock set up. I am confused why Yamaha would market a bike that requires so many aftermarket mods to make it "perfect"!!? I have ridden a couple of other yams, and owned one, and have found them to be excellent "out of the box" compared to some of the competition.

I am loving the ride and feel of the XT though.

I have owned 43 motor cycles & have just about modified everyone, I don't think I have ever owned a perfect bike. The XT responds well to most mods & it does change the ride for the better.

5/ Fuel devices.

1/ Power Comander PCIII & PCV
http://www.off-the-road.de/Other-bikes/Engine-Tuning/Dynojet-Power-Commander-Yamaha-XT-660.html?listtype=search&searchparam=power%20comma nder

2/ Rapid Bike
http://www.rapidbikeusa.com/cgi-bin/shopper.cgi?search=action&category=1287&keywords=a ll

3/ Ignijet
http://www.ignitech.cz/english/ignijet/ignijet.htm

4/ Memjet
http://www.memjetmodule.com/products-page/yamaha/

5 SFI
http://www.staintune.com.au/sfi_yamaha_xtx660.htm

6/ The Kev Fuel Mod.
http://www.xt660.com/site/node/136

Can's
http://www.xt660.com/site/node/333

DNA filters, send a PM to Captmoto for a price including your forum discount.

dna Stage 2, and a Kev fuelling mod is the cheapest way to go, for value for money.

If you find "Main Site" in your top right hand corner of this page, you will come to the DNA stuff, and I suppose pm Kev for the fuelling mod.

Wot he said :nod:

Its easy to get overwhelmed by all the info on this site and to start a shopping list so early in a bike ownership can be fraught with money down the pan issues! Ride it and adjust to personal preferance.

Having owned 3 XTX's not one has been the same spec. My current one came with aftermarket carbon fibre cans - sold em! I run a stock air filter as well & stock suspension. Yes you can improve the bike just look at Kevs mod list. To be honest I dont think its needed other than sorting out the fuelling. I have a Kev mod fitted and that is it for performance upgrades. The bike is fast enough as is, handles well and brakes well.

Any other mods are visual and dont offer any real benefits for me.

I love my XTX and its an older version. I owned the new style one and preferred the older ones - go figure!

In agreement totally Tony. I plan to ride through the winter and see how my riding style adapts. So far I have not had any experince of the "surge" issues, so it maybe that this has had some modifications done at dealer so far. For me the bike is just awesome, plenty quick enough. Awesome, confidence inspring handling etc. Just filled her up for the first time today.

Once march is here and the road conditions improve, then i will look at the Kev Mod if needed, and potentially a DNA filter.

Before then though I am looking for some handguards with air deflectors (let me know if you know of any), but more importantly a higher/touring screen. Does anyone else run a taller screen? any recommendations??

This is my bike and it runs the touring screen. It is not as pretty as the other screens but I will tell you I get no wind blast at all. Standard screens are absolute rubbish and trying to maintain 70mph on a dual carriageway or motorway is not something you desire for long periods. This touring screen knock socks of even the Tenere one (I know as I have owned one of those as well and it suffers from buffetting). I considered the middle size screen type but that still suffers from wind blast (as confirmed to me by Denny). You have 2 options really accept the wind blast and get the good looks or go the route I have.

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...x/SAM_0890.jpg

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...x/SAM_1030.jpg

Regarding the hand guards there are loads of options out there and they vary in price. I will only recommend the genuine ones to you with deflectors. Yes they are expensive but they fit with no issues at all, the rest are a gamble as I found out recently when I purchased Acerbis ones that look exactly the same but they are not. There are sublte differences in size. I only found this out when I purchased a pair and I could not get them to fit. Got a refund and added the extra and got the genuines. I like the spoilers as well and may get these in the future as well.

(this is not the same bike as above, it was mine though!)

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/g...x/100_0655.jpg

hey 660X...that bike looks brand new!!! I like your rims....

Did you not see Tonys previous thread on the transformation of that very bike? Check out the thread to see what it used to look like...you might be in for a shock :crowded:

yes I did see it, and what he has done typifies what this forum is all about!

Tony has worked hard to get his bike the way he wants it....a true enthusiast!

Lets hope he doesn't sell it soon :eusa_whistle:

You'll soon get used to not having a rev counter. I'd save your money and wouldn't bother with any ' performance ' mods, buy another bike with more performance. I would get things like a taller screen, rack, crash bars, heated grips etc. I'm far more pleased with these mods than the stage 1 filter and airbox mod I've done. I've got a gsxr1000 in the garage if I want performance. Great bikes though.

No chance this time mate. I am a changed man, the money spent has already been "written off" in my mind so I shall enjoy "free" riding without the constant nagging of loosing money on it in depreciation etc. I just plan to use this and enjoy it. I know I have spent alot of time getting it back to a good condition but I have plenty of spare time and loads of enthusiasm. I have not spent alot on it really and what I have spent can be balanced by the fact I sold the cans on it, swapped panels FOC with another owner.

Edit: Apologies for hijacking your thread. I hope my earlier posts helped you.

+1

Good to hear Tony, your bike really is mint! I was supposed to put my bike on the market after buying the GS but after 4.5 years of ownership I just can't do it! Even the Mrs loves it that much as she's said I can keep it :team[1]:

Apologies from me too for the thread hijack :hw27:

Thanks for the input all, and not hijacked Tony. Its good to get peoples opinions and feel their enthusiasm.

I am of the same mind set of Tony and Chester. I didn't get the XT for performance, so will avoid the performance mods unless they resolve any technical issues i encounter. I have the original touring screen on order, and had the Acerbis guards ordered, although i will cancel those now and order the original Yam ones.

I will work out how to get pics up into a thread and show you all this bike actually exists.

Pics. As you can see it is all stock. Planned mods are original touring screen and handguards with deflectors, immediately as intend to ride all year. I am researching engine guards. I also need a LHS tank panel as this one has a burn mark on it.

http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/...X/bfbfe2c8.jpg
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/...X/0136bf3b.jpg

There is a black new left hand tank panel on bay �16.99 bargain.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/YAMAHA-XT660-X...#ht_1829wt_689

thanks tony, just ordered. hopefully it will be the correct one to fit my steed

It's the correct one for your bike. Fear not my friend.

Hi there,

I made myself a Kev fuel mod and played with my Co setting. This was all I really needed. Then when the air filter needed replacing got a DNA and stage 2, These definately helped my bike pull better, and made a nice change to the sound.

I recently got a PCV and it helped with more power, but even with a custom map, couldn't get it as smooth throttle response as with the Kev Mod. ECU to blame.
So the options there are to get an 02 eliminator (I believe is still in development) or replace ecu and wire loom.
But I'm in no hurry, Air filters and Kev fuel mod, for me, job done (for now anyway tee hee)
I've increased rear sprocket by 1 tooth (shop sent me the wrong one - but I like it), bike pulls away even faster and pulls better at lower revs, but if you are coming from a higher revving bike, this is probably the wrong thing for you to do. (You'll run out of revs even quicker).
This single cylinder bike just needs getting to know abit.
:)

Pm Kev about his new o2 mod it works and sorts out the surging