Hope your keeping dry down in Mildura.

Yep, alright here but some others aren't so lucky... a few houses in low spots still have water over the floorboards. S'pose that's going to happen when you get your annual rainfall in 2 days! Drains can't keep up.

I flew back in from Melbourne today, and the pilot came in relatively low for a scenic view of the flooding. I was able to make out some of the dirt roads leading to the tracks I normally ride, and they are all underwater.... better take the TDM for a run this weekend....

Have you takenn the XTR for a test ride yet?

No not yet - still working on selling the TDM, so haven't really looked that hard for one to ride as I can't do anything until I cash out the TDM :sad11: . Polished it up and took several photos to advertise it, which made me pause for a while and ensure I was doing the right thing... do others get emotionally attached to bikes or is it just me?

Being up here in Mildura I'm not expecting to find an XTR locally for sale pre-loved. I can see if the local Yamaha dealer has one and test ride that, although I'm too honest for my own good and would feel guilty test riding a new one with no intention of buying. Other than that, it's a 6 hour drive/ride to Melbourne, 5 hours to Adelaide.... I bought my TDM from Melbourne before I'd ridden one, based mostly on others opinions (which is why I'm asking so many questions about the XTR here :confused1: )...

The more I look at it the more I think this bike will suit the riding I want to do, but I do need to ride one to be sure...

Do you go to Melbs much? I own a 2009 XTR which is stock standard and I live in Melb. Next time you are down this way I'll let you take it for a ride if you promise not to drop it :) I'm not selling but just so you can get an idea of what its like and start the obsession of owning an XTR!

Thanks skt, I appreciate the offer, but I don't get to Melb much at all - I would expect my next visit will be to pick up an XTR if I can sell the TDM. Although I have my eye on one in Adelaide, and another in Sydney (riding 1300km home from Sydney via Kosciusko NP would be a good way to get used to it...)

I'm really impressed by the enthusiasm of the people on this forum - it's a good sign for the XTR, reminds me of the TDM forum....

It`s a pity the TDM has to go but you won`t be dissapointed with the XTR.

I am sooo happy with my XTR and I never rode one before I brought it (although have ridden the XTZ a few times), the motor is a gem.

I will be in the market for a new TDM in a year or two to have the best of both worlds.

How good is the XTR, well it replaces my K100RT as my touring bike untill I get a TDM. I now compare it to my R100GSPD (except fuel range but almost have that fixed) and better in some points.

My mate rode mine the other day and said it`s better than the XTZ as well.

I have only ridden it on the dirt a few times at present (to new haha and I have a TTR600 for that) great if you like feet up power slides :toothy5:.

Good luck with it all.

In an ideal world I'd keep the TDM for road touring and get the XTR for dirt touring. But I'm a single dad with a mortgage and two teenage daughters, one about to head to Uni, so more than one bike is a luxury (of course, one bike is a necessity!).

The motor is the best thing about the TDM too - such a well engineered engine, lots of discussion about jerky throttle but it's never bothered me and I ride in loose gravel/sand a lot where I would imagine it should be an issue. I don't commute on the bike though. Bit of an issue with buffeting that is hard to solve - some can, some can't, I'm happy with mine.

I do like feet up powerslides, the TDM is rather good at that as well with 85hp and road tyres on gravel :045:. Which is why I need to sell it - before I crash it....

Thanks for your feedback, very helpful. Sounds more and more like the XTR is the bike for me....

There's only one problem that I have encountered on the XTR !!! And that is because I'm not one of those "RIGHT THINKING PEOPLE" who brought a Tenere I'm not able to attend the Trail Zone Tenere Tragics ride to Arkaroola scheduled for early March.

Now I've heard of One Make rallies before but One Model !!! The excuse is that this was a requirement imposed by Yamaha - if so I respectfully suggest that Yamaha take their head out of their own collective rear-ends (see I was too nice to say arse :nod:) blowup

Firstly platty, I hope any friends or relatives back in NZ are all ok, terrible situation.


Yes it's a Yamaha thing, I saw the Yamaha dealer notice when it came out a few months back. I guess they are marketing the Tenere name and wanted a nice group photo without any "other bikes" in it....

I won't have an XTR by March (errr... March is next week?) but wouldn't it be good if a heap of XTR's found them and tagged along? heh heh heh... An Arkaroola trip is one of the reasons I am trading the TDM for an XTR.

FWIW, I was originally hoping to get a XT660Z Tenere but couldn't afford one - but now that I've found out I can get an XTR for less money, and modify it to be just as capable offroad yet quite a bit lighter, I'm happy. :038: