Love... Hate... Relationship!
 

I've wanted one of these the last couple of years but enjoyed my Fazer 1000 too much, it never missed a beat and was very forgiving... the downside? it went quick!! ...... all the time! My wife used to shake her head at my antics... a backyard full of kids and an idiot on a bike! WHERE am i going with this?? Top and bottom? I traded the Fazer in, without a test ride!!! Rode 40 miles home on motorway and A roads and thought... this is different?... surging... jumping... hmmm? I thought, must be me single cylinder from a smooth four? Anyway, I joined the forum to find out it's a common trait with mods available... sodding bike...hated it!!... well next ride out.... loved it, bike couldn't get enough of the green laning and neither could i .. little niggles, yeah I can live with that... ride out yesterday to do a little more bonding...loving it... loving it .. wet roundabout!!! surging!!! wrong gear??? slip clutch?? Sodding bike!! Ar*e twitching moment!! ... hating it!!.. with lot's of other vehicles too close for comfort!.. Anyhow rode home uneventful and wondering what I should do with it?? just started loving it again and thinking... don't be too hard on her you've only had it 3 weeks and 200 miles.. when, I noticed a clicking while manouvering into the garage?? Amazing!! what next? I thought the bloody clutch cable isn't long enough and catches on the oil filler cap when changing lock....!! You know what? This bike and me could have some fun... it looks the biz and makes me smile.... sometimes! BUT... YAMAHA .. need to address these little problems because I would not recommend my bike(a 2011 xtr) to my friends....... Is it me?? Tony

Hehe welcome on board Tony and enjoy the bike, you found the best place to learn ALL about it!!!!

A few mods will make your ride much more fun & controllable.

1/ Twist grip mod = better throttle control in the round abouts & traffic conditions.

2/ O2 controller = will help a lot with that surging.

3/ Rear sprocket rubbers = is there free play in the rear sprocket holder as there should not be any, the free play makes these bikes feel like they are surging.

Hi Kev, I know where you are coming from, all I want to do is get on the bike.... play ... clean it.... put it away... hug it... etc etc start again! Don't get me wrong, I enjoy pottering but I do think it's a bit of a tw*t? Ps say hi to my daughter over in Albany Creek for me please? Tony

love hate love
 

Hi Tony
I've had a blue xt660x for 2 years now and had a fair bit of help and advice from Kev. I too couldn't believe how poor the fueling was/is even up to this week I was still messing about with it.
I,ve put kev,s mod on, changed the filter system,fitted o2 sensor eliminator, modified the throttle but the fueling is still not perfect, better but not right.
But here's the rub!
over the last year or so I have been lucky enough to have use of some pretty decent bikes, harley electra glide, victory 8ball, triumph Rocket 3,Triumph Thunderbird and you know what, I jump back on the Yam its a laugh a minute on virtually every occasion.
I,ve used it for a weeks camping i use it every day for work i,ve taken it out for runs with mates on all sorts of sports bikes and cruisers its never at the back and it never feels like its straining.
i think this is the worst time of year for the 660 as your in the wet on part throttle and its horrible at times. if you wait till the roads dry up and you can give it some stick I think you'll see a different bike.
sorry to ramble but just a thought, have you tried altering the CO level?

No, you're not rambling, i'm just whinging, don't get me wrong? I like the bike and I guess I'll learn to love it? But I paid top money for it and would have been devastated had I originally was gonna buy a brand new one and it had done the same! I like to add subtle mods to bikes to personalize and enhance them, but find it hard to believe they need modifications to make them more rider friendly and road safe?... Just my opinion? Has I say I've not done many miles.... So I guess "Scary Spice" is here to stay!!!! Tony

I am having the same problems with Tony. The bike, unless I ride like a hooligan, is terrible. It is always surging even with the mods (tho it has improved a bit) and it needs constant clutch slipping at low speeds. On the other hand, if you go for a ride on twisty roads the bike is a marvel and it delivers an awesome experience. It is trully a love/hate relationship and the fact that its performance is actually the reverse of what I was expecting messed everything up for me. I bought the bike to go to work and casual 2 up riding and now whenever I take my 1KRR for a Sunday ride I end up thinking that maybe I would have more fun with the XT.

edit: I left work after posting the above and to my surprise the XT behaved much better. Almost no surging and alot smoother, in direct contrast with what my morning ride was. I also noticed that there was less popping from my exhausts. My guess is it has to do with the morning/night temperature difference although it couldnt be more than 2-3 degrees (C). Maybe the bike runs too lean? Any ideas?

Hi Tony, I bought my XTZ new and was a little disappointed with the fueling and throttle response at low revs. But now after 11,000 miles it is getting better, it pulls from lower revs with out complaint and I do not notice the vibes at high revs.I have just replaced the cush drive rubbers but no other mods, how many miles has your bike got on it? Stick with it , it will grow on you Steve.

Hi, Steve it has 2170 miles on it, i have only done the 170, i guess i haven't given the bike chance! I'm looking forward to playing!!! Tony

I know how you feel.... I have had my XTR for about 3 years... Theres part of me that still hates it from time to time.... There's just something about it... I can't sell it as I have spent $1000s on it to get it to my version of usable...

Gilli 22.5L tank.
MM high pipe.
pivot pegs.
fully re-worked "vavles/springs" showa USD forks..
Ohlins shock.
Kev's mods X2.
B&B bash plate.
Yamaha XTZ engine bars.
SS braided brake lines.
Rekluse clutch.
rally raid screen.
wave rotors.
Rox anti vibe risers.

weight... If only it was possable to make REAL weight saveings...