XT660R opinion
 

Thanks for the welcome mates!

Well, since I'm invited, I'll post my opinion.
I had a used Honda XR500R model 1984.
It was my first bike and the one I learned how to drive!
It had many mechanical problems and I sold it on 2002.

I purchased a new XT660R at 29/3/2008.
Having driven 4800km so far
Well, I'm VERY impressed and satisfied with my buy!

The stability on tarmac is a thing I didn't expect, really!
Driving at 150-160kph, the bike's stability is superb.
But I don't think that the bike was designed to travel so fast so,
I usually travel at 130kph.

The rider's seat is a little stiff but the riding position is good and comfortable.
My wife, also, was satisfied at the back seat.

I especially like the way the XT turns at country-roads with many bends.
Immediate corrections are not a problem and it turns very sharply for an
adventure bike. I like a lot the Tourance tyres. I think Yamaha made a good
choice here.

Another thing that I noticed was good range. With full tank, I usually make
280-320km of mixed use. (City-travel).

And a word about vibrations...
What vibrations are they talking about?
I didn't notice any annoying vibrations on any occassion...

I'm planning a off-road trip with a friend having a Honda CRF450 to a mountain range with "passable" road.

I hope my XT will make me proud, although I have my little fears as a
newbie driver.

Thanks mates!

Nice review of the bike. The larger wheels on the R do make it turn very well and the tourance tyres are very good on the road. Tank range is suprisingly good if you dont use full throttle everywhere, :toothy11:but sometimes this just cant be helped.

Billy have you done any off roading before? The XT im sure will handle what ever you throw at it, but on stock tyres you might just need to take it alot slower than your friend on his CRF450 as its just an off road bike and will take any off roading at 100kph.

Glad you like your bike and hope you have many more kilometres of fun on it.

Good report billy and looking forward to more later (including pics).

Do not fear - you will fall off when you go rough off-roading - it is part of the experience.

As for 'as a newbie driver' - read my 'Water Run' thread to see that at the age of 61 with lots of experience it can happen to anyone who leaves the rut of tarmac riding and gets into the ruts of off-road!

Off-road
 

Thanks for the interest mates!

Talking about off-roading...

I don't expect the XT to be as good as the CRF off-road.
As I believe the CRF can't come even close to the XT on-road, or travelling.

I bought the XT because it combines a lot of features like:
good performance, reliability, price, comfort, looks, in general
EVERYTHING I need from a bike.

You can commute, travel, go a little off-road etc.
Here in Greece, we have a lot of dirt roads passing through a wonderful
nature, not to mention the islands (mostly dirt).

I think that the "GO ANYWHERE, DO ANYTHING" that Yamaha says,
is true with this bike.

First times are *****es.

I won't be racing with the CRF, but my friend has a lot of experience and patience and he is willing to share it. I think he'll be a good teacher to me, so, I'll just follow carefully as much as I can, hopefully WITHOUT scratching my baby!!!:088:

Your very true the XTR is a bike that can do all.

As for scratching your XTR dont worry the plastic panels are very keep to replace.

Have fun on the off roading i know i did when i took mine off roading in wales

Well, I'm impressed!
Wish I COULD ride like that!

if you read a few ride reports done here you will see tha the XTR is more than capable for offroad
www.vdsr.co.uk

Not Impressed
 

Owned XTs in UK for several years, and especially liked the last one there an XT600E. Traveled about 12k miles per year all over the UK. Moved to Cyprus last October and bought my XT660R new here in Cyprus last November. Have spent the last six months trying to get it to run smoothly with a steady throttle (surging/hesitating at all revs and in all gears). With advice form this website and a friend in the business I have been adjusting the CO level and now have a -13 which is just about manageable although town and off road riding are at best tolerable and at worst dangerous. No help from the dealer (this is after all Cyprus) and no where else to turn!!!. Have written to Yamaha Japan with no response. Not fit for purpose and a blinding disappointment when all the other XTs have been so good (perfect). If you've got a good one then make the best of it cos when they are good they are very very good but mine - a waste of money. If I could get a decent price I'd swop it for a used 600E tomorrow.

Bad luck!!! What can I say?

I'm sorry Tony! But, have you ever ridden other XT660's? I've ridden one XT660R and two XT660X's, and I found no difference in handling from mine!

Maybe you had the bad luck of purchasing a faulty or defective one!:Suspicious_DXD5FP:

Well, the EFI is not perfect but such dissapointment...

Hope you find a solution soon...

Keep the information coming mate...

Good luck!

What year is your bike?

By the way you have set your CO1 to get it better, it may be a 07 model & has a faulty engine ECU.