Its faster and heavier than an Xt (same 72bhp engine as an SV650 I think), probably better on motorways. Wouldnt say its really an off-road machine tho, but green laneing may be possible though, Think there is a review on the MCN website.

For the road I recommend:
* Medium or large screen (I chose the medium as the large one makes the bike look funny but it's your preference).
* Rack and box for touring.


I don't have any intentions of taking mine off road and have specced it with the rack and box, handguards and heated grips. I don't own a car and this beasty will be my do it all ride for a while. Looking forward to the experience.

Update?
 

After another year does anyone have any updates to this thread?

I have had an XT660R for a few months now and have done the following (mainly used for green laning and a bit of slightly rougher stuff):

• Yamaha hand protectors (good)
• Yamaha bash plate (ok but could be tougher)
• Scott Oiler Touring kit (excellent for lazy gits like me)
• Pirelli MT21s front and back (excellent but rear isn't going to last long)
• Rim clamps so I can run 15 psi front and rear (might try 12)
• Metal footpegs (Touratech, excellent)
• Bike trailer for those long distance trail weekends (I think I got an excellent trailer for a good price from Phoenix trailers near BridgeNorth)

I'm thinking about the following so any advice would be gratefully received:

• Lower the gearing (but how much?)
• Replace the wheel hugging bit of the front mudguard (but with what?)
• Stands ... I have a rear paddock stand that's ok but how the hell do I lift the front? At the moment I use a trolley jack on the bash plate whilst it's on the paddock stand but bloody hell it's wobbly!

for lifting the front wheel, you can fit a strong rod through the front spindle and attach 2 bobbins at each end, then any paddock stand will work.

Tried mine offroad yesterday
 

Tried mine offroad yesterday bit dissapointed ive fitted TKC 80s sump guard 14 tooth front sprocket and done the TPS airbox and Mixture mods the bike is not bad on road but off its a different beast alltogether,
although on road the snatchyness of the injection seems almost gone off road it is very appearent that its still there almost impossible to scuttle along in 2nd without masses of jerkiness, the TKC80s seem alive they squirm and throw you sideways for no reason the steering is vauge to say the least and all in all not a very good day, 1st time ive come off on a trail in 3 years,

I recently sold my XR650R as it was kick start only but an extreme offroader it had a set of ITC tyres ill try to get a set of them and fit them to the XTR

normally the two guys I offroad with are left in my wake yesterday they were having to wait for me one on a DRZ400 the other on a TTR600

maybe im running the tyres with too much pressure in them as the DRZ was running at 20 rear and 18 front im up around the 26 mark front and rear which is what Yamaha recommend

What do you guys recon

Adventureboy,

If you're serious about the greenlaning thing then you will need to get a more purposeful bike. I used my XT660R for greenlaning last year and had a good time on it but it was too heavy to make me do it another year.

I bought a 2nd hand DRZ400E (lighter and more powerfull than the DRZS and SM).
I can now ride faster, fall off a lot less and when I do I can pick the bike up no probs. I have no worry about denting the metal tank or rounding the underside on rocks.

I ride in a national group ( http://www.trf.org.uk/) and you would be surprised to know that some people ride 15bhp 125 or 200cc machines. While these are not as cool as the latest KTM/CRF/WR competition bikes, they are light enough and low powered enough to use in the wet, mud, bog etc.

Don't get me wrong, I loved my XTR but now that I have my DRZ for trail use, I'll never go back to anything over 130kg or without an 18 inch rear for proper tyre choice.

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t233/stzog/021.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...g/100_8874.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t233/stzog/027.jpg

niiceee, do you have any gps track or directions of some kind for off-roading in greece ?

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...g/DSCF4503.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...g/DSCF4520.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...g/DSCF4531.jpg

http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t...g/DSCF4550.jpg

Very nice photos love your exhausts:unibrow:. Some great looking off roading there, i tried some myself today but all just old tarmac roads here in Norn Ireland, but all mostly covered in sh+t and stones. alot of this:101: when the wheels are spinning.