What your not taking into account while the XT may be at the end of some folks budgets the reality is its a budget bike and made to a price,Yamaha no doubt have the ability to build a bike on par with KTM's 690 and would come at the same price and doubt as much hassle but that's not their market.

It's why I've spent my efforts in getting the motor as sweet as possible but leaving it stock and getting some weight off and with a few extra bells and whistles making the bike work just that touch better but the reality is it costs!!!!.

You can put as big a front disc on as you like but untill you put a quality front master cylinder on how do you intend putting pressure on the brake pads to stop it going round!!!