Still trying to work out excatly why XT660's are such a good fit for punters who own them, After a lifetime riding large 1 litre sport bikes I can't believe I'm on a 660 single trail bike & can't believe how much I just love this bike & have no plans to ever sell except maybe if they bring out a XT-700 road-trail version of the new Tenere with that brilliant MT-07 motor and even then I'll probably still keep the 660R because of that great connection between throttle & back wheel, and there's always the theory that it does everything you ask of it brilliantly & much more, but I still can't quite put my finger on what the X factor is with this bike but it's definatly there & I'm happy that other blokes around the world feel the same way.

For me, and I also own a R1200GS... the Z has heart and soul, it's that simple.

Contrast to the GS, which does everything I need very well, pillion is the best comfort my wife has experienced.

It's a simple bike, easy to work on, easy to repair and yet (in my experience) super reliable. In the ten years I've owned it, it has let me down once, and that was due to an overtightened cable tie that caused chaffing on the wiring loom.

On a personal level, it's comfortable, quick enough for the road, works well enough in the dirt, carries enough kit. It's a sort of motorcycle version of a Landrover - not brilliant, but good enough at almost everything.

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Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

I feel in love with mine simply on how she looked..never seen one before till I was browsing on ebay. 500 miles round trip later she was even better in the flesh..and I have to say 2 years later Im still in love...well apart from the fecking seat..

For the journalists out there, I like my Tenere because it is the Landrover Defender 90 of the biking world. (Edit:sorry GULG, I've just seen you have said this too) and can buy toys and bling and bolt-ons for off road pretentiousness and it will work. However....IT IS the Landrover Defender 90 of the biking world and will only behave and perform like it. . Move outside those slim capability parameters and it's useless. There is no do-it-all bike but the 660 offers a solution for a few, basic, needs, ( Having owned many, many 19-190bhp, different steeds and traveled the equivalent girth of the world 60 times), that a chap/chapess will always seem to default to after growing older.....Exposure creates experience. Experience creates knowledge. Knowledge creates wisdom......(Chalk 2@2018)

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I have a lot of growing up to do. I realized that the other day inside my fort.

and to

Mine is a 09 Ten (Givi screen, Touratech high seat, 3cm bar risers, lowered foot pegs) and I like that:

• It's fantastically comfortable for long hauls on the highway. 130-150 km/h and it runs very smoothly. - Less tiring than my previous bikes.
• Has long range with those 23 litre.
• Easy ride on rough roads.
• Easy in city-centre traffic.
• Very comfortable also when standing.
• Web intel easily available.

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Chev.

2009 XT660Z
Gone: 2011 Moto Guzzi 1200 Sport,
1996 XRV750, 2003 R1150GS.