Hi to all, great forum, been lurking for a few days but first post here....

I'm seriously considering selling the TDM900 and getting an XTR660... I'd almost decided on a DR650, but I'd really like to stay with Yamaha....

So, some background - I grew up on dirtbikes, first bike was a YZ80C. More recently owned a TT350 then an XR400. I bought the TDM about 18 months ago cos I wanted a bike that could do big trips but cope with some dirt roads. It is BRILLIANT at this (really, I love that bike), but it seems I need a bike that can handle more dirt than the TDM is happy with. I can't afford two bikes.

The XTR looks like a good alternative for me, but I'd like to hear others opinion on it's off road ability. I plan on a lot of dirt road trips (3000km+), including a fair amount of desert sand and some rocky country, but this will also involve some short distance bitumen (2-300km stretches).

Is the XT up to some serious long distance off road work (dirt roads and roughly formed tracks)? What are it's weaknesses reliability wise? Can anyone point me to some posts on guys who have taken the XT off road in a serious fashion?

Thanks, and by the way, good forum here....