Well I finally managed to get a leg over a demo xtz660 today.

All tar, a little motorway, no dirt and no rough stuff.

It makes it hard to judge a bike with only 45 minutes in the suburbs.

The bike feels good and ticks all the boxes for me [except maybe the bank account ].

So..........this is the latest model with the vertical headlights, would I be better off looking for an earlier model? [horizontal twin headlights?]

What are the problems with the older version and how does it stack up against the new model?

Would the older one be the equivalent of a KLR? [ouch, I know that question will get a rebuke].

This is the one I rode, brand new demo with only 400km on it. [I would be getting a brand new blue one, although I do like the black too].

It's not a XTZ660 it's a XT660Z. The two bikes are quite different.

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Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

Yeah ok, so I'm new at looking at the Tenere's.

But even google search can't separate the two different models.

Should I look at an older model [xtz660?] as this brand new one is out of my price bracket for the moment [maybe if I could find a used one but they are rare this early in the model run].

How good are the old ones with the horizontal twin headlights?

The twin-headlight XTZ660 was the last-gasp development of the carbed Tenere line. It had a liquid-cooled motor and five valves. I haven't ridden one but the general consensus seems to be that it was a bit top heavy, under-powered and lacking in suspension performance when launched about 20 years ago.

The XT660Z is fuel-injected for performance, emissions and economy, has a modern motor from the proven XT660R, up to date styling and reasonably good suspension that is easily up to serious off road riding.

Why not look for an XT660R, which is very similar to the new Tenere but just doest have as much fairing, tank/fuel range etc etc but is still a cracker bike.

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Plough on

Some facts:
XTZ660, model 3YF built from 91-93(first models, first pic), and from 94 'till 98(with double round headlights, 5-valves, second pic).
XT660Z, model 11D, built from 08 'till?
Greetz, Hans.

Attached Images

	XTZ_660-farb-wei.jpg (50.0 KB, 6 views)
	xtz660-94.jpg (46.3 KB, 6 views)

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XT660Z Tenere '08 http://dallastx.smugmug.com

visit: www.hank3.com

SRV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NU0MF8pwktg

There are quite a few of the current model available at good prices - infact someone is selling on one here for about �4K as I recall...

As Pheasant and GULGo say, the two bikes are very different, and not really comparable, other than they are both 660cc single engined 'adventure' bikes...

I would keep an eye out for a current model (that is an XT660Z) at a price you can afford, they tend to be around �3500 upwards...

Jx

ps. Ah, just seen you are in AUS, which puts the whole price thing a bit skewed... like you say there are going to be comparatively few on the secondhand market there at the moment... fingers crossed x

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"Where we're going, we don't need roads..."

JennyDakar.com

The new Xt660Z is nice,,, an has a good tank,, but a think fur serious off road work ye wont go wrong with a XT660R... at a fractionof the cost second hand...2500BP wid get ye a good one.. compared to 4k BP i kniow theres only 1500 o a difference... but 1500 wid kit ye out....

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1st post of 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2014 gold star award

For serious off-road work, I'd get a WR450F...

Jx

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"Where we're going, we don't need roads..."

JennyDakar.com

Thanks for the responses people.

What I'm looking for is a highway capable/off road capable bike [big ask I know].

I currently have an 09 Suzuki V-Strom DL650A that doesn't really do the trails I'm now looking at as part of my rides and trips.

My other bike is an old KLR650 [purchased recently to improve my dirt skills so I'm more comfortable off road with the V-Strom].
As a result I've now rekindled my interest in doing more trail rides as part of my weekend and annual trips.
This has also shown up the shortcomings of the Strom for what I want to do [and the KLR as sure as hell ain't no highway tripper].

The annual stuff in particular involves interstate highway and long distance within state trips as well.

The Ten660 came across my radar recently and looks like it is better than the KLR on highway but still better than the Strom on single track and fire trails.

Of the two Ten660's it seems the later one would be more suited to what I want.

I had previously looked at the R and X but fuel tank size, front wheel diameter [better for off road] and a few other things mean the Tenere would be more along the lines of what I need.

The current budget [and now the Mrs. as well] are making it difficult for me to get my hands on one.

Anyone here in Australia interested in trading a V-Strom [might even throw in the old KLR] for a Tenere xt660z??????