Here's some tips at "what not to do" when preparing the XTR for travel.....



After a 20,000klm tour of Spain, Morocco (10k alone), Italy, Austria, Switzerland and France both on and off-road, below is a list of the *only* things to go wrong with the XTR! None being standard XTR parts, all are aftermarket items installed by me

Do be careful when installing your front braided brake lines to ensure the bottom keeper holds the hose in place.... otherwise you will be stripping the front end in the middle of nowhere in 40 degree C heat!

The damage from the line rubbing on the rotor:


The front end strip in the middle of nowhere, Morocco:


Don't forget to use Loctite on your exhaust shield!


Do make sure your pannier attachment (cheap army disposal bags) is up to the challenge of racing across the Sahara at 100k/hr+ enjoying a little air time on one too many drainage channels :evil


All of the above issues were resolved in typical "bodged" fashion with assistance of jubilee clips (hose clamps), zip ties, duct tape or borrowed bolts to keep the show on the road. The XTR otherwise proved faultless, despite a number of naps in the Sahara, in the Atlas and in the Alps...

Example - hose clamp to rescue pannier that is still there 14,000k later:



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Keyboard Adventurer

Brilliant hehehehe thanks for the tips!!!!

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(Now sold on, sob) 2011 Blue XT660X with gold wheels, was 26,500 km.
Engine mods: K&N Stage 1 filter, DNA Stage 2 filter, snorkel removed, Kev fuel mod fitted.
Plus: smoked Puig screen, Yam aluminium sump guard, Yamaha / Acerbis handguards, Givi Trekker aluminium side cases, Leo Vince X3 cans plus Kev front fork mod and Fender Xtender. Just fitted Michelin Road Pilot 3 tyres.

SOLD the XTX for a Super Ten 1200. And just bought a Raptor 700 so staying on here for some tips....

Love travel ingenuity!!
Well done!

Thanks Guys - the underlying story is that in over 20,000klm, the XTR was incredibly reliable, with no issue or hint of an issue. Yet another vote for Yamaha.

Just be careful with what you install and how you install

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Keyboard Adventurer

you can't beat a good bodge job.

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Plough on

Nice one Dale been there done that !!!

If you want to find weak points on ya bike Maroc will do it

Phil

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"I'm here for a good time, not a long time"

Absolutely right Phil! I rode quite a fair chunk of Chris Scott's Morocco Overland trails and I also threw the bike down a couple of them I should also mention that the the pattern mirrors from Wemoto are good value too

I would say that I rode about 3-4,000k of piste that ranged from good graded gravel, corrugated, sandy (not deep sand), stony to rocky through to washed out and rutted pistes. I deliberately avoided some of the famous trails as I was concerned about finding fech fech solo, particularly the trail from Merzouga to Zagora

Fun and fast trail:


Sand - near Erg Chigagga (notice the mirror) :


Stony Trail:


Lovely trail:


Middle of nowhere:

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Keyboard Adventurer

Totally agree - I am a firm believer of the age old adage; "if it moves but it shouldn't, use duct tape. If it doesn't move but it should, use WD40"

I'm also known for my liberal use of zip ties....

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Keyboard Adventurer