Hello everyone

I've just joined as I'm seriously looking at XT660R/X's at the mo and I'm undecided and need some advice....

I own a Guzzi Breva 1100 and love it (think Beemer GS without the stilts, with added character and soundtrack). Shift work means my days off are often when the wife/kids are at school/work and I've been making my escapes camping with the bike on 2-3 day tours.

Of late, the roads I've been discovering have been getting smaller/rougher and I fancy something a bit more manageable to carry the camp gear and me - but still have fun on.

Initially I'd set myself up to get an R as I fancied a bit of wild camping/BOATing....but I do like to attack the bends a bit too so the X might be better. I did a Supermoto experience day and loved it

Q.

1. How suitable is the X for <70mph all day riding compared to the R - are they equal in comfort.

2. Are the R's brakes as weak as they're made out to be?

3. Lacking in off-road experience other than a day on a TTR250 - will I be mad trying to green lane an X?

Thanks in advance,

Neil

My current (only) steed:

Welcome on board.

Guessing here, but I reckon an R would be more suited to what you need?

I'm sure someone will be along soon who owns an R or X, who'll be in a better position than me to answer your questions from first-hand experience about the two bikes.

Nice Guzzi BTW!

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Hi - i'm in Goole so not too far away

I found the brakes on my R just fine, despite the rumours you hear of them not been very good. I do however only commute locally and dont bother with the fast stuff as i've got a sports bike for that.




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and to

The X its a tarmac eater, and well ridden will leave behind all the pocket rockets on twisty roads because it eats corners like pacman.

The R is the X's evil twin same performance as the X on tarmac but with the added ability to do on rough what the X has limits, (i.e. road tyres)

The Z on the other end is the R and a lot more but you need to be quite a tall fella to climb on it.

The Z is also the best seller of the 3 since it was launched in 2008

Welcome to the forum I own a xtx and confirm as mentioned above it is a tarmac eater I use this bike for daily commute and fun rides at weekends but I'd never think of taking into onto the green stuff as even the smallest of mud will prob end badly .

On the flip side of that I currently own a DT125RE I use when I wanna hit the green stuff having rode this bike and other r style bikes I can tell u with dirt tyres on road your one gonna burn through tyres pretty quickly and also never really have as much confidence to threw it into corners as u would a x .

So I guess it all depends on what makes u smile most eating up the corners on the twisty roads or becoming a mud monster hope this helps

Hi
I'm in Cheshire. I've had the R for about four years, and if you keep <70, then it's all day comfortable, and the brakes are just fine.
I tried an X but found the seat less comfortable and the bars a bit vibey. Good, but I sold it and kept the R.
Been touring round Ireland on it, but motorways are awful so not been to Scotland on it yet.
I *highly* recommend the R. If I could think of a better second bike then I'd have it by now (other bike's a Guzzi too)
Rob

Thanks very much Gents.

Looks like I'm back to favouring the R as the X sounds less comfortable. I was kinda hoping that wouldn't have been the case as I fancied the idea of having a bike that'd bring out the hooligan in me.

The search continues.....

Hello Neil and welcome to

Good luck with which ever xt your buy.

What model Vango is that ?

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2011 XT660Z

2008 TDM 900

I am sorry no one said the X is less comfortable. Same saddle, same rear shock different front fork but not a huge difference and the chassis is the same.

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Here's a true story, but I have to tell it to you in reverse so you get my point...

Before I retired from riding in 2008, I used to have a Red XT660X, probably one of the first in UK 2004 model, not a lot of people had seen them in real flesh, because back then, there weren't that many of these about.

Nice sunny Saturday morning in July, I was out on a ride with mates, I pulled in at the designated meeting point, this being Box Hill in Surrey. I parked the bike, lighted a cig and immediately a couple of interested bikers that had never seen one of these, rushed towards me and said, I've heard about these new XT's what are they like? Is it true they are a bit lumpy and underpowered? Do they handle as good as the old 80's XT's? I was still reluctant to answer in details, when 6 road bikes finally turned up about 3 minutes after I got there, I turned to those guys asking questions and said simply: This is what they are like!, while at the same time my mates, on the R6's, GSXR, Ninjas and the like said, f*** me Fran what did you have for breakfast, we just couldn't keep up with you and that thing! Big smile on my face and jaw dropping on the 2 guys asking questions.

But then... I used to be a bit of a nutter back in those days.

Hi! Welcome aboard. That's a lovely Guzzi! I bought an R as a second bike and, compared to my BMW with linked brakes, my initial impression of the front brake was frightening. However, I have now renewed the pads with EBC, fitted a Goodridge braided hose and adjustable levers to accommodate my short, fat hairy fingers. These mods have greatly improved the braking and I'm now much happier. I love the bike's ability to venture off metalled roads with such ease and i'm glad I bought the R as my second bike. However, if you're planning to sell the Breva and make the Yam your only bike, the XTX gets my vote. It also depends, of course, on whether "attacking the bends" or green lanes is your priority! Good luck with your choice.