This post is not intended to offend anyone, its just a realization of all the experience that some of you have been going through.

Some of you guys, (no need to give out names), have been with us for quite some time now, you have all owned an XT wether it was the X or the R doesn't matter. What matter is you have all experienced the satisfying factor you get from riding this bike, the low maintenance required, i.e. long service stretches, and you have also learnt that whilst the XT is not a bonafide out and out SuperMotard, or a kick arse off roader capable of impressing Pastrana, there is no other bike out there at the moment there that will replace the all-rounder flexibility of an XT.

A few of you, sold your XT and got SV's , Fazers, Beemers, while some even went for a proper Supermoto, only to realize they got bored quickly or that a 4 in-line speed machine is no thrill in their ordinary riding needs, ie commuting or other.

I only want to name one person as an example that is afk40, he sold his R got a SV and hated it, then he sold that and got a Honda FMX and thought it couldn't perform more than 80mph, finally he listened to my advice and got a new 07 XT and now he is very happy again. This is a man who has owned over 200 bikes so he is no fool.

I think anyone else wishing to part with their existing XT should follow this advice and hold on their impatience to try something better when unfortunately there is not really anything at the moment worthy of replacing or even matching the low maintenance cost and performance that you get from an XT. You would be burning a hole into your pocket buying and selling other bikes to try and get an edge on the XT.

If of course someone is looking for a different bike with the idea of touring long distances then I'll be the first to tell them the XT is not for them and they are better off with a TeDiu M or a Cruella (Deuville).

This is going to be a looong thread, Don't say I didn't tell you (no offence)

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Nein my friend this is not meant to be controversial, this is meant as an helpful suggestion to people that are somehow in doubt whether or not to sell their XT for something different and then being later disappointed of their choice or change. Better the devil you know, my brother, and if people will take this advice as a controversial issue it's their choice.

You are spot on there CaptMoto. I went out last night following my cousin on his Aprilia Tuono tearing up the country lanes. Today I've done 150 miles around London following 4 monkey bikes. Now, an R1 would have been fun last night but no fun today at slow speeds cutting through traffic. An XTX is so much fun going fast or slow. Not many bikes can do both and also have a very comfy riding position. They are a blast and have a huge grin factor. I love 'em.

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

I think this thread could be the best one in ages. It helps us focus our minds on what we are about, what bikes we love and indeed if we still love bikes.

I need to confess, I have considered a trade in for either a different bike or the 07X. I went out a couple of weeks ago and had a good luck at what is around for about �3k. I sat on loads of bikes and came to the conclusion that nothing floated my boat. I tell you all this, the 40 odd miles ride back even on a super fast A road was brilliant because it made me realise what I had and that was a brilliant all rounder. Not a particularly brilliant A roads speed machine but for everything else excellent. Its nice to realise what you have before you do not have it...

Anyway, I had a go on the 07X and thought/tried to sell my 04X to help part fund it but after a test ride I realised although the 07 is brilliant, it is not IMHO �2K extra brilliant. My bike is in A1 condition and runs as good as it can. My focus has now returned to playing with the idea of putting some new cans on it but cant decide if I can live with the extra noise (whole different story I know). I want the looks, weight saving, bling, I dunno!

Back on track, when this poxy weather improves I'm straight out on it again. Still the best bike for me considering my situation.

Thanks to all and thanks to the Capt for a great forum. A 100% plus to owning an already great bike.

Tony

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

OK, I know at least part of this was aimed at me, so I'll chip in briefly.

For me, the XTX was a fantastic bike - I loved it, and it taught me a fair bit about riding quickly. The issue I had with the XT was that I wanted it to be more than it was. It wasn't quick enough to ensure that I was going keep it for the long term, and the cheap build was a bit of a let down too. I'm not trying to slate the XT, far from it.
I chopped the XT for the WRF so that I could have the pleasure of building a pukka SM machine. I knew it would be compromised on the road, and I had no intention of keeping it for a long time. If fact, I sold it with 788 miles on the clock after 2 months. Some would call me mad or say 'I told you so', but the way I look at it is that I had great fun building it and riding it (it was purely a toy), and I got the 'hardcore SM' bug out of my system.
I'm now back to my summer norm of riding a sportsbike (CBR600) with the BMW as my daily hack. I love sportsbikes, and will probably change for a new R6 in a month or so. The bike after that will be a KTM 690SM for the winter. I love bikes, and change them often during the warm months so that I can experience more of them. I get different kinds of enjoyment out of the different types of bikes I have owned.

I guess the real point I am making is that whilst the XT is a great bike, it is not all things to all people, and you have to understand that no-one will keep theirs forever.

I see XT660.com having moved into it's 'second generation' of members, where most of the original members have either sold their XTs or have another bike too. I think that's great for the site as it means that the membership didn't die out when the first wave of members sold up.

I think trying to convince existing owners not to sell is a fruitless excercise, as everyone will view their XT slightly differently. If someone thinks about selling their bike, it'll be for a good, valid reason to them, even if that reason is simply 'I fancy a change'.

This is the time of year where a lot of people will change their bikes, so you can expect to see many more people leaving the XT fold, but at the same time, many more will join. My XTX was sold within 2 weeks of me trading it in, and I suspect it will pop up on the forum again in due course.

I know that you hate people talking about other bikes within this forum, but I hope you can understand why people do - the XT is not perfect and will not be the perfect long term ownership proposition for many people. Most importantly, we are bikers! Bikers are fickle creatures and many change bikes yearly as the cost of doing so is affordable for many people.

I have said this before - I have made many real world friends on this forum, but have not felt very welcome since I decided to sell my XT. This is also why many other old members don't post anymore.

I would like to urge a little more tolerence to the inevitabliity of people selling their bikes sooner or later.

Storm

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Racing
(a. & n.) from Race (v.t./i.)
The alchemy that turns base metals into heat, noise, power and motion.

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

Well said John, this all fits perfectly within the understanding of yours, and other people's personal choices and preconceptions of what bikers are all about. However not wishing to re-run this as an argument, I just want to point out 2 simple yet damaging misunderstandings in your piece up there, one being this post aimed personally at you, and the other about me hating talk of other bike makes in this forum. (I think I have already explained this to another member in a different thread) There is place in this forum for talk of other bikes for sure without any opposition from the board, but it has to be appreciated that this place has to be within a confined "off topic" subject, hence an obvious consideration has been given to have this faciltiy in the imminnent future.

The beauty of this forum is that it has a precise place of it's own within a particular group of people, and knowing that not everyone has access to a lot of money to be able to afford or to keep more than one bike, or even to change them often, the core of this thread was to restore confidence in those members who are doubftul about what other bike make could give them similar satisfaction and efficiency within the budget of the average XT owner.
And that, if at all, there is such a thing as an XT Spirit or XT Class of bikes, that this will be difficult to replace or match with something from another brand which is capable of holding heads, on as many grounds as our bikes do, call it an affordable do-it-all or anything you might want.

Now, within this intended place in the world of bikers which we call XT660.com, I can safely say that 90% of us here, are, after all, not just weekend bikers or part time racers that need a racing toy for the track and another for commuting. We are a group of, I would say, mature people with a day job and a motorcycle passion that have made a particular choice and are happy to discuss ways to improve and maintain our bikes in the best way we can.

Last but not least, John, please note in my estimation I higlhy consider you as a great guy and great mate, not just because you have been a star with your software knowledge, but also an invaluable help to others here, why would I directly make a dig at you when talking about people choice of bike changes?

I have always stated that, that door there or in this case the on/off button of everyone's pc, is free for all to use with no commitment, and it is no bother to me who comes, stay or goes as long as they they treat the "house" and it's guests with respect without trying to bring the atmosephere into disrepute, slander or other.

You have never done any such thing, which means I have all the time in the world for you and will still have forever, wishing you to stay around as a friend and a fellow biker for as long as you wish to stay.

There have not been any intended exclusions in place for people who are still members of this forum and have sold their xt for another bike, the choice is left to them to keep posting or not, so it is not correct to state that the very fact that they changed bikes that they are made to feel as outsiders, and have decided not to post anymore, if they do its on their own choice, no one is either forcing them out or making them feel estranged.
What about Tony (Skeeter) for example, has he been treated any differently? Tanya (Biker Biker) never had an XT in the first place, nevertheless she is more than welcome all the same and as popular as anyone else here, and that's not just because she is a lady or any other obscure reasons, she is a mate we have met and enjoyed her company and that is what matters. I have other mates in this forum who are not at all interested in the XT and ride gixxers and R1's they only keep an eye on the events and ride section to see if a ride we organize is appealing to them and match with their time off.

Bob (Grumpy Old Man) was the first to sell his XT and get a KTM, do you think anyone has ever told him to keep away from here or given him the cold shoulder? No way.

I don't like being misunderstood so I have to clarify every points where my intentions are doubted.

I have decided that the "Never Knowingly Understood" words are going to be etched on my tombstone because more often than not people always end up understanding a different meanings to what my real intentions are or one that it is more suitable for them to read in my statements contrary to my genuine motives.