Yamaha XT660R

[Suzuki Al]

We are shortly to be parted. I hope that it goes to a good owner.

Here are my concluding impressions:
Right from the start I found the cosmetic finish of this bike was its biggest fault. It really is very poor indeed. Decals that literally blow off, extensive rust under the tank, ridiculously easy to mark plastics, cheapo spokes and shoddy condition on delivery are not what you'd expect from a £5000 bike.

Apart from this, and some teething problems (easily remedied) with the ECU, this bike is a beauty. Much better than its looks would suggest.

It is very smooth for a single and this, plus its very comfy saddle and excellent riding position, make it an all day comfortable machine.
For its capacity and type it is pretty quick and un-stressed, coping easily with legal motorway speeds. Brisk A road work is similarly no problem as the XT will nip up to 80 for those quick overtakes, with ease.
Its on-road handling is a revelation - simply superb. Very stable with the ability to corner very precisely - huge angles of lean are available with no dramas.
It is economical. Over my 5,000 + miles of ownership it never returned less than 60mpg and often exceeded 70mpg.
The gearbox is almost Suzuki good. Brakes are more than adequate for its weight, though the back locks up too easily. Switchgear is not exactly sturdy, but there were no problems.
Off-road it would prove too heavy and flimsy for a serious off-roader, but I did quite a bit in the company of a DRZ riding mate and it was adequate for the places we went. It is certainly more than up to the task of taking on significantly rough trails such as the Monks Way and the trail from Nantymoch through Hyddgen to Machynlleth.

To conclude:
Is it a great road bike? Well no! A Fazer 6 would murder it.
Is it a great trail bike? Well no! A DRZ would murder it.
Is it a great DS bike? Well yes! It does both tasks adequately well, and there are very few bikes around that can claim that distinction.

[WRANT]

I've had mine 7 months. The decals are still stuck on not even peeling( no jet wash). No rust but a couple of the clips are getting some white powder on them. Since the ecu got changed it is very smooth no lag or jolts like my 2001 CBR6. The left side cover over the alternater ( i think ) is weeping oil but my excellent dealer Arnold in Coalville say they will sort it with a new O ring next week. If I was single I would be off to Europe for a month but its just the odd night camping in the peaks & work every day. The only bad thing with this bike is reading all your woes.

WRANT

[Suzuki Al]

My review isn't that negative WRANT, I rate it very highly. My "woes" were all about the cosmetics and were sorted or sortable under warranty without any hassle.
I don't want to put people off the XT, it is an excellent bike and despite its faults I rate it as the best middle weight DS - a true do it all bike. If the finish was better, it would be pretty much faultless

[WRANT]

My review isn't that negative WRANT, I rate it very highly. My "woes" were all about the cosmetics and were sorted or sortable under warranty without any hassle.

I guess we are never Happy are we , when I had my first & only BMW in 1991 I swore I would never have another but now if I had 10,000 I would jump at a GS

[jmc123]

I think its funny how XT alan got rid of XT complaining about its poor finish and buys a 1200 Bandit thats notorious for its poor build quality:ljl:

The XT is a great allrounder, i preffer the XTX because its a taramc terrorist and now its been dyno'd i think its my perfect bike.

JMC

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p>

[XTreme]

I think its funny how XT alan got rid of XT complaining about its poor finish and buys a 1200 Bandit thats notorious for its poor build quality:ljl:



<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

Nothing is what it seems to be in XT Alan World!
It's the mythical land where XT's outperform everything except B12's, Suzuki build the best bikes, Kawasaki have the best build quality, and Honda are the evil baddie! :yen:

[Suzuki Al]

I think its funny how XT alan got rid of XT complaining about its poor finish and buys a 1200 Bandit thats notorious for its poor build quality:ljl:

The XT is a great allrounder, i preffer the XTX because its a taramc terrorist and now its been dyno'd i think its my perfect bike.

JMC

<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

You forget John, I've actually owned a B12 and I can assure you that they are pretty well built. The XT is a fantastic do anything bike, no question, but better built than the B12? No!

Also, Pete, in XT Alan (aka Boring Old Git) World I'm on my third new bike in 2 years and my spending hasn't reached £1000. So, whatever else, I get the buying and selling bit right:ljl:

[jmc123]

You forget John, I've actually owned a B12 and I can assure you that they are pretty well built. The XT is a fantastic do anything bike, no question, but better built than the B12? No!

Also, Pete, in XT Alan (aka Boring Old Git) World I'm on my third new bike in 2 years and my spending hasn't reached £1000. So, whatever else, I get the buying and selling bit right:ljl:

The ones i've ridden have been heavey, poorly put together, poor suspension, poor brakes. Perhaps your B12 will be ok:ljl: but in general its got the same build quality of early XTR's.

[XTreme]

The ones i've ridden have been heavey, poorly put together, poor suspension, poor brakes.

Spot on! Great motors (if they're not oil burners).....the rest of it is a budget parts bin special.

[mudlark]

The fact is build quality of most bikes is nothing short of scandalous, but we still go out there and pay up, so things won't change unitil we do:XT Alan:

[Suzuki Al]

Don't take my word for it.

"The Bandit is well put together" - Bike 2003

"If sturdy construction, monster engine and decent handling are top of your list, then the Bandit could be the bike for you" Martin Child - Bike 2004

"The Bandit's a tough old brute" Ride 2004.

The few oil burners were all K1 and K2 Pete and were all fixed. K3, K4 and K5 OK.

You must have had pre-2000 Bandits JMC, cos the Ks' are put together as good as anything, even Hondas. Only real weakness is the rear shock.

The Tuono may be a better bike, I haven't ridden one, it damn well should be, it's £3000 more expensive.

The Fazer1000 I have ridden, compared to the Bandit, it is a buzz box and the handling is much worse - It bounces along like pogo stick.

I have friends with everything from new FJRs to Blackbirds to Deauvilles to CBRs to Kwak Ninjas to R1s to VFRs to XJRs. I had a CB1300 and the Bandit is no better or worse build wise than any of them.

Parts bin special - yes it is. Great engine and gearbox from the GSXR. Brakes from the GSXR. Simple and effective frame. Japanese electrics and a bit of plastic ..... err, what else does it need?

[Suzuki Al]

Interesting Fact.

Suzuki claim 98bhp. Every test but one that I have seen (and I've seen many) has the B12 putting out more than 100bhp at the back wheel as standard. I know of one standard bike that put out 112 bhp.

[jmc123]

[QUOTE=Boring Old Git]Don't take my word for it.

You must have had pre-2000 Bandits JMC, cos the Ks' are put together as good as anything, even Hondas. Only real weakness is the rear shock.

QUOTE]

The one i was using was only 9 months old, it was rusting around the engine bolts and the engine cases had corroded/ furred up. The funny thing was that they had been cleaned everyday and stored in a garage.

[Suzuki Al]

[QUOTE=Boring Old Git]Don't take my word for it.

You must have had pre-2000 Bandits JMC, cos the Ks' are put together as good as anything, even Hondas. Only real weakness is the rear shock.

QUOTE]

The one i was using was only 9 months old, it was rusting around the engine bolts and the engine cases had corroded/ furred up. The funny thing was that they had been cleaned everyday and stored in a garage.

Maybe your engine cases weren't painted :ljl:

[jmc123]

[QUOTE=jmc123]

Maybe your engine cases weren't painted :ljl:

Its probably becasue all the paint had fallen off, you know "typical suzuki build quality":ljl:

[Shaunie]

My 2000 B12 was without doubt the worst bike I've ever owned.

The motor was way too much for the chassis and suspension.
The front forks were too soft and the rear shock had little damping. It would dive severely on the brakes and see-saw for several seconds afterwards.
It was uncomfortable, with vibration through the pegs and the bars.
The electrics were crap. It was very reluctant to start in cold or wet weather.
The finish was shocking. The paint on the tank had almost worn through by 4000 miles. The seams under the tank had no paint on to start with.

Truly horrible.

[Suzuki Al]

My 2000 B12 was without doubt the worst bike I've ever owned.

The motor was way too much for the chassis and suspension.
The front forks were too soft and the rear shock had little damping. It would dive severely on the brakes and see-saw for several seconds afterwards.
It was uncomfortable, with vibration through the pegs and the bars.
The electrics were crap. It was very reluctant to start in cold or wet weather.
The finish was shocking. The paint on the tank had almost worn through by 4000 miles. The seams under the tank had no paint on to start with.

Truly horrible.

You didn't like it then :ljl:

What you need is a nice CB1300 :lll:

[XTreme]

My 2000 B12 was without doubt the worst bike I've ever owned.

The motor was way too much for the chassis and suspension.
The front forks were too soft and the rear shock had little damping. It would dive severely on the brakes and see-saw for several seconds afterwards.
It was uncomfortable, with vibration through the pegs and the bars.
The electrics were crap. It was very reluctant to start in cold or wet weather.
The finish was shocking. The paint on the tank had almost worn through by 4000 miles. The seams under the tank had no paint on to start with.

Truly horrible.

I'd agree completely there! :lg: