86 XT600

DougC

Observer
Not with the 600; I had the xt350. A bit underpowered for the highway...the 600 should be fantastic!
 

Aquafbody

Adventurer
I had a fella send me an email wanting to trade his 85 xt600 for my 82 vision aka xz550. I'm leaning towards making the trade.
 

Victorian

Approved Vendor : Total Composites
The early xt 600 engines are great! Plan for an oversize piston if the engine has more than 30.000km on the clock.
 

Silver dude

Xplorer
I ride two a 91 XT600 and a 86 XT600. Great bikes with good power. The 86 is kickstart only which can be a pest if you stall at a intersection but you learn quickly. I prefer it to the 91 actually, the 86 has larger wheels and a larger robust feel to it, kickstart gives it character.

Me on the 86
10561750_10203993140061622_1234278126243851178_n_zpsk69yku6z.jpg
 

Aquafbody

Adventurer
I ride two a 91 XT600 and a 86 XT600. Great bikes with good power. The 86 is kickstart only which can be a pest if you stall at a intersection but you learn quickly. I prefer it to the 91 actually, the 86 has larger wheels and a larger robust feel to it, kickstart gives it character.

Me on the 86
10561750_10203993140061622_1234278126243851178_n_zpsk69yku6z.jpg

Ever taken them on trails?
 

Silver dude

Xplorer
Yeah they are pretty heavy but go where you point them. My dad and I've done sandy ATV trails. Some midwest farm land basic woods stuff. The 86 has a pretty used up fork and bottoms pretty easily. But, still does everything we ask we ask it to. Really goes as far as you want to take it. Kinda one of those things where it's good at nothing but can do everything.

Heres a pretty boring video of some sand roads and gravel in SW Wi.
Black river falls, Wi Dual sport bikes: http://youtu.be/h-o6YTjL4DY
 
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Victorian

Approved Vendor : Total Composites
If I had to choose between a "modern" bike and the xt600 for overland travel, I would always pick the XT. You will find parts all over the world, easy to work on and almost nothing on it to break if you drop it. I owned three in the past... two xt600K (put 30.000 km on each within a year...) xt600z Tenere (same engine just more plastic and bigger tank).
 

Silver dude

Xplorer
Yeah I agree my dad and I did 1500 miles of rough rural roads and trails last year alone. I bent the rear brake lever from a wipe out, just bent it back. Other then that they have never let us down or gave us fits despite being 29 years old. The old 86 even has a Baja penninsula key chain so who knows how far the previous owner took it. Its high mileage and is on its third set of tires but runs just fine. My dad doesn't take care of the bikes the greatest. But, given a months maintenance in my care I wouldn't hesitate to ride it across the country.
 

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