Remember my "Interesting Bike" thread?

[dougie]

Nice looking machine ZM.
One of those bikes that asks "So what do you want to do today?"
I remember some years back Honda produced an XL350. That would be a perfect size.

[Major Softie]

Nice looking machine ZM.
One of those bikes that asks "So what do you want to do today?"
I remember some years back Honda produced an XL350. That would be a perfect size.

I had Suzuki's version: DR350. I think mine was a 95. That was a very fun bike, but not much more suited to tight trails than a GS. It was fun on dirt roads though, and the only thing that was unpleasant on an hour's ride on the highway was the seat. Dirt bike seats are not good for the road.

[Zombie Master]

Nice looking machine ZM.
Dirt bike seats are not good for the road.

The seat on the XT is an exception, it's not bad at all. It's much wider and softer than any other I've tried. I throw on my sheep skin pad for long days. The XT seat height is also quite low as dual sports go. That bike is the best $1500. I've ever spent. Even came with the Supertrap and shop manual. There was a mint one for sale in Reno a few years ago, it was like new, but I couldn't really determine if it was safe to ride back. I'd buy another one in a heartbeat. The only parts unavailable through Yamaha are the plastic bits. Did I mention the grease fittings for the swing arm and suspension linkage? With 75,000 klms on her, the linkage still has no noticeable play. Why can't they make bikes like this anymore? Cheap bastards won't even install grease fittings. They must really hate us.

[Garnet]

"Why can't they make bikes like this anymore? Cheap bastards won't even install grease fittings."

They are just like car manufactures, they only look at what benefits the original owner. The vast majority of original owners will sell before the plastic bushings are worn out. So they benefit the original owner by lowering the price of the bike by eleminating costly metal bushings and grease fittings that only benefit you, the second or third owner who never paid Yamaha for the bike.

[Motu]

I sold my 1992 XT600 and got the R65 mono to set up for the same roads. I used the XT600 as my benchmark,and didn't sell it until I was happy with the R65 on gravel.