Mad-laners Megathread

Originally Posted by Paul the 6th

Yo homies!

Off to testride an xt600e tomorra all being well anything in particular I should look for or check for?it's the one col linked to on the last page or so

Yeah, check it aint too heavy and slow for ya
Traitor

Originally Posted by specialone

Col, you aint getting me in fords that deep, fook that, if there is any type of current at that depth it will have you over, so i'll pass

How did I know you would say that?

Originally Posted by Paul the 6th

Yo homies!

Off to testride an xt600e tomorra all being well anything in particular I should look for or check for?it's the one col linked to on the last page or so

Just a few things that come to mind

• Lift up the fork gaiters so you can see the forks underneath and check the seals. Make sure the rear shock is damping properly cause it's also inside a rubber gaiter and you can't see it.
• Before your test ride, stick your hand on the exhaust manifold so you know if it is being started from cold, so you can see how it behaves from cold
• If it is idling at 2k revs or more, adjust the idle (on the side of the carbs) when you have finished your test ride and the choke is off, ensure the engine will run at 1000-1500 revs without stalling.
• Check for rust on the swingarm near to the rear shock, and on the rear subframe below the seat. Lift the seat off, and have a look, it's two bolts above the rear wheel which you have to undo. Also check the exhaust.
• On your test ride, run at a steady speed around 20-30 mph, 3 thousand revs and check for any rough running or hesitation
• On your test ride, let the bike coast with the clutch in, and bring the bike gently to a stop from about 20mph on the brakes. You are looking for any uneven braking (kangarooing) that may indicate a warped disc from an off road impact with a stone.

Other than that just all the usual stuff that you'd expect to look for on any bike.

That age and mileage I'd be checking history very carefully to ensure the mileage looks genuine, do the old MOT's and the service book tally up into a realistic pattern? If an MOT done in June 2006 shows 1000 miles, but a the service book shows a service done in September 2007 at 990 miles, alarm bells should be ringing!

Don't expect it to be quick just 'cos it's a 600! It's still half the power of an SV! The XT600 is the big old tractor of the motorbike world.

This forum is a great source of info on the XT http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/yamaha-tech/

Originally Posted by specialone

Yeah, check it aint too heavy and slow for ya

Oi, just cos you ride one of these!

since you guys have all the answers, recommend me a light small engined laner, its been a few years since i have been on these sorts of roads, so i want something that can be dropped about 1000 times and still work. And tbh i prefer a kick start not electric, oh and cheap as possible low insurance would also be nice

Originally Posted by sunshine

since you guys have all the answers, recommend me a light small engined laner, its been a few years since i have been on these sorts of roads, so i want something that can be dropped about 1000 times and still work. And tbh i prefer a kick start not electric, oh and cheap as possible low insurance would also be nice

i said small engined like a 250-450 not 50, and its a honda...

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

Oi, just cos you ride one of these!

That bike has knobblies, mine dont

Originally Posted by specialone

That bike has knobblies, mine dont

Not that excuse AGAIN!

[Paul the 6th]

Originally Posted by specialone

Yeah, check it aint too heavy and slow for ya
Traitor

DR-Z ain't out of the running just yet phil it's just with me planning on doing a fair bit of commuting/road riding through winter as well, it kind of makes sense to look for something which will be slightly more suited to road riding. It sounds capable enough @ greenlaning, albeit with a bit more effort and hauling around (remember i'm 6ft 2 and heavy at over 17 stone = fatty fatterson) so a bigger bike may well suit. If it turns out I love greenlaning that much and I want something even betterer then I'll happily sell on whatever I've got and upgrade from there

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

Just a few things that come to mind

• Lift up the fork gaiters so you can see the forks underneath and check the seals. Make sure the rear shock is damping properly cause it's also inside a rubber gaiter and you can't see it.
• Before your test ride, stick your hand on the exhaust manifold so you know if it is being started from cold, so you can see how it behaves from cold
• If it is idling at 2k revs or more, adjust the idle (on the side of the carbs) when you have finished your test ride and the choke is off, ensure the engine will run at 1000-1500 revs without stalling.
• Check for rust on the swingarm near to the rear shock, and on the rear subframe below the seat. Lift the seat off, and have a look, it's two bolts above the rear wheel which you have to undo. Also check the exhaust.
• On your test ride, run at a steady speed around 20-30 mph, 3 thousand revs and check for any rough running or hesitation
• On your test ride, let the bike coast with the clutch in, and bring the bike gently to a stop from about 20mph on the brakes. You are looking for any uneven braking (kangarooing) that may indicate a warped disc from an off road impact with a stone.

Other than that just all the usual stuff that you'd expect to look for on any bike.

That age and mileage I'd be checking history very carefully to ensure the mileage looks genuine, do the old MOT's and the service book tally up into a realistic pattern? If an MOT done in June 2006 shows 1000 miles, but a the service book shows a service done in September 2007 at 990 miles, alarm bells should be ringing!

Don't expect it to be quick just 'cos it's a 600! It's still half the power of an SV! The XT600 is the big old tractor of the motorbike world.

This forum is a great source of info on the XT http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/yamaha-tech/

Thanks for all the info col mate you're a star You wouldn't happen to know what size bolts they are on the seat? I'll take the right spanner along with me and stick it in my pocket.

I was gonna mention in my OP about paying special attention to the mileage on the paperwork with the miles being so low - it may well have been used off road on a farm or something and therefore had the speedo disconnected maybe? They sound reasonably bullet proof but I'll look at all the bits you pointed out, plus all the usual stuff when buying (discs/pads/chain/sprockets/forks/bearings etc.)

I'll have a look on the horizons unlimited site - sounds very useful

as for the speed - it's only a few bhp more than the dr-z despite being 200cc bigger - I'm not expecting a missile of a machine but I've never ridden a single so it should be a new/novel experience the way I'm looking at it is that a 600 with the same power as a 400cc is less stressed and will therefore happily chug to work and back.

Looks like ill be on my own then with the hard seat syndrome, damn you comfy seat people.