Yamaha XT660R

08-04-2006 11:06

In a world of ever increasing choice, buying decisions never get any easier. As a typical Brit, I tend to take the simplistic view of going for the best I can afford. After all, it saves time and I’m seldom unhappy with my purchase.

For example, if I want a dirt bike, I’ll probably go for a WR450F. After all, it’s a full-on enduro bike that’ll be far more competent than me. Likewise for the road I already have a brand spanking new YZF-R1 that again, I’ll never be able to use to its fullest.

The problem with this though, is that I’m more than likely missing out on something in between. The case in point was a day spent with Yamaha’s XT660R. Now I knew that this bike was unlikely to be stunning as a road bike, and was fully aware of its shortcomings off-road, yet I still wanted a go.

Having already spent a fair amount of time thrashing around the roads on the XT660X Supermoto machine, it was the off-road capabilities of the R that I was keen to test out. The problem is that unless you’ve got a van or a trailer, you need to ride it there.

And this is where the XT660R scored its first point. The seat is reasonably wide for a trail bike which while perhaps making it slightly less manoeuvrable off-road than a ‘proper’ enduro machine, it also meant that I could comfortably ride on the road for longer. The rubber footrests cancel out much of the vibration too, though regular off-road users may want to opt for metal aftermarket items to improve their foothold in muddy conditions.

It’s not too slow for the road either. The single-cylinder motor will just about crack the ton and getting there it’s remarkably swift. Away from the lights around town it’s a quick as anything, and cruising at 80mph, the engine doesn’t feel strained. For a single, it’s pretty smooth too, meaning that it makes a great bike for the new rider with the added bonus that the inevitable low speed spill shouldn’t cause too much damage – it’s a sturdy motorcycle.

Reliability is also something that’s taken for granted with a bike like the XT. Pure competition bikes may be lighter, but ultimately they’re more fragile and tend in the main to be far higher maintenance.

Off-road, the XT660R might not be in the same league as a competition bike, but by the same token the extra weight it’s carrying doesn’t make it hard work either. Sure, the standard fitment tyres are fairly road-biased, but on dry ground, the soft suspension and equally soft power delivery help no end. Fit a decent set of knobblies to the rims and I’ve no doubt that the green-lane capabilities of this bike would exceed the expectations of most riders.

Of course, as with any bike there are a few modifications I’d want to make to improve it for off-road use. The gearing is a little compromised between road and dirt use, so lowering the gearing would be a good move. Simply fitting a larger rear sprocket would improve the bike, and for the sake of around twenty quid, a modification that would be well worth it. The exhaust downpipes could be vulnerable too, so the genuine Yamaha bashplate would be another extra well worth considering.

Overall the XT660R can be summed up as ‘fun bike’. Thrashing around poorly surfaced B-roads it’s an absolute hoot to ride and when you ride past that byway that you’ve often wondered where it leads, simply turn round and find out.