Fitting knobblies does not turn an XT660 into a dirt bike.

So finally I got around to fitting the Trellsport Army Specials.

The tried to ride the XT660 off road. It's crap.

Heavy, delivers power all wrong, too high geared. Heavy.

Dropped it twice trying to do the same thing. Tried it again on my
WR250 and no problem.

Wonder if I should have taken the topbox off.

 

Gearing can be sorted.

Well that's a 'proper job'.

<Snort>

Why not kill two birds with one stone and get a Morini Camel or Kanguro.
They are reckoned to be surprisingly competent off road, particularly
the 350. An MRC member used to the Land's End trial and similar on one.
--
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Yamaha WR250Z/Supermoto "Old Gimmer's Hillclimber" |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

 

WR is road registered so could MOT it if I wanted something for propr
greenlaning.

Was just 'interested' to see what would happen if I took the XT off
road. Was a little disappointing.

 

Fair enough.

It is. You would think that it would be suitable for the gentler, longer
distance kind of trails. Big singles used to do well in the Dakar and
Rallye des Pharoans, though TBF those are often 'works' bikes, Gilera
even won the latter on an RC600R which must have been not much lighter
than your XT.

Attempting trials sections or full on MX berms and bomb-holes is
probably asking a bit much.
--
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Yamaha WR250Z/Supermoto "Old Gimmer's Hillclimber" |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

 

Which version do you have? Chap that was in our team for the HUMM was
on a Tenere and it handled remarkably well.

 

What clothing do you wear for greenlaning - I think I'd look slightly
ridiculous in full dayglo MX kit.

In my minds eye its Belstaff, open face and jeans but that's probably not
right either.

 

It's the XT660R.

I was trying to ride it up a wet clay bank covered with long grass with
a 30 degree (or so) incline so not the easiest terrain. I'm sure it
would be fine on less slippery surfaces.

The WR was spinning it's wheels but it had more 'urge' off the throttle
so was able to dig in and launch better than the XT (there really isn't
any run up to this bank so you attack it at a slight angle which
encourages the rear wheel to spin).

 

Greenlaning; haven't done it apart from on farm tracks.

I think I'd probably wear my normal bike kit.

 

Jesus.

 

Ahh. It's all about the momentum innit. Did you try giving it (even)
more throttle?

 

wrote:

Post corrected

 

Not like this then (well the lad's). I am wearing reasonably discrete
'King's' trials pants and an old Frank Thomas Aquamate jacket. The boots
are slightly garish classic Ashman's.


http://flic.kr/p/8FXD1M

--
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Yamaha WR250Z/Supermoto "Old Gimmer's Hillclimber" |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+

 

What tyre pressures?

 

No room really, much more throttle and it risked going pear shaped.

I have about a six foot run up and following that a bank at 30 degrees
that also slopes downhill from left to right and with a barbed wire
fence at the top (with a narrow 1m piece on top of the slope beside a
fence.) too much oomph and I risk losing control or arriving at the top
too fast...

After the second failed attempt I thought it best left alone since it
didn't matter whether I got the XT up the bank or not. Were it drier I
would imagine it would have made it.

 

Is probably the right question. Front and rear about 30 ish. WR has a
mousse in the front (so say 15) and about 20 in the back.

 

It always needs more throttle. "Just gas it". "MTFU". etc.

 

The right question, but...

....the wrong answer! But you knew that. If you plan on regular forays
into the snotty stuff, fit some rimlocks (if it hasn't got any) & drop
the pressures to 15ish. If it's got valve stem lock nuts, wind them up
to the valve caps so any tyre creep doesn't rip them out.

 

Well, since I plan to mostly ride it on the road and would like the
tyres to last for about four thousand miles or so I think I'll stick
with 30.

It doesn't have rimlocks fitted. However the WR has... in my
stupidity I tightened the valve stem lock nut moderately on the WR...
think I'll slacken this off now.