Over the years I have owned and enjoyed several of these XT660 Yamahas. The XT660 started life as a gentle on off roader with 21 inch front wheel, 18 inch rear and very compliant suspension with off road tyres and a sweet single cylinder 660 engine made in Italy by Minarelli Motors. (Minarelli Motors was a MASSIVE engine manufacturer in the old days when they made 2 stroke 50cc engines for many manufacturers and they failed to see the move over to 4 strokes so imploded as a company and Yamaha purchased them for probably not very much).
As far as I know the XT660 family (XTX, XTR and Tenere) have always been manufactured and or assembled in Italy. The bikes are totally NOT top spec in other words they were manufactured to meet certain price points and thus the suspension (for instance) on the X version (super motard which has 17 inch road wheels and tyres front and rear) was without any adjustments except preload on the rear, nothing at all on the front forks. As far as I know all Japanese bikes were set up by the factory for a rider weight of 70kg so in general the standard setting worked fairly well unless the rider weighed 200kg.
When Martin found this lovely 2016 bike in GREAT original condition I sent him the dosh without hesitation! I purchased and fitted a DNA stage 2 air filter, she already had 2 Arrow end cans plus cat delete so she now breathes and pulls very strongly. From the standard 48 horses I have taken her up to 50ish as well as removing some kilos so this bike feels super lively and pulls like a (small) train, I also purchased and fitted a set of engine bars plus 2 extra driving lights to ensure that I can be seen. My master stroke was the suspension cos a Dutch company called HyperPro makes progressive springs and the boys at Alf England fitted these front and rear so the bike feels TOTALLY better and planted!!!!
Now we are in the south Spain and I brought the the XT over in the back of the van, SUCH a fun bike!!!
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