SO I have always loved these bikes since I bought my first one back in about 2007 I think, I have had perhaps four XTXs since then. These bikes are single cylinder 4 strokes so great fun BUT suffer from the classic strangulation problem in other words they are “strangled” both at the air intake and the exhaust, to keep down the noise and emissions to meet the latest Euro standards. They were assembled in Italy at the Minarelli factory which Yamaha own.
The XT660 survived until about 2015 but then Yamaha killed them off when this was no longer possible, a big mono could no longer pass the noise and emissions regs for Europe. Sad.
I purchased a 2016 registered bike last year which must have been late registered from dealer stock. This bike is lovely with low mileage and full service history and I managed to release her from both the intake and the exhaust problems by…
(a) The bike has 2 Arrow exhaust pipes when I bought her (single cylinder with twin exhaust valves) and,
(b) I purchased a Stage 2 set of air filters from a Greek company called DNA Filters. They make amazing products which I have used before and give the bike a much larger supply of air.
The engine can therefore breathe much better and the exhaust pipes remove perhaps 4 kg from the bikes weight too. She is therefore much more pleasant to ride and much more willing, The extra horsepower (perhaps 2 bhp) is insignificant but the FEEL of the engine response is so much better.
In addition I took the bike to Alf England as they had just started suspension work and they fitted a set of HyperPro progressive springs in the front forks plus a rear shocker so the bike feels so much better to ride. She also tracks straight at speed whereas she would previously need constant steering corrections.
LOVELY bike for sure.
Leave a Reply