It's been pretty good overall. I'm still not as used to the bike as I was on the old one(93 XR600), but it has many better attributes. It will take a couple of years until I really get to know the bike 100%.
I'm only at about 30 hours as I really haven't been able to ride like I want to. Not sure of the mileage, but most of those hours have been on really tough first gear trails. The miles don't pile up in that mode. Guessing I've got 700 or so. Cant get at the bike right at the moment unless I pull some stuff out into the rain.
I require a bike with a plate, but then it spends it's time on the gnarliest trails I can find. Kind or ironic, or perhaps crazy. It's the only way I'll have it though. I've ridden many a black diamond trail that ends as a road. It's so nice to be able to then ride the pavement back to camp.
The bad
I'm only at about 30 hours as I really haven't been able to ride like I want to. Not sure of the mileage, but most of those hours have been on really tough first gear trails. The miles don't pile up in that mode. Guessing I've got 700 or so. Cant get at the bike right at the moment unless I pull some stuff out into the rain.
I require a bike with a plate, but then it spends it's time on the gnarliest trails I can find. Kind or ironic, or perhaps crazy. It's the only way I'll have it though. I've ridden many a black diamond trail that ends as a road. It's so nice to be able to then ride the pavement back to camp.
The bad
- The seat. Need something softer. There are options.
- I had a fuel related issue on my second ride. I was half way through an double black diamond trail and problems set it. Dual issues with the emissions vacuum lines and the carb float valve. Thank God for the kick starter or I would have been stuck. I preformed an emission-ectomy and all has been fine since.
- It boils over easy in the tough going. Hardly unexpected. I'll be adding a fan when I get around to it.
- Low ground clearance. I've whacked the skid plate really really hard a couple of times. Good thing I got that beefier skid plate because it's recieved some use.
- The range. On the long range rides I've average about 45mpg. On the tough rides I could never go through a tank of gas in a day.
- The front tire stays planted like it's velcro. My old bike would wash out so easily in comparison. Is it the suspension, frame gemoetry, weight? The difference is not minor and I like it.
- The suspension even though I've not yet done the springs or played with the clickers.
- The low end torque. It's not the stump puller like the XR, but it's better than any other new bike I've ever tried. It's a good thing because it's very central to my riding style.
- The smoothness. With a carb setup like this who needs fuel injection. I think that after removing the smog stuff that I need to jet slightly richer.
- The juice. It might not quite be as strong as the 600 was at 1500 rpm, but everywhere else it hauls. When I had the 14/45 gearing I had it up to 95 and I think it would have hit 100 given enough road. With the trials tire, I can lift the front wheel at will as long as the revs are not near idle levels.