Yamaha XT250 Mods for Overland Travel; Adventure riding
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- čas přidán 31. 01. 2019
- In 2017 we rode our Yamaha XT250's from NZ to South Korea, Vladivostock, through Mongolia and the 'Stans etc to London, then shipped to Canada and rode coast to coast across the States. Here is what we did to prepare the bikes
- Auta a dopravní prostředky
Lovely simple adventure bike builds. Those really are all you need for long international adventure rides.
Around the world on XT250s - wow! I’m impressed and envious!
A very confidence inspiring video that is a testament to the XT250’s capabilities. Well done !
great video. What an adventure!
Outstanding video. Thanks for taking the time.
That's a great video about the little XT. A testiment to reliability and, by the sounds of it, owners doing their research. Well done!
Wow, you all thought of every detail. I have same bike. I love it.
Fantastic review and what an amazing trip! Thanks for posting.
Glad you enjoyed it 😊
Thanks for posting. Just learning about the XT250 and this was very helpful
It's a great little bike
Wow. I am super impressed with the bikes and your adventure. Thanks for great review.
Thanks!
I own XT250 it's a good bike. I to am a older rider. No off road for my bike but more than capable.
Good video. From Los Angeles California USA 🇺🇸
Thumbs 👍
Nuce to hear from you. I'm an older rider too, now 65 but 63 when we rode Vladivostok to London. The bike was very capable on the very rough roads tho i'm not an off roader either by choice, except Mongolia where there is no choice 😊
So good to hear. At 62, just sold my '11 DL650-ABS 1 month ago. It was prepped w/ 3 cases, upgrades for touring by former owner. I never did any of that.
Now i know the type of riding i will do. Local paved roads n very rarely, gravel/grassy bayou banks. I think xt250 will be smaller/lighter for my Sunday morning 1-2 hour rides
Really like what i see in this video. Hello from, S.E.Texas!
Great video. Well done.
Glad you enjoyed it
I've been looking at modifying my XT250 as well for adventure riding send was worried it wouldn't be possible but it's great to know not only is it possible but it's done in the same country I live in! Thanks for the video and happy riding. 😊
👍
Proof the XT250 can do anything!
Absolutely! And with the sort of roads we were travelling on, they were fun
I like your logo I cannot respond to you emails. Would love to do Columbia to Argentina. Fairly safe trip. Through Equador, Peru, Bolivia or Chile.
@@andrewrambikur108, that would be an awesome motorcycle trip!
@@andrewrambikur108 we have done that area when we did our Alaska to Ushusia trip. An epic ride and very easy to organise.
great video, you should make a video on everything you packed!
You guys are amazing, genuine, and true adventurers. I've been looking at getting a desert bike and after hearing about the crazy trip you took around the world on these I am sold. Thank you and cheers!
What can I say...its a big world out there so get a bike and go check it out, lots of fun 😊😊 Did you check out our blog russelsenroute.com It has both our bigger trips on it, if you are interested.
Please note that the website is non-functional. Would love to review your blog.
Thanks.
@@RajReviewsDualSportPhotoGadget I just checked the website and it's working. I had to refresh my browser once, however. Enjoy.
@@janetrussel8778 where can i get those foot pegs at? my foot pegs is so bad.
@@zaneli3384 HI. We used Super Tenere 1200 footings which we had to adapt
I really like your extra fuel solution
Great information on upgrades, I’ve been looking at getting this same bike.
We found them fun. Not fast in a head wind but great on the rough roads.
If you want a new one, you'd better go down to the dealer now. 2020 is the last year they are making them.
@@jeffrt3893 only in Japan Jeff. The North American market are still in production. The Asian market will get the limited final edition with colour schematics etc. Luckily, we still keep the Yammy for now...
@@RidersInBlack Well, that's good. I didn't realize that.
@@jeffrt3893 yeah I'm getting the 2021 for a planned trip in two years, still long but Im a newbie
thanks all
Now,i know which bike i am definitely gonna buy! But here in Ukraine we get Yamaha serow 250.... I think the engine is the same... But body a bit different!! Nice and easy to travel with! Thanks 👍 for your review!!)
Same bike
Nice. I didn't think of ordering super tenere footpegs. Mostly when I go shopping for aftermarket pegs, there are few to choose from. Thanks
Very cool
love it!
Your are a very lucky man Charlie
Amazing
Great bike one of the best bike i have owned
Cheers
Yea they are a lot of fun, so light and responsive
@@janetrussel8778 You might be able to assist - deciding between the XT250 and a KLX250. The XT is air cooled, was there any risk of overheating in warmer climates as opposed to liquid cooled KLX?
@@sifty7630 We had no trouble with the XT250s even when we were travelling in over 40deg temps.
Thanks for prompt reply. I like how you can get both feet down on the XT. My Husky Terra is a great platform for most conditions but too heavy to get into the back country
I had the klx. Heavy, slow to start, drained battery and no throttle response. Go the xt any day.
Holy crap wow! I was about to return this bike.
It's a great little bike for this ride, so reliable
Excelente motocicleta, yo tengo una año 2008 y desearía conseguir partes o accesorios para ella .
Saludos desde Nicaragua
Great review. Sounds like your adventures were amazing!! Proves these bikes can do all what they need. Just not in a hurry. But that's the point isn't it??
Exactly 😊
FROM MONGOLIA GOOD
If you have time, it would be great to have a 2nd follow up video, to list your mods and to have close up zoom shots of each mod. I am aware you a list of your mods on your website but adding a link to each part would be helpful for the novice who intends to mod their bike. Thanks!
Website? Where can I get the link?
@@quintal001 our website is russelsenroute.com
I’m looking to get parts numbers or model number for all your add on modifications. Or links to where you found them please. I’m setting up for a similar trip and your research will help me immensely. Thanks!
i've been wondering whether my xt250 is suitable for a ride colorado ==> florida and i suppose this settles it. great video, thanks for posting!!
They are a great little bike, so reliable. Not so fast on the motorways of course 😊
Great video.
Any problems running the heated grips and the other accessories without running down the battery?
Ian Cooper No we no problems at all with battery power
Excellent video! I have a question about the Super Tenere Footpegs: Are they direct bolt-on or did you have to do modifications? Thanks!
I had to do a modification - the Tenere footpegs are slightly smaller so I cut 4mm in length sections off an 8mm diameter stainless steel dynabolt sleeve
Thank you for the detail regarding the peg modification. Could you send a close up picture of the modification by any chance please? I’d love to fit these to my wife’s XT250. What an inspirational couple you are!! Bravo
ماشاء الله تبارك الله الهم بارك
شكرا لك. ولك مثله
Please, is it possible a list of all the mods and brands? Also a video doing a close up on them. tks
Our website lists the mods russelsenroute.com
Just came across this video. More or less what I am planning with a 2015 XT250. Unfortunately your website does not load up and I would be so grateful for more information about some of the mods. Would be interested to know what height the two of you are - the XT is quite a small bike with low seat height. It is well able to handle weight and loads but I wonder how it is for a taller rider on an extended trip.
Hi John. Thanks for the info re our site, have had that trouble before and found that if you refresh it, it will load up. Will get it sorted tho.
I am 5'6" and Charlie 5'9". When researching we followed a guy who was over 6' who traveled on an XT250, his blog is 2ridetheglobe.com
What particular mod info were you looking for thst we didn't cover on the video? Happy to help with any questions
how old were your bikes before the trip as in year model and kilometers in it? Thanks for the video. planning a trip to Mongolia in two years after all these covid craze. Hello and thank you from California
We purchased them both new in 2016 so very low mileage when we left. Glad you enjoyed the info. It's good to have your plan ready to roll out as soon as you are able to go. We are still hoping to do Africa depending on Covid
Wow, that sounds like an incredible trip on those bikes. I was wondering what would be reasonable mileage on XT. I often put 150 miles in a day but, it does get hard on the knees. Although, I do kind of push it little on the gravel and ride standing on pegs (stock ones). I did cover 410 miles in a day on Honda cb500x and 550 miles on Super Tenere but, I would think 200-250 would be top for XT. Do Super Ten pegs fit out of box? I looked on my bikes and they didn't seem to be interchangeable.
The Super Tenere pegs didnt fir straight out of the box. The Tenere pin is smaller so I cut sections off a ss dynabolt sleeve to take up the slack.
Generally we travelled around 250-280 miles per day, sometimes more when we needed to
Hey mate! What size of the E-07 are you running on the front and back of the bike? I couldn't find it on your website. Thanks :)
Hi @suzi&Scram The tyre sizes are Mitas E07 120/80-18 rear tyre, and 90/90-21 front tyre
I would like to know how youwent about planning the trip out.. maintenance, routes etc..
Hi Jason. We look at points of interest that we want to see, research other riders journeys through the same area, and make a route. Also look on Horizons Unlimited and ADV Rider sites. Places to maintain your bike are from word of mouth in the riding community, or in bigger cities we find the Yamaha agent if needed. The biggest challenge is making the decision and then just do it, it all falls into place and is an epic experience.
We were considering this bike because of it's reliability/weight. What were your reasons for choosing an xt250 over a Himalayan? lighter for sure but then you had to do suspension mods on the 250 to accommodate more payload. Sounds like you were happy with the bike's performance. Great upload, thanks!
When we were doing our research the Himalyan wasnt available. We wanted something proven because of the countries we were going to visit. Taking 2 bikes the same meant less spares we had to carry, and the seat height could be adjusted for me. The improved suspension was great for the rough/bad roads. We were very happy with the bikes and their reliable performance.
Janet, is it recommended that the suspension be changed if you weigh between 210 and 220 lbs?
Hi Keith McPhail. We chose to change our spring on the rear shock to a stronger Ohlins one because of the extra weight of about 30kg of luggage. Hope that answers your question
Wow, cool trip. Janet, do you mind saying how tall are you? My partner is thinking of an XT250 but hasn't sat on one yet. She had a ADV big bike at one point and was intimidated by it. She wants to try small dual-sport and rebuild her confidence.
Hi. I am 5'6" but had the seat reshaped to get my feet flat on the ground.
I also rode an XT660R top to bottom in the Americas. Again we lowered the bike using lowering links with no effect to the handling - see separate video.
@@janetrussel8778 Thanks!
I share this video each time someone tells me the XT250 isn’t a real ADV bike. A 6th gear would be nice, though.
@lee Wilson that's awesome, thanks for that👍Have to admit when crossing the States coast to coast a little more power would have been nice, but through Central Asia they were great. And I would have been happy taking them on our first trip through the Americas too.
@@janetrussel8778 I'm considering one for a city commuter/weekend trail explorer... at 5'5" with a 27" inseam... it seems like a logical choice. The CRF250L (or the new CRF300) are on my radar too.
Hello what size pelican box please let me know thank you !
@advntrtime It's a Pelican storm case im2450
Was wondering where you got the windshields.
I have same bike.
As well where did you get power modules.
Please answer.
Thanks
Jamie Corbett We live in NZ and got the power modules from Adventure Moto in Sydney Australia, but i think they are made in USA.
The windshields are National Cycle Deflector screens and we got them from USA.
@@janetrussel8778 hello janet.
Thanks for answering.
I have had my bike for several months and am starting to see what I want for the bike.
I appreciate your video on youtube.
It has motivated me to get my bike outfitted.
Do you remember the model of the wind shield you got.
I do like it and will investigate.
Thanks again
@@jamiecorbett194 Sorry I dont remember the model. Are you fitting out your bike for any particular reason?
@@janetrussel8778 thanks for responding.
I found one on there website for dual sports.
Yes I'm fitting it out for adventure riding right now.
I need wind protection.
Thanks
Hi, have just bought an xt250 and watching your video, thanks for posting. I’m looking for a windscreen for the bike, and notice that you have windscreens fitted. Can you let me know the brand and where you purchased from? Thank you and appreciate the tips for mods for travel on the XT.
Hi Rondelle Shepherd. Its a great little bike especially for adventure travel. We live in NZ but the screens are from USA , they are National Cycle Deflector screens. Cant remember who we got them from just found them online.
Parrabellum rally shield works for xt250👍.. under $100.13 inches above the light.. 11 inches wide at bottom and 8 inches at top
What was you favorite place?
Wait... U went all that distance on an XT250?
Hi. No favourite place, each country had something special.
Yes we did, and on only one set of tires as well.
what spring did you go with?
We went with Ohlins
What type of rear rack do you have to mount your topbox?
A Happy Trails topbox mount combined with side racks. We had to adapt the topbox mount to fit the Pelican storm case
@@janetrussel8778 Thanks for the reply and it looks very nice.
Hello from India,
which grade do you use on XT250 and recommend?
Thank you!
Aditya Mohan Hello India. Sorry but what do you mean by grade ?
Fuel grade.
@@janetrussel8778 fuel grade ⛽️
@@NorthwoodsNomad We used 91 or 92. In Uzbekistan we used 80 but topped it up with 92
What did you do for lighting? Did you go with the stock headlamp?
Hi David - Yes just the stock headlamp.
Thank you!
You don't travel in foreign countries at night. However lighting does help you to be seen by others in the daylight.
I have a xtz Tenere in Salta Argentina. Basically the same bike. Fuel injected fool proof. Have gone to Potosi Bolivia on it and
5000 mtrs in the mountains. Great bike. Not good for long travel two up. Sorry then we took the KLR to southern Argentina.
@@andrewrambikur108, the reason for my question had to do with travel on back roads at night in my native country, the safest country to travel at night in, Canada. Lol😊
@Rick Germain We have an error on our blog that I am waiting to get fixed, but if you open it up, russelsenroute.com and refresh the error page, it does open.
what windscreen is that?
Hi ThePITCrew We are in NZ but the screens came from USA. They are National Cycle Deflector screens. Cant remember where we got them from just found them online.
Janet Russel thank you!
Where did you buy the foot pegs?
We ordered them through a Yamaha dealer
@@janetrussel8778 who put the rear spring on and how much should I expect to pay
@Jesse Gonzalez Jr We live in NZ, where are you?
@@janetrussel8778oh wow didn't realize lol I'm in Austin Texas
@Jesse Gonzalez Jr Haha, our contact won't be of much help then. It's still the original shock absorber but with an Ohlins spring, which is a heavier duty. Our guy fitted a different collar so that it would fit.
Any details of your rack?
Hi Paul Davies. Sorry i had missed your query. Its a Happy Trails rack from the USA, with Andy Strapz bags from Australia.
smaller is better, almost always.
Sounds so fun. Here in the states we have to deal with the bureaucracy of crossing state lines and dealing with a bunch of asshole law enforcement
you must need a shit tonne of money to travel that far for that long. i need a new occupation
wealthy aussies.
Boo boo. By the way they aren’t from Australia.
The 'Stans'...........just pray (no pun intended) you dont meet supporters of Islamic State. Instead, I would encourage people explore Russia in the warmer months..........
This is what you get when you go to your website.
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Thank you for letting us know. We have had this problem before unfortunately but if you Refresh on that page, the site will come up.