MORE TIPS FROM XR650L OWNERS! I have had several mechanics state the XR650L is NOT designed for extended highway riding, and they do see a small but significant number of engine failures. Perhaps look at the DR650 or KLR650 for lots of highway mileage... having said that, plenty of owners cruise the highways a lot without problems. For long-term reliability, there seem to be three essential mods. 1 Fit a wider front sprocket to lessen wear of the countershaft splines. 2 Hot weather or extended high speed highway riding? Get an oil cooler. 3 The ECU issue - consider carrying an aftermarket one and/or fix the stock ECU. What else? Remover the pollution gear and do the usual derestriction mods. Get the temperature gauge oil filler cap replacement to guard against overheating. Use synthetic oil for better protection if the engine regularly runs hot. Consider a 13 tooth sprocket for more flexibility. Wider footpegs, possibly moved down and back if you are tall (see Fastway footpegs) Bar risers if you are tall enough to be hunched over when standing. Add high bend bars if the bar risers aren't enough! If you do a lot of highway riding, think about a cush drive hub. Expensive option is buy an aftermarket one to have fitted. Otherwise you can machine and adapt DR650 or KLR650 rear wheels with a lot of work (google around for all this info). It's worth playing with that fully adjustable suspension to get it right. You don't always need pay for suspension tuning. Like most bikes, it runs too lean. Get a jetting kit for the stock carb. Mikuni flat slide TM40 carb if you want a bit of extra performance. Stock exhaust is pretty good, no real need to change. Rear tail tidy and smaller rear brake light assembly. Cut the seat down if a short rider.
Pretty much spot on there, have had a couple of XR600's and three XR650L's and ridden my main one across Australia on the dirt with zero problems except for a non rubber seated mikuni flatslide float valve(corrugation) but i just metered the fuel with the fuel tap for 2000klms until i got a new one on the road, she is fitted with Marks oil cooler, FCRMX41 pumper carb from a 2005 CRF450R, Ignitech CDI for zero failures, Mosfet regulator from roadstercycle in the US, Kawasaki KLR650 front sprocket and I move between 14 and 15 teeth for things like the creb track or maytown old coach road to get my gears in the middle-ish, Haan Cush Hub which I got from GHR Honda and machined a tube to adapt from CRF450X bearings down to the XR axle, I get around 21KPL from the carb, stock carb gives 18.5KPL. Any problems have been caused by operator/dickhead error, I now have two temp gauges, the dipstick and cylinder head oil banjo and the temp differential is around 15 to 20deg C on the hottest or coldest days, 90c head/110c dipstick at 100kph all day. About to contact clean all terminals, at 20 years I have some greenspot corrosion on them like every bike well used and river crossings. Cheers, Kenno ADV.
I think you hit every problem with the XR650L except losing all the smog apparatus and remove the snorkel in the air box so the big bore can breath I also drilled holes in the side cover and added filter plugs this made the biggest difference to the performance of this weak motor as did the FCRMX flat slide pumper carb making this bike run soo much cooler (not so lean) also installed oil cooler,another great mod would be to change 2nd gear because 1st and 2nd are to far apart but I did not want to split the cases so it’s one of the things I did not do YET and not sure I’m willing to
Bought one new in 1994, sold it 2019 for a lighter weight Beta. The XR was an absolutely excellent bike when used within the parameters it was designed for (dualsport exploring). Only sold because the weight and high center of gravity was getting to my knees after 25yrs of riding and enjoying it. Bought it just out of college, sold it as a grandparent....yeah it's that good.
Have mine 17 years, 30k miles..does everything good enough.. cheep ins. and tags, big tank, real hand guards, jetting, play with gearing, 606's.. could get a sexy KTM but l like the simplicity of the old XRL...
I bought a 1981 XLS ,brand new, and two more '81 models over a period of 20 years. You know, wifey insists you get rid of your bike, and ,"Happy wife, happy life" Six months down the line, you send the wife packing and start looking for a bike! TWICE!!!
I searched for a used XR650 for a while before I found an NX650. The seat height is 34.5 inches, maybe 1.5 inches lower than the XR, still with 10” of ground clearance. It has a tach and a full dual exhaust. The fuel capacity, including reserve, is 15.5 liters (for you Aussies), so an improvement there, too. Previous owner swapped the stock carb for a Mizuni, so the over lean problem was solved. I added a taller windscreen, so no more buffeting at highway speeds. Didn’t know these existed until I found this one on eBay! Couldn’t be happier to have ended up with this bike.
Great to hear, Joel. Those were great bikes too and Honda would probably make a killing if they brought back that model with fuel injection to meet the emission laws.
I have had all 3 (KLR-650, XR-650, DR-650) and the DR-650 is the best overall in my opinion. On road, the DR engine is better than the others. You can gun it to 100mph passing a semi and it doesn't feel like you are hurting it. The KLR isn't as happy cruising 80mph as the DR, but has a comfy seat and big tank. The XR is an absolute dog above 70mph, don't try to get past a semi on the freeway. For street, I would take the DR and put on a seat and bigger tank and it beats the other 2. On the dirt, the KLR is just a heavy pig, and above 70mph on dirt roads it gets squirrely. The Honda also gets pretty twitchy above 70mph. The DR is rock solid even up to 90mph on dirt, and on the street you can stand up and pass a semi truck doing 80 with ease. On really fast dirt roads the DR runs and hides, and the other 2 feel like they are going to kill you above 70mph. Now on really gnarly terrain, the XR has the edge on suspension over the DR, but it is very top heavy and harder to reach the ground. The KLR is a pig off road. The KLR has a lot to break if you fall. The DR and XR have little to break, but the DR has much better cooling. So for me, I would take the DR, put on a tank and seat, and do a little suspension work, and it will be better than the KLR on road, and as good as the XR off road, while totally crushing the XR on the highway.
@@crosstrainingadventure I forgot to add, that there is some muppet in Australia that wheelies the DR for miles, and has used it to beat up on Tim Coleman in hard enduros. But Tim should have known what he is up against in going against the all powerful DR.
Ive ran my DR650 all day, 640 miles from Death Valley to Chico in nor cal, and it rarely ran under 80 mph. Indicating 85 and more but really going 80. The bike loves it. Its stable at speed, it vibrates less at 80 than at 70 mph. Not many big singles of any kind are happy doing this. I used to think I would hurt the DR doing this, it just laps it up. 53,000 miles later it runs the same as it ever did. An XR650L would have been rebuilt twice with the same use, at least.
I've had a 1997 XR600R for aproximately 6 years that I purchased from the original owner. Love that bike. Just purchased a 2021 XR650L from a private party that had it for one year and only had 90 miles on it. Was basically brand new. I'm in the process of researching all the suggested mods and replaced the footpegs and added handlebar risers immediately. Can't wait to further modify and ride this bike that I plan for basically 50/50 on/off road riding. Going to keep the 97 R strickly for off road. Love the videos and I laughed outloud when you described the 2022 new "features" and how they improve the performance. Awesome.
Nice work on the near new bike, Peter! I've had heaps of handy tips from viewers and compiled them in the pinned first comment. MORE TIPS FROM XR650L OWNERS! I have had several mechanics state the XR650L is NOT designed for extended highway riding, and they do see a small but significant number of engine failures. Perhaps look at the DR650 or KLR650 for lots of highway mileage... having said that, plenty of owners cruise the highways a lot without problems. For long-term reliability, there seem to be three essential mods. 1 Fit a wider front sprocket to lessen wear of the countershaft splines. 2 Hot weather or extended high speed highway riding? Get an oil cooler. 3 The ECU issue - consider carrying an aftermarket one and/or fix the stock ECU. What else? Get the temperature gauge oil filler cap replacement to guard against overheating. Use synthetic oil for better protection if the engine regularly runs hot. Consider a 13 tooth sprocket for more flexibility. Wider footpegs, possibly moved down and back if you are tall (see Fastway footpegs) Bar risers if you are tall enough to be hunched over when standing. Add high bend bars if the bar risers aren't enough! If you do a lot of highway riding, think about a cush drive hub. Expensive option is buy an aftermarket one to have fitted. Otherwise you can machine and adapt DR650 or KLR650 rear wheels with a lot of work (google around for all this info). It's worth playing with that fully adjustable suspension to get it right. You don't always need pay for suspension tuning. Like most bikes, it runs too lean. Get a jetting kit for the stock carb. Mikuni flat slide TM40 carb if you want a bit of extra performance. Stock exhaust is pretty good, no real need to change. Rear tail tidy and smaller rear brake light assembly. Cut the seat down if a short rider.
Honda has made a number of seemingly odd decisions. Ceasing development on this beauty is but one. Why they never proceeded with a new Transalp is another. Just another of life’s great mysteries!
ven the Honda CEO admitted they lost their mojo a long time ago. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RlEFvoqEtT4.html So many missed opportunities.
Hey Barry, for long-term reliability #1 essential mod to significantly reduce wear on chain, sprockets, transmission and countershaft splines, I'm running 3 point roller system, starting from front sprocket/swing arm to rear chain guide block using 3 rollerblade ball bearing wheels, gotta tell ya this works incredible, super smooth on road, no chain drag or slapping, very cheap and simple mod anyone can do, yet amazing, totally transforms bike across all rev ranges.
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I do love the sail adjusters on the rear wheel. Makes adjustment of the chain so easy, very visible, can’t mess it up. If Honda ever remodels it I hope they keep this one feature.
Snail adjuster is the cheapest adjuster made, one notch is usually too much, or too little. But they are cheap. They can be messed up, guys think one notch tighter is better than one notch looser, and stuff gets ruined running chain too tight. They seemed good in 1972. Bultacos used them.
I own the XR650L, 1993. I think of it as a good basis for a good light weight and cheap dual sport and I have made a lot of mods to sooth my needs. It pulls like a traktor right of idle. It has helped me so many times going uphill, just turn the throttle in 2. or 3. gear and you get up. I will try to make a list of my mods. DIY bigger foot pegs, lowered 20mm Acerbis 22 liter tank (average 19km/l) Foam air filter Oil cooler Thermometer dip stick NX650 engine swap (previous owner did not check oil level) KK bike 14T front sprocket, rear 48T JT Mikuni TM40-6 flat slide carb O2 sensor in exhaust to measure AFR (just for ease when jetting) Stainless headerpipe, stock muffler ( I like to be silent when riding offroad) LiFePo batteri 8aH Raised handlebars, 28mm Protaper Heated grips USB GPS mount Foldable mirrors CR500 rear fender with LED tail tidy ASV levers that fold backwards when I tip over No Name bark busters LED turn signals LED Rigid extra light Enduristan bags That's about it. Greetings from Denmark (The smallest country with the biggest ego)
I bought a 94 for $500 and brought it back to life. It is tall so it makes me feel like a kid again. I bored the cylinder to 101 and installed a 2nd stage hot cam. It pulls like a freight train. So much fun.
I have a 2020 XR650L. Absolutely love the bike. I lowered it with a kuda link, added a larger gas tank and swapped out the stock muffler to lighten the weight slightly but left the stock headers. I bought an after market front sproket with wider grip to save the splines. When I first started riding in the 60's, I grew up riding air cooled 2 stroke and 4 stroke bikes. Over the years, I bought modern. My last Off-road 4 stroke was a 2007 Husky TE450. But at 70 years old, I decided that I need a good all round bike for dual sport and less competitive off-road riding so I went retro and bought the 650L. Honestly, I had never ridden one. But I knew that I wanted a bike that could be ridden hard put to bed wet and that would start the next time. The Honda fit the bill perfectly. I was amazing surprised at how well it handled off road and on. With the right tires, this thing will haul in the twisties but I have more dirt oriented tires now so take it easier on the tarmac. Off road, the bike is way better than I am at my age. And as a light weight advernture / dual sport bike, it is nearly perfect especially for the price. I feel so lucky to be able to own one.
Agree with your assessment of the XR650L. I test rode both the XR and DR, I went with the DR650 for the reason that I need to ride at least an hour to decent off road. The XR is more off-road worthy than the DR, and if I had lived closer to off-road trails I would have went with the XR. But really not a bad choice between the bikes. Great videos, keep up the wonderful content
I owned a Honda XL600R in the early 1980s. Loved that bike, but it was a handful to start when cold. It was lots of fun on steep logging roads here in British Columbia Canada.
I had one brother. Sold it to buy a Harley. Wish I never did. I had the acerbis 5 gallon as well. Had to let it sit in the sun for 5 hours and then sit on it on the bike to make it fit. Sold the Harley last month and the white pig will be my next. Cheers, Tony
Have had mine for 10yrs. Rode it all over the Dolomites in Italy, PA, andCO. Selling it currently...10 yrs ago at 50, a 300lb bike was a great idea. Went to CO/NM last summer at 60 - it is no longer, but it's me wearing out not the bike. Reccomend Dyno-Jet kit and bar risers asfirst mods.then go from there with tank, rack, seat, etc, .
The XR650L is better than the other Japanese bikes for dirt, hands down. Give me the XR over any of the "budget Japanese bikes" or any of the expensive options too. But Barry, you're killing me... the BRP badge is reserved for the XR650R! (And now that you've reviewed this, I'll try to tempt you one more time... come ride the XR650R (the real BRP) in Africa! Ask your Patreon supporters to pitch in, sell some autographed underpants, get Traction E Rag to toss in some coin and you'll be here in no time! $3000 or so from Melbourne to Nairobi via Dubai!)
Yep, but I've also had guys argue the other way and say the L model is the true BRP. So I just apply it to both. Autographed undies, hey? Unwashed? 😂 Who knows, I might get there one day. So many places to ride though!
Had an XR650L and used it in everything from Highway to dirt roads and muddy technical trails it had no business being in. It did it all with the reliability of a hammer
I have owned a GS650, a DR650, and a XR650L all at the same time. The GS650 has the smoothest engine with the DR650 a close 2nd. My daughter has ridden the GS from Dakota to Alaska twice and it's easily the best of the three for that ride. The DR650 looked on paper to be a run away winner with such things as the rear wheel Cush hub, so I landed a mint 2008. After a complete suspension upgrade and a 18 inch rear wheel conversion, I was pretty happy until I saw a dude ride a totally stock XR650L on single track all day long. Sure he was an excellent rider, even a foot taller than me but that really low first gear made it look so easy. So I found a show room clean 2007 with only 2200 miles on it and started some mods. Bolted on a bar riser that absorbs vibration and topped it with a flat red S3 Trials bar. Cut and rewelded the foot peg mounts lower, slightly distal, and in on the right side. Added a Sutton Oil cooler and did the 2nd & 5th trans gear swap. Cut an inch and a half off the top of the seat foam and it's still the most comfortable factory seat I have ever owned. The only suspension mod was fresh and heavier front fork oil. Sure there are other mods but the 2-5 gear swap turned the XR650L into the favorite 650 for me. The DR650 got traded in on a Yamaha FZ-07 and I still have the BMW GS650 and the XR650L. I've had more, "Let me know when you want to sell it," on the XR650L than any other bike.
Great to hear, Tim. I'd love to see Honda do an update on the XR650L.... a lot of mods wouldn't even cost them anything in the long run. E.g. changing those gear ratios.
I did ride one a while back, I found it a little too heavy in comparison to my dr 650. Years ago I had a 1983 xr 500. The first of the disc brake front end rfvh. I rode it from Darwin to Adelaide taking tracks the whole way. I was lost most of the time. Gotta say IMO the 500 was the pick. It felt much lighter around. I also much preferred it over the xr400
Own all 3, The XR650L is a beast, in the Arizona heat I have an oil cooler and shroud to bring more air to the cooler so I can keep the engine oil temperatures under 250F. RSW Billet triple clamps with CRF450X forks and front end are a huge improvement, Shame Honda didn't build them this way. I carry a new spare CDI but have never had to use it ...YET! Lithium battery in the stock box, Get to the air filter with no tools. Honda Quality throughout! 14T best for off road to eliminate the 1st to 2nd gear gap. rear shock is fine. At 6'1" I still installed a lowering link for tighter trails. For off road this is by far the best of the 3, It feels like you are a rebel riding a true dirt bike on the street. This bike carves turns like no other. Street at 70-75 easy peasy. It gets the worst mileage of the three with stock carburetor at 35 mpg.
Ha, ha, my ride. I love it. As the years go by and I have to travel further on pavement to reach new dirt roads I have basically modified it into a KLR. I have a 2 bike garage. My other bike is a 2005 Suzuki DL1000 V strom. When I am doing highway Kms, that's what I use. In the woods I ride the XR650L. When a son wants to go with me there are lots of rides where the 2 bikes overlap. Great system.
In the 80's I had a XL600R and loved it. Then, for nostalgia I bought a XR650L in 2014 and liked it a lot. Put an ally bash plate, FMF slip-on, 19L Clark tank, hand guards, tail plate and mini screen on. Gave it to my son as I had a 690 at the time as well. XR was a great era. Good fun & memories.
@@crosstrainingadventure dunno. Sold it a few years ago when my son got a job abroad. With both boys out of the house I let the XR go. We'd go to a nearby enduro park with XR, 690 & 300 and occasionally swop out. Messes with your head alternating between XR & 690. Loved both. Sort of like 'thumper polygamy'. 😏😇🤪✊
I have a 2002 NX 650, with the same engine in a more ADV styled body. I like the simplicity of the big single and know it's a reliable Honda. Also great that parts are still available too, if needed.
I owned a few over the years. Only one bike that's better: The XR 600R. Did Oodnadatta and the Tanami on to Broome and then across the desert again back to Alice on that. Needs a larger tank. Acerbis is the best. Fits both bikes too, so fter buying a 650 you can keep it until you find a 600 in good condition (rare).
The R has been dead a long time, 20 years? It was a 290 lb bike as a dirt bike, so it would have been a 390lb bike as a dual purpose bike. Honda likes to make real heavy bikes.
Owned one for about 3 years. Great bike for what it is. Yes, the ergonomics are horrible. Only bike where I needed bar risers, coupled with CR high bend Fat bars. Then I could stand (properly, not like a prairie dog) without hunching over like a dog having relations with a football. Upgraded front sprocket for sure. I bought the bike with the Clarke 19L (4 gallons for the rest of you) tank. My biggest mod was ditching the CV carb in favour of an FCR/MX flat slide from a CRF450R. If I was going to go through all the trouble of the Daves Mod and re-jetting might as well put that effort into a proper upgrade. The addition of the accelerator pump is a night and day improvement. No amount of carb mods to the stock unit will ever get you the performance you get from the flat slide. Couple that with a 14 tooth front sprocket 45 rear and the thing was a stump puller. Accelerated like a scalded cat. I sold it to purchase a new bike only because I wanted more HP and liquid cooling. Should also add, no more new XR650L's in Canada either. Gotta love emission laws and a Carbon tax ...
"Hunching over like a dog having relations with a football..." 😂 Yeah the ergos are quite similar to the DR650 which are shocking too, pluse the bendy rubber mounted footpegs. Bummer on no more Canadian models, could USA ones be sneaked over somehow?
Great video. Probably the most honest video I have ever seen on the XR! I own one myself. Just came back from a Death Valley Trip. I have first hand knowledge about the weak subframe. I broke mine! My bike is now gusseted and ready to go. The one thing I wish it had the most was a cush drive hub.
Thanks, yeah we get a bit sick of all the so called 'reviews' that just regurgitate the manufacturer's ads. I guess there's no easy way to get a cush drive hub from another bike to fit?
@@crosstrainingadventure looks like the axle for the XR is 17mm and the brake is 220mm, so definitely not a straight swap but definitely not impossible to do
Tempting now that the XR is not a big red eyesore. I still like my DR650 for all round uses. Glad to see that Honda at least did something to change up the model. Cheers!
Haven't ridden a 650. Owned a 600 from '89 to '00 I was looking at a new 650 when I was living in California in early 2020 -- but then COVID hit and I returned to NZ, where I bought a 0 km runout model 2019 CRF250L Rally for US$4200 on the road. Before the XR600 I owned a 1980 XR250 (and '74 XL350 before that). The XR600 was awesome off road, especially on the big steep gravelly hills and deep sandy beaches around Wellington. But even in my late 20s I found it absolutely exhausting to do 100 km at highway speeds on it. Now I'm turning 60 this year and the 250 Rally (with suspension upgraded by MotoSR in Taupo) will go damn near anywhere the XR600 would -- stupidly steep hill climbs with ledges/jumps would be the exception -- but I can do 300 km at 100-110 km/h on the road in a sitting on the 250 Rally and feel fine. It also *has* that fuel range on the standard 10l tank (ok, maybe at 100 km/h not 110), which carbureted bikes don't. Let's say 275 km at 110 km/h.
This superiority started back in the 1980's, with Honda's XL/XR 500 series. Back then, they also blew the opposition away! By far the best option, slightly more expensive ,but a reliable beast of a bike. Best value for your money, across the board for big-bore thumpers. They were so superior that, despite them being fractionally more expensive, the XR 500 was selected as the bike for the South African Defense force Equestrian division! The opposition consisted of Yamaha XT/TT Series, Kawasaki KLR, and Suzuki DR. All bush-bikes, and if you remember the "Bush War" was in full swing back then, so these bikes were regarded as the best of the best, for the job.
Just sold my 2002 Xr650l yesterday, T7 comin in a couple weeks. Sold it for $4400, paid 3500 last year, and had crazy offers at 5k, 4900, 4700, I had unfortunately agreed to sell it at 4400 to a guy. This is a great bike and at 6 feet 4 inches, light years better than the DR650. Hemisphere offroad for subframe brace, super pinion front sprocket, rox risers, hyde racing skid plate, foam filter, and j&s headlight
I owned a 93 years ago, best mods I did 1. Remove the emissions BS 2. Remove steel tank and replace with XR600 tank (which does require threaded tabs welding to the frame). 3. Modify the airbox to accept the battery, ecu & solonoid. (that way you can remove the great box on the side and use an XR600 side cover). 4. Get rid of that great lump of iron silencer and replace with a Supertrap 5. decent set of tyres As old as the 650L is, the Suzuki or Kawasaki does not even come close when riding the type of terrain in this video. The 650L is great and bullet proof for covering lots of ground when trail riding, but its no MX or Enduro bike! But then it will do 30k miles before needing a rebuild!
@@crosstrainingadventure Also there were other things I forgot about, But I also removed the passenger pegs, mirror, chain guards and standard lighting. I used aftermarket front, XR600 rear and small indicators/turn signals. I also changed the gearing to suit my needs, I ended up with something close to a civilised XR600 👍 Im getting all nostalgic now :P I just had a look in the States and you can buy a brand new 2022 for just over 7k US bucks, that's an absolute bargain!
Crazy cheap! I figure that's MSRP or whatever it's called in the US so I don't know how much extra it might cost to get it on the road. But I reckon it will still be a bargain.
Have a xr600r and have had a nx650 - the 650l is more or less an xr600r with the nx650 engine. Best bike I have ever owned. Have had plenty of different XTs and TTs as well as dr350 and drz400e.... but the xr is by far the best.
I've got a 2008 XR650L. LOVE IT! I'm 5' 10" and do find the bike a bit tall. It's not really prohibitive, but it's taken some getting used to. I wouldn't recommend it for anyone much shorter than that without mods.
@@crosstrainingadventure Lowering link in rear and slide forks up, have done it on my Sons 650L, he is 5'10, if you find you are bottoming out when loaded up with the lowering go to heavier springs in the front and rear or skip the donuts:) I wouldn't cut the seat down unless doing slow work because the stock seat is soft as buggery and sinks right down and you would need to add an airhawk cushion for longer rides.
I own a XR 650 L. I bought it back in January. Been a great bike CDI box went out recently about 2 months or so easy fix. Love the bike next upgrade is crf suspension. Already have all bolt on power adders done ✅ and full led conversion
@@crosstrainingadventure my bike has a full fmf pipe, smog delete, rejetted carb., airbox mods, the pig has been un-corked lol 😂 next is the suspension like I mentioned and a fcr / pumper carb. I want to keep the reliability so I don’t really have any plans to cam it or punch out the pig 🐖 ever larger. I have a stroker 440 400ex for that ! Maybe I’d stroke the xr down the road 🤔 right now on eBay for $2000 a guy has the billet triple trees and crf forks for sale. Just missing a 450x front wheels and a vapor digital dash to finish the conversion. The electronic speed sensor is the easiest way to get your Speedo back in that conversation imo from my research.
@@crosstrainingadventure I had dropped a tooth up front as well but it was sloppy and a regular ol sprocket. I got a stock sized 15t and a 14t xr650r sprocket (which didn’t fit) from kk bike outta Germany 🇩🇪. Had it within a week after ordering, both of them. Look up that sprocket company over fritzco. I don’t remember if you did or didn’t mention you changed your front sprocket but if you haven’t PLEASE do it ASAP you’ll thank me later 😉 the kk bike ones uses the entire Spline contact surface to bite down and steel plates that slide into it and ride where the grove is on the output shaft. You’ll see what I mean if you look up that company. Highly recommended if you want to never have to screw around with or keep a eye on your output shafts life.
Thanks for the video! It's great to see you do a segment on such an iconic bike. Next to the DR650 (which I have owned and loved in the past,) the XR650L is one of the bikes on my short list. In a world of too much electronic crap and too many rider nanny's on motorcycles, the XR650L represents both simplicity and reliability. In fact, for the 2019 model year, on their webpage Honda listed the XR650L as "post-apocalyptic reliability." I wish that I would have done a screen shot of that ad. I find it interesting that Honda would change the color to white after all of these years. I really like the change, however, could this have been done on purpose to portray the beautiful white Swan singing it's last dying song? Maybe its time for me to get off of my ass to buy one!
Post-apocalyptic reliability.... love it! I must admit I prefer the white to the red. They did a white DR650 a few years ago that looked pretty smart too.
@@crosstrainingadventure It's absolutely ludacris that Honda stopped selling the XR650 in Australia. Here in the USA they are still somewhat popular. I really like the white over the red, and with those black rims, it looks great!
Dad got one of these back in 07 which got him back into dual sport thumpers. We both rode it extensively, and he farkled it excessively trying to make it the bike he wanted, but we always agreed it just wasn’t enough of a dirt bike for the dirt and made the wrong kind of concessions for the road. The high battery among other things gave it a kind of awkward weight distribution and a desire to dive into corners and difficult low speed balance, and chasing vibration was a constant struggle. He owned a WR250R concurrently and ended up riding that so much more he gave up on thumpers entirely… well for about six months until he got a DR650, which was/is the perfect blend, and he ended up riding that from Prudhoe to Key West, and then back again, primarily on dirt and on the TAT. As an aside, a close friend of ours got an XR600R that was just barely converted and titled for street use. That was an absolutely excellent bike and a total riot of a machine.
The xr650 is a go anywhere, do just about anything motorcycle. It's power characteristics can be drastically changed to suit a wide range of situations and terrain just by keeping a couple different front sprokets in the tool bag.(I keep 2, dirt front, street front). It truly is the pinnacle of the big thumpers.
The pinnacle? Really? A 20 some year old design based on a 30 year old mild dirt bike. Its the pinnacle. All japanese econo box 650's, are what they are, something to sell a long time with out changing the bike. Not too special.
Your videos probably increased DR650 sales by 50%. This video could cause a run of XR650L sales in the US. Truly Suzuki and now maybe Honda owe you a paycheck!
I have had two of them and will prob keep the one I have now forever. It is, as mentioned, the most off-road worthy of the budget/old school dually's. It was basically Hondas largest dirt bike, then converted for street use...slightly different engine than the XR600R, but very similar in every other regard. So it is a fairly awesome dual sport, if you want to take it off-road, which is the purpose, right? Just check the counter shaft, that I think is a rather poor design, probably just a take over from their bikes from the 70s. It isn't actually attached to the counter shaft....more just kinda floats on the splines, wearing them out over time, coupled with a 6mm thick sprocket. Get a thicker aftermarket sprocket and keep an eye on it. Oil cooler is not really needed, but I do have one, and if you change out the fuel tank and lose the elephant ears for cooling, which I don't think Honda added for looks, the oil cooler doesn't hurt. They are some of the best bikes ever made, by Honda, in my opinion. Sure there are faster, fancier, and more tech bikes now a days, but there is a reason why it has been in continuous production for nearly 30 years, basically unchanged. Second only to the Honda cub/dream I believe.
And I think they brought the Honda Cub back to Australia recently... but damn they are charging a high price lol. We wish they'd bring the XR650L back.
My XR650L is down to 304 pounds (no fuel). 10 weight fork oil and real knobbies makes it pretty fun in the woods. 55,000 or so miles (with one piston/cylinder replacement). Plan on keeping it forever.
@@crosstrainingadventure yes sir. No turn signals, turn signal/high beam switch, gauge cluster, speedo cable, rear subframe, horn, chain guard, mirrors (have a small one mounted on my left handguard), passenger pegs, air box snorkel, battery box (have a Shorai battery and electronics relocated under the seat). It's got an IMS 4 gallon tank, taken the headlight/bracket off in favor for a simpler XR250 headlight from UFO, UFO XR600R number plates, Cycra probends, ricochet skid plate, DG slip on, aluminum footpegs/chain adjusters/axle spacers/handlebars, Rox risers, KK Superpinion front sprocket. I'm sure I'm forgetting something. It's gone through several stages from nearly stock, to more of an adventure bike, to dual sport oriented, and now basically a woods bike with real knobbies. I live in an area I can get away with riding it like this and I'm only 7 miles from dirt from my driveway. Should probably get a different bike but I like it too much. Sorry for the novel, happy trails! 🤙
Great stuff, Bryant! I know you can drop about 10kg off a DR650 simply by removing stuff that's not really needed and still be road legal. And LukasM on the DR Rider forum listed his mods and the weight savings with replacing heavier items. I think this got it down to about 150kg with a full tank of fuel? Hindle mid-pipe/GSXR exhaust 3.1kg IMS tank 1.1kg Rem. Helmet lock 250g Rem. Ignition lock 550g Rem. Undertail fender 500g Rem. Sidestand switch 100g Rem. Rear handles 750g Wilbers shock 1kg Vapor computer 500g Rem. chain roller 50g KTM Headlight 500g KTM fender 150g Rem. Passenger pegs 850g LED Blinkers 400g Rem. Sprocket cover 120g Rem. chain guard 170g 520 chain with Stealth sprocket about 400 grams
10 yrs ago I set out to buy an XR650 but found a deal on the DR. Glad I did, I think it's the best choice out of the 3, and the aftermarket is so much better for the DR. IMHO the only DR replacement available is the Husqvarna FE501....27 yrs newer and twice the price, it should be better...lol. I'm going to be buried with my DR and in 2k yrs someone will dig up my grave and say "look a DR, lets take it for a ride."
I agree, the XR falls flat on it's face above 70mph, and the DR runs to 100mph with no sweat. The XR is squirrely above 70mph off road too, where the DR is super stable. I once passed a Toyota Tacoma that was doing 70mph on a dirt road. I came by him at 85-90mph on the DR, and his eyes bugged out when he looked out the window at me as I went by. LOL
@@twowheelsdown2002 ...... why you ride a pure Dual-Bike 100 mph ??? The 650 is not a High-Speed - Junkie .... its made as a pure Cross-Coutry-Bike with a great great Handling !!!!!!! You should not ride a Cross-Country-Bike, Bro .......
@@EthanAdey ...yes Xr650L 150 ... My favorit Travel-Speed was 110 - 120 kph on Streets m... Some Time i had so 700 km in a day ... come to my Favorit Regions .... Greetings
Yes & no. Mines a hybrid. XR600 with mildly tuned Dominator 650 engine (leccy start) CV carb with jet kit/pod filter. XR650R front sprocket + custom cush drive. And its supermoto`d. Love it to bits.
First, your videos are great. Bought an 08 new in 2010. Housing bubble. First dirt bike. Love it. Stock 8.3. Put Xr's Only muffler and Mikuni on it. Wow 12 years ago, getting old and not big like guy in your video. Looks like Kkbikes has the sprocket fix. Gonna try Spark plug heat shield boots for oil line instead of cooler or wrapping header. Az fire roads mostly and the ride to them. Funny how people wave at you on that thing.
I am on my 2nd XR650L.....such awesome bikes. With a few mods, you can't beat em. Especially if like me; you are 60/40 off road. And on-road who needs to go more than 80 mph.
I just picked up a decent 1996 xr650l and I've been loving it! Most of it's miles have been single track so far, my friend's call it the off road couch.
XR650L is great in the low speed technical due to the torque and tractor factor.. moderately good offroad at speed.. much better than a DR or KLR from factory- its the weakest of the three for putting down big pavement miles if needed though.
I agree. With my large posterior planted on the XR seat, it is lucky to get up to 70mph at 5500 feet in elevation. Completely stock bike. Even with mods that doesn’t leave much room for improvement
I rode a XR650L for 20 years! Selling it was the hardest thing I ever did. Having a "dirt bike" with a big engine is the best combination for a dual-sport, in my opinion. I fixed everything I could, but it still needed a 6th gear. I loved the bike, but I hated the carburetor.
A legend of a bike, a true tractor of them all. The measuring stick of dual sport MC's. I'm lucky enough to have ridden a few and you almost wish you hadn't, because you know what you're not getting with a DR or KLR. Would own one in a heartbeat if you could buy one new, used market has seen stupid prices where other bikes become better/cheaper options.
I love my xr650l. Brought plenty of tears to novice riders on fancy new high end bikes. When riding with more advanced guys i suffer a bit but just chop it it to learning how to be a better rider.
Can you please tell me the brand and capacity of the transparent (natural) gas tank? It looks like the perfect balance of capacity without being too big and cumbersome. The transparency looks great on a dirty red bike while being a free gas gauge. Thanks in advance.
i put 31,000 miles on my 2000 that I sold in 2004, was great motorcycle. Checking the oil level is a pain and burns oil. Best bike per dollar though. D606 tires and acerbis lever guards and don't change front sprocket, change rear only due to counter-shaft wear. I had to weld mine, not good.
Excellent review. Only mod you missed is the 2nd/5th gear mod. It makes the most dramatic performance change to the bike over any other mod. PERIOD! Split the case, put a lower 2nd gear in and get a 5th gear from an NX. The 2nd gear makes the low gearing perfect offroad. The 5th gear acts as an overdrive gear. More low end available power and smoother shifting due to closer matched gear ratios and you can do 80 mph on the freeway with ease with the new 5th gear.
I was just discussing this yesterday with the owner of the XR in the vid... the spread of ratios is good but the jump from 1st to 2nd is too big for many riders.
I have an XR650L that was heavily modified (in a great way) by the previous owner. A stock one is a bit of a donkey, mine in its current form I can live with, although it's far from perfect. Honda needs to bring an updated model out, and not like the BS KLR update. The KLR was always the heaviest but now is just bloated. I think Honda needs to make a T7 equivalent, but make it as light as possible to focus on dual sporting, but with more HP to help get us to those trails with a smile. If they kept it simple and just improved on Yamaha's T7 winning formula they would sell like hot cakes. The KTM 690 is still the closest to the unicorn for me, but I would be willing to give up quite a bit of what the KTM has to get Honda price and reliability.
Honda could make so much money if they seriously updated these bikes. But sadly even the Honda CEO admitted they lost their mojo years ago. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-RlEFvoqEtT4.html
I want one just so I can say you can't get these in AustraliaI want one just so I can say "you can't get these in Australia". I live in North America, we never get any of the cool or exotic Japanese anything that they sell everywhere else, but here!!!
I had an XR650L a couple of years ago. Had big plans to eventually ride it everywhere. Then I crashed it running 30 mph on what is basically a gravel walking trail. No idea how it happened. No memory of the crash. Still have many aches and pains when the weather changes from that wreck! Repaired the bike which basically just had a few scratches, and sold it. I miss that thing! Negatives: it sucked to ride on the highway, was tall for my 32” inseam, fuel tank and emissions must go, headlight wasn’t great. All of these but the first can be remedied without breaking the bank. It was very light and easy to ride all day. Great bike!
That is always a worry... the very simple crash that can change your life forever. I'm always thinking about my protective gear and what I need to reduce the chances.
No XRs in Australia...wow. Was hoping to see you wheelie the BRP! On my second XRL now and have done almost all the upgrades. Most notable were the oil cooler, Dynojet kit, FMF, PBI sprocket, and the Ricky Carmichael high bend bars with 2" up and forward Rox spacers! Yes, she's an oinker, but so reliable and relaxing on fire roads and some trails.
Years ago I did get to ride one and made a review vid over on the enduro channel. Risers AND high bend bars... they really did weird ergos back in those days lol.
I’m sure that this issue of large Lizards on dirtbikes has been covered previously. However, in case you’ve forgotten, Charley Darwin espoused a theory -quite a number actually - and one of those said theorems was that T-Rex’s and Allosaurus’s existed somewhat prior to the release dates of the Honda XR650L. As we now understand from fossils discovered clad in rudimentary and ancient riding gear, the XL500SA was the only model available to them. Therefore to preface this article by showing an XR650L with some type of “Saurus” precariously perched aboard is a little erroneous. It is well known that their tiny stubby arms could not have reached the ‘bars- particularly as their legs were like 5 or 6 metres long. Other than that major faux pas I thought you were reasonably accurate with your assessment of the Red Whale. You know, XL500s come on the OZ market reasonably frequently: you could always buy one of them and add to it. Those engines are l o o n g lasting and reliable.
The T-rex certainly had a lot of back issues with the riding posture they were forced to adopt. And unfortunately ibuprofen didn't exist until a few million years later. 😢 Some academics think the T-rex did exist in the specified era but they were rare and often referred to as one percenters.
have been riding my xr650l for 26 years now only problem i have had is after getting rear ended by a car which jambed the shifter and had to replace second gear other that that it has been bulletproof with 30,000 miles of mostly offroad riding. last October i installed a EFM auto clutch and has really been a excellent upgrade for my with my hand issues (arthritis) which has kept my from riding it much the last 10 years. that has all changed now.
I have owned a 99 XR650L and currently own a 00 XR650R street sumo. Sold the 650l to buy the 650r. Both are awesome. I have ridden both on long trips. Both on and off-road. Neither are out of place on a single track but I prefer my 96 KDX200 for trail riding. But that's because I have the option. The 650L and 650r to me feel more at home off-road on big trails, out in the desert, dirt roads, and fire roads where I've been able to open them up. Love the BRP's. My 650r sumo I have enjoyed as my twisties rocket for 2 years since the conversion. But I still have the stock wheels with set of Trackmasters on them if needed.
Barry, great job mentioning the weight difference due to fuel capacity. We need more of this to stop manufacturers from equipping bikes with throw away tanks (Honda) to make the spec sheet look better. I've owned the XRL, DR and KLR. If choosing from those 3 again it would be the DR and upgrade the suspension. Better road manners on the DR and the Honda is so tall it's not as convenient for normal dual sport use. Great for ripping two track but god forbid you need to get a foot down in a slow section. With my 32" inseam I always looked at it as a 34" plus inseam bike. I could ride it everywhere but I was reaching.
It's got me knackered how people ride KTM 300s in slow steep tech stuff !! I saw one the other day that was so high it had a permanent snow line on the top half........
As a Honda XL rider (the XR's "softer" sister) I can undoubtedly say that regardless of it being a very old design, it is such a good formula that it could still compete with the modern dual sports and "soft enduro" offerings. If only the new models were legal to import to Europe... My gosh what many of us here would give for a brand new Xr650 instead of the old, tired and beaten ones from the 90s that can be found here...
I’ve had my 91xr600 big bored to 660 for 22 years it’s an absolutely wicked bike can’t kill em easy but they will eat the choke butterfly for fun swap the carby and that’s that great bike get one Baz great vid cobba cheers
Commuting for work, evening/weekend exploration thru-out eastern NY, VT, MA, I just turned 2000 miles on my 2021 XR650L. I did installed the Fritzco 15 tooth sprocket, upgraded to larger foot pegs, and added an aluminum skid plate. Since I've not experienced any popping or back firing, I'm not going to bother with the emissions mod. And I've changed the oil twice. 1st time at 500 miles. The 2nd oil change was done at 900 miles. Just checked the oil and it's still topped off, but a little dark in color. Plan to do a filter and oil change tomorrow morning. Just as much fun to ride as my Hayabusa.
I have a 93 XRL. And I found out it's not a long distance tour bike. When it had 10k miles on it, I went across the US with it. Put 17k miles on it in 4 months. Had to replace the cam, one ex rocket, the output shaft and new piston and rings/ cylinder bore. I used mobile one in it but got it HOT too many times..... still in my garage with 34 k miles on it. Still running.
I'm real glad you made this video so recently, I've been trying to decide between the xrl dr and drz. Getting varying opinions from just about everyone but it seems general consensus is to just go with the dr and mod to fit my needs. Adding an oil cooler, cush hub, and changing the gearing slightly would fix my issues with the xrl on roads, but from what a lot of people have said it gets unstable/uncomfortable at speeds over 70-80mph which may just be down to the tires they were using but I'm not gonna chance my life on that. Looks like after years of saving and debating, a dr650s is in my near future. And of course I'll be referencing your videos when it comes time for mods.
I've seen a lot of guys saying you don't want to ride the XR at high speed so I think the DR might suit better then. Unless you could live with the KLR... very smooth on road but just too heavy the rest of the time?
@@crosstrainingadventure I'd like to hear their reasoning for not recommending the xrl at high speeds, but since I won't read them here I suppose I'll just go back to saving for the DR650s and a couple (dozen) mods.
The Honda XR650's engine vibrates a-lot, my hands and feet go numb in short order on the street. The DR 650s' engine is balanced much better and vibrates more akin to a smoother twin piston engine. The XR650 is more suited to dirt riding 40/60 and the DR650 is more suited to street riding 60/40. I prefer my DR 650 mostly for the fore mentioned reasons but, they are both great bikes that are packed full of great fun so... to each his own. Note the above was derived from a year 2000 comparison: have the engines been changed since then? IDK but I still love my DR650!
A bike that's similar in price to the DR650 but a little lighter and with better suspension would absolutely kill in Australia. Considering they still sell them in the US, that means there's an assembly line in a Honda factory somewhere producing XR650s. Send a couple of those bikes to Australia and they'll fly of the shelf.
Amen. That was a really dumb decision back in 2008. Unfortunately the door is closed here now as it would need ABS. We lost the DR650 in 2022 for this reason. 😢
I have a preowned XR. The previous owner tuned the carb beautifully. Not too rich or lean, doesn't bog through the rev range. And better than my FI bike, this thing is silky smooth off idle.
I do hear some owners have trouble getting the stock carb to work well and go for the flat slide instead. It's probably like the DR650... if you make the right mods the stocker works just fine.
I had a 94 XT600 and a 2006 XT660R - so I can compare those two machine. The 660R is a lot faster, and it only feels slightly heavier. The main problem with it is the snatchy fuel injection at slow speeds. Despite that I can well imagine it being faster than both the XT600 and DR offroad. The added HP really makes a difference.
I'm glad a $7,000 bike is considered a "budget" bike by some guys in 2022. No hate here, more power to you. Y'all ride on, I'll be saddling up my poverty pony.
@@crosstrainingadventure and they’re not violent predators, just jaded and grumpy enduro riders with too many people asking them which tyres and oil to use. I’m starting to think they welcomed their apocalypse with open, but short (albeit growing) arms.
They just need to update it i think it would sell very well.. wtf have they not updated it to make more sales.. nobody seems to want the crf450l and the 300l suspension is liquid ass
No probs! I'd suggest clicking that little 'bell' on each vid as well so RU-vid actually notifies you when a new vid comes out. Even then, they don't always let you know.
I have a XR650L. It's not fast but with 47 ft lb of torque it will go anywhere. It's super reliable and the maintenance intervals are far in between. I have 25,000 miles on mine and other than oil changes and a couple valve adjustments I haven't had to do anything to the engine.
Bought my XRL in2013 new, first I got rid of the Smog stuff, it's got Scotts steering damper, renthal bars, stock header with FMF muffler, changed tail light and smaller blinkers, I've got to try every tire known to man ,I get tires "Used ones" but mostly real good shape five dollars. I 48,000 miles on it and broke a timing chain Guide. Now the topend is All new with 10.5 to 1 compresson piston , and carb kit , the bike hauls A$$.
I ended up getting the DR650 because I need a bike that can handle lots of highway riding so that I can commute to work, but that Honda did look tempting. the weight alone is a huge help off road
You probably made the right choice, I've heard so many owners say the Honda isn't fun on the road at all. But of course more capable in the dirt. The good news is you can drop the weight of the DR650 quite cheaply, we've got a video about that on this channel somewhere.
