Good advice Jim on using it as it is supposed to be used. I was an old time dirt bike/motocrosser from the 70's. I bought a 2019 CRF250l 3 years ago and tried to ride it like a dirt bike. My stepson and his friends with their KTM's said. Dang old man you can ride that thing. Problem was I was worn to a frazzle after a few ours of that. I recently took off the knobbies, FMF pipe and fuel controller and went back to complete stock including the stock gearing and am enjoying it as a Dual Sport now............................Bob
Absolutely a dirt bike is different from a dual sport which is different from a adv which is different from a cruiser which is different from a touring so a person needs to decide what kind of riding they are going to do if they can only have one bike that’s why I have multiple bikes to suit my moods thanks for the comment ride safe ride free
I hear a lotta times you need to shorten kickstand if you lower it very much. I’ve been riding a friends XR650l, very fun bike . it has been lowered, Still seems tall to me, I’m 5’10”. I noticed you need to look around for a low spot to place kickstand.
Shorting the kickstand is true if you change the ground clearance you gotta shorten the kickstand I forgot to mention that’s thanks for the comment ride safe ride free
Fisher Upholstery in Idaho cut down the seat foam and 5’8” me can now tippy toe touchdown on both sides. Screwing and gluing a hockey puck to the side stand makes it sit up a little higher which helps, too.
I’m 5’-8” and did the lowering link 1-3/4” and lowered forks by 1 1/4”. I did adjust sag a bit for my 165 lb weight…sits great when my weight brings bike down just a bit more. I’d say I’m happy with ride and setup
That’s what I try to convey about making the bike your own because we are all different so we must make the bike fit us so good for you I know you’ll be happy because the 650 is simple and so much fun thanks for the comment ride safe ride free
@@Cyberviper8 you might look at the tw 200 or go full bore rescue and with a rokon two wheel drive they ain’t fast but would be fun I think they are made i New York
That’s nice to know I wasn’t sure how much it would drop it you might try the preload but don’t loosen it so that your spring is loose thanks for the comment ride safe ride free
Was breaking in new adventure boots. Started stepping on left peg and swinging leg over. Pulled into waterfront area. Tripped getting off in front of construction workers. How humiliating! Other than that, really like my XRL. Probably going to buy Seat concepts complete seat, hopefully black friday sales. Also have a lowering link to be installed in the long, dark midwest winter.
Every little bit will help they could of designed the xr 2 inches lest clearance and still had a good dual sport take your time you’ll get more use to the bike the more you ride it I am looking at the O’Neal sierra adventure boot they are not as stiff thanks for the comment ride safe ride free
@@GratefulEd907 yes it’s easier to get a leg across if you use the left peg I am getting into that habit my self makes it easier on tall bike thanks for the comment ride safe ride free
I am 5'11" also.I bought a brand new one this May.Way too tall.It sits in the garage sadly with 1.8 miles on it.What lowering link brand and size did you use?I just don't see how an inch or inch and a half is going to do much good.I hear that Seat Concepts is great.Not a lot of reviews on that for this bike.You are happy with yours you say?
Thank You for sharing everything ! You made a great video ! I appreciate your knowledge and life knowledge ! Please disregard criticism from others in any major regard...I believe you can't ignore the negatives... but Whatever I say in the positive...there are 10x positively minded ppl that are just too soft to sound off in favor of your content...Again... Thank You !
Thanks for your comment I try to tell what little I know and try not being too biased well all have opinions and that great if we all thought alike like fe would be boring I try to keep an open mind cause I don’t have the answers I only give my perspective hoping to give people another option thank again ride safe ride free
I just picked up my xr650l about 4 hours ago,it’s raining 10 pm andcold but I’ve been sitting on it and man I can’t get one foot down ,I need to lean the bike over but I figured it might drop down a little after I ride it for a few weeks,I don’t want to lower it yet just want to ride
I understand exactly what you feel I have rode mine in January and enjoyed it lol I did lower mine with a lowering link it’s help tremendously thanks for the comment ride safe ride free
How tall are you? I owned a KLR 650 2005. It was tall being 5’6 but gat used to after a while. Now am looking for XR650L because I don’t like the futuristic look KLR has done and prefer a dinosaur look. Thank you for your information
I am 6ft tall the klr s are good machines they now make the s model which stands for short they probably dropped at least 2inches it’s great the xr has a 37 inch seat height it’s tall I did order the shorting length and I do have the seat concepts 1inch shorter seat in should drop it about 2 inches I agree I like the basic bike no frills thanks for the comment ride safe ride free
@@ChrisBrown-nt5uz I would go with the shortening link and seat concepts 1inch shorter seat I think some one said they found a shortening link that dropped the seat height more than an inch thanks for the comment ride safe ride free
Old school motorcycle mechanic in Snohomish Washington said same thing if you want a bike with more performance get a bigger bike with bigger power leave it alone I'm leaving Mine stock
I myself wouldn’t go smaller tires if I was going to do any off road because the more tire the more rim protection but if mostly road riding them smaller tire could be an option but I’d do the link thanks for the comment ride safe ride free
Sure I am 6 ft tall I am seriously looking at a lowering link I found one on Amazon for 45 dollars it lowers 1in thanks for the comment ride safe ride free
@@jimmilligan5802 Thanks Jim, I put a deposit on one and did the financing , suppose to pick up , I am 5'7 , am I screwed ?? Wondering how much the height will drop with weight ratio.
@@ibrockin4u it will be tall but don’t give up on it there is many different ways to lower it I seen a lowering link that says it drops 1in and 3/4 you’ll be glad you bought the bike don’t let the height thing scare you the more you ride it the more comfortable you’ll get with it so don’t give up the bike is worth it thanks for the comment ride safe ride free
@@ibrockin4u the reason I make these videos is to try to inspire people to ride or do what makes them cope with the crap going on in this world you got to find some peace I try to give a different point of view so you can make your own mind up I am glad that some people enjoy the videos thanks for the comment ride safe ride free
Thanks for the comment hell I know I am a little off base lol but I enjoy life and try to get as much enjoyment as I can I just try to give a different point of view to make people think for themselves thank again for the comment ride safe ride free
@@oymate1996 if you loosen it it will change you preload which will change the sag and make a softer ride if I was really wanting to change seat height I would get a shorting length that’s what I did it wasn’t hard to change but you’ll need someway to raise and lower the bike thanks for the comment ride safe ride free
Thanks I've been looking to shorten or replace with an xt250. Did a cdt run with the xr last year and there was definitely a few times the height of the bike almost killed me. It is bomb proof though and the 650ccs is nice for any highway stretches
@@oymate1996 the xt 250 is a wonderful little bike but on road it has some short comings ride wind ability power it’s a great bike for just dinking around on you can ride it long distance but just don’t get in a hurry I love mine but you’ll miss the awesome thrill you get on the 650 you can get the shorting length in different lengths and you can slide the fork tubes down a little but be forewarned every thing that you change will change of how the bike handles so there is a small learning curve after modding your bike
