Honda xr650l fever

[jasonmb]

I for the fever for a new bike .. Can't sleep .. Can't eat (not really)

OCD ??

 

[OldRider]

I've had an XL650 and it was great, but if I was going to go that route again, I would give the KLR a serious look.

 

[jasonmb]

I have a super tenere .. Feel the klr would be too similar. Was looking something to beat some dirt and trails up and not be exhausts from tossing all the weight around .

 

[jasonc32amg]

I've had an XL650 and it was great, but if I was going to go that route again, I would give the KLR a serious look.

I'd caution against a KLR, especially if you have a Tenere. An XL650 for a WR250 would be a much better complement to do some more intense offroading.

 

[greg the pole]

how about this?
cheap, fast, and surprisingly capable off road:
http://thetenerist.wordpress.com/2013/06/29/frankenstrom-build-2/

 

[crazyjeeperndtx]

I have a lightly modified 1997 XR650L I recently bought. I love it. It is a great compliment to the Tenere for going faster on worse roads.

Honda recently released the 2014 XRL, which makes for 21 years with no changes. I guess they got it right the first time. ::012::

 

[spklbuk]

I just had a similar fit over a DR650. I managed to work my way through it without buying one. Still have cravings.



From what I have read (no first hand experience), beware weighting down the rear subframe on the XR.

 

[TreeMuncher]

I had an '07 XR650L - boring, bland and a heavy pig.

I have an '06 XR650R - adrenaline rush, tire eating, rip snorting boar that just plain ROCKS

 

[scott123007]

I had an '07 XR650L - boring, bland and a heavy pig.

I have an '06 XR650R - adrenaline rush, tire eating, rip snorting boar that just plain ROCKS

So true. Too bad you can't button start the R or it would be Nirvana.

 

[crazyjeeperndtx]

So true. Too bad you can't button start the R or it would be Nirvana.

http://www.dirtrider.com/tests/parts-accessories/141_0412_baja_xr650r_dirtbike_electric_start_kit/

I still like my old tech L though. The only thing that ever goes wrong is the CDI, and carrying a $100 spare fixes that. It is also far from slow, I can easily spin up the rear on gravel in 4th. It does start to run out of puff around 70, but above that I think I'd run out of talent anyways.

 

[johnpitts01]

Have had both the XR650L and a WR250R.

Get the WR you won't regret it.

The only thing the XR650L does better is pull at the bottom end like a tractor.

 

[talonboy]

I have had a few big Honda XR's, XR600R, XR650L, and XR650R, all of them street legal. My current XR650R has been a good bike. The 650R has a better chassis and suspension, and more power everywhere, than either air-cooled bike. It is a big heavy pig, just like the 650L. Not having an electric starter can be a bit of a bother, but I think it is better than having an electric start only dirt bike, like the 650L. I had a couple of troublesome situations with a 650L that wouldn't start, in tough situations, because the battery was less than ideal.

I really like the older XR600R's. They felt a little lower and lighter than either 650. All three have a ton of available accessories, so you can make them into whatever suits your fancy.