My Recently Acquired, 2005 Honda XR650L
Today I took my recently acquired, Honda XR650L on one of my favorite rides to Idaho's Blackfoot Reservoir. Here are some photographs of my "brand used" Honda, in its natural environment. :)
http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...foorRes016.jpg http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...foorRes020.jpg http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...foorRes026.jpg http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...foorRes029.jpg http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...foorRes038.jpg The bike runs great, and I am happy I bought it. :) However, I will shortly begin modifying the Honda to better suit my riding needs. ;) The stock fuel tank is a meager 2.8 gallons, so I have decided to install a 4.7-gallon, Clarke fuel tank. :) http://www.clarkemfg.com/cart/index....products_id=73 http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...ueltankjpg.jpg Which color should I choose: red, or black? :?: Spud :) |
Sweeeet!! Ty for posting the pics Spud, the XR is pure awesomeness! Definitely go for the black tank, break up the red a bit and give you much much more range over the stocker. Looks great and I`m sure you will get tons of good service from it. Grats again! :D
Cheers, Stew |
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The bike's cooling fins, a.k.a. "elephant ears," will disappear with the old tank. ;) I am pretty sure I will also replace the front fender with a supermoto fender, of undecided color. In addition, I am considering changing the color of the headlight cowl, or even substituting an entirely different headlight, such as the Trail Tech X2. :) http://trailtech.net/x2.html Therefore, I am interested in gathering input from our forum members regarding the final color scheme of the bike after all these modifications. :) I am definitely not married to "Honda Red." ;) Spud :) |
Black one looks kind of cool... Though it might be a little too much black :)
http://i762.photobucket.com/albums/x...er/BlackXR.jpg |
Awesome Spud!
I bet it's a rush having that kind of power! As wonderful as the Zong is, I'ts a rush to roost. |
It will look much better without the ears!
Nuts. I'd talked myself outta the DR and not you have to do this! |
What year is that beauty, Spud?
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Which color fuel tank do you think will look best: red, or black? Spud :) |
Nice Spud!
I am partial the red fuel tank, to keep it looking like a Honda. That shot of the long 'road' with the little up and downs on it just looks like a hoot. I kind of long to go WOT on my YZ there. :( Thanks for sharing of course. :) |
On mine, I had a 4 gallon IMS tank, Corbin seat, hybrid R and L exhaust, jetted to suit. Great torque!!! First bike I ever did a 12 o'clock on (didnt mean to) and will top out about 100 mph. Also get pretty darn good gas milage. The bike was too much for me off road around here (western pa) but looks like the perfect environment out your way!!!
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After my experience with my Zong, I have learned to enjoy personalizing my motorcycles. Therefore, I don't mind deviating from the Honda Red color theme, but Honda doesn’t make the job easy. ;) The white plastic panels complicate adding a black fuel tank, since I don't want to produce a "zebra.†:lol: I also don’t want a completely black motorcycle. A white fuel tank might appear nice at first, but the white fuel tanks tend to discolor with age. :( Besides a larger fuel tank, I also need to add a luggage rack, and a skid plate to this motorcycle. ;) As I ponder my options, here are a few more photographs of the bike in its current configuration, before I start modifying it. ;) http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...foorRes053.jpg http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...foorRes057.jpg http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...foorRes067.jpg[IMG] http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...foorRes078.jpg http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...foorRes093.jpg Spud :) |
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Spud :) |
If the red stays RED, I like that better than black. The side panels dont need to stay white however, so you can really go any flavour you enjoy.
Quite envious of the the new steed, Spud. |
Looks like a rear rack is in order. Any plans for another trunk?
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I vote red.
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Red, all day long.
Love that bike! Glad to hear you're moving forward with a skidplate right away; breaking an oil line would wreck your whole day. I didn't have the funds for a new plate, so I fabbed one out of aluminum; glad I did. If those headers are the same as my quarter-litre, they're stainless. I polished mine to make clean-up much easier. As well, they turned a very cool blue and bronze after a couple of heat cycles. :D Is your current tank plastic? If so, dibs on your current tank! :lol: |
Red, Spud. You don't want the zebra look.
I know you're prudent but be careful on that thing. I know I'd have a hard time not going nuts on it! |
I think that would be too much bike for me. The KLR650 was just too big. I wasn't tall enough and the weight was unnerving. Fun on the street though.
The 400cc size seems to be about the perfect compromise for trail and street use. Still would like a drz400. |
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The reviews I read say the same thing. The XR is more dirt oriented.
Still just a big bike. I am sure on the wide open trail it is great fun. |
Personally, I love the red, white, blue and gold paint scheme from the old XL600R
http://www.motorera.com/honda/h0600/.../xl600r-86.jpg |
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That is classic. My 86 xr200 has that theme. |
That is nice!
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I like the clear fenders. Bet they would be hard to keep clean though
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Unless I spray paint the side panels, or buy painted side panels from another model year, I think I am stuck with the color white, Cal. I can’t use either OEM, or aftermarket, XR600R side panels, unless I move the battery box, and I don’t want to do that. I also don’t want painted side panels. ;) Therefore, unless I want a red, black, and white motorcycle, I should probably get a red fuel tank. ;) Quote:
Spud :) |
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Spud :) |
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Spud :) |
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http://fozzy42.com/SoundClips/Movies/TopGun/speed.wav Spud :) |
Spud, I think Katoranger still has a Chinarack you might be able to make work. Maybe look at how it mounts.
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1) In my area, a well beaten, DR-Z400S sells for about $3,500; I purchased my XR650L for much less than that price. :D 2) I wanted a second bike, with "longer legs," so I could take longer adventures, farther from home. However, I didn't want to purchase a street bike, and be limited to traveling on the pavement. Therefore, I decided a 650cc, dual sport motorcycle was the right bike for me. ;) 3) I would rather ride, than do maintenance! Therefore, I prefer the simplicity, and the reliability of an air-cooled engine. ;) This preference narrowed my choices to either the Suzuki DR650SE, or the Honda XR650L. 4) The XR650L has a curb weight of 346 pounds, which is only 29 pounds heavier than the DR-Z400S. :) In addition, the XR650L weighs 20 pounds less than the DR650SE, and 86 pounds less than the KLR650! 8O I often ride alone, so I need to be able to pick up my motorcycle by myself. ;) Since the XR650L has an engine with 250cc more displacement, I consider it more street-worthy than the DR-Z400, and I can still pick up the XR650L after I drop it! :D 5) I spend long hours in the saddle, and I didn't want to spend $375 for a custom seat! In my opinion, the DR-Z400S saddle is absolutely painful! :( In stark contrast, the XR650L saddle is very comfortable; in fact, the Honda saddle might be the most comfortable, stock seat on any of the 650cc, dual sport motorcycles. :D 6) As usual, FastDoc is correct. ;) If I desire, I can ride the XR650L on many of my favorite trails in the open spaces of Idaho. I still prefer to ride my shorter, lighter, more nimble Zong on these trails. ;) However, the XR650L has a great suspension, excellent ground clearance, and only weighs 29 pounds more than the DR-Z400S. :) Since I already own an excellent trail bike with my Zong, I decided to get the better street performance of the XR650L over the DR-Z400S. ;) This afternoon I rode my Honda XR650L up a favorite mountain; it did a pretty good job! However, this bike is definitely geared too high from the factory, so I need to drop a tooth on the countershaft sprocket. ;) Here are some photos from today's ride. :) http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...Kinport011.jpg http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...Kinport015.jpg http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...Kinport031.jpg http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...Kinport041.jpg http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...Kinport044.jpg http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...Kinport057.jpg http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...Kinport063.jpg http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...Kinport070.jpg The XR650L would definitely be difficult to ride in tight quarters, but the Big Red Pig performs surprisingly well in the wide-open spaces of Idaho. ;) In addition, this bike easily cruises the speed limit on limited access freeways. :D Spud :) |
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http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/sho...t=borrego+rack Spud :) |
Spud, please satisfy my curiousity and try a magnet test on the exhaust header. My '96 250 has a stainless header, so I'm surprised that yours would be mild steel.
If it's steel, maybe a dirt-only bike would be a good stainless donor. |
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Spud :) |
The XR650L is a great bike, but it is tall, with a 37-inch seat height. 8O Therefore, I have ordered a Performance Design lowering link for Porky, my BRP. ;) This link should lower the seat height approximately 1.5-1.75 inches. :) I have also ordered a red, Clarke, 4.7-gallon fuel tank for my bike. :) Needless to say, I will post photos, and reviews, after these items arrive, and I install them.
Spud :) |
I'm glad you decided to go with red.
Will you raise the fork legs in the triple tree to match? How will this effect your handling if at all? Will the tires be too close to the fenders? Will you let me ride it I fly out to I-der-ho? |
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Spud :) |
I'm thinking I'll have 2 dirts bikes too, Bother Spud, and I can easily borrow another ATV, and I have a bunch of streetbikes if you're in my neck of the woods.
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Thank you, Brother Bill. :D
Spud :) |
All Honda, XR650L motorcycles are infected at the factory with a SMOG tumor, attached to the left side of the cylinder; Porky was no exception. :(
http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...foorRes046.jpg Therefore, I just purchased a SMOG removal kit from eBay. :) As soon as the kit arrives from New York, I will excise the tumor, and heal my Big Red Pig. :D http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...=STRK:MEWNX:IT Spud :) |
I bet that's the same sort of deal Q's are saddled with.
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