Honda XR650L: Top end rebuild and tire report

[SpudRider]

Several days ago, for the first time in December, the daily high temperature rose above freezing, reaching a balmy, 35 degrees Fahrenheit. :roll: Therefore, I took my XR650L for a short ride to test the recent rebuild of my engine’s top end. I’m pleased to report my bike runs as good as new.





Here’s a photograph of my CST, Surge I, front tire after 9,700 miles of wear.



After I returned home, I immediately changed the front tire, and installed another CST, Surge I tire. Here’s a photograph showing a new, CST, Surge I, front tire juxtaposed with the stock front tire.



It’s also time for me to install a new rear tire. Here are several photographs I took of my current, Dunlop, D952 rear tire with 5,925 miles of wear.





The D952 has been a great tire, and it is my current favorite of all the rear tires I have mounted on my XR650L. Here’s a photograph of the D952 when it was new, juxtaposed with the Kenda TrakMaster tire it replaced after 3,900 miles of wear.



Since the mountain trails are covered with snow, I will continue to ride the pavement with my D952 rear tire until spring weather arrives. After the gravel roads thaw out I will next mount a Pirelli, MT21 rear tire, shown in the photograph below.



In the photograph above a Kenda TrakMaster tire is mounted on the bike. The other tires, moving from left to right, are the Dunlop D952, the Pirelli MT21, and another Kenda TrakMaster tire.

Spud