10-22-2010, 11:50 AM | #16 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sardis, BC, Canada
Posts: 25,977
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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. Is your current tank plastic? If so, dibs on your current tank!
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Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer |
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10-22-2010, 11:56 AM | #17 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Southeastern Washington desert
Posts: 14,761
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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!
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10-22-2010, 12:35 PM | #18 |
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Altamont, Kansas
Posts: 15,103
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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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10-22-2010, 12:41 PM | #19 | |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Southeastern Washington desert
Posts: 14,761
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Quote:
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10-22-2010, 02:15 PM | #20 |
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Altamont, Kansas
Posts: 15,103
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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. |
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10-22-2010, 03:59 PM | #21 |
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 20
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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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10-22-2010, 04:00 PM | #22 | |
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Altamont, Kansas
Posts: 15,103
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Quote:
That is classic. My 86 xr200 has that theme. |
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10-22-2010, 04:11 PM | #23 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Southeastern Washington desert
Posts: 14,761
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That is nice!
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10-22-2010, 04:13 PM | #24 |
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Terrell and Grapevine Tx.
Posts: 1,585
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I like the clear fenders. Bet they would be hard to keep clean though
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10-22-2010, 10:52 PM | #25 | ||
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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Quote:
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 "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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10-22-2010, 10:54 PM | #26 | |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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Quote:
Spud
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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10-22-2010, 11:02 PM | #27 | ||
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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Quote:
Quote:
Spud
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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10-22-2010, 11:16 PM | #28 | |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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Quote:
http://fozzy42.com/SoundClips/Movies/TopGun/speed.wav Spud
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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10-22-2010, 11:27 PM | #29 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Southeastern Washington desert
Posts: 14,761
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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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10-23-2010, 12:16 AM | #30 | ||
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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Quote:
1) In my area, a well beaten, DR-Z400S sells for about $3,500; I purchased my XR650L for much less than that price. 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! 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. 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. 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. Spud
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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