My Recently Acquired, 2005 Honda XR650L

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by FastDoc

Just make a Big Brother, Brother Spud!

I'm going to stick with a red front fender, and a red seat, Brother Bill. However, your "Dirt Rat" is looking great with the patriotic color scheme.

Spud

[Weldangrind]

I like the red headlight cowl. In fact, I like it so much that I'd be interested in buying it from you when you switch to white. The hand guards too.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

I like the red headlight cowl. In fact, I like it so much that I'd be interested in buying it from you when you switch to white. The hand guards too.

Thank you for your input, W&G. If I decide to replace these items, you will have first dibs on the old ones.

The photographs below show an XR650L with a CRF250R front fender, and a Trail Tech X2 headlight.





Forum member SamM installed a Trail Tech X2 headlight on his KLR650.

http://chinariders.net/modules.php?n...r=asc&start=15

This headlight doesn't cost much more than new, OEM plastic, and it produces 70 watts of illumination. For this headlight, I prefer the Honda Red color. What do you gentlemen think of this configuration? :?:

Spud

[Weldangrind]

I like the red better, but the white does look good with the white hand guards and white side panels. In stock configuration, your bike is a sea of red and black with only the side panels in white; I happen to prefer that, but some extra white detail is nice.

I'm glad you bought the red tank. I have a white tank on my '96, and I hate it. Since I can only ride off-road with it, I can't justify a Clarke with extra fuel capacity. We're never far away enough from the truck to require more than one tank of fuel.

[FastDoc]

It's funny how some things just look lighter! More light is always better. Has this upgrade been done by anyone at TT or the XR650 forums you've seen?

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

I like the red better, but the white does look good with the white hand guards and white side panels. In stock configuration, your bike is a sea of red and black with only the side panels in white; I happen to prefer that, but some extra white detail is nice.

I'm glad you bought the red tank. I have a white tank on my '96, and I hate it. Since I can only ride off-road with it, I can't justify a Clarke with extra fuel capacity. We're never far away enough from the truck to require more than one tank of fuel.

I'm also glad I bought the red fuel tank, Brother Derryk. May I infer you think the bike looks great as it is currently configured? I think you have a very good eye for esthetics, and I value your opinions. Would you change the front fender, or anything else from Porky's current configuration? :?:

Spud

[Weldangrind]

I wouldn't change a thing. That's a sweet bike. 8) I waited a long time for Honda red colours, and I wish I had the tank you have.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by FastDoc

It's funny how some things just look lighter! More light is always better. Has this upgrade been done by anyone at TT or the XR650 forums you've seen?

Please elaborate, Doc. Do you think the Trail Tech, X2 headlight is lighter in weight, or offers brighter illumination than the stock headlight? The HID version of the X2 headlight gets rave reviews, but is generally considered too bright/illegal for highway use. The halogen, dual sport version of the X2 headlight is at least as bright as the stock headlight; perhaps it is slightly brighter. I think the two headlights are comparable in brightness.

I think the X2 headlight is better looking than stock. However, the X2 headlight might offer mounting problems, and might not be as robust as the stock headlight. The stock headlight offers another advantage; it uses the same, H4 halogen bulbs as my modified Zong.

If you are interested in learning more about the Trail Tech, X2 headlight, here are some links to a few threads.

http://www.ecea.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=18944
http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=681023
http://www.dirtrider.com/drtested/14...ght/index.html
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=620628
http://www.klr650.net/forums/showthread.php?t=65267
http://www.cafehusky.com/forums/showthread.php?t=483

Spud

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

I wouldn't change a thing. That's a sweet bike. 8) I waited a long time for Honda red colours, and I wish I had the tank you have.

Thank you, W&G. The BRP is surprising agile off road! Once I install a 13T countershaft sprocket, Porky will be able to ride 90% of the trails I currently ride on my Zong. In addition, Porky is happy to travel the interstate for extended periods of time at 80 mph. Here are a few more photos, showing Porky from a variety of angles at 9,000 feet above sea level.

























Spud

[Weldangrind]

This latest batch of photos has prompted me to drill out my homemade skid plate to look like yours. It should be a little easier to clean that way.

[FastDoc]

Looks great, Spud. I bet there's snow on those mountains today.... 8O

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by FastDoc

Looks great, Spud. I bet there's snow on those mountains today.... 8O

Thank you, Doc. Indeed, I knew the snow was coming, so I took advantage of the warm weather to make one last trip to this mountaintop. All the mountains here are now covered with snow. I won't get back to this particular summit until the middle of July, or the first part of August next year. :(

Spud

[FastDoc]

Originally Posted by SpudRider

Thank you, Doc. Indeed, I knew the snow was coming, so I took advantage of the warm weather to make one last trip to this mountaintop. All the mountains here are now covered with snow. I won't get back to this particular summit until the middle of July, or the first part of August next year. :(

Spud

Time for an ATV?

At least the lower trails should be open most of the winter, I would think.

It's the dark thats keeping me from riding here. I've been commuting on the Gold Wing, it's a lot warmer than my other bikes. I HOPE to get The Dirt Rat out for a little bit today if I can get done before dark.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by FastDoc

...At least the lower trails should be open most of the winter, I would think...

I live at 4,600 feet above sea level, and this peak rises to almost 9,000 feet above sea level. We don't have any low trails here, Doc!

From this peak on a clear day, you can see the Teton Range in Wyoming, 107 aerial miles distant. Here’s a photo of my Zong on this summit, with Grand Teton Peak visible on the horizon, directly over the GPS mount on my handlebars.



Here’s a closeup view of the Tetons, taken from the same location.



In the earlier photographs I posted, Porky was posed in the very same spot, 24 hours later; however, visibility was reduced to a mere 50 miles, so the Tetons were not visible at that time.

Needless to say, I love riding to this mountaintop. I was very glad to get a last chance to ride up there with both my Zong, and Porky, before the snow covered the mountain until next summer.

Spud

[FastDoc]

Dang that's high!

Amazing view too.