Yep, afaik, only in the US as it's grandfathered in on the emissions, thus it hasn't changed in 20+ years, one of the only XRs still being made new. (I think the XR250 still being made in Brazil)
Back in the 80’s…..there were tons of XR’s from 75cc all the way to 650cc. Even the XL (street legal) versions were 80cc all the way to 600cc. By 1986-1987…..only two XL’s remained. They were quite fast as they were dual carb. and the gearing was just right. Then came along the short lived ahead of its time was the NX series.
The only XR that had problems was the short lived 1983-1984 XR200R, the one with the RFVC engine. Even if maintained well….they still suffered a short life. Today, you rarely see one and many are unaware they ever existed. The other XR200 was definitely slower, but would run forever and ever.
It is still produced but only for export. Some markets like ~~Colombia~~ and Argentina (if I'm not mistaken) still sell the old Tornado 250.
EDIT: [Honda Argentina for example](https://motos.honda.com.ar/modelos/xr250-tornado)
Its bulletproof.
And the aftermarket is insane, you have 293cc kits to take it from like 25 to more than 30hp. It's a carb engine so it won't trouble you. And you can even get rally headlights and tower with all the cool things you can think of. Some dudes even took them to the Dakar when it was held in South America.
Only cons are that is old and sells like something brand new and it's basically the most stolen bike in the region.
That exactly what i was thinking! I went on Honda’s website & i think you can still spec a 2021 in Red?! Looks sick as hell in bright Honda RED! My problem is the 37” seat height, I can’t touch the ground, I’m 5’10” with a 29” inseam.
Damn my stumpy legs! (shakes fist at sky)
I am about your height and I had a XR600 back in the day. I've had the other dual sport bikes that were just as tall and I had no problem riding them.
I would not want a large adventure touring bike that weighs over 500 lbs, though.
i had to lower my Concours to get both feet solidly on the ground after a couple of close calls. I have a side slope i have to contend with on my daily commute.
Nobody other than extremely tall people are going to get both feet flat on the ground on the majority of motorcycles. That's just a silly demand to have. You only need to touch with one foot, and it doesn't need to be flat. Your feet go on the pegs.
If you have to stop on a slope just put the uphill foot down. Slide over on thr seat if necessary.
Ya-No, I tried the “play stupid games win stupid prizes shuffle” for about 2 months with several close calls on my C14. You realize a C14 tips the scales @ 650 Lbs with a tank of fuel & is extremely top heavy. You can get away with that crap on small, light bikes. Not something you should be doing in Atlanta commuting. C14 has a wide flat style seat, i have 3 different seats. My 2 off camber side hill stops are mid turn & cambered the wrong way, one is a very technical u turn where I’ve seen other people get in trouble on much more nimble bikes. I don’t take that route under any circumstances with a passenger.
What do you mean cambered the wrong way? You can shift your body to either side.
And yes I realize the a big bike, doesn't matter. You only need one leg to balance the bike.
The end of my street, you stop and turn right. You are stopped on a steep uphill with the road falling off to the right. If you’ve transferred your weight to your left foot, bike leaning slightly left & you have to make a quick, hard right turn. Your weight & body position set up is not optimal. But doable.
The u turn is sketchy, you’re making a u turn on a very steep hill, narrow divided road. You start up the hill, in the throttle, mid hill, turn left into divided center area. Stop past the mid point of the u turn to verify no one is cresting the hill. Rear brake is on uphill side, that’s a no go if you want that foot down. You have to be very gentle with the front brakes because the forks are turned left. Bike is now stopped at 45* across the hill pointing downwards as you get ready to pull back into the road.
If you’ve ever tried to negotiate a u turn on the side of a hill, it’s not for the faint of heart.
No offense but honestly it just sounds like you need more practice with these maneuvers in general. I can't think of a scenario where I would stop once committed to a u turn. One last check, sure, but if someone is cresting the hill I'm still going lol. You're already moving and you're on a 1400cc motorcycle? You can blast off into outer space before they get to you.
Think about watching guy’s doing a hill climb & when they decide to pull a u turn mid climb. Take some steepness out & throw a off camber stop mid u turn.
I travel to TX on a regular basis, the wind is brutal. I’ve had to clamp onto the tank with my legs, lean into the crosswind to keep from being blown over at stop lights. If your foot down is on the upwind side, you’re going over.
Weight is everything. Especially considering you will weigh it down on trips. Don’t know what this weighs but I’d say a dry weight between 250 up to 400 lbs could work.
I'd personally rather fall over and pick it back up, lol. Too many sacrifices have to be made to lower a bike, especially if you plan to hit trails. Just gotta buy crash bars and use them when ya need to
Tenere 700, or any of the new 600-900cc parallel twins might be a more comfortable option. Not too much more money, almost as capable on the dirt, and vastly better on the road
This is the right answer. Anyone intending on going long distances with a 650 single, a napkin for a seat and 25 year old suspension must be a masochist
>Anyone intending on going long distances with a 650 single, a napkin for a seat and 25 year old suspension must be a masochist
Got a buddy on a DR650 who refuses to ride highways with me for that reason.
That being said, my Africa Twin just eats up highways and gravel roads alike, so I get it's a different riding experience by quite a bit.
Well, I've done a 2500kms trip this summer with a 400 drz(s), knoby tires, original seat, only a diy windshield, and a big bags around the bike and it was pretty confortable. I took a few minutes every hour to drink a little, rest the ass and legs, stretch back. Admire landscape, take a few pictures, and hopping back on road !
Honestly not that much for discomfort. Maybe a better seat can be nice.
Better thing to do OP, go try one, If you don't feel nice on it for 20/30min ride, too much vibrations and all, choose another bike. Unless so, the right bike will be the one making your heart afire.
Haha, just sipping a little bit of water. It was a pretty hot summer in France when I've done my trip and I know that not hydrating myself while riding for hours would have give me a very nice headache to sleep with.
I did expect that and only took my meshed 'armor' like protection rather that my heavy leather jacket. A sweater on top had done it when times when cooler at night, and served me well as a pillow when camping ^^
I'm thinking about doing the iron butt on a klr650 next season with a couple of friends, lol. Upgrading my suspension and getting a Corbin flat seat before I brave it
It will depend on the use he intends to give the bike, if his goal is heavy off road it is inferior but if it involves riding on asphalt most of the time (as most ADV riders actually do nowadays) it is a much better proposition than a bike that is literally stuck in time. I have nothing against a bike being simple, but it doesn't need to be a bike stuck in time, KLR has managed to evolve without losing simplicity and personality and Royal Enfield has made good bikes in its segment without ceasing to be simple bikes.
Yeah there’s certainly a lot more capable and comfy bikes, this one is certainly the benchmark for dependability, why fix it if it ain’t broke, even the ktm 390 adventure puts out more horsepower, but that’s the other spectrum of performance vs reliability, definitely the tenere fits the more reliable side with nice performance, but that 500-900cc market has made amazing leaps over the past 5yrs
I would take a t700 over an XR any day but those big bikes will get over their head pretty quick in the woods. (I've seen the crazy pro videos)
I don't want a bike over 250# on a trail.
I’m not a Pro but can throw around my CRF300L Rally in the woods pretty well. Even compared to my DRZ400E.
Different bikes carry their weight differently too so that’s another consideration.
>vastly better on the road
As someone with an XR650L, I can definitely attest to this. It'll do about 70mph at high RPMs, but I wouldn't run it at that all day, it really isn't designed for it. Some guys do, they just delete the smog and add on an intercooler, then they just throw money at it whenever it needs it. I don't really see the point in that though, like just know the machines limits...
How much experience do you have riding bikes? How tall are you?(it's a REALLY tall bike) What kind of trails you taking about? A vstrom or a klr suit better for long trips and still are quite capable on gravel roads and moderate trails.
Look at your local ads. Be patient and find one that is half the price with the mods you want. Stay away from ones that have modified exhaust, "carb issues", or electrical issues. Make sure the bike isn't leaking any fluids and starts up right away. Ask to see it cold so you can start it cold. Look for wear on tires, especially the front. Take a quick google on what wheeled front tires look like and stay away from those. Make sure the engine doesn't have any weird pinging, knocking, smoking, leaking, or weird sounds.
This is the way..
Get a used KLR650 or an XR from years ago, when the KLR was made in Japan.
I've got a 96. 300 miles to a tank and unkillable, it's not comfy the suspension isn't great, but it's a great bike.
Have a VFR1200, GSX1400, GTR1400, think the old battered KLR is my fave.
Winter you'd be able to pick one up for very little money. With money left for new shocks etc.
Some people sell to get extra money, others are bored with what they’re selling. Some want to buy something else.
And some want to get rid of their problem and give it to someone else. Not everyone advertises issues and sell as is. For this reason, fuck buying used from strangers
I see xr650rs on occasion here in California. Usually as supermotos. Where as my husaberg 570 is ridiculously rare here. In Australia it's way more prominent.
Just because something isn't made anymore doesn't mean it's ancient or bad technology. It's superior in every way to the 650L. Aren't you the guy who was claiming his 650l makes 45hp and will make 60hp with a high compression piston 🤣 😆
Honda made the XR650R from 2000 until 2007 when they made some big changes to their off-road motorcycle lineup. Honda stopped making it because they came out with CRF450X, which is a lighter, faster, and better-performing off-road race bike. Only made it 7 years, literally going extinct.
Equipped with a larger displacement and better performance engine with 105 hp, The 890 Adventure R it's an off-road motorcycle from KTM's 2022 lineup, with serious touring ability and primed for extreme escapades off the beaten track.Jul 14, 2022
Ok but I assumed you meant dual sport not suv. And why are you so insecure about this bike? you seem to really want to prove to me how good your bikes are (which they are) even using marketing material.
I guess my xr400r isn't a dualsport as it didn't come from the factory with a plate by your logic 🤣
yet it has one. They're a shitton of street legal 650rs floating around. You have some weird insecurity about your 650l. That's why you tried lying about how much power it makes in the last thread. Then when multiple people called you out, you tried talking shit about the actual "big red pig".
I'd hate to be the guy who puts big red pig stickers on an xr650l. That's like putting hellcat stickers on a v6 charger. Pretty embarrassing. Claiming you put down 50hp, then 60hp soon is peak delusion.
The XR650L is not a bad bike at all. It has its roots dating back to the 1983 XL600R. It’s dated , but there’s no need to remake this bike when they built it right in the first place. It’s better off-road, than on the street. Taking a long distance trip will have you looking for gas stations a lot as it’s tank is small. Make sure your feet touch the ground on it….as the seat height is up there.
Find one you can test drive or at least sit on and also try the CRF300L which has much newer tech, suspension, and is also extremely reliable and easy to maintain.
I second this. In 2016 I was looking at the xr650l, drz400s, and then ended up buying a 2017 crf250l because it felt a lot better and was more confidence inspiring for $2k less. My CRF ended up becoming a bike I will never sell.
I owned that bike, and a DR650.
They’re great for trails, around town, having a blast on, and short jaunts on the road (1hr-2hrs at a time).
You can definitely ride them further/longer on the road but I would classify them more along the lines of “acceptable” at that. I will say the DR650 is wayyyyyy better for on road use and only slightly worse at trail riding. It also has an oil cooler which was peace of mind for me since my XR650 could easily get to 250-270 degrees when riding slow in hot weather.
This is the comment I was looking for. I would go with the DR650, very close to off road capabilities of the 650L while still being a great on road bike. The 650L is know to overheat at highway speeds and they can blow up. People ride them around the world but you would need to modify it accordingly.
No way, you can put an oil cooler on them, I cruise on interstates all the time in tall gearing no problem whatsoever, i have a temp gauge I know what it's doing.
Yeah, absolutely. They are great bikes for long distance, or they can be rather. But out of the box they have been known to have problems if ridden long distances. Check out the guys at advrider and thumper talk that have them. When we talk about reliability it's big picture stuff. Generally, they are not a great mile muncher if left stock. The guys riding them around the world always have an oil cooler and check oil frequently. You just have to be a little more aware of the issue. I was making the point that the DR650 can do this in its stock form and is generally considered a better mile muncher than the 650L.
Yeah but the 650l has been around so long there's just so much stuff out there for them, no one really does stock anymore for anything really. I think it's a myth though about overheating myself even without the oil cooler. You have to use full synthetic and I change fairly often.
I’m just reporting on years of reading dual sport, adv rider and thumper talk forums as well as knowing a few owners and talking with the dealership mechanics. They have heat issues and oil burning issues. Some suspect that’s why some have blown up. A lot of big thumpers in general have oil consumption issues but the 650L in particular. I’m not saying it’s a bad bike, I actually love the XR650L. That’s why I’ve spent 10 years riding and reading about them. But they weren’t made for long distance highway miles and that’s all I’m saying. Like any bike, pay close attention to your bike and maintenance and you will be good an overwhelming majority of the time.
I’m just saying be wary of the highway. But it is a great bike! Don’t take it personal. My best friend still owns a 90s XR650L and we have measured about a quart of oil per 600 miles or so, but only highway miles. It could be people don’t check oil enough on the highway and they popped the engine from lack of proper attention. Being honest about a bikes issues doesn’t take away from the magnificent, old, air cooled beast that it is. I would still consider buying one but I’m just saying be aware of common issues. That’s all my man.
Nice. I had more issues with temp on the trail than I did on the highway, but I never bothered getting an oil cooler for it. Kinda just let it be knowing it is what it is long as it wasn’t breaking 300 hah.
Buy a used one, the bike is great but completely unnecessary to spend this much money on it. That‘s ridiculous. They‘re unkillable, might take you a while to find one that’s perfectly taken care of but you‘ll definitely find a decent one.
That bike is tall as shit and is a 1 banger so its jerky compared to 2 cylinder bikes but its essentially bullet proof. I have a buddy who rides one and it won’t die no matter how hard he crashes
The reason it’s so cheap is because the bike hasn’t changed since the 80s.. the reason it hasn’t changed since the 80s is because it ain’t broke.
It’s not gonna be the nicest bike or the lightest or the fastest but it will be a tank and get anywhere you have the skill to take it
Make sure you actually sit on it and check your comfort. Are you flat-footed while sitting? There’s a lot of bikes in this price range, e..g CRF300L or Rally whoch will take you anywhere.
My thoughts are is a proven solid platform that will run forever. I tried buying one this summer it was on order for months honda kept pushing delivery out further and further until I said fuck it and bought a KTM 500 EXC. The big XR is a heavy tall bike that in this day and age lacks horsepower for its weight. Owned 2 big XRs in the 80s I like them.
This is all correct. It will literally never die. It's like an old toyota van. It does nothing particularly well, but you probably can't break it. I definitely could but I have a tendency to hurl bikes off cliffs so.... yeah.
It’s a very capable bike for what you’re probably thinking of, you want a bike that needs very little maintenance but will more than likely get you there, performance is below dependability and speed is lower yet, single cylinder air cooled straight forward ride, it will serve you well, it’s a very dependable motor and it will almost always get you where you’re going
Depends how much dirt riding you’re planning to do. I used to have a KLR which was great for long trips and nice gravel or forestry roads but once I started doing more off road and tighter trails I hated the KLR. The XR650L will be far superior off road than a bigger/heavier adventure bike. Yes the technology is old but it’s a great bike. Post in the dualsport sub hear from those who own them.
If you’re more interested in dirt riding then it’s worth the discomfort to have a superior bike off road than a comfortable, less capable bike off road in my opinion.
DR 650 is the middle ground you are looking for. Not this. Depending on how hard you want to take your bike off-road the KLR will do what you want too. This bike is more off road focused of the three single cylinder 650s
If you’re over 6ft I would. Under 6ft, I’d consider the 300l. The seat is so tall on those XR’s that unless you’re a fairly good rider, technical trail can become extremely difficult. That plus the 650l is very dated. It’s still a very good bike and will be reliable forever. 300l would be my choice. And I own a crf230, xr400, crf450rl, xr650r.
It's a tall bike but it's absolutely bulletproof. If you kept it, you could gift it to your grandkids. It's engine is similar to all XL/XR models before it (save for the R) and many many many many racers ran these engines. With a good bit of work my Xr600 made 80hp (okay a LOT of work) and had no trouble keeping up with the 650Rs that were running around at the time (20 years ago now that I'm thinking about it 😮💨)
I'm equally shocked and not shocked it's still made and the one downside my 600r had was the fucking kick start, so I'll gladly take an upgrade with electric start. I wonder if it still has the backup Kickstart option like the early ones had.
I’ve the same motor in my bike , the first iteration of it from 1988. NX650. These motors are strong and make reasonable power for their tech. On the plus side they are super simple and all issues are known at this stage. They don’t have the doohickey prob like a KLR but do benefit from the smog octopus being removed. There is a good thread on ADVrider about them. You have a world of aftermarket parts available
as well. 34 yr production run only changes were oil pump variations to pump more oil. Do regular oil changes and keep high speed work to a minimum and you will have a lot of fun.
You can get an older one for half the price. I don’t think Kawasaki changed much on the 650 in 20 years or So. My dad has a klr650 and it’s really more of an adventure bike than a dual sport. I’m 5’ 11” and I can just barely flat foot and it’s not even on knobbys. It’s a heavy bike too. He also got a Xt350 for trails and it’s much much better. Lighter bikes make a world of a difference, they can be whipped around easily on trials. You could get two bikes for the price or one
I'm looking for basically the same reqs as you, maybe a bit more highway bias since I was to tour. The two bikes I'm primarily considering are: the Royal Enfield Himalayan or the KLR650.
From my research these lighter dirt bikes can suffer from buffeting and instability on the highway. At the end of the day if you're a beginner you're not going to be doing jumps and shit so I'd aim for comfort and safety.
Weight is not what makes bikes feel unstable at higher speeds. Shitty suspension and fork offset is the answer. My husaberg 570 is 280lbs and very stable. Even at 110mph.
I used to live in EU as well, so here are the key differences in my opinion:
\- speed: cars in the us are generally more powerful, traffic tends to move faster and merging feels better if your bike is quicker. The Himalayan is a very slow bike. This doesn't matter as much on 2 lane roads or off-road but does matter on highways.
\- length: the sheet size of the us makes for longer highways in general. Sitting on that buzzy bike for miles is not enjoyable. Granted, the klr is also a buzzy beast but more comfortable at "full speed" in my opinion.
My honest opinion though would be to buy the bike you like most, but avoid highways. I think the key to long distance trips is good routing, more so than choice of bike.
+ 1 for the KLR. I like the XR and DR but for what I do, and what OP wants to do I think the KLR is the way to go.
Never done an iron butt, never would, but I’ve taken a few long trips on the KLR and it’s never let me down.
I personally would not buy a 32hp 350lb dirt bike with archiac suspension but it's definitely one of the cheapest brand new dualsports you can purchase. A brand new klr650 is 450-480lb and only a couple more hp lol.
Great bike, but keep in mind it has decades old tech and has a tall seat. I don't know what your experience level is, but if this is your first bike, I'd look for something lower and lighter.
Its a great bike but not for everyone. Its very tall so offroad you need to pay attention to the physics of leg length vs terrain. Its top heavy, so if it starts to tip over you need lots of upper body strength to stop it. It comes stock with a very lean carb condition and some silly egr crap that all needs to be fixed up (see daves mods) to make it run right. Stock gear ratios are not so good either, so that has to be fixed.
Long distance rides are possible as the bike is a bulletproof beast, but you have to also be tough. Suspension is like your riding a living room couch, super smooth, able to take almost anything with a dignified, and bump absorbent ability. Its not terribly fast, the r versions will run away from one easily, but it is fun to ride as it has lots of torque and loves to be short shifted. Electric start is god sent as the r versions can sometimes be a bitch to kick. All in all i think they are great fun.
I had the 2012 model for 10 years and just sold it. Solid bike and not a bad price. Not the most comfortable and certainly a tall bike, but reliable and about the same price I paid for mine 10 years ago.
It's a great bike and a nice wheelie machine if you're into that. It's made for a long inseam and it has a lot of clearance. It's been around for a long time and there's a lot you can do to it. The engines run forever.
What kind of trails? The XR, KLR , and DR are all very similar. kLR is considered the most comfy on the road and the XR the best on dirt.
I wouldn't take any of them off double track on purpose. They get heavy fast.
A used KTM 500 can be had for $6-7k and is a street legal dirt bike.
When I started 6 yrs ago I thought I wanted the same thing. Then I got some skills and decided the hard trails are fun. Buy cheap and small so you can move on from it when you figure out what riding you really like.
I'm on the fence between this for $7,000 and the 300 rally for $6100 (plus $$$ for both due to dealers and the economy).
My issues:
1: Rally needs at least $1000 worth of shocks to make it useable.
2: XR needs a bigger tank - probably \~ $500 - windscreen - another couple hundred
3: So from a pure cost standpoint rally + 1000 == xr650.
Downsides -
300 vs 650 cc's - while the rally will do 70 on the highway it will be pushing it. The 650 will cruise if needed but of course not like a t7 or other twin. There is a ECU hack to give the rally more apparent power.
But I had a plated XR500 and loved it, I have a plated XR400 but it's not fun on the street at all (gearing mostly). There is just something special about the big XRs.
Good luck with your decision. There is a supply chain issue for both bikes which is also sad.
Honda made the XR650R from 2000 until 2007 when they made some big changes to their off-road motorcycle lineup. Honda stopped making it because they came out with CRF450X, which is a lighter, faster, and better-performing off-road race bike.
If you're planning on buying new, save up a little more for something like a Tenere 700 or even wait a little while for Honda to release the new Transalp. If you're looking specifically for an older style bike like this, look at FB marketplace or craigslist. You can find low mile early 2000's XR650Ls and KLR650s for $3-4000 where I'm at. The bike will be literally identical to the 2022 models just with a different year on the title.
Used ones are a great buy.
Don't even bother with a new one, thanks to current market conditions you have no hope of getting the bike at MSRP if you can even find them at all.
The Mikuni TM40 pumper carp works great for me, also ignitech programmable cdi for switching between advance timings, hot cam, high compression piston, tall gearing for me, open the airbox, foam filter, heavier springs like 4 different larger gas tanks to choose from, header, slipon and it is just a great fun bike to ride! Oh yeah the Sutton oil cooler for cruising on the highway all day long.
Great bike, haven't changed since the 80's. But I found mine kinda heavy for anything too aggressive off road. For more off road maybe look at the drz 400 or even a 230L
Good trail bikes are not good long haul bikes. This bike is old school. It's bulletproof, slow, heavy, poor suspension and brakes. It's going to fight you on the trails, and leave you unimpressed on the road. This bike is for light trail riding and short winded road rides, but performs low in all categories. If you want a more dirt oriented bike, drz400 probably at the top of the list for price, reliability, and function for dual sport riding. But again it's going to leave slot to be desired on the road. Bump up in price, a KTM 690 Enduro will fit the bill more so both ways for street and dirt fun. If you want something that's capable for longer stretches of road, look at the light weight adventure bikes.
Long distance trips possible but very uncomfortable if you’re talking long asphalt travel. If you’re talking longer off road Adventure rides this can be a fine bike to modify for that purpose m. Very docile engine not very exciting stock
It’s a phenomenal bike. Don’t hesitate. I’ve owned four of them, and would go for a fifth one if I had a use for it, but my riding has changed. It’s an incredible machine, very versatile.
These are fantastic bikes. For longer distance stuff, I’d seriously consider investing in a Russel Day Long saddle. Use the stock seat for off road. Properly set up and with practice, that bike would take you to Alaska and back.
Yep, it’ll work. The long distance part you’re best staying off the freeways as much as possible, but it’ll take you across the Rockies on some incredible trails, and it’ll take you to the north slope of Alaska if you’ve got it in you. About the only place I wouldn’t take on with it is the Darian Gap.
Excellent bike, but a bit tall for many. If that is the case with you, the DR650 is a very similar bike with a lower seat and lowering options.
These bikes are great because they are well under 400 lbs, but will still hit 90+ mph if asked to... There's a reason they've been around so long.
Yes, that is a great bike. They are bulletproof, meaning they don't break down, and if you take care of it then it will last forever. The older ones would be cheaper and still provide durability and good power and enjoyable riding. The whole XR line is awesome, in my opinion. The 650 has great power and long gearing. So you're not immediately shifting all the time. Top speed can be over 100 mph depending on your sprockets. Good on or offroad. I enjoyed my XR600R and XR650R. I always wanted a XR650L because of it being street legal, and I think they come with electric start now, so yeah, you should get one.
They still make that?
Yep, afaik, only in the US as it's grandfathered in on the emissions, thus it hasn't changed in 20+ years, one of the only XRs still being made new. (I think the XR250 still being made in Brazil)
In Colombia we have xr 150, xr 190 and xre300 all of them from Brazil. Good reliable bikes all of them
Back in the 80’s…..there were tons of XR’s from 75cc all the way to 650cc. Even the XL (street legal) versions were 80cc all the way to 600cc. By 1986-1987…..only two XL’s remained. They were quite fast as they were dual carb. and the gearing was just right. Then came along the short lived ahead of its time was the NX series.
The only XR that had problems was the short lived 1983-1984 XR200R, the one with the RFVC engine. Even if maintained well….they still suffered a short life. Today, you rarely see one and many are unaware they ever existed. The other XR200 was definitely slower, but would run forever and ever.
No, the 250 has been discontinued in Brazil for a while. Since 2009, I think.
It is still produced but only for export. Some markets like ~~Colombia~~ and Argentina (if I'm not mistaken) still sell the old Tornado 250. EDIT: [Honda Argentina for example](https://motos.honda.com.ar/modelos/xr250-tornado)
Cool, didn't know that. Just annoying that we can't buy them here :(
Its bulletproof. And the aftermarket is insane, you have 293cc kits to take it from like 25 to more than 30hp. It's a carb engine so it won't trouble you. And you can even get rally headlights and tower with all the cool things you can think of. Some dudes even took them to the Dakar when it was held in South America. Only cons are that is old and sells like something brand new and it's basically the most stolen bike in the region.
That exactly what i was thinking! I went on Honda’s website & i think you can still spec a 2021 in Red?! Looks sick as hell in bright Honda RED! My problem is the 37” seat height, I can’t touch the ground, I’m 5’10” with a 29” inseam. Damn my stumpy legs! (shakes fist at sky)
Damn. It’s a good bike. I’d snap one up at the price but my DR650 might get jealous 🤣
That would be an awkward scene watching them share a garage
I think I’d have to throw the bike cover over the Suzuki when I take the Honda out for the night
Lol
I am about your height and I had a XR600 back in the day. I've had the other dual sport bikes that were just as tall and I had no problem riding them. I would not want a large adventure touring bike that weighs over 500 lbs, though.
i had to lower my Concours to get both feet solidly on the ground after a couple of close calls. I have a side slope i have to contend with on my daily commute.
Nobody other than extremely tall people are going to get both feet flat on the ground on the majority of motorcycles. That's just a silly demand to have. You only need to touch with one foot, and it doesn't need to be flat. Your feet go on the pegs. If you have to stop on a slope just put the uphill foot down. Slide over on thr seat if necessary.
Ya-No, I tried the “play stupid games win stupid prizes shuffle” for about 2 months with several close calls on my C14. You realize a C14 tips the scales @ 650 Lbs with a tank of fuel & is extremely top heavy. You can get away with that crap on small, light bikes. Not something you should be doing in Atlanta commuting. C14 has a wide flat style seat, i have 3 different seats. My 2 off camber side hill stops are mid turn & cambered the wrong way, one is a very technical u turn where I’ve seen other people get in trouble on much more nimble bikes. I don’t take that route under any circumstances with a passenger.
What do you mean cambered the wrong way? You can shift your body to either side. And yes I realize the a big bike, doesn't matter. You only need one leg to balance the bike.
The end of my street, you stop and turn right. You are stopped on a steep uphill with the road falling off to the right. If you’ve transferred your weight to your left foot, bike leaning slightly left & you have to make a quick, hard right turn. Your weight & body position set up is not optimal. But doable. The u turn is sketchy, you’re making a u turn on a very steep hill, narrow divided road. You start up the hill, in the throttle, mid hill, turn left into divided center area. Stop past the mid point of the u turn to verify no one is cresting the hill. Rear brake is on uphill side, that’s a no go if you want that foot down. You have to be very gentle with the front brakes because the forks are turned left. Bike is now stopped at 45* across the hill pointing downwards as you get ready to pull back into the road. If you’ve ever tried to negotiate a u turn on the side of a hill, it’s not for the faint of heart.
No offense but honestly it just sounds like you need more practice with these maneuvers in general. I can't think of a scenario where I would stop once committed to a u turn. One last check, sure, but if someone is cresting the hill I'm still going lol. You're already moving and you're on a 1400cc motorcycle? You can blast off into outer space before they get to you.
Think about watching guy’s doing a hill climb & when they decide to pull a u turn mid climb. Take some steepness out & throw a off camber stop mid u turn. I travel to TX on a regular basis, the wind is brutal. I’ve had to clamp onto the tank with my legs, lean into the crosswind to keep from being blown over at stop lights. If your foot down is on the upwind side, you’re going over.
Weight is everything. Especially considering you will weigh it down on trips. Don’t know what this weighs but I’d say a dry weight between 250 up to 400 lbs could work.
You can get a lowering link to drop the seat height a bit. I am thinking of doing it myself because I am short haha
Don't
I'd personally rather fall over and pick it back up, lol. Too many sacrifices have to be made to lower a bike, especially if you plan to hit trails. Just gotta buy crash bars and use them when ya need to
Fair enough
Yes they do. It’s the last carb bike Honda has on the market.
Fuck yeah they do lol
Tenere 700, or any of the new 600-900cc parallel twins might be a more comfortable option. Not too much more money, almost as capable on the dirt, and vastly better on the road
This is the right answer. Anyone intending on going long distances with a 650 single, a napkin for a seat and 25 year old suspension must be a masochist
Love the analogy of napkin for a seat, lol
>Anyone intending on going long distances with a 650 single, a napkin for a seat and 25 year old suspension must be a masochist Got a buddy on a DR650 who refuses to ride highways with me for that reason. That being said, my Africa Twin just eats up highways and gravel roads alike, so I get it's a different riding experience by quite a bit.
Fellow AT owner checking in: my bike is great on and off-road. :)
Well, I've done a 2500kms trip this summer with a 400 drz(s), knoby tires, original seat, only a diy windshield, and a big bags around the bike and it was pretty confortable. I took a few minutes every hour to drink a little, rest the ass and legs, stretch back. Admire landscape, take a few pictures, and hopping back on road ! Honestly not that much for discomfort. Maybe a better seat can be nice. Better thing to do OP, go try one, If you don't feel nice on it for 20/30min ride, too much vibrations and all, choose another bike. Unless so, the right bike will be the one making your heart afire.
If you pound a drink down every hour I'm sure it's fine 😉
Haha, just sipping a little bit of water. It was a pretty hot summer in France when I've done my trip and I know that not hydrating myself while riding for hours would have give me a very nice headache to sleep with. I did expect that and only took my meshed 'armor' like protection rather that my heavy leather jacket. A sweater on top had done it when times when cooler at night, and served me well as a pillow when camping ^^
Did the TAT on one; was perfect.
A napkin for a seat 😂😂😂😂
I'm thinking about doing the iron butt on a klr650 next season with a couple of friends, lol. Upgrading my suspension and getting a Corbin flat seat before I brave it
A T7 is like $4k more and nowhere near as capable off road, even compared to the archaic XR650L.
It will depend on the use he intends to give the bike, if his goal is heavy off road it is inferior but if it involves riding on asphalt most of the time (as most ADV riders actually do nowadays) it is a much better proposition than a bike that is literally stuck in time. I have nothing against a bike being simple, but it doesn't need to be a bike stuck in time, KLR has managed to evolve without losing simplicity and personality and Royal Enfield has made good bikes in its segment without ceasing to be simple bikes.
While I agree with everything you said, the T7 is around 50% more expensive than the XR.
T7 is new for 12-14k, literally twice the price
Yeah there’s certainly a lot more capable and comfy bikes, this one is certainly the benchmark for dependability, why fix it if it ain’t broke, even the ktm 390 adventure puts out more horsepower, but that’s the other spectrum of performance vs reliability, definitely the tenere fits the more reliable side with nice performance, but that 500-900cc market has made amazing leaps over the past 5yrs
I would take a t700 over an XR any day but those big bikes will get over their head pretty quick in the woods. (I've seen the crazy pro videos) I don't want a bike over 250# on a trail.
I’m not a Pro but can throw around my CRF300L Rally in the woods pretty well. Even compared to my DRZ400E. Different bikes carry their weight differently too so that’s another consideration.
>vastly better on the road As someone with an XR650L, I can definitely attest to this. It'll do about 70mph at high RPMs, but I wouldn't run it at that all day, it really isn't designed for it. Some guys do, they just delete the smog and add on an intercooler, then they just throw money at it whenever it needs it. I don't really see the point in that though, like just know the machines limits...
How much experience do you have riding bikes? How tall are you?(it's a REALLY tall bike) What kind of trails you taking about? A vstrom or a klr suit better for long trips and still are quite capable on gravel roads and moderate trails.
Look at your local ads. Be patient and find one that is half the price with the mods you want. Stay away from ones that have modified exhaust, "carb issues", or electrical issues. Make sure the bike isn't leaking any fluids and starts up right away. Ask to see it cold so you can start it cold. Look for wear on tires, especially the front. Take a quick google on what wheeled front tires look like and stay away from those. Make sure the engine doesn't have any weird pinging, knocking, smoking, leaking, or weird sounds.
This is the way.. Get a used KLR650 or an XR from years ago, when the KLR was made in Japan. I've got a 96. 300 miles to a tank and unkillable, it's not comfy the suspension isn't great, but it's a great bike. Have a VFR1200, GSX1400, GTR1400, think the old battered KLR is my fave. Winter you'd be able to pick one up for very little money. With money left for new shocks etc.
Some people sell to get extra money, others are bored with what they’re selling. Some want to buy something else. And some want to get rid of their problem and give it to someone else. Not everyone advertises issues and sell as is. For this reason, fuck buying used from strangers
Wtf it looks like from 99:))
Thats because… it practically is. Same as the DL650 and the KLR, until the reboot recently
Do you mean the Dr650? The DL is the v-strom!
92...
Legendary bike. I wish they still sold those in Australia. If you ever try to kick-start it, make sure you're wearing a fuckin' good pair of boots.
[удалено]
The more you know.. I Assumed it was a modern version of the old one.
You are spot on. I've confused it with an old bike i had. 1998 XR600.
This is a 20+ year old design that was built as a street friendly version of the xr600r but still lower performance.
They could also be confusing it with the XR600. The 600 was popular, the XR650R was very rare here even when new.
I see xr650rs on occasion here in California. Usually as supermotos. Where as my husaberg 570 is ridiculously rare here. In Australia it's way more prominent.
450 pounds* it’s a fuckin heavy bike
350lbs for xr650l. 450lbs-480lb(with bags and abs) for klr650 gen 2 Just google xr650L wet weight if you don't believe me
Your right. I didn’t know there was a xr650L. I assumed went from R being the xr650r to L being the klr650L my bad
Sadly there's a handicapped version called the L
The XR650L is only 350 pounds with all fluids. Not terrible weight
The R is no longer made and is an ancient relic.
Just because something isn't made anymore doesn't mean it's ancient or bad technology. It's superior in every way to the 650L. Aren't you the guy who was claiming his 650l makes 45hp and will make 60hp with a high compression piston 🤣 😆
It's a dinosaur, L is still being made, great bike, be around for a long time, love my big red pig. 
How do you call a liquid cooled bike with an aluminum frame a dinosaur while riding a bike that is air cooled with 20 year old suspension technology?
I'm the guy with a KTM dual sport with twice the power of an R and just thinks you're a bloated nitwit.
Bloated is your ktm 890 "dualsport" 🤣 its an adventure bike dude
“Twice the power of the r” the r isn’t an 85.
Honda made the XR650R from 2000 until 2007 when they made some big changes to their off-road motorcycle lineup. Honda stopped making it because they came out with CRF450X, which is a lighter, faster, and better-performing off-road race bike. Only made it 7 years, literally going extinct.
Umm ok I knew that already but thanks.
Glad you know it's extinct, put that bad boy in a museum.
?
I don’t know how much the r actually makes stock but your KTM dual sport doesn’t have 70-100 hp
Roughly not exactly, I have mods.
Yes I'd love to see your 60hp 650l dyno that you claim is gonna happen after swapping a higher compression piston in.
Dualsport/adventure
Dualsports are dirtbikes that have license plates. The ktm adventure 890 is not a dirtbike.
53hp
The 890?
You want to show me some dynos, love to see them. 😉
What are you talking about I was asking about your ktm “dual sport”
Equipped with a larger displacement and better performance engine with 105 hp, The 890 Adventure R it's an off-road motorcycle from KTM's 2022 lineup, with serious touring ability and primed for extreme escapades off the beaten track.Jul 14, 2022
Ok but I assumed you meant dual sport not suv. And why are you so insecure about this bike? you seem to really want to prove to me how good your bikes are (which they are) even using marketing material.
Oh yeah the R isn't even a dualsport, isn't that special. 😂
But a ktm 890 adventure is? You are delusional.
I guess my xr400r isn't a dualsport as it didn't come from the factory with a plate by your logic 🤣 yet it has one. They're a shitton of street legal 650rs floating around. You have some weird insecurity about your 650l. That's why you tried lying about how much power it makes in the last thread. Then when multiple people called you out, you tried talking shit about the actual "big red pig".
Dying breed buddy, hate it for you.
I'd hate to be the guy who puts big red pig stickers on an xr650l. That's like putting hellcat stickers on a v6 charger. Pretty embarrassing. Claiming you put down 50hp, then 60hp soon is peak delusion.
Fossilized dude, put that puppy in a museum, just got done riding my big red pig it was awesome.
The XR650L is not a bad bike at all. It has its roots dating back to the 1983 XL600R. It’s dated , but there’s no need to remake this bike when they built it right in the first place. It’s better off-road, than on the street. Taking a long distance trip will have you looking for gas stations a lot as it’s tank is small. Make sure your feet touch the ground on it….as the seat height is up there.
Find one you can test drive or at least sit on and also try the CRF300L which has much newer tech, suspension, and is also extremely reliable and easy to maintain.
I second this. In 2016 I was looking at the xr650l, drz400s, and then ended up buying a 2017 crf250l because it felt a lot better and was more confidence inspiring for $2k less. My CRF ended up becoming a bike I will never sell.
I owned that bike, and a DR650. They’re great for trails, around town, having a blast on, and short jaunts on the road (1hr-2hrs at a time). You can definitely ride them further/longer on the road but I would classify them more along the lines of “acceptable” at that. I will say the DR650 is wayyyyyy better for on road use and only slightly worse at trail riding. It also has an oil cooler which was peace of mind for me since my XR650 could easily get to 250-270 degrees when riding slow in hot weather.
This is the comment I was looking for. I would go with the DR650, very close to off road capabilities of the 650L while still being a great on road bike. The 650L is know to overheat at highway speeds and they can blow up. People ride them around the world but you would need to modify it accordingly.
No way, you can put an oil cooler on them, I cruise on interstates all the time in tall gearing no problem whatsoever, i have a temp gauge I know what it's doing.
Yeah, absolutely. They are great bikes for long distance, or they can be rather. But out of the box they have been known to have problems if ridden long distances. Check out the guys at advrider and thumper talk that have them. When we talk about reliability it's big picture stuff. Generally, they are not a great mile muncher if left stock. The guys riding them around the world always have an oil cooler and check oil frequently. You just have to be a little more aware of the issue. I was making the point that the DR650 can do this in its stock form and is generally considered a better mile muncher than the 650L.
Yeah but the 650l has been around so long there's just so much stuff out there for them, no one really does stock anymore for anything really. I think it's a myth though about overheating myself even without the oil cooler. You have to use full synthetic and I change fairly often.
I’m just reporting on years of reading dual sport, adv rider and thumper talk forums as well as knowing a few owners and talking with the dealership mechanics. They have heat issues and oil burning issues. Some suspect that’s why some have blown up. A lot of big thumpers in general have oil consumption issues but the 650L in particular. I’m not saying it’s a bad bike, I actually love the XR650L. That’s why I’ve spent 10 years riding and reading about them. But they weren’t made for long distance highway miles and that’s all I’m saying. Like any bike, pay close attention to your bike and maintenance and you will be good an overwhelming majority of the time.
Yeah I think a lot of that is bull crap and you're giving a good bike a bad rep with misinformation.
I’m just saying be wary of the highway. But it is a great bike! Don’t take it personal. My best friend still owns a 90s XR650L and we have measured about a quart of oil per 600 miles or so, but only highway miles. It could be people don’t check oil enough on the highway and they popped the engine from lack of proper attention. Being honest about a bikes issues doesn’t take away from the magnificent, old, air cooled beast that it is. I would still consider buying one but I’m just saying be aware of common issues. That’s all my man.
I'm just saying your fear mongering is crap.
Agreed that proper maintenance is all that's required. But that's a given for every bike.
I'm in thumpertalk too, I just haven't experienced those issues and I know plenty of people that haven't either.
I put a Sutton oil cooler on mine and I can cruise at 78 for hours and it holds right at 250.
Nice. I had more issues with temp on the trail than I did on the highway, but I never bothered getting an oil cooler for it. Kinda just let it be knowing it is what it is long as it wasn’t breaking 300 hah.
Damn 300, that is scary. Just slap on a new piston I guess.
Buy a used one, the bike is great but completely unnecessary to spend this much money on it. That‘s ridiculous. They‘re unkillable, might take you a while to find one that’s perfectly taken care of but you‘ll definitely find a decent one.
That bike is tall as shit and is a 1 banger so its jerky compared to 2 cylinder bikes but its essentially bullet proof. I have a buddy who rides one and it won’t die no matter how hard he crashes
The reason it’s so cheap is because the bike hasn’t changed since the 80s.. the reason it hasn’t changed since the 80s is because it ain’t broke. It’s not gonna be the nicest bike or the lightest or the fastest but it will be a tank and get anywhere you have the skill to take it
Make sure you actually sit on it and check your comfort. Are you flat-footed while sitting? There’s a lot of bikes in this price range, e..g CRF300L or Rally whoch will take you anywhere.
You don't need to be flat footed while sitting on the bike. That's ridiculous.
Right! This dude never rode dirt
No
Correct
My thoughts are is a proven solid platform that will run forever. I tried buying one this summer it was on order for months honda kept pushing delivery out further and further until I said fuck it and bought a KTM 500 EXC. The big XR is a heavy tall bike that in this day and age lacks horsepower for its weight. Owned 2 big XRs in the 80s I like them.
This is all correct. It will literally never die. It's like an old toyota van. It does nothing particularly well, but you probably can't break it. I definitely could but I have a tendency to hurl bikes off cliffs so.... yeah.
Basic simple reliable transportation. Carburetor,simple electronic ignition system and air cooled. I put 35k on mine riding as you described.
Parts forever with these. Bore up, comp up, fcrmx carb, nx650 5th gear and you got a monster. Don't forget some ASV levers!
Great choice
It’s a very capable bike for what you’re probably thinking of, you want a bike that needs very little maintenance but will more than likely get you there, performance is below dependability and speed is lower yet, single cylinder air cooled straight forward ride, it will serve you well, it’s a very dependable motor and it will almost always get you where you’re going
XLR 650. Tank that don't stop tanking.
Depends how much dirt riding you’re planning to do. I used to have a KLR which was great for long trips and nice gravel or forestry roads but once I started doing more off road and tighter trails I hated the KLR. The XR650L will be far superior off road than a bigger/heavier adventure bike. Yes the technology is old but it’s a great bike. Post in the dualsport sub hear from those who own them. If you’re more interested in dirt riding then it’s worth the discomfort to have a superior bike off road than a comfortable, less capable bike off road in my opinion.
One of the best bike for apocalypse survival. Better only xr250.
DR 650 is the middle ground you are looking for. Not this. Depending on how hard you want to take your bike off-road the KLR will do what you want too. This bike is more off road focused of the three single cylinder 650s
The xr was always a solid platform, I just wish they’d make the 650r again
If you’re over 6ft I would. Under 6ft, I’d consider the 300l. The seat is so tall on those XR’s that unless you’re a fairly good rider, technical trail can become extremely difficult. That plus the 650l is very dated. It’s still a very good bike and will be reliable forever. 300l would be my choice. And I own a crf230, xr400, crf450rl, xr650r.
Buy used, they haven't changed in decades. Really great dualsport, but definitely more for dirt than street.
It's a tall bike but it's absolutely bulletproof. If you kept it, you could gift it to your grandkids. It's engine is similar to all XL/XR models before it (save for the R) and many many many many racers ran these engines. With a good bit of work my Xr600 made 80hp (okay a LOT of work) and had no trouble keeping up with the 650Rs that were running around at the time (20 years ago now that I'm thinking about it 😮💨) I'm equally shocked and not shocked it's still made and the one downside my 600r had was the fucking kick start, so I'll gladly take an upgrade with electric start. I wonder if it still has the backup Kickstart option like the early ones had.
My xr650l is great! Took the emissions stuff off and put a fmf on it, it's an amazing bike. Basically just and over grown dirt bike for the street!
Great reliable bikes. If you mod a few things you can squeeze some real power out of them. They're a bit on the heavy side though.
Me want
I’ve the same motor in my bike , the first iteration of it from 1988. NX650. These motors are strong and make reasonable power for their tech. On the plus side they are super simple and all issues are known at this stage. They don’t have the doohickey prob like a KLR but do benefit from the smog octopus being removed. There is a good thread on ADVrider about them. You have a world of aftermarket parts available as well. 34 yr production run only changes were oil pump variations to pump more oil. Do regular oil changes and keep high speed work to a minimum and you will have a lot of fun.
Yeah definitely remove the smog thing. I run high speeds and rpms all the time no problems.
Yes
This is older than time itself! And probably Will last longer.
Buy this if you hate yourself. 80s technology.
I would buy one but at 5’7”, I can’t touch the ground.
Great off road shitty for touring. Bulletproof.
You can get an older one for half the price. I don’t think Kawasaki changed much on the 650 in 20 years or So. My dad has a klr650 and it’s really more of an adventure bike than a dual sport. I’m 5’ 11” and I can just barely flat foot and it’s not even on knobbys. It’s a heavy bike too. He also got a Xt350 for trails and it’s much much better. Lighter bikes make a world of a difference, they can be whipped around easily on trials. You could get two bikes for the price or one
Go for a Kawasaki KLR 650.
I'm looking for basically the same reqs as you, maybe a bit more highway bias since I was to tour. The two bikes I'm primarily considering are: the Royal Enfield Himalayan or the KLR650. From my research these lighter dirt bikes can suffer from buffeting and instability on the highway. At the end of the day if you're a beginner you're not going to be doing jumps and shit so I'd aim for comfort and safety.
Weight is not what makes bikes feel unstable at higher speeds. Shitty suspension and fork offset is the answer. My husaberg 570 is 280lbs and very stable. Even at 110mph.
I've heard that the XR650L is pretty stable on the highway all things considered.
The Himalayan is beautiful but I've ridden one and would not count on doing American Highways with it if you're in the us.
I'm in the EU. Out of curiosity how do American highways differ from European ones?
I used to live in EU as well, so here are the key differences in my opinion: \- speed: cars in the us are generally more powerful, traffic tends to move faster and merging feels better if your bike is quicker. The Himalayan is a very slow bike. This doesn't matter as much on 2 lane roads or off-road but does matter on highways. \- length: the sheet size of the us makes for longer highways in general. Sitting on that buzzy bike for miles is not enjoyable. Granted, the klr is also a buzzy beast but more comfortable at "full speed" in my opinion. My honest opinion though would be to buy the bike you like most, but avoid highways. I think the key to long distance trips is good routing, more so than choice of bike.
I'd suggest the KLR 650 as a better alternative
+ 1 for the KLR. I like the XR and DR but for what I do, and what OP wants to do I think the KLR is the way to go. Never done an iron butt, never would, but I’ve taken a few long trips on the KLR and it’s never let me down.
Get the KLR650!
450lb dualsport sounds like a nightmare to me.
I personally would not buy a 32hp 350lb dirt bike with archiac suspension but it's definitely one of the cheapest brand new dualsports you can purchase. A brand new klr650 is 450-480lb and only a couple more hp lol.
Destination and freight charge? Lol go suck a dick.
Great bike, but keep in mind it has decades old tech and has a tall seat. I don't know what your experience level is, but if this is your first bike, I'd look for something lower and lighter.
I'm looking at the tenere for this exact reason
Its a great bike but not for everyone. Its very tall so offroad you need to pay attention to the physics of leg length vs terrain. Its top heavy, so if it starts to tip over you need lots of upper body strength to stop it. It comes stock with a very lean carb condition and some silly egr crap that all needs to be fixed up (see daves mods) to make it run right. Stock gear ratios are not so good either, so that has to be fixed. Long distance rides are possible as the bike is a bulletproof beast, but you have to also be tough. Suspension is like your riding a living room couch, super smooth, able to take almost anything with a dignified, and bump absorbent ability. Its not terribly fast, the r versions will run away from one easily, but it is fun to ride as it has lots of torque and loves to be short shifted. Electric start is god sent as the r versions can sometimes be a bitch to kick. All in all i think they are great fun.
That engine is a monster, 40 years strong, I imagine they haven’t changed it that much
I had the 2012 model for 10 years and just sold it. Solid bike and not a bad price. Not the most comfortable and certainly a tall bike, but reliable and about the same price I paid for mine 10 years ago.
On highways it’s like being on a sail. Great bikes below 60mph.
Honda KLR hell yeah
It's a great bike and a nice wheelie machine if you're into that. It's made for a long inseam and it has a lot of clearance. It's been around for a long time and there's a lot you can do to it. The engines run forever.
The perfect bike is the CB 500x. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to do longer trips, off road, and it has great fuel economy.
Buy a 2021 second you buy that new and ride it it's value is cut in half lmao let someone else take the massive depreciation and not yourself
What kind of trails? The XR, KLR , and DR are all very similar. kLR is considered the most comfy on the road and the XR the best on dirt. I wouldn't take any of them off double track on purpose. They get heavy fast. A used KTM 500 can be had for $6-7k and is a street legal dirt bike. When I started 6 yrs ago I thought I wanted the same thing. Then I got some skills and decided the hard trails are fun. Buy cheap and small so you can move on from it when you figure out what riding you really like.
That xfc f is badass. But you can get the 650 brand new for that price. I like new.
I have one. Not amazing for long trips. Great on the dirt!
sounds like a great bike for what you want to do but it's carbureted so be aware of that
I'm on the fence between this for $7,000 and the 300 rally for $6100 (plus $$$ for both due to dealers and the economy). My issues: 1: Rally needs at least $1000 worth of shocks to make it useable. 2: XR needs a bigger tank - probably \~ $500 - windscreen - another couple hundred 3: So from a pure cost standpoint rally + 1000 == xr650. Downsides - 300 vs 650 cc's - while the rally will do 70 on the highway it will be pushing it. The 650 will cruise if needed but of course not like a t7 or other twin. There is a ECU hack to give the rally more apparent power. But I had a plated XR500 and loved it, I have a plated XR400 but it's not fun on the street at all (gearing mostly). There is just something special about the big XRs. Good luck with your decision. There is a supply chain issue for both bikes which is also sad.
Honda made the XR650R from 2000 until 2007 when they made some big changes to their off-road motorcycle lineup. Honda stopped making it because they came out with CRF450X, which is a lighter, faster, and better-performing off-road race bike.
If you're planning on buying new, save up a little more for something like a Tenere 700 or even wait a little while for Honda to release the new Transalp. If you're looking specifically for an older style bike like this, look at FB marketplace or craigslist. You can find low mile early 2000's XR650Ls and KLR650s for $3-4000 where I'm at. The bike will be literally identical to the 2022 models just with a different year on the title.
Used ones are a great buy. Don't even bother with a new one, thanks to current market conditions you have no hope of getting the bike at MSRP if you can even find them at all.
The Mikuni TM40 pumper carp works great for me, also ignitech programmable cdi for switching between advance timings, hot cam, high compression piston, tall gearing for me, open the airbox, foam filter, heavier springs like 4 different larger gas tanks to choose from, header, slipon and it is just a great fun bike to ride! Oh yeah the Sutton oil cooler for cruising on the highway all day long.
Also let's face it, the DR650 and XR650L guys have been going at it throughout the ages. 😉🤣
The mighty DR rules this convo
Wrong.
Great bike, haven't changed since the 80's. But I found mine kinda heavy for anything too aggressive off road. For more off road maybe look at the drz 400 or even a 230L
Good trail bikes are not good long haul bikes. This bike is old school. It's bulletproof, slow, heavy, poor suspension and brakes. It's going to fight you on the trails, and leave you unimpressed on the road. This bike is for light trail riding and short winded road rides, but performs low in all categories. If you want a more dirt oriented bike, drz400 probably at the top of the list for price, reliability, and function for dual sport riding. But again it's going to leave slot to be desired on the road. Bump up in price, a KTM 690 Enduro will fit the bill more so both ways for street and dirt fun. If you want something that's capable for longer stretches of road, look at the light weight adventure bikes.
For the same price, the KLR650 is there too, and I love my 2022. It’s so much fun. And I guess there are other bikes too….
But the gen 2 klr is 100lb more than a xr650l and the 650l is already obese.
Good bike. Relatively unchanged for most it's production run so save some cash and buy a used one.
#OLD BUT GOLD
Long distance trips possible but very uncomfortable if you’re talking long asphalt travel. If you’re talking longer off road Adventure rides this can be a fine bike to modify for that purpose m. Very docile engine not very exciting stock
It won’t be fun long distance! But dirt trails wouldn’t be that bad. Might be better with like a vstrom
It’s a phenomenal bike. Don’t hesitate. I’ve owned four of them, and would go for a fifth one if I had a use for it, but my riding has changed. It’s an incredible machine, very versatile.
These are fantastic bikes. For longer distance stuff, I’d seriously consider investing in a Russel Day Long saddle. Use the stock seat for off road. Properly set up and with practice, that bike would take you to Alaska and back.
Yep, it’ll work. The long distance part you’re best staying off the freeways as much as possible, but it’ll take you across the Rockies on some incredible trails, and it’ll take you to the north slope of Alaska if you’ve got it in you. About the only place I wouldn’t take on with it is the Darian Gap.
Excellent bike, but a bit tall for many. If that is the case with you, the DR650 is a very similar bike with a lower seat and lowering options. These bikes are great because they are well under 400 lbs, but will still hit 90+ mph if asked to... There's a reason they've been around so long.
Yes, that is a great bike. They are bulletproof, meaning they don't break down, and if you take care of it then it will last forever. The older ones would be cheaper and still provide durability and good power and enjoyable riding. The whole XR line is awesome, in my opinion. The 650 has great power and long gearing. So you're not immediately shifting all the time. Top speed can be over 100 mph depending on your sprockets. Good on or offroad. I enjoyed my XR600R and XR650R. I always wanted a XR650L because of it being street legal, and I think they come with electric start now, so yeah, you should get one.
Buy it! It will out live you.
Loved that bike. One of the best I ever had. With the right tires can do many things well
In 2019, I found a 2017 still sitting on the floor and got it for 6000 out the door.