Opinions about XR 650 L

Posted by shinyribs on May 26, 2015; 12:38am
URL: http://vintage-and-classic-hondas.81.s1.nabble.com/Opinions-about-XR-650-L-tp4056632.html

I'm really itching for a dual sport. I've been looking at all brands, models and sizes. Since this will need to handle two up with luggage + highway I don't see any reason getting anything other than a 600-650cc.

I looked at KLR's. Super low to the ground, but tons of power. Well, highway power. Rumor has it the Honda and the Suzuki are the two with bottom end grunt.

DR's are definitely more dirt biased than the Kawasaki, but the seat is so hard and narrow that I can't see logging many miles in comfort as a reality on that bike.

The XR is tall with a 36-37" seat height, but it's also got 13" of ground clearance. Looking online everyone seems to agree that the Honda is by far the most dirt worthy of them all, which is very important to me. But I do need the ability to cruise at 65-70 mph for at least semi-extended periods of time. Say, 25-50 miles.

Even though the XR looks very outdated it is rocking cartridge forks and fully adjustable suspension, front and rear. The more modern looking DR has damper rods and only compression adjustability out back. So the old fashioned looking XR has a leg up in the suspension department.

Of the three ( XR, DR, KLR) I really only have interest in the Honda and the Suzuki. Im wanting a full on dirt bike that can live on the highway, and the KLR is basically just a highway bike.

The Suzuki is bragged on to have more power and a better spaced gearbox ( pretty typical in any Honda vs. Suzuki debate). I can get an aftermarket seat for a DR, but why spend that money when the XR already has a nice seat?

Fuel capacity is pretty equal between the XR and the DR. Both pitiful with about an 80 mile range. But the aftermarket has some really nice extended range tanks for both bikes. So that's a wash.

So basically, forget the Kawasaki. Not really interested. Suzuki has a tad more power, but the suspension is not up to par with the Honda. For less than $200 the XR can be de-smogged, de-epa leaned out and will run with the DR. So that washes out in the end as well.

So who has experience with an XR L? Any quirks, reliability concerns, electrical issues, etc. that I should know about?

I tried to not be brand biased in this decision but, even though it's considered kinda antiquated, the Honda just keeps looking like the better choice for the money and my wants.

Any and all opinions welcome!