1st Motorcyle, Expo based

[jl8088]

After debating on a model for about 3 years and actually scoping the market for the last 6 month, i purchased my 1st motorcycle.

It is a 2003 Honda XR650R with a California Plate (bike was not street legal from the factory)

The best part of the deal is that the bike only had a total of 31 miles on it!!!!!!!! They guy who sold it never rode it and it didn't have one speck of dust or dirt on the bike, the plate was never even installed. It even had the little hair sized knobbies on the knobbies!

After sweating some bullets at the DMV i got my registration and new title in the mail last week.

Looking forward to doing some rapid expos of some local trails like the mojave road, Big Bear loops, etc.

[TACODOC]

ahem... pics please! :coffeedrink:

[Scott Brady]

That bike is a legend. Nice choice.

[btggraphix]

That bike is a legend. Nice choice.

Indeed it is. After having 600's for a long long time, I finally bought my first new bike ever when the 650 came out. A worthy sucessor to the legendary 600.

Congrats on the bike; there are some standard things to do to make it run a whole lot better if you are interested....opening up the intake (manifold and airbox/filter) rejetting the carb, and getting an aftermarket pipe (lots to choose from, some even reasonably quiet) to end up with a lot more powerful bike. But what a great starting base. Also note that the stock spring was setup for a something like 170 pound rider. Most XR650R riders are a lot bigger than that, so if you fit into the larger category, you might want to get a stronger spring. I just finally put one on after about 7 years of ownership, and can't wait to try it out this weekend in Moab.

[traveltoad]

Sounds FUN!

[cnskate]

How does that bike compare to a KLR 650 in terms of street/trail ability?

[btggraphix]

How does that bike compare to a KLR 650 in terms of street/trail ability?

IMO, the KLR650 is not even in the same league as the XR650R as far as the trail is concerned, similar to the XR650L. But on the street I am sure it is a different thing....the extra weight and setup on a KLR and XRL will make long distance rides on highways a lot more comfortable. Riding on the interstate with wind, and semi's, is not very pleasant on an XR650R....especially when geared down like I usually do for trail-ability. The stock gears are better for the road of course. So for an "expedition" sort of bike, loaded down with gear, long long distances, an XR650R might not be the ideal choice.....but for hard core +/- some longer distance rides including lots of trail, it is a great great bike.

[jl8088]

"How does that bike compare to a KLR 650 in terms of street/trail ability?"

Pretty much what was said above. Simply put, the KLR is better suited for the pavement, but can handle the dirt. The XR is better suited for the dirt, but can handle pavement.

I'll post some photos when i get home from work.

[Hltoppr]

The XR650R was designed and built to do 80mph down a baja back road....with a bit of tarmac in between....

Excellent bike! Can't wait to see some pics!

-H-

[jl8088]

sorry, but i don't even have a photo of the bike alone yet. Here is the first test ride at Lake Morena OHV area outside SD.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_e90IrWC-0Pc/SShYWqTN30I/AAAAAAAABT4/rUZwvb9K71k/s800/Lake%20Morena%2011-8-08%20035.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_e90IrWC-0Pc/SStt4fzQSlI/AAAAAAAABU4/NwUvVZALkwI/s912/Lake%20Morena%2011-8-08%20034.JPG

[RocKrawler]

congrats, just put a deposit on one myself, its a 95 XR650R thats got lots o' goodies, and already setup for my weight. I plan on using it for work (live 1.5 miles at most away, all side streets) and weekend outings. selling my daughters car and giving her my Tacoma, will ride with the wife on rainy days (she works .5 miles past my work) and will use funds from that car sale toward more bikes for the family. The F250 will be our bike hauler & Expo rig, this is gonna be fun.

[btggraphix]

congrats, just put a deposit on one myself, its a 95 XR650R thats got lots o' goodies, and already setup for my weight. I plan on using it for work (live 1.5 miles at most away, all side streets) and weekend outings. selling my daughters car and giving her my Tacoma, will ride with the wife on rainy days (she works .5 miles past my work) and will use funds from that car sale toward more bikes for the family. The F250 will be our bike hauler & Expo rig, this is gonna be fun.

They didn't start making the 650R until 2000. They did start making the XR650L sometime before that....but it's a different bike (air cooled....more like a slightly larger 600 engine. Great plan though for riding to work. I was thinking about using my older XR600 to ride to work when gas was so high, but it's 42 miles each way, and mostly major highway. Geared down the way it is, it isn't fun trying to ride it at 60-65 while commuter traffic is going a lot faster.

[RocKrawler]

They didn't start making the 650R until 2000. They did start making the XR650L sometime before that....but it's a different bike (air cooled....more like a slightly larger 600 engine. Great plan though for riding to work. I was thinking about using my older XR600 to ride to work when gas was so high, but it's 42 miles each way, and mostly major highway. Geared down the way it is, it isn't fun trying to ride it at 60-65 while commuter traffic is going a lot faster.
My bad, it is a 600R... had a 92 some time ago but it had issues - by the time it finally started my leg was 6" larger diameter than the other and my foot was numb. This one just got $1100 worth of service & upgrades, and has new parts (skids, shark fin) that arent even installed yet plus the Baja designs kit & street reg's with a plate. Cant wait!

[btggraphix]

My bad, it is a 600R... had a 92 some time ago but it had issues - by the time it finally started my leg was 6" larger diameter than the other and my foot was numb.

I understand :) After tearing my MCL and ACL both, though apparently slight enough to not require surgery.....I was reminded of just how much of a PITA starting even a well tuned XR650R is. When you can't support the weight of the whole bike and you with your left foot on the ground, it makes it really hard to jump, start it, and then land without....collapsing or tearing the *CL's again worse. The rest of that group all had E-starts, and I have to admit, I am again thinking about that nearly $1K and 19 pound addition of an E-start to my 650. We'll see. Congrats on the bike too, sounds great. I also have an older 600 (1987) that I just couldn't give up after I got my 650.....I ended up stripping it down to the frame, powder coating it, and putting it all back together. Spent more than the whole thing is worth....but I enjoyed the work....

[RocKrawler]

e-start can be added to these?

[rctr03]

great find!

[jl8088]

yup e-start can be added, but it costs around $1000.

[Hayduke950]

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_e90IrWC-0Pc/SStt4fzQSlI/AAAAAAAABU4/NwUvVZALkwI/s912/Lake%20Morena%2011-8-08%20034.JPG

Mind if I ask what type of bike carrier that is on your Trooper? I carry an XR400 on my 95 Trooper (OME suspension), but I'd like to get a double bike carrier so I can take the wife's XT225 and leave the trailer at home.

[jl8088]

Mind if I ask what type of bike carrier that is on your Trooper? I carry an XR400 on my 95 Trooper (OME suspension), but I'd like to get a double bike carrier so I can take the wife's XT225 and leave the trailer at home.

The dual bike rack is a "joe hauler". I bet I'm at the limit of the class 3 hitch tongue weight of 500-600lbs. Seems to work fine though. I've also carried my XR650R and a "wife's bike" on the rack, keeping the heavier bike closer to the truck.

[jl8088]

After researching the "necessary" modifications, i've completed the following:

Honda re-jet kit and removal of all the restrictive smog stuff
4.3 gallon tank
aluminum reinforced brush guards
rear rack
extra wide foot pegs
new triple clamp and handlebar
RAM mount for GPS
Desert tire (non-DOT)

Here is a photo from last weekend at Ocotillo Wells OHV area. The place is straight out of a mad max movie. Photo taken south of the shell reef area. The bike runs like a banshee. It will take years for me to get comfortable with the power. Years of fun that is.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_e90IrWC-0Pc/S0Kluy5Z61I/AAAAAAAAC10/0YHJ1lx4AaM/s640/IMG_2051.JPG

[jl8088]

single track helmet cam video. Corral Canyon OHV, San Diego, CA.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4gbLaA-cFc

[jl8088]

2 days, 314 miles.......

7th annual Anza-Borrego Desert Dash dual sport event. Simply awesome time and well organized event.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_e90IrWC-0Pc/S4Hx4MM_krI/AAAAAAAADAQ/-qnTnhGhoRo/s640/IMG_2077.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_e90IrWC-0Pc/S4Hx9jmOXXI/AAAAAAAADAs/YUU3qnZihsg/s640/IMG_2086.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_e90IrWC-0Pc/S4Hx6fVXc7I/AAAAAAAADAc/g4bO1Q1xzFk/s512/IMG_2082.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_e90IrWC-0Pc/S4SVTxH7F9I/AAAAAAAADFo/DkdSL0Iji8I/s640/Lunch%20at%20Ocotillo.jpg

and other photos here.
http://picasaweb.google.com/jeff8088/AnzaBorregoDesertDash2010#

[jl8088]

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_e90IrWC-0Pc/TG661q_tdCI/AAAAAAAADkE/TF4foGiAynI/s640/Jeff%20Trail.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_e90IrWC-0Pc/TG66vormD3I/AAAAAAAADjw/Fc2lKn22_3Q/s640/Jeff%20Lookout.jpg
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_e90IrWC-0Pc/TG66yig0IbI/AAAAAAAADj8/twiDd4N-FuY/s640/Jeff%20Cornering%201.jpg
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_e90IrWC-0Pc/TG66xlCC-2I/AAAAAAAADj4/a2_BVFuNSag/s640/Jeff%20Cornering%203.jpg

[jesusgatos]

Great choice. Don't think there's a better platform for an off-road oriented ADV-type bike. Love mine.

http://www.trailslesstraveled.com/media/forums/xr650r/XR650R_19_03.jpg


The best part of the deal is that the bike only had a total of 31 miles on it!!!!!!!!
You do know the resettable odometers roll over at 100 miles, riiiiight?

[jesusgatos]

Wait, did you say this is your FIRST motorcycle? Dayum, you picked a hell of a bike to learn on. Better respect it...

[jl8088]

Great choice. Don't think there's a better platform for an off-road oriented ADV-type bike. Love mine.

You do know the resettable odometers roll over at 100 miles, riiiiight?

Nice bike, you did a CRF front fork conversion? How do you like it? Is that a 15 tooth front sprocket? Can you cruise at 70mph pretty easily with that ?

The BRP is my first bike, it is a 2002 and was showroom condition (seriously) when i bought it two years ago. Still had the all the hairs on the front & rear knobby and not a speck of dust! I'm still growing into it a fist-full at a time.

[jesusgatos]

Yeah, that's a late-model CRF frontend (http://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=474564). It's OK. Probably not worth the trouble/expense. That's actually a 16T countershaft sprocket, and allows me to cruise a liiiiiiittle bit faster than 80mph. Haha. I've got two wheelsets. On that 18/19" street wheelset I run a 46T rear sprocket. Perfect for hwy cruising. On my 18/21" dirt wheelset, I run a 48T rear sprocket. I use a 15T countershaft sprocket for dualsport rides, and a 14T countershaft sprocket for more technical trailrides. Covers just about every conceivable gearing scenario, and they all work with the stock-length chain.

[jl8088]

Corral Canyon, Trail 1 with friends.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_e90IrWC-0Pc/S9Z0o-NUWkI/AAAAAAAADRc/3SFDqGG_A9I/s640/DSC02187.JPG.jpg

[CoastalDefender]

Fantastic bike! Do a wet-weight on it after the mods?

[jl8088]

Do a wet-weight on it after the mods?

I've never weighed it, but i would assume it would be around 310-315 wet with gas. Not that light compared to the newest KTM530s, but it is nearly 10 years old and bulletproof.

[jl8088]

12-28-10, Pala MX park, Vet Track. Pigs do fly.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_e90IrWC-0Pc/TRqLpvibndI/AAAAAAAADyo/p5pf-o3a1e8/s720/IMG_0944.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_e90IrWC-0Pc/TRqNwFHP4ZI/AAAAAAAADzM/WuvOvn3n0EM/s912/IMG_0972.JPG

[jl8088]

Algodones Dunes 1-2011
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_e90IrWC-0Pc/TTyDNs3h4RI/AAAAAAAAD74/GBh4TVmIdkc/s512/IMG_2115-1.JPG

[jesusgatos]

Yeah! Boostin' a 650. There are some great pics of guys jumping BRP's in an old thread on TT. Been putting a lot of miles on mine lately, using it to get around while I was overhauling one of my trucks. Got an extra wheelset with a 19" rear wheel laced-up to the front hub and a pair Avon Distanzias. Never had a proper streetbike, but can't imagine having any more fun on two wheels.

[Terrainist]

I see you mentioned a 4.3 gallon tank, not affiliated. http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/mcy/2167723136.html

Very nice bike you've got there.