XR 650R?
Jme_Be
With 9 points, rising insurance costs, many long evenings spent polishing
and bored of getting knee-down on local roundabouts.... the 7R is being
retired after 18 months and 7,500 miles of loyal service.
...and in comes Honda's XR 650R
Fitted with indicators and a horn it'll apparently get an MOT.
Does anyone have any experience of this bike / alternatives that I should
consider?
What good places (green lanes etc.) are there in Oxfordshire /
Buckinghamshire?
TIA
--
Jamie
ZX-7R (01-P6) (almost expired on first t-day)
01-01 VFR-800FiX (Fi faults - sold to Carnell's ;)
00-01 SV650s (almost expired on twisty road, rebuilt, sold)
98-00 GSXF-600 (expired on local roundabout)
BOTaFOT #111
Jme_Be
"Jme_Be" <jme...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ap3o6f$4lf$1...@news.ox.ac.uk...
: Crossing over from the dark side (UKRM)...
:
<snip>
:
: What good places (green lanes etc.) are there in Oxfordshire /
: Buckinghamshire?
<snip>
Doh
....in the UK
Andy Waddell
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/XR650R/
--
Andrew D. Waddell
PML Online Support Rep
www.publicmissiles.com
"Jme_Be" <jme...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ap3o6f$4lf$1...@news.ox.ac.uk...
Jme_Be
L8TR
J
"Andy Waddell" <adwa...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:SoGdnRjmaqB...@comcast.com...
: Jamie, come on over to the Yahoo Group for the XR650R. LOADS of good info.
: >
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:
Shannon Parker
> consider?
Gudday,
I owned a xr650 for about two years and about a month ago sold it and bought
a KTM 525 EXC.
There is absoloutley no doubt that the suspension on the KTM is of a
standard far beyond the XR's and the electric start is worth its weight in
gold. The level of equipment on the KTM is excellent, the brakes are awesome
and it makes my heart race just looking at it sometimes.
BUT..........
I miss 'Big Red' as I affectionatley called my XR650. It was a good honest
trail bike. It wheelied better than any other bike I've owned and it hads
more grunt than a pig farm. It was bullet proof, (make sure you don't pinch
the engine breather tube under the fuel tank.... blows the counter shaft
seal...doh) and easy to work on.
I was honestly faster on Big Red than on my KTM (for now, I've only got 5
hours on the KTM and am just coming to terms with the sharper steering) BUT
way more importantly I was MUCH more comfortable on Big Red.
If Honda ever release a XR 650 with electric start and minus 30 kilograms I
will buy another.
The down side with all japanese trail bikes is that you have to spend money
and fiddle to get them up to speed. With the KTM you get it out of the box,
set the clickers and go race. The KTM will make you ride harder and tire you
out earlier than the XR650. Maintenance is higher.Its a true competition
only vehicle. But I cannot describe to you how much potential the thing has
to go very, very fast.
But it won't let you be comfortable or lazy like the XR and it you stuff up
it bites.
You can't put a big tank on it like the XR and go tour the simpson desert.
You would be in a world of hurt doing this on the KTM. The XR was way more
versitile.
Buy one, you will love it. But don't ride a 525 EXC....... you'll want one.
Even though you'll never ride it at its full potential.
Shannon
Andy Waddell
the box. Basically Honda has chosen to EPA-strangle the bike to allow it to
get a green sticker in California, so you'll need to spend about $50 out of
the chute to get the bike "uncorked" (the term you'll see over and over
again on the Yahoo group) via removing intake restrictions, new jets, etc.
See http://xr650r.net/nonepa.html for the details, and you have to do ALL
the stuff that's there to get 'er to a "baseline condition". Not that
there's so much to do, it's really only about 4 or 5 steps, but don't skip
one of the steps or you'll have troubles. Once you DO do it, though, watch
out...the grin you'll get when you twist the throttle on the BRP (Big Red
Pig, our affectionate name for the beast) is permanent! One other thing...I
believe UK bikes are NOT "corked" like our US bikes are, so you may be able
to just start 'er up and go right from the dealer. I know there are European
and/or specifically UK riders on the Yahoo group, so they can tell you for
sure.
Can't wait for Friday...probably the last ride on mine for the year before
the long Michigan winter.
--
Andrew D. Waddell
PML Online Support Rep
www.publicmissiles.com
"Andy Waddell" <adwa...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:SoGdnRjmaqB...@comcast.com...
Jme_Be
news:lBst9.60050$g9.1...@newsfeeds.bigpond.com...
: "> Does anyone have any experience of this bike / alternatives that I
Just been in to see the dealer... he's going to get an XR in next week Can't
wait.
Hope you learn to enjoy the KTM as much as "Big Red" ...for now It will do
me for [hopefully] a very long time.
(Useful to hear that a bigger tank is available for the XR - is was
wondering if there was one)
Cheers
Jme_Be
The brochure says that the bike comes with an "HRC power-up" kit -
presumably this means new jets etc?
Thanks for the link - it will no doubt be invaluable.
...wot u mean that you don't ride through the winter?! ;)
J
"Andy Waddell" <adwa...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:ExGdnetKU6w...@comcast.com...
: Jamie, Shannon's reply below is true that the 650R needs a few mods out of
: > >
: > >
: >
: >
:
:
Shannon Parker
Good on you, XR650's are a great thing.
IMS in the states make large tanks for the XR650. This would be my
preference as the large tank comes with a vacuum fuel pump, pretty much a
bolt on affair.
AS SOON AS YOU GET the bike, seriously, pull the steering head bearings,
swingarm bearings and suspension linkages apart and grease with copious
amounts of a good waterproof grease. This is a pain in the arse but you will
be gratefull that you did it. Seems that Honda may have forgotten what
grease is upon assembly and you will be shocked at how little grease is
applied out of the factory. De restrict it!! I'm not sure what restrictions
you will have where you live but the difference between a restricted XR650
and a de restricted one is chalk and cheese.
Do NOT let the bike out of the bike shop without a braided steel front brake
line. The front brake is CRAP without. You can feel it expand if you hold
your hand around the original rubber line and squeeze the front
brake......... Make the dealer throw this in as a part of the deal. While
your at it, see if you can get him to throw in a alloy bash guard to replace
the crap plastic one and also some bark buster type hand guards.
Check the air filter. I bet you a beer that its dry as a bone.
Check that the engine breather is not pinched anywhere. That big ol 650cc
slug makes a lot of breeze and often the tank will pinch it. Trust me, I
found out the hard way.
Change your oil at a maximum of every 5 hours operation. Its a very simple
process, takes 5 minutes maximum and there's only 1.6 litres of the stuff.
The best gearing I found was 14 tooth front, 48 tooth rear. That motor is a
gem, it'll pull you up most hills like nothing else. Don't try to rev it,
just let that gobs of torque grunt you up brick walls...
For my 2000 model, I set the static sag at 25~30mm, rider sag at 85mm (may
need different spring) rear compression clicker 8~10 clicks out and rebound
at 14 clicks out.
Front fork rebound wound right off (trust me, try it... the thing is WAY
overdamped on front) and compresion 5~8 clicks out.
Have fun!
Just remember the thing is HEAVY. Any mods you may be tempted to do should
be centered on making the thing lighter. Piss that headlight off and put a
good acerbis twin beam thing on.
Oh, they make a GREAT supermotard apparently...!
Regards
Shannon
Jme_Be
: Gudday,
Thanks for the very helpful info Shannon (I've saved it for future
reference).
As soon as I get the XR (week Saturday hopefully) I'll be no doubt sharing
my experience!
L8TR
J
Andy Waddell
--
Andrew D. Waddell
PML Online Support Rep
www.publicmissiles.com
"Shannon Parker" <sha...@bigpond.com> wrote in message
news:48xt9.60457$g9.1...@newsfeeds.bigpond.com...
> Gudday,
> Good on you, XR650's are a great thing.
> IMS in the states make large tanks for the XR650. IT'S PRETTY WELL AGREED
ON THE YAHOO GROUP THAT THE CLARKE TANKS ARE BETTER THAN THE IMS BOTH IN
PRICE AND FIT. I HAVE A CLARKE 4.3G ON MY BRP AND LOVE IT. This would be my
> preference as the large tank comes with a vacuum fuel pump, pretty much a
> bolt on affair.
>
> AS SOON AS YOU GET the bike, seriously, pull the steering head bearings,
> swingarm bearings and suspension linkages apart and grease with copious
> amounts of a good waterproof grease. CORRECT. THEY COME PRETTY DARN DRY.
This is a pain in the arse but you will
> be gratefull that you did it. Seems that Honda may have forgotten what
> grease is upon assembly and you will be shocked at how little grease is
> applied out of the factory. De restrict it!! I'm not sure what
restrictions
> you will have where you live but the difference between a restricted XR650
> and a de restricted one is chalk and cheese. YEP.
>
> Do NOT let the bike out of the bike shop without a braided steel front
brake
> line. The front brake is CRAP without. You can feel it expand if you hold
> your hand around the original rubber line and squeeze the front
> brake......... Make the dealer throw this in as a part of the deal. I
HAVEN'T HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY STOCK ONE, NOR HAVE THE 3 OTHERS I RIDE WITH,
NOR HAVE I HEARD ANY "HUE AND CRY" ABOUT IT ON THE EGROUP. DOESN'T MEAN
SHANNON'S SUGGESTION ISN'T A GOOD ONE, JUST THAT I HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED OR
SEEN FRONT BRAKE HOSE TROUBLES. While
> your at it, see if you can get him to throw in a alloy bash guard to
replace
> the crap plastic one and also some bark buster type hand guards.
>
> Check the air filter. I bet you a beer that its dry as a bone.
>
> Check that the engine breather is not pinched anywhere. That big ol 650cc
> slug makes a lot of breeze and often the tank will pinch it. Trust me, I
> found out the hard way.
>
> Change your oil at a maximum of every 5 hours operation. Its a very
simple
> process, takes 5 minutes maximum and there's only 1.6 litres of the stuff.
>
> The best gearing I found was 14 tooth front, 48 tooth rear. THIS IS STOCK
GEARING IN THE US. I PUT A 13 TOOTH ON MINE FOR A BIT BETTER SLOW SPEED 1ST
GEAR WORK. That motor is a
> gem, it'll pull you up most hills like nothing else. Don't try to rev it,
> just let that gobs of torque grunt you up brick walls...NO KIDDING. IF YOU
CAN GET TRACTION THE MOTOR WILL TAKE YOU ANYWHERE.
MX Tuner
<adwa...@comcast.net> spewed forth:
>Can't wait for Friday...probably the last ride on mine for the year before
>the long Michigan winter.
Will that be your first ride on the bike since it's been back
together?
MX Tuner
Andy Waddell
how the new suspension worked out.
--
Andrew D. Waddell
PML Online Support Rep
www.publicmissiles.com
"MX Tuner" <mxt...@NOSPAMattbi.com> wrote in message
news:3db713e6....@netnews.attbi.com...
Jme_Be
...I've signed up to the http://groups.yahoo.com/group/XR650R/ group now.
See you there!
Cheers
J
"Andy Waddell" <adwa...@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:B6SdnUa5kKs...@comcast.com...
: Jamie, see my replies below IN CAPS.
: >
: >
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: