What hand guard mounts are those??

Beautiful ! Thank you 🙏 🇨🇦

Check out the Tofino Brewery, the Kelp Stout is some of my favorite beer on this planet. Last time I was there I spent a couple weeks exploring the island on my Africa Twin. The wife and I tried to go straight through from Cowichan lake to Sooke on old logging roads (riding tandem ahahah). We spent hours slogging through old logging roads, sometimes regenerated down to mere brushed in single track, only to find at the bottoms the creeks would be washed out 50' down and 100' wide in some places lol. We had a lot of fun there!

Truly beautiful. Makes me even want to go mountainbiking. Norm MacDonald went there, to a small BnB run by old man Delaney... Check it out on youtube if you haven't already.

For the algorithm.

Great video. You make throwing that 650 around look effortless. Thanks for the help. Once it winter weakens some i will put this to good use.

I've read about these getting hot and seizing? Is this really a problem? I am in Las Vegas and the summer can get pretty hot! Your thoughts? Oil cooler maybe?

Thanks Rick. Your riding gets us pumped up to hit the trail! Rubber side down, braap!

I bought mine four years ago and have done almost all the same mods! I've owned a lot of bikes but the XR takes the cake as my favorite

Heck yeah, love all your content!

Do some RC stuff :)

👍

Wow … haven’t seen you for long time. Welcome back brother. Happy new year 🎆

Good stuff Mr H, but I guess I'll call you Rick,

I’m a XR fanboy also Ive had mine since 1996 so I’m close to the 30 year mark also it is the one bike I’ve always said I’ll never get rid of still runs excellent and also never had any issues Ive has a multitude of bikes but this is the one Ive always loved the most. I do remember when I bought it I was thinking I’ll keep it a year or two but the more I rode it the more I feel in love with it. And I also have never had a problem with the counter shaft and I’ve got a little over 30,000 miles so…..

Guy's spent a little time in the saddle

Happy new year! Best wishes from Bulgaria 🇧🇬 EU

Thanks you have a good new year ❤❤

That’s amazing, well done.

Happy New Year ! 🎈

Happy new year :)

I’d love a modern xr650 or xr400 with efi

Traded my R1200 HP2 Enduro for one of these back in 2011. No regrets there and my XR is not for sale anytime soon. Purchased new at Honda Umhlanga in South Africa. Local dealers only started importing the 650L in late 2010 and stopped sales in 2013 due to some crappy EU emissions laws. A bunch of bikes got cancelled then - XR/DR/KLR 6.5 etc. After a bit of sorting my XR became my bike for life. The RHS exhaust valve gear does not like sustained high rev road miles so I gave it a refresh about 4 years ago with new valves and seats + Wiseco 657cc 10.5:1. Had the machine shop mill around 0.5mm off the top of piston to drop the comp down to around 10:1. Bike is happy with that. We have 95 Octane here in coastal areas. Like the Clarke tank - big enough for longish range and much narrower between the legs than the Acerbis one. Ergonomics sorted with 50mm Rox pivot risers positioned slightly forward with wide Renthal fatty MX bars and decent footpegs from TrTec - a good local moto machine shop. Standard suspension just tuned for my riding and weight. I'm 5 10" so got used to the height like 14 years ago. The 650L is a great bike - don't think there is anything on the market in 2025 that can replace this at this performance price point.

How many miles does the xr have on it? Its refreshing to see some one that would rather keep a good bike rather than trade it for an overly tech. laden "modern bike". I bought a DRZ brand new in 2009 and its still going strong with no plans of selling it.

I have a 92 xr600r that is plated. It's all stock and has all the power I need. Those older Hondas are awesome bikes.

Had mine nearly 19 years..similar experience/setup, loved that beast, sadly I felt I'm ageing out of it and shifted to a smaller trail/dualsport ride-a bit less work=more miles of fun these days..😉

How many miles you have on the Beast?

How many miles you have on the Beast?

I've been riding my xr650r for 22 years. I bought it new and had the dealer uncork it, jet the carb, installed a Honda exhaust insert and a baja design street kit. Never did ride it on the street. Bike fires right up and I head out. I'm tempted to get a xr650l, just to have one.

Why not run the wider front sprocket, what's the downside? Great write-up 👍

Will any rim lock work or what kind do I need for the mx5 wheels?

Thank you for sharing all your experience, and knowledge as it helps me greatly as I’ve only owned my BRP for three years now. I would’ve liked to have you talk more about suspension and the changes you have made, as well as suspension tuning. Also, don’t you run a hydraulic clutch? If so, some thoughts around that? You are an excellent resource for the rest of us, keep it up.👊

Moved to NC in 81 with a new 79 XR-500. Widowmaker suspension then switched to an 81 XR-200R and learned to ride. Switched to an IT-490 in 84 and the big 2-stroke would out pull the 500 everywhere especially in the bottom end. Been dual sport since 90 and at 65 everything is for sale, needing more MTB time.

Got my xr650l in 2006 runs better today than new. So that's 18 years of fun

This bike, hasnt changed in dog knows how long, decades. Are the new graphics better? Did the engine quit over heating when ridden hard? Honda can really stretch one model of bike out a long time.

So basically you changed many things 😂😂

10 days bought it because i prefer light bikes and the harley is just to bloody heavy and the XR650L is right at 1.75 times my body weight vs the harley at almost 3.5x i can load this one up and still "keep up" with the boys on the harleys ... will have to see if they can keep up with me !

Good very long term review video! Thanks! The mighty XR is on my possibles list. Your XR looks like a KTM. You managed to find the one color uglier than Honda racing red. 😛

Forks look good.

Wow, great video with a good mix of action and scenery... what it's all about!

Owned my XR650L since March 2024, so I'm certified pro! LOL I'm learning, having a great time. Got about 3000 on the odometer

What tires are you using?

Thanks for your tip about this build! I see you kept the electric starter, still you are down to 315# which is pretty good. It's lighter than my 341# TTR600.

The FCR upgrade is by far the best mod you can do to these bikes. Don't waste time on Daves mod. If your only going to do one thing, this would be it. I disagree on the counter-shaft sprocket. Swap it and never worry about it. Fritzco sprocket. Sold mine to get a 690.

Haven’t had a chance to watch the video yet but I love seeing the XR content. Currently rebuilding a plated XR600R to be my do all machine. Recently added a Mikuni flat slide pumper, totally woke the bike up and I haven’t even had a chance to do any tuning yet.

Good Video. I’ve owned mine for a year and a half and have only ridden it off road. Dropped it lots but it seems pretty tough. I put a Mikuni carb on it and it 7:45 really goes. I’m curious about the use ability of the XR on BDR trips vs the KTM 690 or 500. The Honda reliability has great value. Does the extra weight make going to the KTM a no brainer?