2023 Honda XR150L Extended Review

[@timp1051]

Prayers are out for all those affected. I am 59 and have 2 large motorcycles but this bike would be a "blast from the past". A local dealer has one in stock so my brother and I are going to check it out. I wouldn't mind adding one to my garage.

[@TheMotorcycleMessenger]

@@timp1051 thank you! Ya man simple, reliable, nimble, fun, gas saver, and inexpensive. Really no cons other than no highway riding but you have 2 other bikes so all good. I have loads of fun on b roads, and trails with this machine! Go for it. 3350 miles, no issues. Highly suggest.

[@MishMashMoto]

Good looking machine! I suggest that you leave the passenger pegs on because you just never know when you may need to help another rider get somewhere.

[@TheMotorcycleMessenger]

@@MishMashMoto good thinking!

[@DustySteel]

Project Farms does an oil review and believe it or not Pennzoil came out the best overall. I use the Honda full synthetic but it’s very expensive.

[@DustySteel]

Thank you, Jesus, for keeping their house safe!!

[@TheMotorcycleMessenger]

Amen brother, tree almost fell on the room my kids were sleeping in. This hurricane was devastating to many, and my heart feels for them. I couldnt imagine losing everything, and most importantly my wife and children. Lots of time for reflection, and getting to the bacis when you have no power, or internet. Definitely good to be prepared though! Bet you got the fastest 150L in the states....

[@DustySteel]

@@TheMotorcycleMessenger house and family safe.* My heart goes out to them also. Very thankful it wasn’t worse. I currently have the second fastest XR150L. @KatieJackson has already done the 300cc big bore.

[@TheMotorcycleMessenger]

Good to know, 300cc will be plenty. What do you think will be top speed, and HP. I’ll stay tuned to your build. It would be really nice to get up to speed faster, and at lower rpm at those speeds. I wonder how it will compare to a crf300. Great bike to work on, tinker, and learn how to work on and ride.

[@DustySteel]

@@TheMotorcycleMessenger so far with my current setup I run out of gearing with a 18t/46t @ 88mph. I’m not sure the horsepower yet but I think I can realistically only go down to a 44t before the chain will start to hit the bolts on the sprocket. Maybe 90mph with stock limiter and stock wheels. I’ve seen dyno of crf 150 up bore 300cc full BRT with fuel injection making 30hp. I’m probably going to stay carbureted though.

[@TheMotorcycleMessenger]

@@DustySteel I seen on the 222cc kit you are getting up to 88mph, which is wild, but what do you expect for gains from 300cc?

[@mikem9953]

I feel the same as you as far as mods, the bike is what it is, and that's it. I agree with the basic mods/must do mods and save your money after that and keep to the economical theme. Did you notice a mph change with your wind screen? I had an aftermarket one laying around and put it on my Honda Monkey for a long trip when it was pretty chilly out and I noticed it was a mph or 2 faster, and more consistent top speed, meaning the wind wasn't effecting it as much. Thanks for sharing this video.

[@TheMotorcycleMessenger]

@@mikem9953 I actually switched the windscreen to my DR650 but it was a nice addition for wind buffeting and cold weather. Never really noticed a top speed increase. I got to 71mph on a downhill tuck on the XR. Those monkeys are pretty cool. You do own one of these?

[@mikem9953]

I traded my Monkey for a 04 KLX 230 in April, and I think they finally started showing up, but the 4th of July they had no idea when it'd come in, so I cancelled my order and bought a used RZR side x side, and while I really like it, I need a bike, so I'm thinking I can keep my RZR if I buy a less expensive XR 150L.

[@TheMotorcycleMessenger]

@ it depends how you plan on using it, I’ve watched the market on Craigslist around here for the past couple years and every now and again you can get a steal. DRs for 3k …. And KLRs for 2K. The XR just won’t be able to handle highway.

[@mikem9953]

Speed limit is 35-45 at around me, and dirt trails for hundreds of miles from a mile down the road. No highway bike needed. Sold it. Good way to get killed around here with all the deer. I'd rather break an arm on a dual sport then have the fire department wash me off the highway.

[@TheMotorcycleMessenger]

@@mikem9953 looks like it's time to line up an XR150L ! So much fun with the b roads and trails. I don't ride at Night for that specific reason, the deers. Plus visibility. I ride very defensively.

[@marcu9111]

God bless y’all in Jesus name!

[@TheMotorcycleMessenger]

@@marcu9111 Amen! Same to you 🙏

[@1122redbird]

Nice review. I had one of these and loved it. Regret selling it. I live in upstate SC, glad you are safe. Msg if ya ever want to ride. Btw, I'm looking at a DR650 too.

[@TheMotorcycleMessenger]

@@1122redbird ya man, the DR is a well rounded machine. Any other options?

[@1122redbird]

@@TheMotorcycleMessenger Every bike I see, I want. Lol My friend just got a new Royal Enfield Himalayan that I love. Also looking at KLX300SM's if I can find a deal. If I could only have one, a DR650 seems like the everything bike. XR150L is the perfect bike for local stuff, gentle fun riding, backroads commutes. But dang man, they are all fun.

[@TheMotorcycleMessenger]

@1122redbird been there, weighting options and wanting them all. I decided on the DR for that exact reason because it can do it all pretty good! I commute on highway everyday with it, but can do double track and trails no prob either. Super reliable, simple, easy, and plenty fun power for me. A base for any build. XR was too tall, the 300s were not going to be good to commute daily on highway, the KLR was too heavy for what i wanted off road.

[@1122redbird]

@@TheMotorcycleMessenger Agree. XR is a tall bike with bad road manners, but a savage off road for long legs. KLR is an indestructible tank, my friend sold his for the Royal Enfield because it was too cumbersome. 450 plus pound bike, no thanks. DR takes the cake in my book for king of the dual sports.

[@TheMotorcycleMessenger]

​@@1122redbirdthat diesel first gen KLR is pretty cool. Slow and clunky but cool.ive been keeping an eye out for a klx650. They made them for a few years in the mid 90s and it's a lighter more off road capable version Kawasaki released comparable to the KLR. Pretty rare. Never seen one for sale locally.

[@chadriddle3517]

I took the spark arrester/baffle out of mine and it sounds perfect to me . Did your carb jet upsize make a noticeable improvement?

[@TheMotorcycleMessenger]

@@chadriddle3517 what made the biggest difference is turning the idle speed up and that helped my cold starts and idle significantly. Going up on a jet size did help the performance slightly. I took the snorkel out of the air box as well. I will leave the stock exhaust but modify the tip and put in an aftermarket spark arrestor to open it up a bit.

[@chadriddle3517]

@@TheMotorcycleMessenger thanks , yea I’ve not adjusted my idle speed or basically done anything to it but grease it . I’ll try turning up the idle speed because I do get some choppy cold starts after it’s sat awhile . I need to put more miles on it only at 370 miles and had it since February. I want to pull off that airbox snorkel too. Thanks for the videos

[@TheMotorcycleMessenger]

@@chadriddle3517 try a quarter turn at a time to the right. When I first got mine it would be hard to start in the cold, have a very low idle, and die immediately when trying to blip throttle. The issue has completely disappeared. Most likely if you take out the snorkel you are going to have to go up on the pilot jet size. Especially since you already opened up the exhaust. Honestly I have found that the best combo is to go up a size possibly two on the main jet size, up the idle speed, pull snorkel, leave exhaust stock. That's from trying out all different combos. Of course it depends on your sea level, I am located in Georgia.