XR650L

[zhandfull]

Been looking for a clean XR650L for a while. Found this one, a 2018 first sold in April 2020. I call it the Covid bike, has 1,200 miles on it. These bike are all over the place for sale. Produced for almost 30 year virtually unchanged.
But like everything else prices are stupid high these days. Looked at a clean stock one that was a 2003 that hadn’t been ran for 5 years. Dead battery, bad gas, rock hard tires and the guy wanted about a grand less than the one I just picked up.
Yeah I know they are heavy pigs of a bike. There is just something I dig about riding them on the weekends around the house. Being older and fat the electric start is nice too.

 

[Gelcoater]

Been looking for a clean XR650L for a while. Found this one, a 2018 first sold in April 2020. I call it the Covid bike, has 1,200 miles on it. These bike are all over the place for sale. Produced for almost 30 year virtually unchanged.
But like everything else prices are stupid high these days. Looked at a clean stock one that was a 2003 that hadn’t been ran for 5 years. Dead battery, bad gas, rock hard tires and the guy wanted about a grand less than the one I just picked up.
Yeah I know they are heavy pigs of a bike. There is just something I dig about riding them on the weekends around the house. Being older and fat the electric start is nice too.

Being older and fat too...

Nice score

 

[JDKRXW]

Nice.
Mine's an earlier version.

 

[DLC]

I have had several XR600’s and then a xr 650 all great bikes! Although I never had one with a button!!

we used to do a lot of Mexico, Mike’s and San Felipe on em! They are just big cruisers

looks like you found a good one

 

[DLC]

I also had 2 different XR 400’s but like the 650 the best.

 

[zhandfull]

Nice.
Mine's an earlier version.

Sweet is that a XL500? Looks like one I had in high school.

 

[JDKRXW]

Sweet is that a XL500? Looks like one I had in high school.

XL600 ... and you're right about the new ones having electric start.

 

[Ziggy]

Thumper Power.

 

[badgas]

Nice

I had one in the late 80's early 90's. My buddies laughed at me having electric start and laughed at them trying to kick thiers. Was so fun to take a fwy and then go find a fire road and get lost for the day. Did more riding up in no cal as I was living in Roseville at the time

 

[SBMech]

Nice.
Mine's an earlier version.

83 or 84?

I had an 85, they changed the suspension in them so the 84, 85, and 86 and 87 are all different to ride.

Seating position, bar height/location made them all unique.

Not mine, but just a stock photo, you can tell the difference just in the rear suspension, they were pretty damn cool back then.

Thumpers....you know or you don't ......

 

[JDKRXW]

83 or 84?

I had an 85, they changed the suspension in them so the 84, 85, and 86 and 87 are all different to ride.

Seating position, bar height/location made them all unique.

View attachment 1066769

Not mine, but just a stock photo, you can tell the difference just in the rear suspension, they were pretty damn cool back then.

Thumpers....you know or you don't ......

84.
.... and you're right. I know.

 

[kiethco]

These are solid bikes but not ideal for real offroading. I followed Scott Summers on one back in 2005 LA-B-to-Vegas. I asked him when Honda was gonna bring a true Dualsport bike out. He said they have one, I just rode it from LA to Vegas. He's a multitime national enduro champ sponsored by Homda.
For the average to better rider I know of at least 2 well prepped and sorted out KTM's for sale for around 5k. This 650L would be a good buy in the 3500-4000 range. They are unchanged and this one is like new. Your day will be much more fun on the KTM

 

[f12517]

Growing up I went from an 1983 XR200 to a 1984 XR350r that had the motor built by XR’s only. Dad had an 85 XR350r. Great bikes.

Current rides are a KTM 500exc and a husky TX300i. I ride now to remember the glory days of my youth desert riding in SoCal.

 

[sintax]

These are solid bikes but not ideal for real offroading. I followed Scott Summers on one back in 2005 LA-B-to-Vegas. I asked him when Honda was gonna bring a true Dualsport bike out. He said they have one, I just rode it from LA to Vegas. He's a multitime national enduro champ sponsored by Homda.
For the average to better rider I know of at least 2 well prepped and sorted out KTM's for sale for around 5k. This 650L would be a good buy in the 3500-4000 range. They are unchanged and this one is like new. Your day will be much more fun on the KTM

Oh you mean this dude?

I still have my 2002 XR650R. Not much better dual sport than that bike.

 

[Kbach]

Had so many good weeks testing out at Scott’s property over the years. Such a good guy and super humble.

 

[kiethco]

Oh you mean this dude?

View attachment 1066850

I still have my 2002 XR650R. Not much better dual sport than that bike.

Mah Boi!!!

 

[DLC]

Oh you mean this dude?

View attachment 1066850

I still have my 2002 XR650R. Not much better dual sport than that bike.

Those bikes aren’t light !! No way I could do that in my prime!

what a great pic!

 

[SummitKarl]

I Always had one in the 80's and 90's, last one I got new was a 99, total sellers remorse on that one.
been tossing around getting another one lately, love the sound and the more you short shift the harder they pull