Honda XR650L v Suzuki DR650 v Kawasaki KLR650!︱comparison review & known issues
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- čas přidán 28. 06. 2024
- crosstrainingenduro.com The best Japanese single? XR650L, DR650 or the KLR650?
0:19 Honda XR650L the good stuff
2:07 Suzuki DR650 the good stuff
2:59 Kawasaki KLR650 the good stuff
3:30 XR650L known issues
4:00 DR650 known issues
4:22 KLR650 known issues
A comparison of the budget light weight 650 singles still available brand new! The Suzuki DR650, Honda XR650L and the Kawasaki KLR650. Which would suit you best? And what are the known issues? We'll start with the DR650. We have jumped it. Wheelied it. Thrashed it. And made all sorts of wild claims about it. Some viewers have told me they bought a DR650 based on my videos, which does worry me a bit. As there are other options. It's no longer available in Australia, but many countries still have the Honda XR650L. And many claim it is a superior bike. Is it? Maybe. It depends on your style of riding. In our opinion, the DR650 is a true big bore dual sport bike. The XR650L is more of a big bore dirt bike. While the Kawasaki KLR650 is for highway cruising and smooth dirt roads. Sure there is plenty of overlap. Some modify the Honda XR650L and do crazy long road trips. So why is the Honda XR650L best for offroad riding? It's the lightest by a long shot. It has the best suspension, and the longest travel. Which also means great ground clearance too. A shorter wheelbase makes it very nimble in the dirt. And a wide ratio gearbox gives you a low first gear, and a fifth gear suitable for the highway. Although some complain the gaps between certain XR650L gears are too wide. Others like me will modify the hell out of the Suzuki DR650 and get it close to the XR650L for dirt riding. But hopefully this guide should help work out which bike will suit you best. Over to you, Matthew for our Suzuki DR650, Honda XR650L and the Kawasaki KLR650 review. Thanks Barry. Unlike the 17 inch rear wheel on the others, the Honda has an 18 inch rear wheel, giving you a huge variety of tyres.vAs is the fuel tank size. The Suzuki DR650's oil cooler and larger oil capacity work well for long distance. First gear is too high for slow dirt riding but fine for general dual sport work. The mediocre suspension is okay as long as you are a gentle rider and not overweight. The Suzuki DR650 has the lowest seat of all three bikes, plus a further lowering option at the rear linkage. It's main drawbacks on the highway compared to the KLR are the lack of fairing, a hard narrow seat and the small fuel tank. But in stock form the Honda XR650L isn't great for long distance. With no oil cooler it can run hot when pushed hard for extended periods, and wrecking valves has happened. It has the least oil capacity, the smallest fuel tank, and that very high seat height. Also there's no cush drive hub so it's not smooth on the road and the gearbox will probably wear faster with big mileage. The best dual sport bike? The Suzuki DR650. It's not great off road. It's not on road. But it's a good compromise and various mods will help with either. It's weight is between the other two bikes. Your thoughts on the KLR650, Matt? Matt: The Kawasaki KLR650 ain't much fun off road, The Honda XR650L problems? The Kawasaki KLR650 problems? The pre-2010 models were known for using excessive oil. A weak weld on gear shift lever breaks very easily. Use stronger sub-frame bolts if loading up the rear rack. Barry! It's the heaviest by far, the suspension wallows if pushed hard, and there are big repair bills if you crash and damage that fairing! But the weight makes it stable on the highway and smooth dirt roads. You'll love the fairing especially in poor weather. Your ass will love that comfy seat, as will any pillion passengers. You even get a rear rack with the Kawasaki KLR650! Plus it's water cooled which is great if pulling high speeds for hours on end. A quick look at known issues with our comparison of the Suzuki DR650, Honda XR650L and the Kawasaki KLR650 reviews. While all three bikes have great reputations for reliability, a few issues can stick out for long term owners. Don't overtighten oil drain plug - the thread strips very easily. Most importantly fix the 'doohickey' problem before it destroys your engine!No cush drive hub can lead to premature countershaft spline wearing and the transmission too. Fit a cush hub if doing long distance. And the DR? Matt: DR650 problems? There's a small chance the NSU bolts can work loose and destroy the gearbox. The countershaft seal can pop out on pre-2013 models, and there's a very small number of third gear failures. See our DR650 known issues vid for more details. There you have it guys, our comparison of the Suzuki DR650, Honda XR650L and the Kawasaki KLR650. If you have further tips let us know in the comments.
KLR FOOTAGE: thanks to RideWithWill
• Can the KLR650 do OHV ...
XR650L FOOTAGE: Thanks to CANTSiR • Video
Music: "Round 2" by Dolby
#crosstrainingadventure #dr650 #klr650 #xr650l - Sport
INDEX (extra notes further down)
0:19 Honda XR650L the good stuff
2:07 Suzuki DR650 the good stuff
2:59 Kawasaki KLR650 the good stuff
3:30 XR650L known issues
4:00 DR650 known issues
4:22 KLR650 known issues
Great tip for KLR owners from Katherine Silvas [ED: I'm not sure if it applies to every year model though]
2nd generation KLR, post 2014 maintenance suggestion. At 6000km intervals, unloosen doohickey bolt (lower left side crank casing)and hit lower sump area with rubber mallet to allow spring to readjust. Should hear a light click as it does so. My 2018 model has 35000 km. No trouble thus far with above tip. I remain hopeful!
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Techforlife mod for the Honda xr650l where I can find or see some info about that mod?
I' own the Honda and Kawasaki my girlfriend told me I had to get rid of one of the bikes as we didn't have enough space. So I got rid of the girlfriend.
Problem solved.
Shoulda sold both, bought a DR650 and kept your girlfriend.
good boy
Good choice.
@@steelmilkjug No way,,,
Dr650 owner here...... still going strong after 35,000 miles. Would get another in a heart beat
Thats great milage
What do you mean big repair bills when you crash and damage the fairing? Tape and zip ties aren't that expensive, lol!
Now that's proper bike maintenance 😂
I use 10X tape. It's expensive, even on Amazon.
You can’t get away with that in Australia car or bike all your shut gotta want to be attached
Gives it that 'seasoned' look.
The Suzuki DR650 was my favorite big bore bike. I had so much fun exploring new and old areas. But after getting all the mods done. 5;weeks later. Someone stole it out of my front yard. I really miss that bike. It was set to truly be my favorite.
i'm hoping to get another soon, it seems i can only go two years before the bush pig addiction kicks in again
I used to have a 2008 KLR650, and I now have a 2009 DR650. I think the DR is superior on and off road when compared to the KLR. I've had the DR650 for some time, and it's been modified with a larger fuel tank, hard cases, carb, high compression piston, 4mm oversize valves, heavier springs, a better seat, and a windshield. Now it's a great bike for any situation.
That's cause you never had a Gen 1 KLR
I own 1 bike.. Gen2 KLR.. Shopped for all 3 , but settled on the KLR.because I get bored easy and like to explore trails that are miles away from home. Put on some front and rear crash bars and bark busters..and good knobs and now have a 90mph tractor.. The weight slows you down in the tight stuff but isn't any less fun.. The big girl digs for days and plows through some knarly patches of trails that impresses my buddies on dirt bikes. I've never gotten stranded.
I have 23kmi on it and it doesn't burn oil, runs nice and cool... takes sooooooo much abuse and keeps going.and going. On those days when I just want to get on the highway and B roads and cruse.. It has such a sweet spot at 70mph. And torque's itself around the twisties in such a fun way.
Plus with 240ish miles of range on a full tank, you can play this game... turn off your GPS, pick a direction and get lost for 2 hrs and try to find your way home.
I love this bike.
My 2nd pick would probably be the Dr.
Had a 2007 KLR and loved it but now have a 2020 DR650 with a 20 liter gas tank on it, will get around 500 km per tank of gas the KLR was around 450 Km per tank of gas. When it comes to off road I will take the Dr650 over the KLR 650 and find them bough great on the highway, I do not like wind protection, love to feel the wind on my chest, I also find the DR much better when you have to get past some one on the highway. Bough bikes will put a big smile on my face. I also have the KTM 390 Adventure which is also a great bike. great off road but like the KLR lacking ground clearance. But when it comes to gas the KTM will give me 3.3 liters per hundred fully loaded with my 33/64 liter hard bags on, so even with the 14.5 liter gas tank still get over 400 Km per tank of gas. For all day highway and some dirt roads the KTM but if I want to hit a lot of rough dirt and gravel roads, and some off road the DR is my choice. Great to have 2 in the stable.
I love my KLR. I ride it on single track trails and dirt roads. Its a pig on single track but its what I have. The main reason I like it is because I can scout for roads to ride without worrying about fuel. It will do whatever your capable of doing, and more. I am getting a KDX for tough single track though! LOL
great sized fuel tank on the KLR. many of us find you need something like the IMS 19 litre tank to do adventure riding on the other bikes and of course that adds a fair bit to the cost. enjoy the KDX when you get it! i assume the 200? great little bike! czcams.com/video/UftJBg0m_gc/video.html
I love my DR 650 with a suspension, carb, exhaust and fuel tank upgrade, and a 14 tooth sprocket! Perfect bike, inexpensiv and easy to work on! 👍🏻
I'm a DR owner and I love it! The only downsides I notice about my bike is the stock mirrors are a little too short and the seat is damn near hard as a brick! It has all the power and speed I would ever need and was cheap to buy and is cheap and easy to service. I love the simplicity and old school details and reliability.
The stock mirrors are so heavy too. I know it's not a crazy amount of weight but it's up high which makes a difference. The very first thing I do on a DR650 is replace these and remove those heavy bar ends. I've go the Double Take mirrors which have a nice long arm on them. czcams.com/video/te5IzD4HvZQ/video.html
Hay extensiones para los espejos y el asiento con el uso se vuelve cómodo
Yo he tenido muchas,Japonesas desde la decada de los 70' y todas me han gustado por sus componentes de 1° calidad.
He tenido alquileres de Trikers Honda Atc,50-70-90-110-200 "Odyssey" ( motor deCR 250CC. )
No sigo porque mi, Historia con motos quads,es muy larga hasta la fecha.
Ahora con mi querida Suzuki Freewind XF 650 del 2001..
I am riding my fourth XR, a 2010 XRL! I started in 1984 with a 350, it went 48k before I sold it! Running! I've owned two others since then till now, with untold thousands of miles on them. I've loved them all! Braaaap!
I bought a 2015 KLR camo and racked up 30,000 k's mostly commuting with occasional off road adventures here and there. I chose the KLR for it's better on road manners, big seat & tank and it did everything and went everywhere I wanted. Hopelessly underpowered and even dangerous when LAMS restricted on the highway, I removed the nanny state restrictions and it transforms the bike. I do miss it, but not the engine vibrations, my next ADV bike will have an extra cylinder!
I love my XR650L. Modded heavily for desert style off-road in Arizona. I also own and old KLR that is an absolute tractor. Great Video sir!
thanks john!
What mods did you get?
This is no comparison the DR 650 is the only bike to consider,it does everything brilliantly
dead on! you nailed the progression of those bikes perfectly
cheers mike! i see so many guys struggling to decide which to buy and hoped this might make it easier...
100% they all can be built to a different purpose, but out of the box this accurate.
DR650, Safari tank , Yenkro Fairing , comfy seat, dropped pegs , raised bars , Tm40 pumper carb/slip on exhaust / airbox mod , upgrade the suspension and get a set of knobbies .. you have a machine like no other. Turns heads , comfy, versatile , low maintenance . All while being the most reliable bike around.
I think my DR has become a permanent fixture. I've looked at the others, even thought about them but in the end I don't see either one fitting the bill for me as well as it does.
lol how? the only things that ever break on my DR and needs to get fixed are things that i break while wrenching on it because im double left handed. for example stripped threads and bolts
tighten till they strip then back off half a turn... perfect!
You influenced my choice in picking the DR650... two years after purchasing I'm thankful. It might not be a rockstar on the track, but imo, one of the most versatile and widely available (affordable) transportation machines ever made. Singletrack in a tangled swamp? Yes. Sustained 80 mph on the highway? Sure. Mixed surface, twisty back roads? Yeah, of course.
Dont just take my word for it though, the 30 years of sales and popularity speaks for itself.
Totally with you on this one. It won't suit everyone... but as a cheap reliable 50/50 bike it's hard to go past it. Then if you like the road a bit more? Go the KLR. Tending toward the dirt? Go the XR. We are spoiled for choice!
Have a 98 650L myself. Lots of mods. Lithium battery under the seat to get rid of the massive battery box on the side and I run an XR600 side cover. Kickstart from a 600R in addition to the electric start. Mikuni 41mm flatslide. NX650 2nd gear (closer ratios from 1-3) and FMX650 5th gear (taller for highways with 14/48 gearing).
I have ridden all 3 bikes both on and off-road. Even though I now own a DR650 with the normal carb and suspension mods, I agree with your conclusion...the DR is the best all-around performer. In addition, it's relatively easy and simple to wrench. The XR has the best stock suspension but is too tall (but can be lowered). The KLR is top-heavy making it a real pig off-road.
Had 2 KLRs and an XRL at different times. Vid is spot on! The KLRs were rock solid commuters and great for adventure riding on smoother dirt roads, but suffered in any silt/sand/mud/single track. The XRL was rough on the highway, and not light enough off road to justify its seat height and poor street manners. Next big dual sport is the DR for me! Seems like it may be the “Goldie locks” thumper!
Seems like these have been around long enough that you should not have to modify the Suzuki with so many upgrades that you are spending half what you paid for a new bike, just to make it more useable on the dirt or more road worthy. Then you have the Honda XR650l, that basically replaced one of the best dual sport thumpers ever made, the 1987 XL600. But, that is just the problem. Honda still uses the same motor they used in 1987, except it's a 650cc instead of 600. Still use the RFVC air cooled engine that is known for eating valves. Ask me how I know that. After owning an '87 XL600 when I was 13 years old. That is a weak engine. It was back and forth to the shop 3 times while under warranty. Always a valve issue. I'm suspecting it was due to poor cooling and oil circulation, not a great motor in extreme heat environments like Nevada. Then you have the Kawi 650. A big heavy beast that might as well be wearing street tires because it sucks in the dirt, regardless. I remember having to carry my XL600 out of a mud pit. Try that with a bike as heavy as the KLR. It's not going to happen unless you are built like Brock Lesner. These bikes need a huge redesign. Why they have not done things to make these bikes much better is beyond me. A perfect dual sport 650 is going to be water cooled, weigh around 320 pounds, is going to have excellent suspension that is totally at home on the dirt as it is on the street. Is going to be properly geared for both uses, offer a bullet proof drivetrain that you should not have to worry about for a loooooong time, have electric start, and a powerful engine that gets 100 mpg. Come on Honda, Suzuki, and Kawasaki, get your crap together if you are reading this. It's been 35 years since my XL600 was new, but rest assured it is every bit an equal to the bikes made today. Which is pretty sad really, when you think about it.
I have a 2015 DR 650 that bought new . great bike did my research before buying it. was hands down the best bang for the buck i changed a few thing as soon as I purchased it . first was the fuel filter and the chain roller and the seat and I put carry rack on it love riding it Great Bike
I have a DR 650 with 96000 kilometres on it only trouble I ever had was a leak in the cam chain tensioner gasket and I had to replace the O-rings in the valve covers .
I have had tt600s since the 80s I have had four in all and would be my favourite bike I also have XR600 and XR400 they are all good bikes and they all have their place XR as a far better dirt bike than all of them and the Dr is a better road bike than all
I own a XR650L un corked so basically a beefed up xr600r but want a XR400R just for single track and maybe even the track! I'm 6'3 230 how's the power on the 400? Better then drz400?
@@socaladventuresdavidt2557 not having ridden the Suzuki 400 I couldn't tell you but I imagine it would be more powerful than the Honda
i have heard the power is very similar and dyno charts tend to back this up... about 34 hp at the rear wheel. i used to own an XR and then eventually the DRZ but they were so far apart i couldn't give you a 'butt dyno' assessment.
@@crosstrainingadventure how does it do on freeways above 75mph?
Well, after many hours (over the course of two years, on & off) of consideration, weighing up the pros & cons of many bikes, I basically stopped thinking about it for a while and then I ended up with a bike that was never on any lists, a 2001 XT600E for $2000. It found me, which took out all of the decision making. It`s old, heavy, banged up and slow, but it gets me out and about exploring roads I have never been down. It`ll serve a good purpose for a while and then I`ll find an excuse to buy a 700 Tenere lol. Love your vids too by the way.
Yes!
nice. i did the same thing a few years ago but mine is a 1990. complete pile, i turned it into a scrambler and I'm planning on a dr as a next bike.
Someday I will find a used Tenere 700. It won't be as mighty like it was new but parts will be easy to scout. Combined with less electronic wizardry, then with a good DIY attitude I'll be able to to ride it to explore and won't be scared if I drop the bike.
Thank you sir, great ideas
I’ll keep my ‘82 xt 550.
I got a dr200 for my first bike and absolutely love it. I'm gonna get the dr650 next year and give the 200 to my lady. As much as I love my 200 I cant wait to have more power. Suzuki is definately the king of all the dual sports.
You'll love the grunt, Austin! And then when you do the power mods you'll get about an extra 10% which really wakes the bike up. czcams.com/video/z7GcNdlDwdk/video.html
Yes! I have always wanted to be in one of your vids! I finally made it on your channel on that sexy KLR!
thanks for the footage travis! and making it creative commons for others to use, i put an acknowledgment in the video text. 😊 that was some great terrain you guys were riding....
The first duel sport I had was the DR 600 kick start only and loved it. the second duel sport was the KLR 650 and loved it. then had a DR650, the DR 650 are much better off road than the KLR and not much difference on road unless you ride 2 up the the KLR is better. But the problem with the KL:R on the road is there is too much wind protection Ok for rain , but a good rain suit works good for the DR. I want to feel the wind on my chest that to me is a big part of riding. They were bough good on the windy roads but I find the DR a little better for the tight and faster windy roads. So if you do 2 up get the KLR other wise the DR is the best all round ride, That is unless you are a candy ass and scared they wind and rain will melt you.
I have a 09 KLR 650 it is perfect for what I do with it, I mostly ride it around town, but it is great for after work rides into the mountains, and to scout trails for my dirt bike, and I’ve camped off of it which is always super fun!
KLR owner here. I like it for what it is. A street legal dirt bike. Good lights and it does the job. Bolts seem to rattle loose all over the place and it was a pain to do all the upgrades they suggest. The Dookicky put it out of service for weeks. But that was because of work and when I took the case off I noticed one of the starter gears didn't have the needle bearings in it at all. So I had to find some new ones. And finish the doo. Which was a good thing I did because the spring had very little tension on it. So I think I caught it in time. It wasn't too bad a job with all the kits and videos out there. Never heard of one before I bought it. Just a letter and number salad. Just like the other bikes you talked about. But KLR was known to the state because they wouldn't let me get personalized plates that said KLR-650. Perfect number of letters for a plate. The price was the best part. Even the newer ones are a good price for a new bike. If you want a bike to learn on you can't go wrong with a KLR.
I miss my early 90's DR650R (red Dakar colours)
Great video comparison thank you🤗
I had a Gen 1 KLR for about 7 months. It was a love hate relationship. Sometimes I loved it when everything went well. Most times I hated it because it was so heavy. Anytime I got off balance in a slow technical situation it went down. Even turning it around at a dead end was a problem. The flimsy radiator plastics got broken immediately. I ride loose rocky Arizona and any time you fail on a hill climb you have your hands full getting it turned around. Once I tried to stop a fall and it split me in half like a turkey wish bone. I couldn't pick it up and had to get rescued. The seat was horrible on long road rides. After 30-40 minutes I was standing to get relief. I sold it and got a DRZ 400 which was a blast. Will never get a KLR again.
I haven't spent much time on a KLR, just rode a lot with a guy who had one. I would hate to be doing any rough off road riding with it. But it certainly ate up the highway nicely.
I had a horrible experiencie with my KLR. It's overrated, the factory big fuel tank and basic mechanics are the only highlights.
Awesome vid!! I had two KLRs (2000 C-model and 2007 A-model) and now own an XR650L. Everything you said are spot on. I can totally understand why you love the DRs so much. Cheers
They are so much fun if you don't mind doing a few mods. Mind you, I reckon I'd be even happier if they still imported the XR650L in Australia. Except for the lack of cush drive hub and oil cooler it would probably suit our riding even more. No idea why they stopped bringing them 12 years ago.
@@crosstrainingadventure yeah, we lost the XRs a few years back in SA too. Wish the XR650R was still available!
My late father dumped soo much money into his favorite bike, a dr650. The last mod was a high compression piston. I never liked the tractor of a motor and this upgrade made the biggest improvement. Not only more power, it really livened up it’s response and smoothed it’s vibes. What a bike!
honda got an impressive amount of power out of the old XR650R with mods like that, it's a pity that none of the japanese brands are interested in providing competition for the KTM 690 in this respect. mind you, the KTM is almost double the price so you can spend a few thousand and create a souped up version of the DR and still have change left over!
@@crosstrainingadventure to bad Honda didn't import xr650r to many years (to the states anyway). The biggest problem for big thumpers is emissions. Even street legal KTM's here in the states are restricted.
Verry informative and helpful. Thank you
The stock XR650L front sprocket does not fit on the countershaft correctly. This will cause the countershaft to wear prematurely, which is a very expensive and time consuming problem to fix. This can be solved by installing a fritzco brand or primary drive brand aftermarket sprocket, or a sprocket from an xr650r.
Once this is fixed most 650l riders do not experience any premature countershaft or transmission wear.
odd that it was left like that.
My 83 xl600r countersprocket is the same and it doesn't fit perfectly either. I might try that sprocket you mentioned next.
@@wobblysauce
True... It was a maintenance item to keep it greased but nobody paid attention.
thanks for the tip, rusty. i'll put it in a pinned first comment.
Love my '17(got it new) XR650L have done every mod for the motor except oil cooler and header.... but with the uni air intake, FMF power core 4 exhaust, smog delete, bigger foot pegs, Protaper bars and 42tooth sprocket its a beast. All I need is a bigger gas tank and to install my jets I have... which is basically daves Mod... i live in San Diego and the kit sent me 160 main and 55/60/65 jets and 5/32" drill bit for daves mod... love it. Has 13" ground clearance and 11+" of suspension and great on highway and amazing in dirt.
It was either the XR650L or DR650... went with XR650L just because honda reliability and seems like more of a following. Lot of KLR fan boys too. But seems like a wannabe ADV bike!
The front sprocket will be changed before I hit 5500 miles....and its not that thin I looked yesterday! Non the less with the rear at 42 I might go 14 to get back to stock gearing. Which is 3.00 im at 2.80 and it cruises at 75 mph without revving the motor out.
I use to wheelie the xl650 at red lights. Great bike.
I love my DR! Now that I've spent 300% of the purchase price on upgrades and accessories. I still use the stock frame, engine and side panels though.
for another $6000 you can replace those too. the only thing i kept were the mirrors, i changed everything underneath.
@@crosstrainingadventure Well then, it's still a DR!
😂
I’ve always liked the Honda. Bought an 06 yesterday and plan on keeping it forever
I live in the pacfic northwest of America. Here in South western oregon we still have a lot of public access to our lands even though it's shrinking.
We have lots of single track and 2 track with countless miles of fire trail logging roads and even sand dunes not far away.
I decided on the honda for those reasons.
The honda has enough suspension to handle heavy dirt rides it holds its lines extremely well. The tractor like power makes it chug way low in the rpm for tight trails.
The same thing that makes the honda a great open trail machine with holding its lines is a like and a dislike it feels heavy and wide making it feel not very nimble.
With a seat shave and a lowering link it's height is managble for shorter legged riders like me.
The honda to me doesn't feel super at home on the asphalt. I definitely don't lean it over hard.
The biggest complaint for me is the chain noise and counter shaft issues. Mine is fitted with the extra wide sprocket from fritzco. So its tight but still a big no no running factory sprockets. Not honda style imo!
I am considering cush drive mod at sompoint.
Prices on all these bikes isn't to bad in the used market!
Price,cushy ride and a want to do some light adventure bike riding is what keeps me on them.
Some day I will get me a new modern dual sport ktm,husky,or new cfrl. But till then these old school machines put a smile on my face
Good to hear, Dave! It's a shame I didn't find out about the sprocket issue before putting this vid together though.
I was running wider "R" sprockets for years before Fritz made the ideal sprocket for the "L". It combines the R width on the countershaft with keeping the chain in the grooves worn by the original sprocket alignment. There's a shocking amount of misinformation/misunderstanding out there regarding this issue!
I can totally lean my L through the twisties, no problem staying on the heels of sport bikes. You just got to practice. Learn to feel when the knobs start sliding so you can stay in that zone. It's not that different from sliding on dirt, you just have to get used to it.
I wouldn't waste my time or money on a cush hub. Just keep your Rs up when demanding power on the asphalt. It's the low rpm slam slam slam when you're trying to get power that does things in.
Just don't get used to the KTMs and Huskies out on the dirt until you're about ready to fork out for one. The L is awesome until you find out what one of them is like. Also the Tenere 700 looks pretty promising for medium dirt duty combined with road duty.
@@crosstrainingadventure Im not sold that the front sprocket is currently an actuall issue. Its some what of a legend on the XR groups, After a bunch of reading I started seeing claims it it may well have been a bad batch of parts that Honda used or maybe a bad supplier. That being said I still bought a wide front sprocket to be safe. Mine saw 98mi to 10,000 last year splines look mint and I ride enduro trails.
Thanks for reminding us of something we've known since 25, 30 years ago. 🤯🤣
I still ride my '04 XRL. Occasionally.
I don't know if any of these bikes are still available new in the US.
Would be nice to get your take on the newer lighterweight adventure bikes. You guys have had the long awaited T7 there for over a year... Cheers!
@THAT Guy
I thought they finally dropped it but it might be. They were up to 7k three years ago. They're damn reliable and very forgiving. It's no KTM but then again I blew a few KTM riders away...
very good review!!
Thanks Scott!
I own a klr and have ridden the DR and XR. My 2011 is getting a rebuild now after 105000km. The doohickey lost tension around 22000km. The spring was just hanging in there. It has a yz250 fork conversion, stiffer rear coil, some carb mods, and 16 front sprocket. Has done everything just short of hard enduro. Bought a like new 2009 while I wait for parts for the other one.🥺 At 32 inseam the klr was intimidating. Got used to the height and more trail use, I put the longer dog bones on.
Love the DR and XR but for me at the time, didn't want to put money into a new bike, like bigger tank and cush drive for commuting, and then the long distance bug bit me and that sealed the deal.
When you have all 3 bikes together, it makes for a real fun day. The aftermarket and knowledge for them is rediculous.
2017 KLR here.....love that bike.
Your comments are fair & well considered. For Au, an aftermarket 24L tank is a good idea.
I have ridden an XR250, XL600, & NX650 around Australia and whilst I am sure you are correct about oil temperature and how the Hondas would benefit from am oil cooler, I experienced no such issues. Many countries do not have the very larger distances between fuel stops like Au and thus the stock tank might be...ok (actually I think a 9L tank on a 600 is stupid), but I agree with your assessment of the best uses of the XR & DR. I am not interested in the KLR
Have had my DR for a couple of years and only done 11,000kms, mostly 5 or 6 day twin track jaunts around Northern Tablelands and North Coast of NSW. I love it! Not much in the way of mods, stock tank is a bit small for our rides so got a 30 litre a Safari tank (mainly because a mate had it cheap otherwise I'd have got a 20 litre Acerbis), Plex valves in the front forks, made a rack and pannier frames for soft luggage, knobby tyres and that's about it. No engine mods. My biggest beef is the high 1st gear. When it gets gnarly or there's a long creek crossing full of slippery rocks i say swear words....It leaked a bit of oil from the rocker cover which needed a couple of visits to the dealer but fixed under warranty. I find the seat is fine but in my dotage we don't do much more than 400-500kms in a day and some considerably less. Some days can be fairly long but rarely riding more than 2 hours without a break. We are lucky to live near some fantastic adventure riding and this bike is just a great way to do it. I reckon the XR with a longer range tank might be even better on account of the low 1st gear. Lack of cush drive and low highway speed probably not an issue for our type of riding. Seat height might be the main issue for me.
I'm keen to get another DR, Dan. I'll be doing the same as you... minimal mods this time. That last project bike was ridiculously time consuming!
I have a 2013 Gen2 KLR650, need Doohickey done soon,17000 KMs done, tall screen, Barkbusters, spotlights, the best all-rounder here, didn't know the gear and seal problems on the DR, and can't believe Honda didn't put a cush drive in the XR, had XR500A never any problems. Pity Yamaha didn't keep the XT660R, going I would have considered one next.
I haven't had a chance to ride a Dr650 but I absolutely love the Honda xr650l it's been lowered for a 5 9' rider. Been ridden all over Southern Colorado and climbs these mountains like a Billy Goat! 1st gear is splendid for slow riding through extreme rough terrain and it will pass a KLR no problem on the highway. 23000 miles so far 2006 model 3rd owner.
Great bikes, Steve. I'd buy one if they were available in Australia still. A bit more dirthworthy than the DR, not quite as comfy on the road perhaps.
2018 KLR 650 I love it ive installed crash bars on the front and racks on the rear it goes whar I want when I want. I would ride more aggressively off road if I were in a group it is very heavy to pick up no mater what technique you use. Other then that no regrets. My price from the dealer for an out of crate KLR 650 just over 9,000 out the door with 2 year warranty.
I have a gen one 98 KLR. I love everything about it (after mods) except the weight.
I have both 1st Gen & 2nd Gen KLR650s... The faring on the 2nd gen provides more protection & wind defelction than the 1st... But on both I personally could do with more torque in 1st gear so i might down tooth the primary sprocket or go up in teeth on the rear sprocket.... Stock exhaust has a bird like whistling & is weird but, With a pipe on the 2nd gen - It sounds a little beefier & a little bit of extra power....... Def get handle bar risers & aftermarket taller bars / Corbin seat for wider assed thick people & Recor adjustable rear shock IMO
great video, like to see you do one on the 1977 Yamaha xt500 lol
I’ve had both a KLR and an XR. Loved them both but found your assessment to be 100% correct. Now have a BMW F650Gs Dakar which is a totally overlooked option in the segment! It’s about the same weight as the KLR ( little bit lighter) and has more horse power!
BMW has a image issue ( only for rich guys that trailer the bike more than ride it is what comes to my mind when I think BMW adventure). They also seem to be less user rebuild friendly. I can find parts for my KTM anywhere and some professional grade info on fixes. Not saying I would not like a gs.
Yep, heard good things about the Beemer! But I just kept this to the budget range of 650s so left out bikes like the BMW, KTM 690 and Yamaha 700....
I’ve had 2 DR650’s in the past and would love another one. My main reason is I suffer from short leg syndrome and the DR650 fits me. I’ve beaten the tar out of my DR650s and they always remained faithful.
I hope they upgrade and continue! Australia is finally banning them for 2022 unless they put ABS on it. Fingers crossed...
Love my dr650!!! Just added peg lowering brackets...new exhaust and jets...racetech front and rear suspension...airbox mod...14tooth sprocket up front and plus one in the back. Check out my vids and thanks to Barry for the inspiration!!!
my pleasure! i'm hoping to buy another soon...
Hooks and wheels? Id like to do the same! How much did this roughly cost.
@@deaneverlean7408 it wasn't that bad. I got my exhaust through Ali Express for 105.00 dollars, 14 tooth sprocket was 35 through amazon, my front and rear springs with oil were 285 through rocky mountain atv mc. The airbox mod is free with a hole saw bit, the carburetor mod was free thanks to the cross training enduro guys. And the lowered peg brackets from dango designs were 79.00. Cheap but manageable upgrades that make a fantastic difference. You can check out my videos for more info. Thanks again barry! And dango designs and rocky mountain atv mc!
Have a gen2 KLR, love it, got it for the simplicity & value.. don't wanna try the others & maybe like em!.. also have a '76 amf "hardley" 2stroke enduro as a smaller bike (but don't wanna get it too dirty!)
I ride a gen1, it's awesome! I tried the DR650 and it felt like a toy compared to the KLR. I stripped mine of fairings and about 100lbs of useless factory crap down to the essentials, progressive front springs, doohickey, bigger stator, IMS tank, grippy seat, and a bunch of other stuff. With the front fairing off and a naked style front end as well as a higher front preload with lighter oil makes it feel a lot more active and responsive offroad.
Owned all 3..klr for me!
One advantage of the KLR650: I's a bike you'll grow into. As we get older, most of us ride less aggressively off road and the KLR is more our speed. It's an aspirational dad bike, and I honestly mean that in the most complimentary manner imaginable. I'm an old ADV wannabe guy.
@@Liberty4Ever lol agreed
I'm going to see if I can get a government grant for a study to determine how many cancer deaths have been prevented by the hearty belly laughs from these awesome videos. Great info, too. Thanks.
Glad you get it, the Aussie sense of humour often doesn't translate too well overseas 😊
@@crosstrainingadventure - You misspelled "humor".
:-P
That's inaccurate bastardised (note the accurate use of the 's' here) north American English though... you should should say 'misspelt'.
🤣
Decade after decade, again & again & again, the Mighty DR650 gets the gold...
I have 2017. It's so unfathomably reliable and extremely well built. Its a fabulous road and town bike maybe around the county too. But not really ideal for very long hiways.
And it's a pig of a dirt bike. Too heavy for mud but perfect for adventure. Great for dry trails. Sinks in mud (365lbs plus my 250)
but maybe I am these sinking problems due to my bald knobby. What an amazing motorcycle.
Its the wrong bike to put a big rear sprocket on, too heavy.
I love my 2011 DR650 but have had months of unreliability issues. Spent hundreds sorting it out through a Suzuki dealer. Kept going through plugs, jets, coils, leads, batteries. Just had new stator, coil, carb clean, filter, lithium batt and apparently its running fine. Time will tell.
It has all the mods as recommended by Cross training hasbeens so it fits like a glove. I am an older over weight rider but I think I ride ok on one or two wheels. I also ride a 1290R and 350excf but my go to would be the mighty DR650 for local forest roads and mild off road trails.
That's a shame Nev, it's so rare to hear about issues other than the well known ones. I wonder if it was assembled on a Monday by a worker with a hangover? Hope it all goes well from now on....
@@crosstrainingadventure Yes, the most reliable bike in the world is the most unreliable bike in my world. It has been frustrating but hasn't put me off her.
@@nev357 lets put it this way, i owned the most reliable used car of my life. 800 bucks and i think i spent 500 on parts over the next 4 years while i thrashed this poor FWD sedan offroad on muddy shitshows, water crossings you name it all with the power of momentum. 150k kms later i crashed it into a tree. bought another Tercel with only 100k kms and it has been an unreliable mess. sometimes you get lucky, not always.
The Klr 650 its beatiful... 🏍️😍
So glad I bought the xr over the dr with this info, I do mostly trail riding occasionally I don’t want to load the bike to get to the trails so I just ride it there, will be fitting an oil cooler soon
650r is an option too
I have a 1G KLR650 and 97 DR650 and what you mentioned about both bikes is true. The KLR is definitely better on the pavement. The 1G KLRs are little better in the dirt than the 2G also.
I just replaced my clutch on my DR and I did find the NSU screws were loose, like you could unscrew them by hand. They managed to stay in there for 40k miles, I took em out and loctite them back in.
The great thing about the DR and the KLR is the aftermarket you can buy parts to suit your riding style.
The DR650 also has a nakasil coating on the cylinderbore so they're very durable. My KLR burns oil like crazy now and it has almost 40k miles. A good majority of KLRs are oil burners also. What most people do is install a 685kit it smoothens the bike up, gives a little more power, and stops the oil consumption. Still gotta do mine.
A real pity about certain KLR models starting to smoke way too early. That hard coating on the DR seems to work a treat, I was reading last year about a guy with half a million kilometres ridden and he was wondering whether to replace the coating/barrel or not.
For any big and talls looking for a bike and reading this...Im 6'4" tall (32"-34" inseam) and weigh about 300lbs and own a XR650L. The 37" seat height is perfect for my height to comfortably flat foot at stops and with my weight loading the suspension the 13" ground clearance really helps for both on/off road. Plus I found the XR seat to be more accommodating to my size. As far as power and performance it seems pretty up to par with the KLR and the DR. Ive rode all 3 and for my size found the XR best. As far as cooling system goes this vid is right the bike gets very hot in the city and to this day find it concerning eventhough no problems as of yet. Lastly I must mention that since 1993 to 2020 the XR650L has gone pretty much unchanged so parts are super easy to find and reasonably priced for both OEM and aftermarket. Happy riding to all and keep that rubber side down!
cheers tyler. i wish they kept selling them here, no idea why they stopped in 2012. the DR650 is still a big seller and it has almost no competition!
@@crosstrainingadventure cheers to you too sir. A shame they dont sell them there anymore. They are truly a fun beast to tame. You should start importing them lol. Do they sell the KTMs and Husqvarnas there? Beast bikes but come with a high price tag here. Broke my heart when I couldn't trade my house for a 690 Enduro-R😂
Great review, I took over my dads KLX650R which has a license plate and making it into an adventure bike like your DR650
I used to have a KLX, a real shame Kawasaki did not continue it and include an electric start.
@@crosstrainingadventure the KLX650C had an electric start but I don't mind giving a good kicker since I'm still a young dog, the real challenge is gonna be fitting a KLR tank to it
I own a 1999 klr 650. I bought it used in Nov 2018 with 8200 miles on the odometer which is working.It came to me with a S W Motech CRASH BARS .If i was to suggest anything for this bike ,especially if off Road ,it would be these .I have crashed many times with no damage to the radiator or fairings. I also have a extra wide pegs, my blinkers have no rubber mounted arms to break off. we mounted them tight to the bike so they are protected behind the armour. Also theres a fork brace by eagle mike and the doohicky has been repaired. ive got luggege racks for hard boxes. along with hand guards.jnp light bar with spot lights. the list goes on and on. but heres the thing .I LOVE IT .this bike has tacken a beeting and never left me stranded. i do however want a dr 650 for my wife who is currently on a xt 250. love your content thanks
Just bought an ‘01 xr650l. Really wanted a new crf300l rally, but I couldn’t stand to see my savings go down that much. Really excited to get into a true dual sport bike!
What was price tag on the Rally model? Personally I would go for the extra grunt any day, just slap a windscreen and comfy seat on the 650!
@@crosstrainingadventure The rally version comes in at 6k in the us - excluding dealer prep fees. I snagged the XR for 3250, and another 600 in the classic upgrades. Might not be new and shiny, but if I can’t buy it twice I can’t buy it at all.
KLR 650 (Tengai 1990) Owner
I think this is pretty spot on. Subframe bolts can fail, also footpeg bolts. Gear leaver does have a weak weld.
I will say it can be pretty capable off road (how I know about the bolts). But it is the most bais for the road of all three.
That said, great bikes
I have just bought an XR650L with an NX650 (dominator) engine installed, oil cooler, larger gas tank, renthal fat bars, heated grips, trail tech vapor display and more mods to come. In the future I will look into the cush drive, and maybe buy a set from HAAN wheels.
the NX650 wheels will fit, same 32 hole hubs. need to make spacers and relace them with an 18 incher.
I've owned three Honda XR 650 the only bike I ever care to buy! I've done everything to mine including submerging it over the handlebars and you could not kill those bikes.
It was a close call for me between a XR650 and my DR650. But I found a 2013 DR650 with 300 miles in mint stock condition, and I've been happy ever since. I'll probably keep buying DRs like you buy XR650s. I'd like to ride an XR650 sometime, but I'm sold on the DR650.
@@Speed-Racer I didn't replace them circumstances in my life had me sell them
@Rick Simpson I own a repair shop 20 years now Yamaha are great bikes!
As a long term owner of a Gen 2 KLR, specifically an 08. I opted to go through the top end at 30,000 miles due to oil use. Still had cross hatch on the walls, just crap ring design. I have taken it on some pretty terrible roads, crashed it in some pretty terrible ways and it has always brought me home. It is just an awesome Swiss army bike. Fun o. Dirt, fun on pavement, fun to camp off of, fun to ride...pretty much everywhere and with the exception of upper fairings, everything in dirt cheap to buy, upgrade or replace.
The fan went on the one I gave my sun and they want $ 500 for a new one. I would not call that cheap, the bike is a 2007 and most likely not worth much more than that.
@@hiltonmcconnell2563 find a used fan? The bike is worth much more than $500 if it's not a husk. Hell, I crashed on my left side before I installed crash bars and my whole cooling system is fine still.
@@travislivengood2744 He looked for one but can not find one, He is still riding it but can't do stop and go riding or ride in the city, open road and fast tails ok.
Matthew? 🤣
I went to the dealership to buy a used XR650L but they had sold it the week before. They had a used DR650 so I bought it instead. Glad I did actually since I ended up mainly commuting to work on it. The much taller seat on the XR would have made stop and go traffic a challenge for a guy like me who’s only 5’8” (173 cm) tall. It’s a great all around bike. I can’t wheelie like Barry but sometimes I do get after it like the Aussie mullet man in this video. I swear he’s like the dual sport version of Ronnie Mac.
I'm a modified XR650L owner but modified for more dirt not HWY . Ride mostly dirt with it. Crf 450 front fork ,resprung in rear, electron carb. In so deep I have to ride the doodoo out of it!
I use to have a KLR650 in Aus. Had some great rides all over South, Central and Western QLD. My biggest problem was not the bike but emus whilst riding in bull-dust on outback roads. I’m sad I sold it. Not sure what to get next.
Had an 86 XL 600 honda- great bike- a little big in the woods but my small body adapted to it pretty well. Would wear you out on hard tight trail riding tho. It was kick start only so you earned your riding.
But booooyyyyy that first gear had power & torque for DAYS. That was my fav- roost for days in the woods
I have pretty much a bone stock XR650L (some minor upgrades) which is a couple hundred miles short of 15,000 miles. ZERO problems, change the oil, clean the air filter, check the valves like every 4,000, keep an eye on the brakes and tires but most importantly swap out the front sprocket and she'll run forever. I just ride this on back roads but have ridden a couple easy Dual Sports/Adventure rides. If it's going to be nasty I take my KTM EXC-F. I'm a roll on the throttle rider and I consistently get 52 mpg which I love. That's why I never wanted to put a pipe on it or desmog it. Where I ride it I love its quiet so I don't disturb anybody. Great bike in my stable but I'm also 6'-7" which fits me perfect.
This video helped me figure out pros/cons quickly… more off road shorter distance=XR. great balance off/on medium distance=DR more on with longer distance=KLR
Horses for courses, as we sometimes say in Australia, Dan! There's no best bike really, it just depends on the style of riding you plan to do. 😊
I agree with all of this. I got the 22 KLR and love it.
I'm glad Kawasaki made the changes necessary to keep importing it into Australia, Eric... mainly fitting ABS. We lost the DR650 this year for that reason. And no XR650L for over a decade now. 😢
Own 90's Kawasaki Tengai (klr 650 with bigger fuel tank and fairings) as my first bike. Only had one season with it, needs some fixing up, but cant complain yet.
Driven all 3: DR is my choice. For a 172 cm tall guy like me and a Acerbis tank it has been most fun than any other bike trailblazing Colombia's dirt roads
It seems to hit the mark with most, Juan. Possibly because it's a good compromise for riding gnarlier terrain but being good on the highway too. Personally I'd be really keen to try the XR but for some unknown reason they stopped bringing them into Australia in 2008.
I bought a DR650 today. The Honda is not lighter by a long shot. Honda 346lb, DR650 366lb Add an oil cooler. and the weight of extra oil as well to the Honda. The Honda tail section does not hold as much weight for cargo. One would need to beef up the Honda adding weight. Add the weight of lowering links for us short legged riders to the Honda as well. The wet weight of the DR650 also includes about a half gallon of extra fuel, (3lb). Honda tank is a bit smaller. For reliability, Suzuki addressed most of the issues on the newer bikes.
Just bought a dr650 2021 its awesome gonna get a gel seat pretty quick other than that the bike is smooth and has alot of torque and top speeds are good too
All klrs burn oil with age above 75mph. 2nd gens have wire harness wear issues causing shorts. Under sprung suspension for early year 2nd gens and below including 1st gens. Oil drain plugs can be ripped out due them sticking out past the plastic skid plate and the bottomed out suspension.
Thanks for the info, Thallium. I'll include this in a pinned first comment.
The NSU problem was finally fixed by SUZUKI in 2017 , it's nice that it only took 20years to fix it. I was wondering Barry if you have heard the rumor that the DR will be discontinued next year from the 1st November 2021 because all registered bikes must have ABS fitted. Another excellent video , hope you make quick recovery soon .
That's a false rumour that law has been out since 2019 and is only for road going bikes, off-road registered and dual purpose bikes are exempt from this because it is deemed unsafe to have abs on off-road bikes
If their is any truth the to dr650 being discontinued it would be due to emission laws since it's a big single that is carbureted and won't be able to pass emmisions for much longer
By 'fixed', do you mean they put Loctite on the bolts, zaq? Hopefully this helps but for something that can destroy the engine I'm not sure if it fully qualifies as a fix. 😢 Haven't heard any rumours about ABS etc at this stage...
Then you'd better buy a DR650 the way you buy an AR15.... get em while you can!!
2nd generation KLR, post 2014 maintenance suggestion. At 6000km intervals, unloosen doohickey bolt (lower left side crank casing)and hit lower sump area with rubber mallet to allow spring to
re adjust. Should hear a light click as it does so. My 2018 model has 35000 km. No trouble thus far with above tip. I remain hopeful!
Thanks Katherine, great tip. Any idea if it applies to gen 3 as well?
I've owned all 3 bikes and agree with everything in this video. The great thing is they are all amazing bikes, they are just good at slightly different things with a lot of overlap.
Think it's safe to say that rider skill is a bigger factor than what bike is chosen.
If you suck like me then get a KLR and be happy, if you are good then get any of them 😁
Couldn't agree more!
Miss my KLX 650, had plates on it, decent suspension, would smoke all the other big bore thumpers of that generation
i used to have one! a real shame they didn't put an e-start on it and develop it into a light high performance adventure bike. 😢
But would it smoke a xr650r? OR THE mighty husaberg 650Fe
@@fourseasondirtbike2506 r is not dual sport ;
I've got a 1987 klr650, it's my favorite bike. I've updated the suspension and did the "doohickey" fix. I've used it for commuting to work and it works great on road. Even updated the suspension isn't as robust as my wr and I've bottomed out more than once getting a little to aggressive on some of our local single track, which it handles just fine, it's a tractor, just crawls up and over everything. It is pretty heavy but it can go up most trails my wr400 and my kx250 can do and I make it a point to try trails with it just to see if I can do it, like Chris Birch on the large ktm dual sports. It isn't perfect but it isn't the worst, and with the updated exhaust it sounds cool. 😁
what was your exhaust mod, robert?
@@crosstrainingadventure A Lexx Mxe slip on silencer.
As my first bike, I was fortunate enough to own a Kle 500. Although it is not on the list, I believe it is worth mentioning due to its comparability with the KLR. Essentially, it is the KLR platform with the GPZ 500 2 cil parallel engine, with some basic retuning. It is slightly heavier than the KLR and perhaps more road-oriented, but with less than 500 euros, it could become a great adventure bike. I am not sure if it was sold outside of Europe, but here there is no cheaper solution. I bought mine for 1800 euros. The machine is indestructible, just like the KLR, but in my opinion, it has a better engine for long travels.
I own a klr and love it.
Yes its heavy ,yes its a slug, but it will keep chugging along.
But mine is heavily modified. Suspension, exhaust crash bars etc.
I also own a Yamaha Super Tenere and a Honda crf 450l and I still go to the klr for certain trips.
Great videos man I just want to say thanks for posting them , I’m 39 just got a dirt bike ,only rode one 6 times before this . Now the reason I’m saying thanks is my son is 6 , and as I was watching all your training videos he was sitting beside me playing Roblox ... he spent more time watching my screen . Well we went out last weekend and he jumped right on my buddies little electric bike for kids and just ripped it . He was using so many techniques from your videos without even realizing it lol made me jealous. He is now getting a Kawasaki 50 cc for his birthday next month . And all he wants to do is ride and watch your videos
great to hear! i had to unlearn so many mistakes at the age of 50 when i decided to actually learn to ride properly. it would have been so good to learn the right way as a kid... glad your son is!
All thanks to your dedication man . Thanks again , and you should come ride in Alberta some time , right next door to bc
The KLR650 has the largest tank: 6 US gallons. There is an aftermarket 7 gallon plastic tank that was used on the US military's diesel KLR650 available.
My engine was destroyed when the doohickey broke. Definitely change it. I think Moose makes a better shifter. With the big tank the bike is top heavy and easy to dump on rough dirt trails.
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I love my 2018 klr I ride 2 up most of the time the stock seat is absolutely terrible that’s the first thing to replace but for the money we’re can ya get a brand new bike ride 2 people and just about go anywhere for 6 k how can ya beat that
I have a KLR, have spent a bunch on it, it suits my riding, but cent help but want more... T7 some days, new Bonne Scrambler some days then other days I want a DRZ OR SWM Super Dual. So, guess the KLR does it all on the cheap
I have had the XRL since 2017, bought it new, 25k miles on the clock now, mostly city and highway miles with lots of crappy roads, it comes stupidly lean from factory to pass emissions, it shouldn't be ridden with the stock jetting to avoid destroying the engine. The output sprocket is a big deal as well, but Fritz sprocket takes care of that for just a few bucks, cheap insurance. Other than that, you can ride the hell out it for many, many miles, the overheating "problem" is not much of a problem, I live in the tropics, and mine never overheats, I believe it happens to some people because of bad jetting and/or don't get this is a low revving lazy engine and push it hard to gain RPMs to give a false sense of security, you can chug this thing down on RPMs, no need to push it.
Yeeeehaaaaw! Please do a Yamaha wr250r review! Love to to sse that!
I ride an XR650L I love riding single track on it but it is 100% heavy for what I like to ride. Im wishing it is a 300exc or a 500exc. Ok not really I just want to get one of those also for more aggressive technical stuff though I still ride that stuff on my XR. I think you put it very well explaining the strengths of each bike.
there aren't too many bikes that would fit your category, unfortunately. i'd really like to see the DRZ400 taken out to a 500cc but keep the relatively light weight. not bad on single track but would lope along on the highway at lower revs too. probably the honda CRF450L is the closest thing at the moment but it's expensive.
@@crosstrainingadventure Ive looked at the 450L I think they say its approx 50 lbs less and claimed similar power to my 650L. I got my first ride on the KLX250S I picked up for my girl to learn on and after riding something that much lighter I am know that I need a 500exc-f and just do less road on it.... That 250 kicked my ass and I think I was way faster. Modern suspension and proper tires helps.
The short wheelbase of the XR650l, combined with the height can make it very exciting when a gust of side wind hits you. If you keep the speed down they run pretty well on the road for the capabilities they have off road, I love mine, but would get a DR650 if I didn't have other road and Adventure bikes in the garage, I think it's the best all round bike. I actually prefer the air cooling too, one less thing to go wrong on an under stressed single and less maintenance. When riding with others on slow twisty off road trails, it makes me feel good when their liquid cooled much more capable dirt bikes start burping coolant, I just keep an eye on my oil temperature gauge that sits in the oil dipstick hole by the headstock, I'm always amazed how cool it stays even in 100 degree weather, if it looks to be getting hot, it's amazing how quickly it cools down if you stop and look at the scenery for a few minutes, the frame makes a good oil cooler.
It's a real shame they stopped importing them into Australia back in 2008... we were never told why.
@@crosstrainingadventureThat's too bad, while these bikes that have been built forever are not to everyone's taste, for so many they are perfect for just getting off road and into the outdoors and having fun. I can't claim off road riding skills, or even the energy, now in my 60's, to even reach the limits of my XR650l, but it sure works for me and never misses a beat with simple maintenance easily carried out in the garage.
I love my DR650SE!