Honda XR650L reviews

I bought my 2006 XR650L two weeks ago and am extremely happy with this bike. In two weeks I have put 600 miles on it which includes a 200 mile trip down the freeway,riding some fire trails in the gold country and a day with my son at Prairie City Cycle Park. How many motorcycles can handle this kind of variety? Not many. I was surprised at how smooth this thing is on the freeway.You would think that a 650cc one piston thumper would vibrate your bones apart but it doesn't. Right now I am getting 55 miles per gallon and I'm sure it will improve when it is broken in. Overall, it's a great bike. If you buy one you won't be disappointed. Show less

I have been riding bikes for 40 years and this is the only time I've owned a motorcycle that is good on the street and in the dirt. I believed that if it could do both it was no good at either. I was wrong. I purchased this bike on May 1, 2006 and put 140 miles it that day. Riding home on the freeway at 75 miles per hour, I was surprised at how smooth it is. You would think that a 650cc one-cylinder thumper would shake your butt numb, not the case. I filled up the tank for $6.00 vs. $50.00 in the car and found a dirt road along the American River. The tires work well in the dirt. I slid around corners, hit potholes and found a couple of jumps. This bike has good suspension, it's well balanced and I like the high ground clearance. I plan to use this thing for dirt riding with my kids and running around town. It's the best of both worlds. Show less

I love this thing; it is my first bike and I had the choice between the 600RR or this bike and I think I made the right decision especially since everybody and their momma got the RR. I feel a lot better knowing I'm riding something that can perform great on the street and in the dirt if there's ever an emergency and traffic is terrible as usual, I can always go off road and take some short cuts. It has lots of power and plenty of upgrades available to have fun with. This bike is worth every penny. Show less

The XR650L is a true dual sport motorcycle. I recently picked up my '03 XR pre-owned with 2000 miles in great condition. It handles rough ground with ease and tackles the pavement with a "what is that guy riding" type of style. I'm 6' and the 37" seat hieght is a bit of a stretch and can put you in an awkward position on un-even ground, however I see it as a bearable handicap on an all around great machine. Show less

I have had my bike a few months after selling my CBR900rr. I miss the 150+mph blasts, and twisties. But after 6 years was due for a change of pace and less tickets. This puppy maxes at 85-90 mph on highways. But it's a fun kick in the pants to hooligan around on. I wish they made a factory tank that was 4-5 gallons and will buy an aftermarket soon to rid that problem. I have taken this in some pretty wild hill scrambles, mud, ruts and jumps. It does very well considering you can commute on it as well. The rear seemed a little soft on big landings. But it's not a CRF. Buy one and have a blast. Show less

I had certain expectations when I bought this bike. Thus far it has done very well. My other bike is a BMW GS1100 so I needed something lighter to really play off road. However I still needed to get to the trails. For what is a dirt biased bike it performs very well on the freeway cruising at 75mph with plenty of grunt left to pass. Off road you will need to get better tires always a balancing act with on road riding in mind. It has a very smooth motor with plenty of grunt. In comparison to the Suzuki 650DR it is a thousand cheaper. YEAH The KLR650 from Kawasaki is the same price but vibrates so bad that your teeth shake loose, you will need stocks in blue locktite! Fairly new into the market is the BMW 650 GS a much better bike on road but you do not want to go off road with it plus at almost $10,000 they have out priced themselves. This is from someone who will be buried with my GS1100. Last in my list of bikes that I have tried in this area is the KTM 640 adventure. A fantastic bike and the closest in performance to the Honda. But it weighs more due to the larger gas tank. Which the Honda could do with. Better fairing for the road then the Honda. But once again it is in the $10,000 range and too much for my wallet. The Honda has been around for a long time its flaws can be fixed with aftermarket parts for a very reasonable price. Down sides to the Bike: waiting at the trail head for my brothers to catch up with me! Show less

I rode offroad years ago and decided I needed something that could do both once I could afford one. Just rode the bike to Madison in the rain(about 190 miles round trip) and the only complaint I have is the small gas tank. I will be replacing it in the very near future. If you don't mind stopping often, it won't be a problem but 70 or 80 miles for me is too soon (remember I am in the 300 club so your mileage may be a little better). I can't wait to get this thing offroad for real. I've done some short little runs on dirt roads and it is just asking to be let out. Show less

I got my 2004 XR650L a month a go, WOW. It's a blast to ride, the bike is exactly what I expected. It's not a sport bike,and not a motocroser either, but its definitely the right compromise. It is fast enough on the higway and good enough for light offroad riding. I don't mind the small tank, since I need a "rest" quite often. With a little rest every 100 miles or so you can go ANYWHERE! My only complaint is the height of this bike,it's real tall. There is a lowering link from baja design but I decided not to install it. I think I can live with the bike as it is, and I don't want to fool around with a superb machine... I guess the guys at honda built it that tall for a reason. If you have any questions or comments don't hesitate to e-mail me. Ride safe. Show less

I'm a 46 year old male and this is my 5th dual purpose Honda. The other four were the XL series, so it goes without saying I've been out of the saddle for a few years. The engineering has come a long way since the old XL days. I was concerned about the tall height of the XR650L before I made my purchase but after a few hours in the saddle it felt very natural. The extra height gives you more swing arm travel for a soft landing on those big jumps. I agree with the websites I've visited that say the bike needs to be un-corked before you can truely appreciate the hidden power in this big bore thumper. I ride a 50 / 50 mix on the street and in the dirt. The XR650L is a well designed dual purpose bike that truly fits the bill, be it street or dirt. In closing, if you ride hard in the dirt and enjoy doing 3rd gear wheelies, then I'd recommend you un-cork the air intake with an after market air filter, remove the air inlet snorkel, rejet, install a free flow exhaust, and add three more teeth to the rear gear. There is just enough chain for you to remove the stock 45 tooth gear and replace it with a 48 tooth gear. I can still cruise down the freeway at a crisp 75 mph even with the additional teeth on the rear gear. Show less

This bike is great ! I have now owned it for three weeks and it just keeps running better everyday. I spent a full day with it out on the trails and it did great. I was beat at the end of the day but the bike was ready for more. I ride this bike to work everyday that I can and it loves the intersate. If you want a bike that you can use for fun or to ride to work this is the bike for you. Show less