Are there different XR650R
 

Hi
Being on the verge of buying one of them I was browsing the net searching for as much info as possible and found out that there are substantial differences in weight and seat height between the bike sold in Australia and the one sold in Italy.
weight in Au = 138kg in Italy=128 kg with electric starter
seat H in Au = 935mm in Italy= 960mm ( it sounds frightening)

The price is also much cheaper in Au.
Euro 8,700 in Italy and "only" Au$9990(equal to Euro 6550) at the Hondashop in Perth. I have been offered a discount of 700 Euros in Italy but there is still a huge 1450 Euro difference.

I am a bit confused especially about the price. Is it possible that 10 kg less are so expensive? Or are there other hidden reasons(apart from the greediness of the italian retailers)?

aussie prices tend to follow USA pricing - we get to pay more in europe. that said, I wonder if the stats are right for the italian bike - electric start, price, weight, height ... I wonder if they're for another bike altogether! eg XR650L with wrong weight!
I know of some differences between models eg USA is AC, I'm told, where most others are DC. also some markets get taller gearing and aussie bikes tend to have all the extras such as lights and indicators (which might explain the extra weight)

If your sure its the XR650R then i recommend you get one manufactured after 2001/2002. These had a poor clutch bush and was prone to siezing. Its an easy fix though.

Not heard of an Electric Start XR650R, all are kickstart only AFAIK? There's another recent thread here somewhere about some South or Central American models being fully road legal, these may well weigh & cost a little more?

ALL Xr650r's are kickstart. You can get a kit which gives you a button start. A starter motor, battery, electrics and customised case and starter gear.

Althoug this is very nice for wizzing around town, if something goes wrong in the wilderness , your gonna be screwed as no one will have the parts you need.

I dont know why people think they need electric start. My Xr kicked first time everytime. If your's wont start second kick then it needs looking at.

Change the pilot jet to a 68 as they (uk ones anyway) leave the factory running lean for EU laws. makes a huge difference.

THe EU Xr has all the plumbing making it road legal with very little effort.

hi
One may not want an electric starter but the Italian version comes with both kick and electric starter. The version is by Dallara.
http://dallarahonda.com/xr650r_new.htm
It may be that it is modify in Italy before being sent out to the market. The bike is perfectly street legal.
The kick starter version is just 125 kg which is 13kg lighter than the Australian version, at least according to the relative specks
How is that possible? I will sure put mine on a scale as soon as it arrives.
safe ridings

I would think the electric start version would be heavier. The chassis and engine and wheels must certainly be the same so i dont know where they could shed 13K, especially by adding a battery and starter motor.

I think the Dallar version must be a mod. Im almost certain that the Italian bike would be the same one for the rest of Europe. The aussy bikes usually have to be limited and further restricted as far as I know but im not sure of this.

sorry i didn't made myself very clear.
The 13kg difference are for manual kick starter version .
The electric version is "only" 10 kg lighter.
How a battery + electric kick starter + additional bit and pieces weigh only 3 kg is a bit of a mistery though.
safe ridings

The battery will be very small as room will be tight and the starter motor wont be very big as the battery wont be strong enough to push it. 3Kg seems about right. Small batterys on big singles arnt a good idea anyway, as they struggle unless they are in tip top condition. Some KTM's and Husabergs suffer with this.

I think the 10k weight difference will be because the lighter version wont have the extra subframe (used to hold mudguard, indicators, lights, plate etc) Maybe even have the plastic headlight cover(like the US) instead of the euro glass one. Little things like switch gear, indicators, horn etc will easily add upto 10K

Also maybe one of the weights was a dry weight (no oil & fluids)