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-   -   Can you recommend goodies for an XR650L (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/honda-tech/can-you-recommend-goodies-xr650l-38283)

Baron Bolton 8 Oct 2008 23:06

Can you recommend goodies for an XR650L
 
I've just bought (another) XR650L, and I wanted to see if anyone could recommend a good...

High output stator
Aftermarket set of footpegs (Moose/IMS?)
Jetting kit
Sump guard
Tail light assembly

Cheers

mollydog 9 Oct 2008 01:17

Baja Designs in S. California
 
cheers!

Patrick :mchappy:

JMo (& piglet) 9 Oct 2008 06:23

If you want a high output stator in the UK, try Electrex World - very good customer service and they do all sorts of stator & regulator rectifier upgrades. I have their 200w stator in my XR650R.

Out of interest though, what is the standard output of the XRL? It ought to be pretty decent already if it's running 60w headlight and a battery for e-start?

For jetting, I'd probably take a look at Thumpertalk forum for owner's recommendations there (based on your current exhaust/air filter etc.) - the jets themselves will be available to order though any UK Honda dealer.

Footpegs I can recommend XR's Only (which are the same as IMS, just a different logo x) - $80, so around £45 and they'll ship to the UK.

Bashplate - I'm sure someone like Utah Sport do one - you could try John at XR Stuff in the UK and see if they having anything/can get you one in from the USA.

As for a tail light - if your bike has the huge bracket nasty on top of the fender like the US bikes have, you can get a pyramid shape surface mount lamp like you get on DR350's, which looks similar to the XR400/650R lamp from Race Spec or similar.

Happy modding!

xxx

BCK_973 10 Oct 2008 20:21

jetting
 
This tread is a bit old but has lot of data on jetting
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-question-8680
Tail ligths are a lot to choose.I put on my bike an Mayer mini enduro(with self done LED insert)
There are also good LED aftermarket truck ligths.Watertigth too.
In wich continent is your trip going? it will be diferent choices on goodies depending on climate conditions.
Post some more info on this.
Karl

Baron Bolton 11 Oct 2008 01:59

The whole story, like it or not!
 
Right, if you're easily bored, hit the back button about now...

The whole story is something like this. I'm planning a round the world trip, on a bike (duh). My (probably optimistic) plan is to cross Europe, Russia, Mongolia. Then ship to America/Canada, down to south America, across to Africa, and slowly home to England.
Leaving sometime in March/April next year, hopefully travel for about a couple of years.

I've been saving for 2 years, and should have a sensible amount of cash by the time I leave (£10k absolute min). I've handed in my notice at work, and have absolutely no commitments.

I've owned loads of bikes, and worked on most of them to some degree. I've actually got an XRl at the moment, but couldn't resist the project of importing a 2008 bike from the states.
So I've bought the bike, and got an arrangement with the dealer that I can get after-market stuff sent to him, and shipped with the bike. I've already got quotes for shipping, and pretty much decided on Kingstown as the agent.
They're a little more expensive than some, but price includes everything apart from taxes, and I used them recently to import a split screen camper van, and they were fine.

I've modded the XRL I've got at the moment, and I love the bike, but want to make the most of it, especially as I'm spending so much time on it.
At the moment, I've got the following on my XRL

-22litre Acerbis tank, custom mounted
( http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...a-xr650l-32787 )
-Renthal Twinwall bars
-Iridium plug
-Twinair filter
-Dynojet kit
-White Brothers E2 exhaust
-Heated grips

I plan to run a pair of baja lights on the bike, that I bought in Cambodia. I also want to run heated grips, a heated jacket, and GPS. Hence the stator question.
The standard stock stator is 186w or close to that. So the 200w option doesn't look like a major breakthrough, but maybe 14w equates to more than I expect?

The dealer I'm buying from in America offers a stator (2x100w, moose racing) for $150

The dynojet kit is great, and with the exhaust, totally transformed the bike, phenomenal change. However, internet people say that 'Daves mods' are better, and my bike suffers from an apparent mis-match between jets.
Even when gently accelerating, there's a surge at a certain throttle position, and the opposite when decelerating.
has anyone cured this problem, is it just fine adjustment?

As far as taillight assembly goes, I'm looking at the Baja designs LED offering, see Ebay item No 160265342032
Any experiences with this anyone?

Are you still there? Anyhoo, if you're still reading, what do you think?
Thanks for the input so far.

Mollydog, I checked the Baja Designs site, and I think I'll go for the smog block off kit and bash plate from them.

JMo I just emailed Electrex World, so hopefully they'll be able to sort something out. they didn't list anything for the 650L on their site, but they're not exactly widespread over there..
I just ordered the IMS super stock pegs for the bargain price of £41.69, hopefully they'll stand the test of time.

BCK_973, I hope the above info gives some background on the trip

mollydog 11 Oct 2008 04:44

Baron,
You probably know as much or more about the XRL than anyone around since you currently have a copy.

Let us know how things progress.

Patrick :mchappy:

JMo (& piglet) 11 Oct 2008 08:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baron Bolton (Post 210504)
As far as taillight assembly goes, I'm looking at the Baja designs LED offering, see Ebay item No 160265342032
Any experiences with this anyone?

Yes - it came as part of the DS kit I got for my 650R last year... I didn't use it as I bought the DRC LED insert for the standard fender lamp on the 650R, but I gave it to a friend who put it on her DRZ400 and it is nice and bright, and I would hope pretty robust long term...

It may look a bit odd on the 650L though? as it mounts under the fender, and the fender slopes down quite a bit (like the 400R) doesn't it?

As for the stator upgrade - the 'problem' with the dual wound (ie 2x100w) stators is you have to split the wiring - typically one half feeds the headlights and the other half everything else (brake light, tail, horn, instruments, heated grips etc.) - personally I think that's a right faff having to wire in relays etc. - hence the recommendation of a single 200w system that Electrex do (or as Mollydog says, you might be able to get a 250w one at a push).

However, I do wonder if you actually need more than 200w on an overland bike? The general concensus is that you shouldn't ride at night (especially in unfamiliar territory), and particularly if you've already had a long day in the saddle?

If you've got two years, then surely you don't need to be busting a gut to get RTW, and hey, you're not going to see much at night are you?! x

I can understand you might want the heated grips, but I'd have thought a single 55/60w headlight would be fine... it's only the Baja Racer guys who want/need to run big lights?

Just trying to save you a few pennies (and a load of hassle!)

xxx

Baron Bolton 14 Oct 2008 21:08

Thanks again
 
Cheers for the input folks. Nice to see the top two Honda tech forum spots taken up with XRL discussion.

I'll certainly be bracing the sub-frame Mollydog, in much the way DJOROB has, in the post above/below this one. He's set the bar pretty hight with that powder coated frame and custom toolbox bash plate. But there's always room for a splash of competition eh!?
I'll also have a bash at welding up an aluminium replacement box for the battery as you mentioned.

I've not found a stator with an output of over 200w, but if you can find info on anything available I'd appreciate it.

JMo I hear what you're saying about riding at night, and I can see the logic in trying to follow the rule. But, at the same time, I think it's inevitable that it'll happen at some point, and I'd sooner be prepared for this.
A big part of this whole preparation game, for me, is the enjoyment of playing with things, making stuff and changing things.
In reality I'd probably have as much, or more fun, just jumping on the bike as it is now and setting off. But I love this tinkering.

Looking at the rear fender on the XRL, I think you're right, and I may have to do something to make it fit properly. If it doesn't work out I'll have a look for another honda fender, and try and make that work. There's a guy that put a CRF450 fender on, and that seemed to work alright.

Thanks for the tip on the dual wound stator, I'd not picked up on that at all. I'll go for a single output setup if anything now.

Warthog 14 Oct 2008 22:26

Hi,

This may be obsolete, but I'll offer it for your consideration anyway...

I have an XR 400. Most agree its a great bike, though I had been told that it could be a pain to start when hot, given the kickstart. However, I bought mine with an Edelbrock Quik-silver II flat-slide carb. It is very easy to tune and comes preset for certain conditions (Standard filter with open can etc).

For jetting purposes, perhaps you can investigate these. I can say that my XR starts first time virtually every time, hot or cold.

This carb looks like a brick but the bike goes like the clappers...

See what you think. (web-site is a pain to navigate IMO)

Edelbrock.com - Performance Carburetors, Cylinder Heads, Intake Manifolds, EFI Systems, Fuel Pumps, Crate Motors

BCK_973 15 Oct 2008 01:46

Odyssey battery?
 
Odyssey Batteries | Battery Specifications
Have seen them working!!!.....maybe you should take one?
If you plan to use panniers insist that the under pipe goes to the footpeg bracket.don´t let the complete rack+panniers+seat+rider resting only on the subframe! Believe me on that.I have not reinforced the subframe only used a distributing forces idea on the rack.If you go soft then its a diferent story.
My advice is that you try to keep the bike as "closest to standart" as posible within your ideas.
Keep more data flowing in here.
Karl

BCK_973 15 Oct 2008 01:59

rack type
 
meine XR 650 L (94) pictures from off roading photos on webshots
If you decide for panniers you could use the standart roundish pannier holder and extend one rod to the footpeg brackets.(driver not pillion)
This way your subframe is having a second holding area and sending stress energy trough it!
Tesh had a very ingenious idea then(back in the 80)
Just my tipp to you.
Karl
PS: i am using this configuration 14 years now(build it in 94!) no cracks or weldings so far.

Baron Bolton 15 Oct 2008 21:41

Superb
 
BCK that looks absolutely superb, and now I see where the user name comes from :-)
The frame looks excellent, and I hope to do something along those lines soon. I've set my heart on making my own panniers too, which will probably be difficult, expensive and not of a great quality, but decision's made.

How did you attach the panniers to the frame? I've looked at all kinds of options, but not come across anything that stands out as perfect.
I met a pretty knowledgeable chap at the HU Ripley meet, who was talking about using these special vehicle panel fasteners... You can get vehicle panels that need to be removable in an emergency, and a company makes fasteners that are really solid and secure, but if you really wrench at them, they'll come loose, and this sounds like just what you need when riding off road. With the possibility to lock them on properly for security when on road/in cities.
Anyone able to shed any light on this product?

I've not come across those batteries, and from England, postage could be expensive, but I'll look for something similar over here.

Warthog, those carbs look sweet. Any idea what they do to fuel consumption?
I've done quite a few mods to the XRL that I've got at the moment, and besides having a bag load of power, it's also using a lot less fuel!!
But I'm sure past a certain point, you start having to pay for extra power, with both fuel consumption and reliability. Any thoughts?

I've also seen aftermarket ignition coils and CDI units. Not sure what to make of these though, my initial reaction is that it's over the top

Warthog 16 Oct 2008 06:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baron Bolton (Post 211149)
Warthog, those carbs look sweet. Any idea what they do to fuel consumption?
I've done quite a few mods to the XRL that I've got at the moment, and besides having a bag load of power, it's also using a lot less fuel!!
But I'm sure past a certain point, you start having to pay for extra power, with both fuel consumption and reliability. Any thoughts?

I've also seen aftermarket ignition coils and CDI units. Not sure what to make of these though, my initial reaction is that it's over the top

I cannot tell you about how it compares to stock, but I was managing 75 mpg on my XR, when I rode it from England back to Estonia. Admittedly this was mostly motorways at about 50-60 mph, but it was carrying the last vestiges of my life in the UK, including a massive chain!!! (about 40-45kg of stuff, plus me...) That said, I did tweek the carbs recently as I felt it was running leanish. Not a huge adjustment, but we shall see how it compares.

How that would translate on an XR650, I don't know.

What I can say is that the Edelbrock as an innovative design that means you can set the carb with it on the bike: there is an adjuster connected to the needle and you dial clicks in or out to richen/lean off. My richening only took 5 mins with the bike complete. Handy for altitude adjustments on the road....

The carb has not jets to change, just a needle, so if your bike is really out, you need to change the needle (I've not had to), but once that is done all finer adjustment can be done with the dial mentioned...

As for coils and CDIs, again for the 400, I know that there are White Bros units that you can get: I once read that they up the redline, but I can't be sure...

HTH

Baron Bolton 29 Oct 2008 22:07

JMo, that's the puppy
 
Thanks JMo, I contacted Electrex, and they've got just what I want. Not sure how I could have found it without you, it's not on the website, or advertised anywhere.
Even comes with aftermarket reg/rect, maybe to dissipate the extra oomph I guess.
See email below...

"Hi Gabriel

We have a three phase high power generator which is supplied with a regulator/rectifier available for this model; this has a power output of more than 250 watts. This generator is not on our website at the moment.

The part numbers are G443 and RR17, price £144.00 + VAT and delivery. If you wish to order, please telephone email or fax your details to us together with credit or debit card details.

Regards
Peter Houghton
Electrex World Limited
Tel: **44 (0)1491 682369"

Warthog, I read a couple of scare stories on t'interweb about the Edelbrock carb, and I'm not keen on the kind of modification projects I read about. The stories were probably a tiny minority of cases, but I'm pretty happy with the current setup I've got.

JMo (& piglet) 29 Oct 2008 22:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baron Bolton (Post 212930)
Thanks JMo, I contacted Electrex, and they've got just what I want. Not sure how I could have found it without you, it's not on the website, or advertised anywhere.
Even comes with aftermarket reg/rect, maybe to dissipate the extra oomph I guess.

Glad they sorted you out - yes, they are very knowledgeable, and as you say, can often come up with a solution which isn't necessarily in their catalogue - they did this for me with the rallye bike, and 200w generator and a special heavy-duty reg/rec to handle the heat and vibrations (of desert racing and stuff) - they have great customer service too - recommended!

xxx


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