XR650L Battery relocation - Horizons Unlimited

**TimPinder** · #1 16 Apr 2004

I have made just about every usual modification to my XRL and have always been delighted with the bike as an overlander. I also do a few Enduros on her which always requires some serious weight loss! The one area which has always bugged me has been the position of the battery. I am now thinking of trying to fit it under the seat, where it should be and wondered if anyone has had any experience of chopping up the air box!

Tim

**POB/London** · #2 16 Apr 2004

There was some discussion on the XRLUG Yahoo Group about this a while ago. I also considered it, but ended up deciding that the current setup isn't so bad. It's not very vulnerable and most of your loom, fuses etc are together in a nice waterproof box.

I was going to chop out the foam from under the back of the seat to move mine and fit a small sealed battery and a fuse box. In the end it was a lot of hassle for possibly a kilo of weight saving. The wheel can already thump the underside of the fender on full compression anyway - didn't smash my electrics on a particularly "gnarly" jump, dude.

You're much better to remove the stock headlight unit for a kilo of high weight reduction. Or have you already done that? There's an article on DirtRodders about putting the XRL on a diet; I assume you've read that?

I would be circumspect about chopping the airbox too much - to have a bike breathing around a battery, when the side panel and the seat lower is the only dirt seal anyway seems to be asking for trouble....

How is the Pig in enduros then? I can't wait to race mine, assuming it makes it back from Africa and the Middle East....

**TimPinder** · #3 18 Apr 2004

Thanks for the advice. You are probably right about it being too much trouble but I imported this bike from Australia with my heart not my head! I have done all the usual weight saving with headlight, handlebars etc. I will check out the discussion on the XRLUG to see if anyone has made the transformation. The real reason I want do it is when you get stuck in sand/mud and are trying to pull her out it would be a lot easier without the battery box. Also makes her a little slimmer in the tight stuff. I think all the other enduro riders think I am nuts. Especially when I did one of the events with the Acerbis tank on! I now use a tank from a XR600 which is better.

I have also had a 1989 Honda Dominator since new, which is the reason I fell in love with the XRL. The Domi air box might fit with a few modifications.

Thanks,

Tim

When the

Quote:

Originally posted by POB/London:
There was some discussion on the XRLUG Yahoo Group about this a while ago. I also considered it, but ended up deciding that the current setup isn't so bad. It's not very vulnerable and most of your loom, fuses etc are together in a nice waterproof box.

I was going to chop out the foam from under the back of the seat to move mine and fit a small sealed battery and a fuse box. In the end it was a lot of hassle for possibly a kilo of weight saving. The wheel can already thump the underside of the fender on full compression anyway - didn't smash my electrics on a particularly "gnarly" jump, dude.

You're much better to remove the stock headlight unit for a kilo of high weight reduction. Or have you already done that? There's an article on DirtRodders about putting the XRL on a diet; I assume you've read that?

I would be circumspect about chopping the airbox too much - to have a bike breathing around a battery, when the side panel and the seat lower is the only dirt seal anyway seems to be asking for trouble....

How is the Pig in enduros then? I can't wait to race mine, assuming it makes it back from Africa and the Middle East....

**POB/London** · #4 23 Apr 2004

Reposted from Keith Barron of the XRLUG. Hope people find it useful and Keith doesn;t mind. IT CAN BE DONE! Still not sure of the point though...

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XR650L battery relocation photos. That is a K&N filter pod on there. I ride
this bike everywhere. To work every day and
hit the dirt as well. I am not a real fan of deep river crossing so my
guess is this is a bad idea if you are into that.
I ride in the rain all the time. No problems. I have been on 14 hr long fire
road trips, no problem in the dust. I rode for 2 solid days on dusty roads
one weekend. When I got home I just washed the filter and it was as good as
new. I have been riding with this set up for 3 years now. No problem. I just
washed the filter again last night and oiled it. Looks pretty good.

Ok here we go again. I posted similar photos on this group a few years ago.
Here they are again. See all images
by clicking on the links below.

http://members.shaw.ca/keith-barron/...s/DSCF0269.JPG

http://members.shaw.ca/keith-barron/...s/DSCF0270.JPG

http://members.shaw.ca/keith-barron/...s/DSCF0272.JPG

http://members.shaw.ca/keith-barron/...s/DSCF0273.JPG

http://members.shaw.ca/keith-barron/...s/DSCF0275.JPG

http://members.shaw.ca/keith-barron/...s/DSCF0277.JPG

http://members.shaw.ca/keith-barron/...s/DSCF0278.JPG

http://members.shaw.ca/keith-barron/...s/DSCF0279.JPG

Keith Barron
Kamloops BC Canada