XR650L tank mountings?

**andybee** · #1 14 Mar 2002

I'm currently importing a new Honda XR650L from Oz. While it's bobbing about in the sea (on a ship hopefully!) I'm getting a new (big) tank made for it. What I need to know is, does the XR650L have the same tank mounting arrangement as the XR600R? If so, easy....!

thanks :-) Andy

**wbagwell** · #2 14 Mar 2002

Unfortuantely, the tank mounts are not the same between the two bikes.

The L has tabs that stick out of the front downtube that you'll need to use to hold the tank in place, and the rubber pads on the top frame tube are also different. I can't give you all the specifics, but I do know they're different.

Wright

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Wright Bagwell
http://www.geocities.com/wwbagwell/

**andybee** · #3 14 Mar 2002

Thanks Wright - that's a big help. IF you ever have a moment when the tank is off (any you have a digital camera).....you know what's coming! :-).....could you send me a photo of the top and side of the top rail of the frame??! Don't worry at all if this isn't possible through!!

cheers, Andy

**wbagwell** · #4 15 Mar 2002

I will send you some pictures this weekend. I have to take the tank off to do a valve adjustment anyways.

Cheers,
Wright

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Wright Bagwell
http://www.geocities.com/wwbagwell/

**wbagwell** · #5 18 Mar 2002

**andybee** · #6 18 Mar 2002

thanks Wright! you really are a diamond :-)

**wbagwell** · #7 19 Mar 2002

If you need more detail, let me know and I'll do another round. Still didn't get to adjusting my valves so I have to take the tank off again anyways.

Wright

**fireboomer** · #8 19 Mar 2002

Wright,

Took a look at all the pictures, great to look at!
Some questions:
What is the little cable doing on your brake pedal? Is this to prevent that it will bend backwards when it hits the ground? Would you strongly recommend this?

**wbagwell** · #9 20 Mar 2002

YES! Anyone who's done a lot of trailriding can tell you that brake pedals and shifters very frequently get mangled.

I put those cables on both the shifter and the brake pedal. In fact, on the very first Dual sport ride I took my XR on, a stick got wedged between the shifter and the engine and bent the shifter out almost a perfect 90 degreees, because I hadn't bothered to wire the shifter yet. oops!

I wouldn't even consider setting off on a trail bike without wiring them. As for other types of bikes, I'm not really sure. If it looks easily bendable or breakable, assume it will get destroyed in a crash and take precautions.

Cheers,
Wright

**fireboomer** · #10 20 Mar 2002

Thanks for the advise. I will 'wire' brake and shift pedal on my transalp. Leaving for Marocco in May and don't want to get stuck with one of those broken. Looks like a simple but decent way to avoid this kind of problem.

**Chris Scott** · #11 7 Apr 2002

We're also importing a batch of XRLs from Oz to UK and need big tanks. Via other routes we've confirmed mounts are not the same as XR6s (shame), but have found a guy in Cairo who has a 40L mould for steel XRL tanks (as well as XR6s) and is about to make us up some tanks. prety cheap too - $200??
Our plans for the XRLs are on my website.

Chris S

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Author of Sahara Overland and the Adventure Motorcycling Handbook, among other things

http://www.sahara-overland.com