XR650R good for c/s america trip?

**amicamg** · #1 22 Sep 2005

thinking about the XR650R for my trip to central and south america
its lite fast but not comfeterble
what do you think

**RichLees** · #2 22 Sep 2005

I think you should fit an IMS tank, wide bars and pegs and ride standing up - like I did for 20,000km in oz and africa. no bike is comfortable if you get a rash from riding too much

**Matt595** · #3 22 Sep 2005

Very good bike from what I heard, except the fact its liquid cooled and the frame in aluminium.
I think its one of the better currently made, similar in quality to KLR's and XT's.
Quite powerfull and 100% reliable until 50 000 Kms.

Matt

Oz · #4 23 Sep 2005

So what does go wrong post 50,000kms?. I am thinking of using an xr650r also but am trying to gather info on its weak points. so far I have found an excellent US site http://www.xr650r.us./issues/ lots of good info here.
cheers
Oz

[This message has been edited by Oz (edited 23 September 2005).]

[This message has been edited by Oz (edited 23 September 2005).]

**Matt595** · #5 23 Sep 2005

Hi,

I can't say anything for sure cause I don't know the bike by heart.
Here they made a "standard" test to the 650 XRR split at 50 000kms and conrod head bearing cage was a bit worn.

Matt

**amicamg** · #6 25 Sep 2005

thanks for the info
that u,s, site is very good
amicam

**RichLees** · #7 25 Sep 2005

all 3 of our XRRs did fine. one had more than 50,000km on it and it still sounded and ran sweet. as always, its a mix of how you ride a bike, how well you maintain it and how lucky you are! like any bike, an XRR can be ruined in 10-20,000km or fine and dandy for, I'd guess, 100,000km. its a honda, dammit!

***Touring Ted*** · #8 22 Dec 2005

A lot of people cast off the XR for the soul reason of comfort, small tank and because its built as a desert racer and due to frequent service intervals.

Iv got an XR and currently converting it for a 6 month South American trip.

My point is, this bike is very easily and fairly cheaply converted into a good long distance machine. Acerbis 23l tank is £200.00 and easy to fit. Iv had my seat reshaped and filled with gel pads for under £100.00 and now the seat is more comfortable than my old Africa twin. Sure, it shakes a bit but once your body gets into harmony with it, its fine.

As far as the 50 000k issue, this may be the case on poorly maintained machines. If you change the oil regualarly (a VERY easy task) and look after the machine, there is no reason it should let you down. Iv read reports of XR's with 100 000k on the clocks and still going strong with routine maintenance.