NX650 Dominator
 

Hi, I'm planning a RWT and looking at bike options. The Africa Twin and Transalp seem to be within my reach but what about the Dominator? My budget is tight and I don't think spending more money than I have is an option and the Dominator seems like a fairly good alternative. Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Steve

Hi Steve,

Great bike for the job.

The only drawback is the tank range, around 150 miles. Plenty for north america and Europe but a hassle in several countries around the globe.
It will be a good idea to increase that capacity with bigger tank but it will increase your budget...

Good luck!

Between those 3 bikes Africa,Transalp,Dominator my opinion is go to the air-oil cooled Dominator.

(plus)Dommies are bulletproof bikes,light bikes,with very good handling and runs with low quality fuel....

(minus)The only problem is hard to find a Dommie with low miles in a good condition...
Consumption is almost the same with Africa...

Four of us are off to Siberia on Domi's next year. The fuel range is the problem as pointed out in the earlier post. We've overcome this by making engine guards that will hold a 5ltr jerry can on either side, effectively increasing the tank capacity from 16 to 26ltrs.
If you want the details or photos - please let me know and I'll supply them.
(we've also made pannier racks and a large rear rack too)
Cheers
Paul

Acerbis sell a tank for the Dominator. 22 litres. With 50mpg, you don't need anymore>

There is a LOVELY Domminator in the for sale section at the moment I'm sure ...:innocent:

I had a Dominator for around 3 years and really liked that bike a lot. Its Honda quality and its many kilos lighter than both the Transalp and the Africa Twin. And less top heavy as well. The only con I noticed was the fuel consumption. 50-55 mpg was the most I could get even at very moderate driving. I also owned a Transalp 600 wich I usually got 60-70 mpg out of even though the bike was many kilos heavier and a few more HP.

Anyway - better suspension and a bigger tank and the usual improvements and it will probably be a great overlander.

Thanks Paul. Photos would be appreciated.

Thanks
Steve

If I were going to keep my Dommie and do a RTW on, this is what I would do....

Acerbis Tank 200
Dynojet kit 80
Hagon monoshock 300
Progressive front springs 80
Rally pro guards 60
Renthan Dakar high bars 40
Footpegs 20
Sheepskin 19


Total 799



Sounds a lot but it's PEANUTS to completely sort an Overland bike.

So id you bought that gorgeous one in the for sale section for £1800 and spent £800 on prep, you'd be ready to conquer any continent for £2600.

You can't even buy a smoking BMW F650 with half it's engine hanging out for that .....

The only thing left to do is update the stator and reg/rec. The stock on that bike is very low.. like 150 watt? If you are going to run heated grips or any auxiliary lights, you probably should upgrade the electrics.

The stator is well up to heated grips...

Aux lights, you'd go for LED's like the ones sold by Zen Overland.


:thumbup1:

I'm a big Honda fan, but nobody seems to mention the Dominator issues?

Fitting a bigger tank generally reduces the airflow to the head and with a bike already known for dropping valve-guides as a result of overheating, this might not be a good idea. And they are known for high oil-consumption (or rather in my case: no oil consumption for a long time and next time you check, there's no oil :innocent:). Yes, something that can be managed, but it's a hassle if you have to start carrying oil with you on remote trips. And service intervals on singles like the 650L is about half that of bigger machines like AT's. E.g. I find I can stretch my XR600's services to 2500km, a 650L maybe to 5000km, but with synthetic oils, I can easily do 10-15k on a big V-twin (plenty of reasons, but mainly to do with how hot the oil gets inside a water-cooled vs air-cooled engine and the amount of oil in the sump).

The 650 engine is very unstressed compression ratio of 8.5:1?) and thus very reliable. But the subframe of the bike is cheese. The rear shock too soft and tending to sag. And the standard silencers/exhaust don;t seem to last that long. And I found the 650 motor very underpowered- true I'm a big bloke, but my XR600 has more grunt than the 650.

Good bike and simplistic but look up some known issues with them. And if you've weighed it all up, it might be simpler going for something like an AT. Only 30kg difference anyway

If you're planning crossing dunes, wading waist deep through mud and need to pick the bike up 50 times a day, yes lighter is better. But a bigger bike (like the AT - there's a pattern here) is more comfortable and less tiring to ride if you plan to do long distances or spend many hours each day in the saddle.

:tank:

Comparing a Dominator to an Africa Twin is like comparing a Willies Jeep to a 110 Defender...

They're are totally different... I've owned three AT's too. And yes, I love them..

The Dommie does have it's niggles (like every bike), but they're are very easy to live with and very easy to fix before you head off.

However, I could write a list about three times longer about what is wrong with the Africa Twin... I've done full rebuilds/restorations on AT's.. They're a pain in the ass to work on and they're have loads of poor quality fittings.

Fuel pumps, crap undersized brakes, flexing front forks, horrendously top heavy, sticking choke plungers, terrible seat, rotting exhaust studs, corroding/cracking wheel rims, crumbling callipers,.. etc etc

The AT is still a favourite though isn't it ?? And so Is the Dommie.



For those interested in the Dommie, valve seats are only really a problem on the early engines. Oil coolers are available. They will over heat is you run them low on oil. So don't be an idiot and let your oil level drop.

It's not as powerful as a AT but then again it only has one cylinder.. It's WAY lighter, Air cooled, gravity fed fuel, easier to ride and super easy to service. ..

Africa twin 220 KG
Domminator 170 kg

That's about 50kg. But the AT feels about 100kg heavier because it's so stupidly top heavy.

Subframe is cheese ?? It's not designed as an Icebreaker. The subframes are strong enough to suit the bike with sensible luggage. Only a fool buts 50KG of luggage on a small framed bike.

Suspension is SH*T on the Dommie. Hagon do a replacement shock and progressive fork springs. Transforms the bike so I hear..

In a long winded nut shell. They're different bikes with different applications and they both have their problems. I'd say the Dommie is the lightweight simplified version of the AT. Less power but far less weight.



And the GOLDEN RULE 1.01 of Serious Overland travel is ?????????? KEEP IT SIMPLE , KEEP IT LIGHTWEIGHT

:blushing:

I met a couple on a campsite they own in Cornwall who have done a couple of RTWs on Dominators - Gary and Loo Hillier. Bluehills Campsite neat St Agnes. Loo publishes "The Motorcycle Diaries". A worthy read if she is still doing it.

http://www.motoadventure.co.uk/.


Sent from my iPhone with a smile :)

Not wanting to get into a fight but...
 

I wasn't trying to compare a Dominator to an AT- Sheffsteve mentioned them right in the 1st post when he posted the question and I have experience of both.

It's chalk-for-cheese and personal preference. I noticed your post before on modifications required and saw the rear shock in there- agree with your list.

BUT...

The wet weight of a Dominator is 181kg. The wet weight of an AT RD07 is 218kg. Plus you're adding weight on the Dom with a bigger tank and more fuel. So it's not 30kg, but it's not 50 either.

As I said- the Dominator is a lot simpler and easier to maintain on bigger stuff, but in my opinion, it needs more maintenance on shorter intervals than a bigger bike (that includes 'other' bikes, not just AT's) and that was the point I was trying to make.

As to weight carrying capacity: Only a fool? Plenty of us out there and not everyone is minimalistic. I weigh 130kg in my jocks. Add 30kg for luggage and where do you end up. Let's break down luggage allocation:

Trangia + fuel cannistor 4kg
Food (dry and wet) 5kg
Spare parts (heavy duty tubes, patch kit, pump, epoxy, pipe clamps etc.) 7kg
Water (we're living remote next to the desert) 4-10kg
Swag/tent 5kg
Spare clothes and bathroomy stuff 4kg


I'm already on 35kg. + my bulk, and it's a recipe for disaster

Not knowing how "big" Sheffsteve is, going for a Dom might require him to brace the sub-frame. - point I'm trying to make

And Sheffsteve never once said how/which route he is planning for his RTW trip- simply talked about expenses. If he's never planning to go seriously off-road, why build a super-dooper desert machine? Why not go for a bit more comfort? It's really his choice isn't it? Which also make me question "And the GOLDEN RULE 1.01 of Serious Overland travel is ?????????? KEEP IT SIMPLE , KEEP IT LIGHTWEIGHT"

Very debatable but depends on where you're going and how. Then also how big you are how easily you handle a/the bike. My Dad always said- 'if you can;t pick up you own bike, it's too big for you.' But that's debatable to.


And as far seat-comfort: horses for courses. I still have the original seat on my AT and find it more comfortable than any of the other bikes I have.

And I don't necessarily find the AT top-heavy compared to other bikes. But maybe again cause I'm bigger and can handle it easier? But you're right, in certain conditions, it's downright difficult to ride, e.g. sand. My AT is not standard anymore. I preferred to modify it and make it more powerful and lighter, rather than go for a smaller machine. This makes it very nimble and nice to ride, but still not as easy as a small big-single.



SOOOOO, after a very long-winded reply, this brings me back to the point I was trying to make:

"If you're planning crossing dunes, wading waist deep through mud and need to pick the bike up 50 times a day, yes lighter is better. But a bigger bike (like the AT - there's a pattern here) is more comfortable and less tiring to ride if you plan to do long distances or spend many hours each day in the saddle."


And again, I stuck to comparing the AT to the Dom, because Shelffsteve listed them. Not because I prefer the AT (which I do). I was not trying to trash the Dom.

The right answer is...

There is no right answer...

They're all good bikes aren't they... All with their problems and all with their right applications.

I've got an XR650L too. The real off road version of the Dommie. That's a great bike. Even more simple but needs the subframe beefing up a lot.

Or is the Dommie the tamer version of the XR650L ?? Or is that the SLR650 ..

doh


And there is no way I'm trashing the AT... It's in my top three favourite bikes of all time...I've off-roaded and travelled on one... Now I'm looking at Africa Twins on Ebay again :thumbup1:


About the weight thought... No matter what the numbers say, the AT feels twice as heavy as the Dommie.. And I move bikes around all day long in my job.. I'm 6', I train a lot and consider myself pretty fit and strong... And I'd never take one RTW. Size limits your options. In many ways..

"Size limits your options. In many ways.. "

Agree, but it swings both ways. Where you are on the scale, is for you to decide.

I've been looking for a Dominator now for the last 7 years. But all the ones that are well-priced, are 5000km away. All the ones close, are too expensive. I think it's a good all-rounder if comfort is not important. BUT, I (me and my opinion) also find the 650 engine seriously underpowered, so for me, I'd do the pipe, the dynojet kit and a high compression piston (fully understanding that reduces the reliability, but I'm a power-junky).

Also- I'd probably trash the fairings and low-guard immediately. I had and XL350 Sahara once upon a time, and the plastics just got int he way. So eventually opted for a naked trail-type bike. But that's just me.

Further on my list- I'm not sure the bigger tank is worth the expense, the draw-backs or the effort. I'm planning to go for low-slung jerry-cans on the side of the motor. Cheaper, lower weight distribution, removable and more fuel capacity.

In the end, Id' probably just modify my XR600 to do the job. But oh how I hate that kick-starter in the mud... :thumbdown:

Size limits options.

Unless you're an off road god, big bikes are horrible in sand, mud. And if you want to Overland in the most beautiful, adventurous places in the world, you HAVE to ride a lot of off-road. You often avoid that track you might have taken on a smaller bike.


Shipping is more expensive, you can't fit bigger in hotel lobbies in rough towns, you can't load big bike into small boats to cross rivers, It's VERY tiring riding and picking up big bikes off-road, you're more likely to crash, big bikes break more when you drop them. etc etc

Don't get me wrong though. If I'm not going off-road I'd prefer to ride the bigger bike all day long... Who wouldn't !!


As for power.

They are horribly restricted from the factory.. My XR650L has been de-snorkled, jetted, new exhaust etc.. It pulls like a freight train now. I could totally beat a stock Africa Twin in a drag race. I open that throttle hard and it pulls me up to 80mph with no problems.

Compare that to my un-tuned dominator and yes, you have a VERY good point. It feels like a bike with half the engine size. It's still powerful enough for a RTW though. It's very low tuned which makes it economical and reliable..

Price

The price of Dommies goes from about £1000 for a RAT to £1800 for a clean, well looked after machine. You need to spend about £500 to get a Dommie 'Sorted'... I think that is a BARGAIN for a bike in a style/generation which is quickly disappearing.

Soon all we will be able to buy is overpriced BMW's with horribly complicated 'dealer required' electronics or Japanese 'pretend' adventure bikes which are all imagine and little else.

I think the Air cooled, Carburetored, steel framed, 'light weight' and easy to self service/repair adventure bike is a dying breed. They will be rare in 5 years.

When someone wants to do a 5 year RTW and doesn't want to ride a bike that they don't have to plug in every few months to keep running or need a NASA qualified technician to diagnose; or spend ridiculous amounts of cash or parts, then it's these bikes they will be looking to.

I'll be keeping my XRL AND my Dommie. And I'll probably buy another Africa Twin too :)

:thumbup1:

1000-1800?!?!? doh

And I get upset over $2500 for a model with 96k on it? :huh:

E.g. Honda dual sport 650 | Motorcycles | Gumtree Australia Moree Plains - Moree | 1034153048

Maybe I need to reassess my attitude, but then again, we still have DR650's freely available and DR400 to boot. I'm not a Suzuki fan, but they are good value for money and tick all the boxes.

That's a lovely condition Dominator. 1989 though. Mine is a 2001.

I had a DRZ400. Rode it to Cape town. Just couldn't fall in love with it. DR650SE's are nice.. Pretty heavy though.

Know what you mean- I feel the same way about Suzuki's. Got a DL650 sitting in my shed, but can't ever get myself to ride it. Have to rely on vistors to do it for me :oops2:

DR650 is 162kg wet. Lighter than the Dominator.

I know you're right about the numbers.. It just doesn't feel it though.

It rolls and rides lighter than my XR650L... It's like a toy..

You know.. The standard Dommie has twin steel exhausts. They must weight 25KG..

Mine has a lightweight arrow system on it. That's the difference. I think I've saved 15 kg. AT LEAST..

I've ditched the steel tank for an Acerbis and lost the front fairings. That's more weight saved. The bike looks better and has 23L fuel capacity now.

Such as easy bike to modify... I wish they were all this easy.

A quick off-topic question if I may, how does a uncorked (only snorkel, jets and exhaust) honda 650 XRL/Dommie engine compare to the yamaha's XT600E engine? Big difference in power?

The Honda is already winning with an extra 50cc.

My XT600E had standard jetting/airbox but with a sportier exhaust. It struggled to do 70mph.

My Dommie, also standard jetting, airbox with sportier exhaust will happily do 70mph but not much more. More grunt in the mid range too. I'd say it was about 5-10% more powerful.

My XR650L has a cut away airbox, dynojet kit and high flow exhaust. It's actually got an early Dominator engine in it (they are identical).. I've not tested it's economy though. I'm scared to. haha. The 650L is TALL and has long suspension. It's not as stable at high speeds. I got it up to about 85mph and it was wobbling all over the place. Like any big enduro bike would.


So ,the 650 is more powerful but not hugely in it's standard form.. There are more factors at play here too. If you tried an earlier XT600, they made more power I believe.

The XT also responds to tuning. And the XT600E engine is pretty bullet proof as it's so lowly tuned. It has a strong steel frame and horribly heavy steel wheels which lets it down. The twin carb is more complicated too.. It's definitely the more 'budget' bike...

Wet weights.

XT600E 170kg
Dominator 178kg (Big twin exhausts weight a lot) - Est. 170 kg without.
XR650L 160kg


I think I'd still go with the Honda's.

My mate has an old Honda XR650 in good order and it's goes like STINK! When I had a go I couldn't believe a trail bike could be so damn quick. His bike has no cush drive and therefore the uptake is instantaneous - It almost pulls your arms off. He loves it and I don't think he intends to ever sell it, it really is that good.

On a separate note - Don't forget the venerable YAMAHA XT600E - Probably THE best budget RTW trail bike ever made?

Having ridden one around south America I wasn't overly impressed. Not by the latest E model anyway.

The engine is proven to be reliable, and its simple to work on..

However, the suspension is SH*T beyond words. The fittings and accessories are really cheap and poor quality and it's pretty dam slow for a 600. And man... Does that bike CORRODE....

Still, its a good foundation to build on.. It's very solid and dependable and it should never let you down if maintained.. With decent suspension, aluminium rims and some light tuning, it would be a winner..

OR did I just describe the older Tenere ;)

EDIT: I Hope i did not hijack this thread. If i did please move my post to the right place or delete it.

Hi Guys!

What a nice thread you have here, just exactly down my alley. Took me a couple of days to find though.

I am just about to buy a Honda NX650 Dominator from 1995 with a motor that has a milage around 20.700 km. It has recently been fitted with a Mikuni flatslide carburator, K&N filter, and almost new Metzler tyres. It also has an almost new chainkit, and new "big-headers" exhaust pipes.

The thing is, that i do not really know a lot about this type of bike (or bikes in general), which is why i would love to hear your oppinion, or at least what i should be looking out for when buying this machine. The thing i do know though is that i want a bike that i, within a period of the next two years, would has to get ready for a one-year round the world tour. Therefore i would love to have some input on whether this bike could serve my purpose, or if i am a complete fool and have not seen that it so obviously on its way to the scrapyard (if you get my point)?

I don't know if you are able to get anything out from the pictures, but here is a link for it anyway: Honda NX 650 Dominator �rgang 1995 - Brugt Offroader Motorcykel til salg - Privat - 123mc.dk.

It will cost me around 2440 £ (GBP), which in a danish context doesn't seem like a lot for a bike like that (in apparently good condition, and with a low milage).

Please let me know what you think.

Cheers, and thanks for blessing me with this wonderful forum
/Per

Ps: does anyone in here know if this acerbis-tank fits a NX650 1995 model (it says 10321/90 on the bottom of it)?:

https://whatimg.com/i/rib5Qe.jpg
https://whatimg.com/i/TXH7gd.jpg

I had an '86 model 600Z Tenere- model with kick and electric-start. Had more torque than the Honda at low revs. Had less topend- in fact at 5500 rpm, it was making more db than hp. But is was economical and really easy to maintain (no fuses- just a breaker-switch) and if you change the sprockets, you have an overdrive type engine that happily sits fully-loaded at 3200rpm at 100km/h day-after-day.

But I agree with Ted- rear-suspension was crap. It was almost impossible to find any 2nd hand unit with >30kkm on the clock that didn't need a replacement shock.

The specific model had some other quirks (and don't want to hijack the thread and go into detail), but my main issue with Yamaha: gets tricky to find spares for a model older than 10 years. If you can, they are really expensive (e.g. gears, heads, starter motor, etc.) Older Honda's are just cheaper and easier to maintain.

Squily and Touring Ted both make valid points on both the Dommie and the AT and I am grateful for everyone's input me being an out and out sports bike rider your comments are well received.

Since I wrote the post I have bought a 1989 Dommie with 23k on the clock which has had four owners with the last owner looking after the bike for over thirteen years. I paid under £1000 and for my money I got a bike that is in excellent condition with a tall screen, braided hoses,Lazer pro enduro exhaust, progressive front springs and Wilbers rear shock and the guy threw in some well made aluminium panniers. In addition I'm close to sourcing an Acerbis 23 litre tank.

Ted makes a good point in keeping it light and simple although Squily cites the extra power and less frequent servicing of the AT as a strong point and after having my first ride out in the Peak District on the Dommie at the weekend I feel the power issue could be a problem (or is it the fact I am used to SP1 warp speed acceleration?) along the way.

My reasons for choosing the Dommie were the simplicity and the weight of the bike and also cost given the fact carnet's will have an effect on my budget.
I did my research and found that both the Dommie and AT have their own faults and nuances but I swayed towards the Dommie as I felt it suits me, my budget and my mechanical expertise (which is limited).
I feel confident the bike will do the job and after seeing various reports on how the Dommie devours oil, has a plank of a seat, will only see 80 mph before it implodes, has chocolate suspension and a petrol tank from a lawnmower I made my decision through your input and not just my own ill informed opinion(s).

I am planning my trip around the world for next year so plenty of time to get to know and hopefully love the bike and convince myself I made the right choice.

Probably wont sleep much tonight after Squily's comment about large tanks causing overheating :confused1: Really grateful for all your help and advice and I'm sure I will be bothering you all again soon.

Steve

You made a choice (and choosing between AT or a Dommie, I don;t think there is a wrong decision- just personal preference).

Now just plan and prepare around it. Build on the strong parts of the bike and strengthen the weak. All bikes are good if you know where there weaknesses are and you look after them (in that regard).

• Overheating problem- like Ted said: consider an oil-cooler. Or fit an oil-temp gauge and keep an eye on it.
• Oil-consumption: make sure you rigorously check it
• Seat comfort: pad it or some sheepskin
• Low power: Dyno-kit, aftermarket can and even perhaps a high-compress piston.

Sounds like you got it for good price. I'm sure you'll enjoy every moment of the bike. Dommie's are an excellent platform to start from and you can personalize the bike to fit your every requirement.

Safe motoring :scooter:

There is a guy in the US who supplies an oil cooler for our engines...

Read this thread.

Honda XR650L XR600 NX650 Oil Cooler from GSMark - ADVrider


Not the cheapest, but it's ready to bolt on with no messing about.

You have to remember.. They're are not prone to overheating and imploding. It's just something that 'can' happen if you push it too hard and don't keep your oil level correct.

That's true of many bikes though. Every bike has it's niggles.. I've seen Africa twins with exploded engines too...


As for power... Do you really want to do more than 70/80mph ?? It's tempting in Western countries with nice roads and good traffic manners. Once you're out of 'The West', the roads are too dangerous to go fast on. Corrupt cops are just waiting for you and the speed limit is often 50-60mph..

Slow down, smell the coffee and get there in one piece :thumbup1:



Suspension...... Wilbers seem to be highly rated.

http://www.bits4motorbikes.co.uk/Wil...tml?listID=151

Thanks for the oil cooler link Ted, I'll put it on my ever growing wish list.

Have you heard that some Dommies made for Europe had been restricted? Seem to remember reading this on another forum. Have to say my motor doesn't seem as crisp as I thought it would but then again I have nothing to compare it with.

Steve

They are restricted... They need rejetting and all the emmisions crap ripping off them. K&N helps...

Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

The tank is here...
 

The dommie tank has arrived courtesy of Acerbis Italia and Zen Overland. Will post the finished article soon as.Attachment 11849

Attachment 11850

The first chance to fit the new tank presented itself yesterday. Opened the fitting kit to find a load of nuts, bolts, self tappers, washers, spacers, brackets and assorted plastic bits but no parts list and no fitting instructions.

Tried the tank on the bike, fits ok to a point although can't seem to get the seat to line up along with the rest of the fairing.
Has anyone fitted a similar tank recently to a 1989 model? If so, did it come with a parts list and fitting instructions and how was it to fit?

I have an Acerbis tank on my 1990 Dominator so it will be the same one as you have. Mine was used and didn't come with any fitting hardware but it was simple enough to put on. The main thing to know is that the mounting lug at the rear of the tank goes underneath the mounting bracket on the frame and not on top of it. It's easiest to remove the bracket from the frame leaving it attached to the tank every time you want to take the tank on and off. Bottom front mounting holes for the fairing panels need sleeves pushing into the holes if not already there then the fairing should attach with a nut and bolt. For the upper fairing attachment point I just drilled holes in the fairing panel and used an M6 cap screw into the brass insert in the tank to hold it on. I have no inner fairing panels on my bike though so I'm sure there will be some small brackets and fasteners to hold all of them in place too. I have read on the net that some people have to reposition the coil to get the tank to fit but I've never had this problem, just something to be aware of when you're putting it on for the first time.
I have one of Mark Suttons fantastic oil coolers on my bike and it fits just fine alongside the Acerbis tank.
Hope this helps,
Cheers.
Stewart

Thanks Stewart

I have been in touch with Acerbis and they are sending me a replacement pack of fittings as there are parts missing. I fitted the tank to the bike and couldn't figure out why it wouldn't sit properly at the back, then realised the bracket had to be removed.

Did the oil cooler make a difference? That is next on my list.

Thanks for the help and advice

Steve

I had this problem too with a recent tank from Acerbis. Half the parts were missing. I was scratching my head and searching the boxes over and over. After a fair bit of googling, I found that my kit was incomplete.. However, Acerbis UK were VERY helpful and happily sent the right parts to me by express courier.

It's the factory in Italy where all the mistakes are being made....

Fitting Acerbis tanks is always an adventure hahah.

Absolutely! It should have been straight forward and fitted by now. Gabriel (Zen Overland) has been fantastic and Beth from Acerbis Uk is on the case so should get the rest of the kit soon enough............ I hope.

I can't really say how much difference the cooler has made compared to not having it. I dropped a valve seat the day I bought the bike! It had issues (like an air leak at the inlet manifold o-ring) and me thrashing it flat out on the motorway didn't do it any favours. I fitted the oil cooler after rebuilding the engine with new exhaust valve seats fitted in the head. It was fitted for piece of mind more than anything given that these engines have a bit of a reputation for overheating. From my observations if you are riding at 20-70 mph even in very hot weather then engine temperature is not an issue. Below 20mph there is not enough air going over the engine and the oil temp will rise up a lot. Similarly when working really hard at 80+ mph the temp comes up too. There are many threads on the web where people have posted before and after temp readings for oil coolers on XR650L's and they all show a marked drop in oil temp. If you plan on riding in sub zero temperature then you'll need a thermostat to go with the oil cooler. I've ridden my bike lots in 3-5 degree temp and the oil is only just getting up to a good operating temperature. In sub zero conditions without a thermostat I think the oil would be too cold.
Hope this helps
cheers
Stewart

Or put a plastic bag (or similar) in front/over the oil cooler to stop airflow through it.

K&N made a huge difference
 

It's been a while so thought I'd up date you on the latest mod's to the Dommie. I mentioned in an earlier post that the Dommie's power was stiffled to say the least so I thought about rejetting then thought again after reading various posts on carb mod's. Cut away the snorkel?
Maybe a K&N air filter as Ted suggested. For the sake of £24 and under five minutes to fit why not? Hey presto!! The motor can breath and the power delivery is smooth, unhindered and instant and it's definatley not the placebo effect, it really does make a huge difference to the available power.

My advice would be that if you have fitted an after market can try the K&N before you decide to rejet and chop the snorkel etc, it has made a significant difference to my bike.

The can is a Lazer ProDuro, I have taken out the exit baffle (the round mesh one that is held in place by two spot welds) and it sounds awsome. Not sure what all this is going to do to fuel economy so I'm now toying with the idea of a Dyno run and take it from there but for now I feel like I'm riding a different bike.

Thanks again for your help and advice it's appreciated bier

I also forgot to mention about the Dommies, XR650L's etc.

Fitting a cooler plug can help a lot with keeping the temperature down. Honda actually put this information in the owners book. First time I read the book was today haha.

Standard plug is a DPR8EA..

If you swap that for a DPR9EA the motor will run a bit cooler.

A 'cooler' plug conducts more heat so it keeps a cooler tip. If you do a lot of high RPM work or lots of high speed cruising, it could be worth considering.

Hello,

I am looking all over the internet about the following, does anyone know if the dominator acerbis tank fits a SLR 650?

Its a 1997-1999 model.


Thanks!

Totally different frame. So no.

Unless you're good with fabrication.

Message from the future, did you do your RTW trip?