XR650L best mods

[zokalr13]

i recently purchased an 07 XR650L -i have added a 4.7 clarke tank,new brakes,skid plate,new battery,new foam[twin air]filter but will do the dave mod soon and i will keep the stock muffler and will eventually get a 14/48 chain but i want to know w009.jpghats a good replacemen011.jpgt handlebar? I was riding today and when i stood on the pegs i didnt like the feel of the stocker..i dont want too high as im not replaceing cables, just a bit higher.. also, any other mod ideas or tech tips for the honda i can use will be most appreciated thanx- Zo13

[xr8d]

When I had my XR, I put Renthal CR bend bars on it with 1/2 inch risers and it was perfect for me. I am 6' tall and the height was just right, if you are not as tall as me, try just the bars first (I did for the first year), they are a big improvement on their own, and risers are simple to add later, and still allowed stock cables. Unless you are doing a lot of very tight single track, just going to a 14 tooth countershaft sprocket may work better for you. It reduces the first to second gap, but still allows highway travel (remember, ya only gots 5 cogs now). I left the rear stock and it worked great. For tires, I tried many, but the Kenda Trackmasters worked best on that particular bike and are cheap. I never did the Dave's mod, (too nervous to drill the carb) but jetted properly and de-smogged it ran great.

Good luck!

[WestCoast Rider]

Running pro-taper atv high bend bars on my xr, with the adapters its great. I had 1.75" risers on the stock before and I didn't like how much forward sweep the bars had.

[zokalr13]

I will start looking for better bars this week ..i had atv bars on my DR650 but i think ill try something else for this bike.. the seat has been shaved down by the previous owner so i am getting used to body positioning to figure out the handlebar heights and such...this bike will be my daily driver and adv bike as i will be scoping out new trails in my vicinity: goudie,philpott and big white areas etc..will keep the stock muffler on as a courtesy to my neighbours who had to listen to me fire up my sabre with the V&H pipe every morning.[oops] now they cant even hear me on the XR and this stealth mode is great because most land around here has"go back""stay away" "keep out"signs...will have to do the jetting soon- this thing is too darn lean !! I got my book signed by deepak chopra today at the lecture, sorry for the delay...thanx Zo13-YO - update:took the honda up goudie way far into the middle of nowhere- no worry of running out of fuel with my new tank on -the stock front tire has got to go-i need new bars and the suspension needs work but it performed quite well and surprised me what it can go thru..when i got home the motor was very hot & steamy when i hosed it.[it sure got a workout] saw a white ermine[weasel] on the trail as well as two big mullies that darted off as i almost ran em over[startled]

[zokalr13]

[zokalr13]

heres another pic in black mountain area -hope that rancher guy dont see me !!!

[zokalr13]

UPDATE: just done the "daves mods" and added a Q4 FMF muffler and am running a 160 main and 55 pilot- she goes great!! ordered the smog off kit- it will be here in a week-now.. I am researching the best combo for chain and sprockets-14/47? i dont want too low of gearing as i like to ride fast on hwy 33..whats a good combo anyone? snow on goudie mtn still so rode on lower postill today instead..ZO13

[Mad Max]

Buy both a 14 tooth and a 13 tooth sprocket for the front as they are inexpensive. You won't need to change your chain and it only takes a couple minutes to change the front out. From there, you can decide how large a back sprocket you want. My next rear will probably be a 47.

My 2 cents

Max

[WestCoast Rider]

Swapping the front sprocket is great if you've got a long ride ahead. I'll switch up to my OEM sprocket for riding to the Orca run and switch back when I get there.

[zokalr13]

[WestCoast Rider]

I don't have a pic from on a mountain, but here's the aftermath from saturday's ride.


Untitled by iangwills, on Flickr