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XR650L Any good?
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Posted by: jimt_yz400---------------------
I have a line on a XR650L with less than 8K on it and I was knocking around the idea of getting it to commute back and forth to work. It's about 20 miles to work and I have the option of taking the highway or the backroads. I can snag the thing for around 1200-1500 bucks.
Any opinions?
Posted by: jimt_yz400---------------------
Oh, it's a 1993 vintage.
Posted by: Farmer John---------------------
I had a 94.
The only thing that goes wrong with them is the valve seats fall out of the head.
Easy to fix, just send head to Mike at EDCO. Takes about a week.
Other than that, the forks are too soft & the stock carb is a joke. Carb works better as a paper wieght.
I put a Mikuni round slide on mine (kit was like $150) and it completely changed the bike.
I eventualy put an FMF Megamax on it because I crushed the stocker.
A 93 w/ less than 10k on it for less than 2k is an excellent buy here in $ilicon Valley.
Posted by: jimt_yz400---------------------
Farmer,
Does the thing handle ok at highway speeds or is all over the place?
How long will the motor last w/o having to do anything to it?
Why is the carb a peice of junk?
Posted by: Rich Rohrich---------------------
I bought my '94 650L with 10k HARD miles on it. I freshened up the top end (660 big bore), Motarded it up and had the best street bike I've ever owned. I put a ton of miles on it and so have the 2 owners since me.
The carb can be improved 1000% with a cheap Baja Designs kit. The stock head pipe is fine but the OEM exhaust can is really heavy and bulky (but quiet). I opted for a Supertrapp replacement and was very pleased .
Overall a great bike that cruised at 70mph plus easily and was easy to slide around in the McDonalds parking lot 
The price you are talking about is very reasonable.
Posted by: Farmer John---------------------
jimt_yz400,
Once the springs are dealt with it is actually a fairly stable bike.
Rich's carb mod works well, I only went with the after market carb because it was free to me.
The stock CV carb has many shortcomings. Mostly due to emmisions regulations.
Posted by: Farmer John---------------------
Rich,
I always figured you were the McD's type 
Posted by: Scott in KC---------------------
It's heavy, not super fast, sprung too light......man I miss my XRL!!! I loved that bike. For what you're buying it for it's perfect, just get it and ride it. There are gobs of little do-dads for it and cheap pipes & stuff on ebay if you end up rodding it some. Get the Baja Jet kit if it already doesn't have it. As Rich said, the price is good, you won't lose a dime on it in 5 more years. It will run 75 all day long (your butt might not and the wind may beat you to death but it will do it.) Did I mention I miss my XRL!!
Posted by: Rich Rohrich---------------------
Quote:
Originally posted by Farmer John
Rich,
I always figured you were the McD's type
|
John - You couldn't pay me to eat the food but their parking lots always seem to be well kept and that little turn into the Drive-Thru just begs for a brake drift turn
Posted by: skywalker951---------------------
I made a mistake 2 years ago and traded my 650l for a 750 shadow. I have since got a 2001 650l and am making an adventure tourer out of it. I have rode 1300 miles (round trip) in three days to attend the Millville Mx National. I love this bike and would not be afraid to go anywhere in the world on it.
Posted by: bhoth---------------------
Get an XR650R and dual sport it. It weighs a lot less and is much more capable in the dirt!
Posted by: Farmer John---------------------
Cool....
Wher are the XR650R's for 1200 to 1500 bucks??? 
Posted by: SFO---------------------
put my name on the list for a 15hunert buck xr650r too.
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