I don't know why everyone says that they hate the gearing of the xrr. Even before I built up my motor, I found it really forgiving. I find myself doing less shifting than on my wr450f. There is plenty of power to move through those gears, but I try to avoid lugging the motor as that is the worst thing you can do do a thumper. Besides, think about it. If you have 6 gears, you will be doing more shifting than if you have 5. I would rather have a heavy duty 5 speed, than a weaker 6 speed.
I'm with ya, the power makes up for the less than perfect trans. I went from a the perfect six speed 610 to the XRR and thought I'd be in for a major adjustment since I'd gotten used to the granny first gear, but in the last 3 years there has only been a time or tow that I wished I had a lower first. I ran 14/45 on my last XRR and rode that bike out to Utah on Hwy 50, then rode dirt back Sac with nothing but a tire change for dirt. I run 14/48 on this XRR.
With 6-speed you are given the choice to overlap wide gears, therefor having more then one gear to match a certain speed. Short ratio's have one gear, one speed. So if you are up and down a lot, you are shifting a lot. Wide ratio also provide higher top gears and lower bottom gears. If I gear mine for highway, first is too long when things get technical. Constantly slipping clutch, low power without lots of clutch slip, etc. If I gear it for trail riding, it's buzzing away doing 95km/hr trying not to piss off traffic. On our dual sport trips we do lots of technical riding so you are forced to run the lower gearing and avoid the highway or high speed dirt as much as possible. The other thing is trail riding, or dirt riding with lots of sharp corners you are always forced to shift every single time. Up for straight, down for corner, up for straight, down for corner. On a well geared bike the engine will still pull the corners and the straights it still won't be singing. Just my opinion I guess. I find the gearing horrible through 36,000 km of testing.
Just won an ebay auction for an XRR today, should have it by the weekend. Look forward to joining in on the fun.
I've had a Rekluse clutch in my CRF450R for 10 years. It allowed me to ride tight trails without going to a 12T sprocket, which was my initial fix, but that killed all my top speed!? So I got the Rekluse and it makes riding the nastiest enduro trails my buddies can find no problem, even with the stock 80mph gearing. And I just replaced the original stock clutch plates last year for the first time! That is right, they lasted 9 years including racing Supermoto! The Rekluse clutch is by far the best aftermarket component I've ever bought!!
That's pretty impressive! Now if I can just get the balls to look at the price tag and justify it =) Edit... What was the first year of CRF450??
In theory I get all that but I have never noticed or cared. Maybe I didn't do technical enough terrain or go fast enough but I never really had an issue with any of it. I do tend to just go fast offroad and slam into anything rocky or rough anyway so what do I know. I don't think I ever used 1st in the desert no matter how rough it got I was always in second unless I was pulling away from a start. I ran 15/47 gearing but that was mainly because I liked the ease of throttle on wheelies in first.
We live in two completely different terrain types. 1-2 is our main gears here. Dual sporting is probably 1-3rd.
True. But I bought this bike when I lived in Aspen Colorado and I spent a lot of time in Tucson Arizona. It is a desert bike though and in the desert I loved the gearing. It is also possible I tended to prefer riding things the bike was good at. I feel like i don't like rutted tight stuff, but maybe I just didn't like riding my bike there. Btw shibby I really enjoyed your mexico ride report. Thanks for sharing it. I miss mexico.
The CDT starts in 3 weeks!!! I'll probably do a ride report once I get back, won't be on-going. I appreciate the comment though! Mexico is an amazing place. The people are truly great too. It's really too bad they get such a bad name. Rarely will you come across anybody in the States or Canada so inthrawled with your story, so willing to help, so genuinely nice. Belize was different, but the people were very nice still. Guatemala I found the people to be nice, but more reserved. They didn't really come up to talk, or offer help, etc. For the most part I think they are intimidated or scared. Many of the roads I was on were off the beaten path and I understand their traditions are at stake and they don't necessarily like others changing that, or showing it, etc. Either way, all wonderful countries! Flights are booked for Independence day, but I was somehow thinking if only I can get that changed I could ride Baja for a few weeks, or Copper Canyon till my buddy comes down..... I just finished up my contract work and basically sitting around now trying to save money.. In the desert I found it's fine provided you don't have lots of sharp turns requiring you to downshift. Sadly, I like to ride at about 80% (it sometimes goes to 90!) so on the straights I speed up, on the corners I'm forced to slow down. Whenever that happens I have to shift. I'm know I'm whinning...
I picked up my XRR last night. The bike currently has Excel 17" wheels on it but also came with the dirt setup which I will be putting back on soon. The bike has been lowered considerably, I'd say 6" or so. I'm guessing there are spacers internally front and rear. I'm going to take apart the forks tonight and see what is up but I assume at a minimum I will need new springs. As for the rear, I haven't checked to see if the spring was cut but the shock is very low. What year CR500 shocks are bolt on and how well will they work in stock setup? Thanks
Well, although that's maybe not armor truck robbing price, it's still holding up a corner convenience store.... Something to think about for sure. I think this could indeed make me like the XRR's gearing a lot more for dual sporting. I swore it was 699$ or something.
I'll keep an eye out for your next report! Yep I agree. I loved the people of mexico and it is sad how they get a bad rap but I had a great experience with them. I loved copper canyon, sonora and baja. I can't wait until I can go back. I think I have figured out the difference in our perception besides terrain. I like shifting as I turn and speed up. I think it is fun to rail into a corner, bang a downshift, slide the tail out and hammer out. I'm a supermoto guy so I guess I ride in the dirt the same and I like the big xr so much because of its tendency to be tail out. I guess the different riding styles or preferences explain the polarizing opinions I have read about everyone's point of view toward different transmissions and whatnot. I thought the xrr required a different recluse than the exp. I thought it needed the z-start pro or some such. The cheaper one wasn't offered for the xrr if I remember right.
Maybe Pete95 can set us straight. I always thought it was the more expensive one for the XRR. It'd be nice though if it was more 7-11 than Brinks price Armor sucks.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=738966 Sadly, still saving up for the Clarke tank....