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[Sub Zero]

Originally Posted by Sierra Thumper

I think with a few mods the xrl makes a great dirt-oriented dual-sport. When you dump all the restrictive emmissions, and let the bike run to its full potential by opening up the carb/slide/airbox+filter and exhaust (which made a huge diff on my bike), plus a suspension revalve and some minor weight loss, I think it becomes an awesome super low maintainence and very reliable long running machine.

What could honda do to improve it, without taking away the good or raising the price a ton?

in todays economy and bike sales.... nothing.

[Spud Rider]

Originally Posted by Sierra Thumper

I think with a few mods the xrl makes a great dirt-oriented dual-sport. When you dump all the restrictive emmissions, and let the bike run to its full potential by opening up the carb/slide/airbox+filter and exhaust (which made a huge diff on my bike), plus a suspension revalve and some minor weight loss, I think it becomes an awesome super low maintainence and very reliable long running machine.

What could honda do to improve it, without taking away the good or raising the price a ton?

You're correct; the XR650L is a great motorcycle. However, Honda should (but won't):

Redesign the countershaft and/or countershaft sprocket
Install a "cush" drive on the rear wheel
Reinforce the subframe
Dump the battery box, and redesign the air box to incorporate one of the smaller batteries
Move the CDI unit into the airflow, and locate the CDI unit near the center of the bike to minimize punishing vibrations
Remove the air shrouds and add an oil cooler
Install a larger fuel tank

Spud

[Sub Zero]

Originally Posted by Spud Rider

You're correct; the XR650L is a great motorcycle. However, Honda should (but won't):

Redesign the countershaft and/or countershaft sprocket
Install a "cush" drive on the rear wheel
Reinforce the subframe
Dump the battery box, and redesign the air box to incorporate one of the smaller batteries
Move the CDI unit into the airflow, and locate the CDI unit near the center of the bike to minimize punishing vibrations
Remove the air shrouds and add an oil cooler
Install a larger fuel tank

Spud

wow spud! for once someone with intellengent suggestions for a new/updated big bore honda dual sport! I always see idiots (including myself) make suggestions like "it should be bigger, faster, newer, cheaper, and sparkly!!"

[Brown Falcon]

I think that everything that Spud suggested is right on the money!

Sure, more power and fuel injection might be cool, but also probably make it weigh more and be more of a pain to work on.

[Lonestar2112]

I just fell in to an very reasonably price fork set from a 450f. Once you do the transformation how do you guys mount the speedo, ignition key, and the headlight and mask?

[beechum1]

Originally Posted by Lonestar2112

I just fell in to an very reasonably price fork set from a 450f. Once you do the transformation how do you guys mount the speedo, ignition key, and the headlight and mask?

Reasonable prices vapor or vector and LED lights with homemade brackets and wiring. Did you get cleared for riding?

[Lonestar2112]

Originally Posted by beechum1

Reasonable prices vapor or vector and LED lights with homemade brackets and wiring. Did you get cleared for riding?

Not really, They said another couple of weeks. I have a Sanjon mask and two LED lights. Just trying to figure out how to get it all mounted after I do the conversion. Also trying to figure out how much it is going to cost after I buy the forks.

[BigStick]

Originally Posted by Spud Rider

You're correct; the XR650L is a great motorcycle. However, Honda should (but won't):

Redesign the countershaft and/or countershaft sprocket
Install a "cush" drive on the rear wheel
Reinforce the subframe
Dump the battery box, and redesign the air box to incorporate one of the smaller batteries
Move the CDI unit into the airflow, and locate the CDI unit near the center of the bike to minimize punishing vibrations
Remove the air shrouds and add an oil cooler
Install a larger fuel tank

Spud

Perfect, Spud! But...didn't you just describe your XRL?

Besides, I love your mods and half the fun is customizing a bike no one else has! Dare I say, these things are kinda like Harleys!

[beechum1]

Originally Posted by Lonestar2112

Not really, They said another couple of weeks. I have a Sanjon mask and two LED lights. Just trying to figure out how to get it all mounted after I do the conversion. Also trying to figure out how much it is going to cost after I buy the forks.

You need the stem turned?

[Lonestar2112]

Originally Posted by beechum1

You need the stem turned?

I have no clue what I am getting myself into. I have the forks, the top and bottom triples and the hub with the brake brackets.

[Sierra Thumper]

Originally Posted by Spud Rider

You're correct; the XR650L is a great motorcycle. However, Honda should (but won't):

Redesign the countershaft and/or countershaft sprocket
Install a "cush" drive on the rear wheel
Reinforce the subframe
Dump the battery box, and redesign the air box to incorporate one of the smaller batteries
Move the CDI unit into the airflow, and locate the CDI unit near the center of the bike to minimize punishing vibrations
Remove the air shrouds and add an oil cooler
Install a larger fuel tank

Spud

Those are good, cost-effective and reasonable improvements I wish Honda would pay attention
I'd also like to see higher compression, and maybe a better performance carb stock........and there's got to be a way to meet emmissions requirements without needing to restrict it so badly off the show room floor. BMW is able to meet U.S. EPA regs with their S1000R, and the thing still makes 13 or so hp more than the zx-10...but when you derestrict the 10 it matches the beemer. I guess maybe some companies aren't as good at meeting U.S. regs as others

[RZRob]

Originally Posted by Sierra Thumper

I think with a few mods the xrl makes a great dirt-oriented dual-sport.
What could honda do to improve it, without taking away the good or raising the price a ton?

Add plate, rack and taller gearing and I'll sign-up.

RZ Rob

[no66]

Originally Posted by Lonestar2112

I have no clue what I am getting myself into. I have the forks, the top and bottom triples and the hub with the brake brackets.

I did this conversion on my XR600 this summer. I opted for the http://www.emigracing.com/ stem convertion. Worked well.

As for lights etc, I have a baja kit. You will probably have to make up some brackets.

I think there is a CR450 hub (X ?) that works with the speedo cable. I run a Vapor so no problem there.

Enjoy the forks. Great improvement.

[mcma111]

Originally Posted by Lonestar2112

I just fell in to an very reasonably price fork set from a 450f. Once you do the transformation how do you guys mount the speedo, ignition key, and the headlight and mask?

RSW Racing upper triple clamp. No other set up that I know of allows the use of the OE ignition, fork lock. Speed-o mounts right up. If you get his lower triple the OE stem is a direct fit. No fuss, no muss.

You say you got a HUB. Don't expect to use your OE rim with that hub. XRL wheel has 32 spokes and the CRF has 36. Ask how I found that one out... Need a wheel built? Send me the parts.

[JWhitmore44]

Originally Posted by Sierra Thumper

I think with a few mods the xrl makes a great dirt-oriented dual-sport. When you dump all the restrictive emmissions, and let the bike run to its full potential by opening up the carb/slide/airbox+filter and exhaust (which made a huge diff on my bike), plus a suspension revalve and some minor weight loss, I think it becomes an awesome super low maintainence and very reliable long running machine.

What could honda do to improve it, without taking away the good or raising the price a ton?

I would think that most the development cost for USD forks have been paid off, so adding those should not raise the price that much. Move the gearing gap between 3rd and 4th gear. You wouldn't need the 6 speed if 4th and 5th were geared to higher, and you still have 1st through 3rd for the slow speed stuff. Like Spud, it needs a factory option for an oil cooler and a cush drive. It would be easy enough for them to use the XRR counter shaft sprockets by milling just a little more of the shaft. Those little batteries are kind of high priced, not sure I would want to add that to the bikes price, my WR battery cost more than the one in my pickup A bigger tank is nice, but I'm not sure if manufactures can use plastics tanks on street legal bikes (although it seems KTM does?). I'm not sure I want a bigger steel tank (if I wanted a KLR I would have got one of those ). Myself, I wouldn't be against an XRR with E-start in street legal trim either.