new meaning of bringing a knife to a gun fight

[R-J van Hulst]

had a nice short ride today (3.5 hours)

4 bikes (3x 2 strokes and 1x 4stroke)

from the 3x 2 strokes 1x 125 and 2x 250

and the 4 stroke XR 650

I have nothing against a four stroke but OMG this bike was far out of spec for what we want to ride.

we had to adjust the route as it was no way this bike would make over the stuff we had in mind (considering the skill levels of the riders also)

I have not really a problem with a lot of bikes and look always what i could do with it in my riding

(Harley's do really give me a problem as I don't see any fun for the purpose where these bikes are made for (goldwings same issue))

coming from the 125 this bike is a big big big difference.

first few 100 meters I was almost over the handle bars just by closing the throttle ( engine braking in extreme form) it brakes harder then that I do in total on my 125 on full speed approaching the bend.

turning was a nightmare (but I am spoiled I guess ) not flicking left, right but hanging and kicking to get it a direction.

I did like the wheely in a blip of the throttle (not intentional of cause )

The XR driver was on my bike and I think he had also a bit of hard time to adjust
He was supriced about the weight (I was not wondering but the comment that my bike was a BMX did say enough)

but he really struggled with keeping momentum and keeping it in the power band of the engine.

he swapped later to the 250 2 stroke and he liked that much more.

so the conclusion of this ride was that:

An XR 650 on single track is not fun (its a a brutal punishment if you ask me).

I can understand the need of it in a desert race (yet this bike weights a ton, and I was struggling with the weight (I recon its a good 50Kg heavier then my bike (long range tank was also installed on this bike))

There is one person now active looking for a 2 stroke (250cc I guess)

And on the question for what purpose I would use the XR650?

stick motar wheels into it, get bigger front brakes onto it get rid of the long range tank.

that would make it a real nice (hooligan) town bike.

other then that I pass.

Robert-Jan

 

[huskybear]

had a nice short ride today (3.5 hours)

4 bikes (3x 2 strokes and 1x 4stroke)

from the 3x 2 strokes 1x 125 and 2x 250

and the 4 stroke XR 650

I have nothing against a four stroke but OMG this bike was far out of spec for what we want to ride.

we had to adjust the route as it was no way this bike would make over the stuff we had in mind (considering the skill levels of the riders also)

I have not really a problem with a lot of bikes and look always what i could do with it in my riding

(Harley's do really give me a problem as I don't see any fun for the purpose where these bikes are made for (goldwings same issue))

coming from the 125 this bike is a big big big difference.

first few 100 meters I was almost over the handle bars just by closing the throttle ( engine braking in extreme form) it brakes harder then that I do in total on my 125 on full speed approaching the bend.

turning was a nightmare (but I am spoiled I guess ) not flicking left, right but hanging and kicking to get it a direction.

I did like the wheely in a blip of the throttle (not intentional of cause )

The XR driver was on my bike and I think he had also a bit of hard time to adjust
He was supriced about the weight (I was not wondering but the comment that my bike was a BMX did say enough)

but he really struggled with keeping momentum and keeping it in the power band of the engine.

he swapped later to the 250 2 stroke and he liked that much more.

so the conclusion of this ride was that:

An XR 650 on single track is not fun (its a a brutal punishment if you ask me).

I can understand the need of it in a desert race (yet this bike weights a ton, and I was struggling with the weight (I recon its a good 50Kg heavier then my bike (long range tank was also installed on this bike))

There is one person now active looking for a 2 stroke (250cc I guess)

And on the question for what purpose I would use the XR650?

stick motar wheels into it, get bigger front brakes onto it get rid of the long range tank.

that would make it a real nice (hooligan) town bike.

other then that I pass.

Robert-Jan

My brother owns a xr650 and used to ride trails with it and hated life. He recently picked up an old kx125 for riding in the trails(got the bike for free-it's not a prize winner) and has a riot with it. The weight difference and power delivery made all the difference for him. The xr650 is used only for longer off-road excursions(much like my husaberg 450) and we both ride our 2-strokes in the trails.

 

[Nmhinton]

Was it the "R" or the "L?"
Not that it makes much difference in terms of being hard to handle on singletrack. I am a long time xr250/400 rider. I tried a 650 once and that was enough for me. Now, after riding my wr144 and TE250, the smaller XRs are just not as fun anymore.

 

[R-J van Hulst]

Was it the "R" or the "L?"
Not that it makes much difference in terms of being hard to handle on singletrack. I am a long time xr250/400 rider. I tried a 650 once and that was enough for me. Now, after riding my wr144 and TE250, the smaller XRs are just not as fun anymore.

R version

the smaller XR's I have also ridden in the past but these weight less then this 650.

they're good for getting from A to B bikes but not much fun factor in them,

Robert-Jan

 

[Tinken]

Just depends on the rider. I owned a White Bros XR 650 and rode it everywhere, even up a few vertical cliffs. But I am a big guy and I tossed it around like a 250. I agree that they work marvelous in the desert, extremely dependable, but weight a ton. I enjoy my TE511 now which has almost the same power and is much lighter.

 

[Auslander]

I switch between my xr250 and my wr167 and have to say that to me they are equally fun bikes to ride and I don't prefer one to the other. I test rode a TE449 and thought it would be a replacement for the XR but, nope.

 

[R-J van Hulst]

I had a XR 250 quite some years ago and I have a WR now.
I can say that the WR with 25 Kg less and almost 15 HP more is for sure more fun for me.

don't get me wrong I do think the XR is a very good bike but comparing it with a WR that is a total different league.

Robert-Jan

 

[robertaccio]

Fully understood about the Honda tank machine/tractor but as Tinken stated rider matters.....I've watched a smaller stature Baja race winner guy (bajabound owner) ride his XR650 through some horrendous Tecate rock filled single track on one of our "extreme" trail rides. So rider matters like always, however I'm sure that same guy would have much rather been on one of his CRF450Xs or even a 250 for that ride. I was hammered into submission on my TXC450 that day (but with my current TE310 I beat this years course and was not even wiped out at the end of it). Smaller and lighter is much more manageable for the 99%ers like us.