XR or XRL ?

[jlpskydive]

At least he read the whole thread. The r (lower case on purpose) sucks

[huntmaster]

If you need to argue with that statement, it only proves you don't understand that statement.

Sorry, what was the statement again? And what is all the confusion here? These bikes don't compete with each other assuming one has ANY idea of their requirements. Primarilly dirt = XR650, Primarilly street = XL650!

If Honda hadn't hijacked the XR name for the veneralble dual sport model a few years back perhaps much of this confusion could have been avoided!

And now we'll soon have a CRF650R (with BNG) to create similar confusion! ?

[Jayzonk]

Ahem, the L is closer to the original R than the new R. The new R has moRphed considerably. Not really a true hijacking. More like a bastardization of the name by Honda.

[huntmaster]

Ahem, the L is closer to the original R than the new R. The new R has moRphed considerably. Not really a true hijacking. More like a bastardization of the name by Honda.

????? Sure, it's closer to the 1979 XR500 too...but times change!

Hijacked, bastardized, whatever. The XL's were always the dual purpose bike, the XR's the off-road bike. Then Honda went and screwed up by calling the a dual sport an XR...but only in this case?

If the XR650L was simply called the XL650, as it always was before (or 600), this debate may not even be happening!

[XR650L_Dave]

Sorry, what was the statement again? And what is all the confusion here? These bikes don't compete with each other assuming one has ANY idea of their requirements. Primarilly dirt = XR650, Primarilly street = XL650!

If Honda hadn't hijacked the XR name for the veneralble dual sport model a few years back perhaps much of this confusion could have been avoided!

And now we'll soon have a CRF650R (with BNG) to create similar confusion! ?

This statement:

"for what I do on my bike, the ONLY advantage the R has over my L is weight."

The meaning of that is there's plenty of riders for whom max speed just isn't the goal. That doesn't mean those folks are posers, or that they ride slow. I like very difficult, exceedingly technical terrain. Rocky hillclimbs, lotsa roots, edge of a cliff, trails where the bars are bangin' the trees, or no trail at all, that's where its at for me! Trials riding with a 350lbs bike.

The XRL is a lot more dirt-oriented than the XL line were, so the XRL moniker is actually an accurate representation of the bikes abilities. The KLR is an example of a dual-sport that's more street than dirt, the XRL is more dirt than street. Fella I know of just did 5MOH on an XRL, and it didn't have the mods at that.

Actually, it kinda got me POed, I wanted to be the first to bring an XRL through there!

Dave

[huntmaster]

The XRL is a lot more dirt-oriented than the XL line were, so the XRL moniker is actually an accurate representation of the bikes abilities.

Dave

Not at all. In fact a 1970's XL250 or 1980's XL600 probably compared as well or better to their pure off-road equivalents then a 650 L does now. It serves the same dual sport role as it's predecessors which was the original point.

If you mean a modern "XL650" is more dirt worthy then an old XL 500...sure, time marches on. I expect a next generation CRF600X will improve in turn over the current 650R.

[larry650]

When I was making the decision between the R and the L models I would have got the R and dual sported it except for one thing, no electric start. I refuse to kick over any more motorcycles. When Honda comes out with an electric start R, I'll be first in line to get it.

When I bought my R in 2000 I thought an updated version of the L would be out by 2002, with all the upgrades that made the xr600r a thing of the past.So confident was I in my thinking I sold my 98L and looked to the future with enthusiasm. Five years later I gave up bought another L and refer to it as my retro bike. I`m pretty sure Honda won`t surprise me and come out with that upgraded bike soon as the 06 650L tab at the honda website has popped up signaling another new year of exciting BNG.

[wr450fyamaha]

xr650l all the way!!!

[Triumphs]

xr650l all the way!!!

You mean XL650 all the way... right? he he! ?