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XR650L in the mud...

By Jayzonk,
in XR600R & XR650R/L

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Jayzonk

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Guys,

I've never really had too much problem in the mud before today. The trail I ride on was a little muddier than usual, and the 650L was really sliding around a lot, which I haven't noticed on previous rides. I'm wondering what the issue is.

My first suspicion is that the L tires don't have enough tread to really grab in the mud, making for a real slippery ride, and no turning capability.

However, I don't think that's the end of the story. Since the mud patches were wider than usual, and seemed to "bend" around trail corners, I was trying to turn through them so I could stay on course, but was getting a lot of front wheel slippage in the process. Of course, if I was on a straight stretch, I'd just juice it, but since I was in a corner, I had to slow down to navigate around. Any advice on making turns in the mud, or navigating through slippery mud in general?

Thanks,

jason

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Dual_Dog

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Tires. If you haven't upgraded to more aggressive DOT knobs yet, it's time. There's still very little traction available in muddy conditions so don't expect miracles even after switching tires. Loose front ends are a problem for big & heavy DS bikes and the L is no exception.

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CAM2R

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I've never been on a bike that didn't slide around a lot in the mud.

edit: unless of course it was stuck/burried.

Yup - no sliding around this trail...Image-DA86082A191011DA.jpg

Kinda stopped it it's tracks rather abruptly....Image-DA861B04191011DA.jpg

A DOT tire that is aggressive the Enduro Comp IV by Michelin - like an S-12 in a harder compound with the appropriate markings for the PO-liceman.

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Jayzonk

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Yup, they're the stock Dunlop K850A tires.

And nope, I haven't done any mods either. If I uncork it, is this thing still going to run trouble-free?

Okay, I know we have a summary of this, but let me see if I've got step one:

1. Uncork it by taking out the restrictor in the airbox and the one in the intake manifold. The one if the airbox comes out by hand, but the one in the intake manifold has to be cut out, right? And there's no HRC power-up manifold for the L, right? Seems kind of senseless to make one of those....

But hey, it seems kind of silly to really power this thing up. I'm optimistic that Honda is going to have a new dirt bike that's going to be so much better than the L for offroading that I'll just keep the L for zippin' off to work....

If I do it, though, I want to get a White Bros. pipe that won't burn the fender. Can you get a heavier can that might absorb the heat more? Would the titanium one be better?? What pipe would do that? Why do I care? :D

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