So that's it huh?

[ThunderChicken]

I thought I was prepared, but was still holding out some sliver of hope.

What a ***en travisty.

[HawkGT]

I thought I was prepared, but was still holding out some sliver of hope.

What a ***en travisty.

Agreed. It's like they don't care what we want.

[AtomicGeo]

When will they deliver something that won't make me go to Husky or KTM !!!? Maybeeee tomorrow an announcement ----NOT!

[eastreich]

Since Honda hosed us once again, I wonder if it will be possible to stuff a 650R motor into a CRF chassis ala a Service Honda CR500AF.

Cut the cradle out of a 650 frame, TIG it into the Gen IV chassis. Call it a XR650RR. I'm sure that it would still not be perfect, as the 650 motor is a heavy bastard, and it would probably have a little lower ground clearance, need some reworking of the coolant spigot on the left side of the cylinder to get it in between the frame rails, use the EFI off of the new TRX700XX, but maybe...?

I mean, I had the money set aside for a new bike (are you listening Honda?). And most of all approval from the boss! My dealer treats me so well, I can't afford to buy a bike that isn't red or orange. And I refuse go to orange. Time to start measuring and chasing down a roller.

[XR650L_Dave]

Updated 650R?

Dave

[JSanfilippo]

Agreed. It's like they don't care what we want.

The bean counters at corporate honda probably advised the execs to pull the plug. In the last 4 years, I think I've only seen 2 or 3 650Rs at the three local dealers and as we all know the dealers order what sell.

The 650R is/was a great bike, but I think most riders who were or are in the market are like me and didn't want the heft of the BRP or didn't have a practical use (dez) for it.

I have a feeling service honda has you covered though. With the 650R engine upgraded with FI and the displacement bumped up to a 685 or whatever for the TRX 700 I think they'll be cramming these engines into frames for a long time ?

[ogrider650]

yeah i was gonna buy another bike next year and i was praying that honda would come out with something but i guess im going yellow or orange.

but i will still keep the brp i will never get rid of that

[eastreich]

I just got off the phone with my dealer (another 650R rider). The shop owner called him (he's GM) at 7:00 am. Honda has 9 more new models that will be released on Sept. 28th. And they are not saying a thing about it at the dealer show.

Looking at what they have released so far, other than the CBR1000RR, all of the '08 models that you would expect to see are released. That leaves us with 8 that are of the scenario.

Not that I want to stay in suspense for 22 more days, but he is thinking very positively about the 650R, or at least a suitable replacement. I am afraid that it will be as a replacement for the 650L, but he actually thinks that this EFI motor will be in two separate bikes.

The way I look at it, Honda would not spend the development dollars to build the 700XX with EFI, when they won't sell that many of them in the long run. Looking at the motor closely, the reverse is in a sub transmission that is tacked on to the PTO, so most of that motor is still the 650R as we currently know it.

I know that it is hard, but keep your hopes up!!!

[ThunderChicken]

I don't know. I can see the rationalization that maybe EFI wasn't ready for prime time and perhaps there were new big bore dual sport bikes that would leverage EFI in order to clear CA CARB. That makes sense. The XR engine in the Fuad is encouraging because it means Honda places value in the engine and like others mentioned, that = hardware laying around to inspire future designs.

I just don't get that company. They are supposed to be taking the high road with regard to the OHV war and what's going on in this country. They could have built and sold a side-by-side years ago, but I would like to think that they realize that like the 3-wheeler, most people wouldn't use it with respect and building such a machine would ultimately hurt the cause.

So then they kill off the XR650R and take it's engine and stick it in a ***en four wheeler. Talk about appealing to the lowest common denominator. Honda has always been one of the stakeholders with regard to the Forest Service, Rider Education, Lobbying, etc. They should see the writing on the wall and know that the abuse ATVs are causing on our public lands are far outpacing the efforts of the motorcycle community to maintain access....and they go and build a ***en 700cc spot quad that some flat biller is going to buy and go trash a staging area at a local Nat. Forest.

I just don't get it.

[ThunderChicken]

I just got off the phone with my dealer (another 650R rider). The shop owner called him (he's GM) at 7:00 am. Honda has 9 more new models that will be released on Sept. 28th. And they are not saying a thing about it at the dealer show.

Early in the summer, I heard that there were 9 new product numbers created for 08, but I figured it was in relation to some color variation in a cruiser or something.

Why would they not annouce the models at the dealer show? Why bore all the dealers and then announce the new stuff on the 28th? I don't understand that rationale.

[VBS-Thumpstar]

Not that I want to stay in suspense for 22 more days, but he is thinking very positively about the 650R, or at least a suitable replacement. .............

I know that it is hard, but keep your hopes up!!!

I found a brand new never started 2006 leftover $1000 off last year's price. I don't know if I can wait another month! Not really worried about someone buying the bike, just of losing 22 days of riding time. Northern Ontario is getting colder with every passing day now.

Sean ?

[eastreich]

I found a brand new never started 2006 leftover $1000 off last year's price. I don't know if I can wait another month! Not really worried about someone buying the bike, just of losing 22 days of riding time. Northern Ontario is getting colder with every passing day now.

Sean ?

Look at it this way, if they do some out with something new, it will probably be $1000 more than last year's (or this year's price).

For $2000 difference, I would go with the holdover. But since I already have a great 650R, that is not an option for me really. It's either a new model or I'll just keep the old one.

[XR650L_Dave]

I don't know. I can see the rationalization that maybe EFI wasn't ready for prime time and perhaps there were new big bore dual sport bikes that would leverage EFI in order to clear CA CARB. That makes sense. The XR engine in the Fuad is encouraging because it means Honda places value in the engine and like others mentioned, that = hardware laying around to inspire future designs.

I just don't get that company. They are supposed to be taking the high road with regard to the OHV war and what's going on in this country. They could have built and sold a side-by-side years ago, but I would like to think that they realize that like the 3-wheeler, most people wouldn't use it with respect and building such a machine would ultimately hurt the cause.

So then they kill off the XR650R and take it's engine and stick it in a ***en four wheeler. Talk about appealing to the lowest common denominator. Honda has always been one of the stakeholders with regard to the Forest Service, Rider Education, Lobbying, etc. They should see the writing on the wall and know that the abuse ATVs are causing on our public lands are far outpacing the efforts of the motorcycle community to maintain access....and they go and build a ***en 700cc spot quad that some flat biller is going to buy and go trash a staging area at a local Nat. Forest.

I just don't get it.

Its only about the money. Any public company, that is the one and only driver. Any company says different, they are lying bastards.

Dave

[VBS-Thumpstar]

Look at it this way, if they do some out with something new, it will probably be $1000 more than last year's (or this year's price).

For $2000 difference, I would go with the holdover. But since I already have a great 650R, that is not an option for me really. It's either a new model or I'll just keep the old one.

I'm also eying a blue-plated 2000 in great mechanical condition for half the price (or less) of the discounted new one. I want an XR650R in my stable for sure but I can't afford two new bikes. So I either get one used and save up for the new model (if it exists) or I get a new XR650R and save up for several years for something else down the road. Ah decisions decisions!

Sean ?

[InternalCombustion]

I

The way I look at it, Honda would not spend the development dollars to build the 700XX with EFI, when they won't sell that many of them in the long run.

I know that it is hard, but keep your hopes up!!!

Makes sense about Honda spending dev-dollars for a 700cc FI screamer and not sliding it between two wheels...

A CRF700L-FI would be righteous but flies in the face of the announced 08 650L. That is unless the 700 is slotted in as a full-on Adventure bike.

"Hope springs eternal."

[VBS-Thumpstar]

The way I look at it, Honda would not spend the development dollars to build the 700XX with EFI, when they won't sell that many of them in the long run.

Well I think they would sell more of these than the XR650R. Up here the riding season for quads is growing rapidly. Quads outsell sleds (even in Northern Ontario ) by as much as 10:1! People are riding them all year long, even 2wd sport models! I would like to think that Honda wouldn't spend all that R&D on just a four-wheeler but then again, part of me can't see them bringing out an XR700R with electric start and EFI.

Wanna talk about a suitable replacement for the XR650R that will sell? Forget the aforementioned XR700R, start thinking XR600RT using a twin cylinder powerplant based on a bored and/or stroked CRF250 motor with electric start and an aluminum perimeter frame more akin to the CRF line than the old XR. ?

Sean

[eastreich]

The more I think about it, a CRF700SM would be a great way to bring in the new motor. Smoke the KTM 690SM. This way the 650L is not completely obsolete, and can be phased out in '09 with a less agressive CRF700L. If there isn't a CRF700X in this equation, I could just swap the supermoto parts of the SM to a CRF450 owner for the dirt parts.

I'm going to back to my corner and continue dreaming now.

[bosshog]

I'm also eying a blue-plated 2000 in great mechanical condition for half the price (or less) of the discounted new one. I want an XR650R in my stable for sure but I can't afford two new bikes. So I either get one used and save up for the new model (if it exists) or I get a new XR650R and save up for several years for something else down the road. Ah decisions decisions!

Sean ?

Don't shy away from the used one at all. You'll get all the goodies used to blue plate it plus it will already be uncorked. I don't think anyone could drive a stock one for long. I also think it would have depreciated all it is going to. You could drive it for along time and still sell it for close to what you bought it for. I hear you about all the ATV's outselling everything and can see why Honda would spend money on development of them. I just hope they share the wealth with us.

Alright Easteich I'm going to hold my breath alittle longer. All it's gotten me in the past is Bold New Graphics.

[drop]

VBS-Thumpstar, If the 2000 is reasonably low mileage I'd go with that one. I bought a used 2000 xr650r (blue plated) and it still runs great. Having it already street legal will save you some headaches too. I'm also in N. Ontario and can tell you the 650R is the king of the logging road. Watch out for the trucks though. They come up quick when you're cruising at 160. ?

[VBS-Thumpstar]

VBS-Thumpstar, If the 2000 is reasonably low mileage I'd go with that one. I bought a used 2000 xr650r (blue plated) and it still runs great. Having it already street legal will save you some headaches too. I'm also in N. Ontario and can tell you the 650R is the king of the logging road. Watch out for the trucks though. They come up quick when you're cruising at 160.

Yeah the 2K is plated, uncorked and comes with extras. The only fault with the bike is that the plastic is "used" for lack of a better word. The seller comes off as the kind of guy who takes care of his stuff and mechanically the bike was well maintained. Everything was still pretty tight. I am unsure of the mileage but it has not been abused. When I went to take a look at it, it hadn't been started in over a year (because he got back into mountain biking when all his dirtbike buddies broke their non-XR bikes! ) but it started fine and ran like a top. The test ride truly impressed me.

Just curious Drop, where are you from? I'm from the Sudbury area.

Sean ?