Has Honda hinted of an XR650L replacement

[RevyRoamer]

I was wondering if anyone has seen or heard about a possible replacement of the trusty old 650L from Honda.

I am shocked after all this time they discontinued it.

 

[nornevrder]

I was wondering if anyone has seen or heard about a possible replacement of the trusty old 650L from Honda.
I am shocked after all this time they discontinued it.
 

What are you going off of? Hear say or actual solid evidence?

[JoeRC51]

There IS a 2018 XR.

[ScottRNelson]

43 minutes ago, JoeRC51 said:

There IS a 2018 XR.

Apparently not in Canada:

 

[JoeRC51]

Who cares about Canada any way ?   ?

[RevyRoamer]

I have called 3 Honda dealers in BC Canada and they all said there is no 2018 XR650L so cannot order me one.

But if available in the USA still then I will try to buy one there. 

I waw stunned by it being dropped from the line up.

But now glad it isn't dropped all over.

Thanks guys.

[RevyRoamer]

http://motorcycle.honda.ca/category/dirtbikes

[NatureBoyFatAdam]

Every since Beaver's been trapped out, there's no reason to go to Canada. Japanese starting to figure that out.

[Hollerhead]

33 minutes ago, NatureBoyFatAdam said:

Every since Beaver's been trapped out, there's no reason to go to Canada...

Coal is a good reason.  This is today in Hinton, Alberta.  It's not nearly as warm as South Carolina but it pays good.

Edited March 5, 2018 by Hollerhead

[Harry Potter]

Can’t wait to ride my Xr650l to Canada this summer to Jasper and the Columbia Ice Fields. 

[dirtjumpordie]

If they discontinue the XR650L, Honda will replace it with something heavier, more complex, less durable, and less HP.

[Hollerhead]

3 minutes ago, dirtjumpordie said:

If they discontinue the XR650L, Honda will replace it with something heavier, more complex, less durable, and less HP.

Maybe all that other stuff, but not less HP.  

Edited March 18, 2018 by Hollerhead

[dirtjumpordie]

Just now, Hollerhead said:

Maybe all that other stuff, but not less HP.

True lol.  But it definitely will not be very capable off road.  Probably gonna merge the dual sport line with the "Adventure" line.  That way they can just put some knobbies on their sport-touring bikes, call them ''adventure bikes" and then quit producing actual dual sport bikes.  Its cheaper for mfgs to make 1 chasis, and then dress it up as a bunch of different "models".  Look at VW or Harley.  All of their core models have the same frame and engine.  Except the sportster, which they're also trying to make different "models" out of the same bike.  

[Hollerhead]

They'll probably just keep the 250 to stay in the L price range and add a 450 for those that want the additional power.  When stuff hits the road the emissions rules get so tight these days so they'll need to work on that part of the bigger bore stuff.  

Our segment is not a money maker for Honda (or probably any manufacturer) so they aren't going to develop and tool up to produce a new large displacement dirt oriented dual sport with the type of longevity and cheap price that the L is known for.  I'd venture to say the L's aftermarket makes way more money than Honda ever has on it.    

I'd like to see Honda take the lead on truly studying what we all do to the bike and use their engineering knowledge to make the best dual sport but it just ain't going to happen.  North America, and especially Canada, is such a tiny part of Honda's motorcycle sales that this topic probably doesn't come up in executive conversation too much. 

[dirtjumpordie]

5 minutes ago, Hollerhead said:

They'll probably just keep the 250 to stay in the L price range and add a 450 for those that want the additional power.  When stuff hits the road the emissions rules get so tight these days so they'll need to work on that part of the bigger bore stuff.  

Our segment is not a money maker for Honda (or probably any manufacturer) so they aren't going to develop and tool up to produce a new large displacement dirt oriented dual sport with the type of longevity and cheap price that the L is known for.  I'd venture to say the L's aftermarket makes way more money than Honda ever has on it.    

I'd like to see Honda take the lead on truly studying what we all do to the bike and use their engineering knowledge to make the best dual sport but it just ain't going to happen.  North America, and especially Canada, is such a tiny part of Honda's motorcycle sales that this topic probably doesn't come up in executive conversation too much. 

Right.  The manufacturers are pushing the whole "Adventure bike" thing and not the dual sport thing.  Of all types of motorcycles, ADV bikes had the biggest growth in sales last year.  And, those are really profitable bikes.  So I bet we see a lot more of those god damn things instead of real off road bikes.  And I agree.  Dualsport bikes are not big money makers for most Mfgs, because all of the dual sport bikes on the market currently suck ass.

My hope is that since Yamaha is discontinuing the WR250 dualsport, they will replace it with something better in 2019.  I betcha they make an adv bike to beat the africa twin.  But I also hope they make a dualsport to replace the wr250.  

[JoeRC51]

Yamaha's already got the ''Tenere'' , which at least isn't quite as ugly A frickin' Twin.   

[Hollerhead]

Just looking at other country's Honda websites, the US looks the last spot left to get an XR new.  With the rest of the world's interest in retro bikes you'd think the L would be a keeper.  They sure like the scooters though.  There's a step through listed in that "Adventure" category in several places.

I don't know what the problem with sales is.  I mean, there's no way I'd buy a new one but...

Sad days...lol.

Edited March 18, 2018 by Hollerhead

[Oldtech]

Looks like Yamaha is already moving to fill the mid sized adventure bike niche. 

https://motorbikewriter.com/yamaha-tenere-adventure-prototype/

 

[ScottRNelson]

13 minutes ago, Oldtech said:

Looks like Yamaha is already moving to fill the mid sized adventure bike niche. 

https://motorbikewriter.com/yamaha-tenere-adventure-prototype/

But will it be better than the KTM 790 Adventure?  Hopefully a magazine will do a comparison test on serious dirt before I commit to buying the new KTM.  But probably not...

[JoeRC51]

And ONLY 450lbs. wet.