New XR650L, and relatively new to this forum

[HappyCurmudgeon]

Hey all, i took the plunge, and just got my shiney new '2006 XR650L loaded into the bed of my truck just a few short hours ago, Hell, i haven't even yet turned the key and hit the start button myself! I am so utterly excited, WAY more than when i picked up my old Magna road bike (far to long ago to admit too). I have perused these threads alot in the past months, I am aware of many of the recommended mods... but I live in the socialist republic of New York, and I am unsure of the legality of the carb/exhaust/smog removal mods for my state, and I can't seem to find a clear answer on the web anywhere. Does anyone have any insight on this? as a newbie to the dual purpose crowd, I am open to suggestions and any mods you may suggest for a new BRP rider. Thanks in advance!

I CANT WAIT TO GET THIS THING OFF OF MY TRUCK! and into the MUD!

[ImpalaR1]

Congrats, i just picked up a 2000 Xr650r today. I haven't even really taken mine for a decent ride yet either, but i can't wait.

[roadcam]

to the best of my knowledge, no state requires you to keep your smog equipment, rather, the manufacturer is required to build them that way ... so far, anyway .... you will have more fun with that bike than you ever dreamed of. .. it really is a bargain for what you get ... the mods to de-smog and re-jet will not only make it perform MUCH better, but the engine will love you for it, makes it run cooler and last longer ...

[XR650L_Dave]

HC, whereabouts in NY?

I just got my XRL inspected in Syracuse and there were no ?? about the loss of the smog stuff.

I went to the state DMV and downloaded the inspection procudure, and there were no items for pollution control.

http://www.nysdmv.com/forms.htm

document CR-79, most of the way down. MC inspections are the last 5 pages.

The dealer gave you the bike with an inspection sticker on the left fork leg, right?

Look for a PM.

Dave

[HappyCurmudgeon]

Hi Dave,

I'm in Western NY, about as far from the city as one can get and still be in NY.

Thanks for the DMV info!, I'll check that out next. (Stupid me didn't think to look there)

Yes, the bike is inspected, but it is new and the inspection was done with that equipment in place. I was concerned with future inspections after the removal of that equipment.

You had no trouble with the inspection? I've heard horror stories about the new inspection procedures here. I'm glad this doesnt seem to be an issue, now i can open this thing up.

On another note... WOW am i rusty! i havent been on the road in a couple of years, but i was on a dirt bike in the interim, this bike handles vastly different than my old Magna (which i knew it would) but surprisingly, much different than my old XR350R dirt bike (which i did NOT expect). I had a blast cruising around some of my old haunts on this thing over the holiday weekend! i cant wait until friday!

[goblin127]

One thing comes to mind,air preasure in the tires. For on road vs off. The tires arnt all that great. you wont be able to go to low with the back either because there is no rimlocks. You just got your self one fun bike to ride. tight new england trails are tough with the stock gearing,but thats a cheap fix. enjoy!

[HappyCurmudgeon]

Quick question, does anyone make a tach for the 650L? i found a previous post about this but it received no replies... Id like to have one just for the heck of it.

[justicedone]

Have you been hanging with that "Tuner" bunch again ???

I dont think an Auto Meter 8in Tach w/shift light would quite look right on a dirtbike !

he he, sorry...couldnt help myself

seriously, why bother, you might try to glance down, and then bury your front end into a gnarly rut and break your beak dude....dont do it !!!

[HappyCurmudgeon]

*laughin at "break your beak"* good point. Im just used to having one on the dash, isnt a major concern though, i never actually "used" it, it was more of a toy.

[HappyCurmudgeon]

*laughin at "break your beak"* good point. Im just used to having one on the dash, isnt a major concern though, i never actually "used" it, it was more of a toy.

[wr450fyamaha]

glad to hear it dude

[wr450fyamaha]

glad to hear it dude

[Jayzonk]

Hey all, i took the plunge, and just got my shiney new '2006 XR650L loaded into the bed of my truck just a few short hours ago, Hell, i haven't even yet turned the key and hit the start button myself! I am so utterly excited, WAY more than when i picked up my old Magna road bike (far to long ago to admit too). I have perused these threads alot in the past months, I am aware of many of the recommended mods... but I live in the socialist republic of New York, and I am unsure of the legality of the carb/exhaust/smog removal mods for my state, and I can't seem to find a clear answer on the web anywhere. Does anyone have any insight on this? as a newbie to the dual purpose crowd, I am open to suggestions and any mods you may suggest for a new BRP rider. Thanks in advance!

I CANT WAIT TO GET THIS THING OFF OF MY TRUCK! and into the MUD!

Re: smog removal - I'm wondering if it's best to follow Clinton's "Don't Ask. Don't tell" policy (gays in the military). Probably the best way to get it legalized! Just remember, just because you get it plated doesn't mean that it's legal! It just means that they didn't catch the removed smog stuff, so you could still get fined.

[HappyCurmudgeon]

Update.

Yes! I absolutely LOVE this bike! (Of course, I love all bikes, so that really isn't a big shocker) But this one is MINE *Full Metal Jacket* moment.

Ok, the first thing I found out... OMG that birdcage of a skid plate/engine guard needs to GO!

I put an unbelievably HUGE dent/scrape/dig in one of those little "protective" pipes of the original cage so bad that, had the offending object hit the case, id have likely punctured it, leaking all my precious oil onto a creek bed. The offending piece I struck was an old chunk of concrete, quite small in and of itself, but to it was attached a very long & sharp piece of 3/8" rebar. That thing damned near threw off of the bike it hit so hard. It bent that guard so badly I had to torch it off to get the pressure off of the bolts to loosen them. (I say protective jokingly, although technically the guard did work, I will grant them that… it was pure dumb luck the piece of rebar wasn’t ½ an inch in any direction, which would have skewered my case)

Engine guard has since been scrapped and replaced with a Moose skid plate.

As a supplement to the first thing I found out… the next thing I added was a crossbar pad. Since I ended up ALMOST sucking face with the crossbar on my handlebars when that piece of rebar unexpectedly threw 350 pounds of motorcycle right into my face. I felt this was a good cheap addition, and I am partial to keeping my teeth, in my head, where they belong.

Second thing... although this bike gets pretty good mileage… a 2.8-gallon tank? INCLUDING reserve? &%$#@!? Is all of Japan still daffy from a mere atomic blast or two? For Pete’s sake people! Be real! Even at say 60mpg highway (I am getting about 54) that’s 132 miles until reserve… ON THE ROAD, we all know off-road swallow’s gas by the bucket loads. I realize, because I have been there, that Japan is small and has a fuel station every 18 feet, but c’mon! That is seriously short foresight in my mind.

Thimble-sized gas tank has been replaced with a more respectable Clarke holding 4.7 gallons.

*Side note: does anyone know if anyone makes a lockable cap for a Clarke tank? Yeah, Yeah, I know, it’s a plastic tank, and the fuel hose is rubber, so what is the point? Right? Simple point. The stock tank is drillable or with a decent Philips could be punctured as well, and anyone can chop a fuel line. I know all that… I’m just looking for deterant, not a fort Knox approach. Ya Know?

Lessons learned, fixes applied.

Oh, as a third mod, I tossed on a rear rack as this will be a daily commuter bike come spring, and I need to carry my “stuff”

I’ll get to the smog/carb/exhaust mods in the spring. I have decided… err… rather my wallet has decided, that I’m just going to ride it as it now sits until it snows. I’ll collect parts over the winter and make the smog/carb/exhaust mods early next year… after a few hundred miles in the early spring to blow out the winter blues.

Then…

[Steve Pace]

Hi there

I'm originaly from Spencerport NY I just purchased my XR650L in August love it the previous owner did mods Clarke tank, skid plate, new tail light, Pro Taper bars. It only had 900 miles on it he said he didnt have time to ride! To bad. I took it to Colorado rode the Rainbow trail Great BIKE!! have fun with yours. I'm in Albuquerque now not as much snow you can ride 350 days a year!!

[roadcam]

I dont think you will ever find a locking gas cap for it ... and, like you already know ... if I want gas out of a bike tank, Im not going thru the whole syphon process, when all I have to do is pull off your fuel line, no cutting required ... dump the smog crap, and keep close eye on your oil level ... go ride

[Shakeyhands]

Get tires too! post haste man!