How do the Honda XR650L's stack up to the Suzuki DR650's

[Wholly Kaw]

Well, is it a fair fight or does the DR take the cake?

The DR has the rep as one helluva machine and is supposedly the closest to 50/50 that you can get but I really dig the honda's.

What say you?

[Sport-Touring]

[iceman]

The XR's have taken every baja race that I can remember. My money would go to the honda.

[Wholly Kaw]

The XR's have taken every baja race that I can remember. My money would go to the honda.

Really!  Good to know.

Any one with first hand experience?

[PackMule]

The XR's have taken every baja race that I can remember. My money would go to the honda.

Those are XR-R 650's, which are a COMPLETELY different beast from the XR-L.  Of course, this year Honda won Baja with a 450, so...


The XR-L is generally regarded as being a little more to the dirt end of the scale than the DR (and both more dirt oriented than the KLR).  That being said, I've ridden a lot with guys who have DR's, and they do quite well offroad (for a 650 DS bike).  And I don't think you'll find anyone who'd dispute that the DR is easier to live with on longer road sections than the XR.

Both are air cooled, somewhat aged designs (not that there's anything wrong with that).


What do you want to do with it?

[Johnny Monsoon]

What do you want to do with it?

You're looking at adventure bikes, which means you shouldn't be looking at a bike that makes big power.  With that in mind, are you looking for something that'll cruise down the highway and allow you to poke around a bit offroad, or something that'll get you into the really nasty stuff after tolerating the highway?

Road/Dirt

If it is 50+road and a lot of longer distance commuting, go with a big trallie or F650GS/KLR
If it is a 50/50 split, go with the KLR, DR, or TE-610
If it is 50+dirt and short commuting, the KLX250S, DRz400, DR650, or the KTM offerings (less than 600cc displacement), and Honda XL series.

[Wholly Kaw]

What do you want to do with it?

What do you want to do with it?

My boy and I are going to start gettin' dirty.  The only legal place that is within a reasonable distance (I am near new haven, CT) is the Thomaston Dam area. (http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/recreati/tmd/tmdrec.htm)

But to ride inside the reserve I think we have to have a street licensable enduro rides.

Sooo...I think I'm looking for mostly dirt and somewhat street ride.

My dirt experiences have been with my old XL350, and a little TLR200 but that was about 100lbs. ago.

Now I am thinking I need a little more than a 350.

[Wholly Kaw]

I could be wrong about needing an enduro.

Here is what the website says:

State registration is required and safety equipment is encouraged.

Which I am taking to mean DMV registration...

...BUT...

I have some phone calls to make before next spring because the bike pictured on the website is clearly not dual purpose.

[iceman]

Those are XR-R 650's, which are a COMPLETELY different beast from the XR-L.
 
I would'nt say completely different. There are alot of similiarites.
 
Personally I think the honda holds up better than the suzuki in overall terms of off road. Called R&D bro.

[iceman]

I would'nt say the R and L models are completely different. There are alot of similiarites.
 
Personally I think the honda holds up better than the suzuki in overall terms of off road. Called R&D bro.

[mtrider16]

I would'nt say the R and L models are completely different. There are alot of similiarites.
 
Personally I think the honda holds up better than the suzuki in overall terms of off road. Called R&D bro.

There are a few differences that give a racing atvantage to the XR-R.
 
XR650R - Water Cooled, 10:1 compression, Dry Sump, Aluminum Frame, adjustable suspension (some what older styled forks), Remove exhaust muffler plate, and intake manifold restrictor and tune carb for an instant 10 HP gain from stoke
 
XR650L - Air cooled, 8.3:1 compression, Dry Sump, About 40 lbs of extra weight according to Honda, and a little lower level of suspenders.
 

Road/Dirt
 
If it is 50+road and a lot of longer distance commuting, go with a big trallie or F650GS/KLR
If it is a 50/50 split, go with the KLR, DR, or TE-610
If it is 50+dirt and short commuting, the KLX250S, DRz400, DR650, or the KTM offerings (less than 600cc displacement), and Honda XL series.

From what I've read, and the limited expereince on my bike, I would agree with Johnny here.  The other possibility is making a dirt bike street legal, which can be a pain working through the buracracy of you state.
 
David

[Johnny Monsoon]

IF you need a street legal beast, get the KLX250S.  No, you don't need any more than that.  It hauls me around to 95mph on the highwway (me 175lb and 6') and my buddy as fast (he 225 & 6'5").  That thing is every bit dirt in the rough stuff, but works well on the highway due to the 6th gear.  It won't win you any speed records, but that's not really the point of those bikes.
 
Now, if you can get away with only having to register one, well, then you're in luck.  All new dirtbikes have titles these days, so they're all 'registered'.  My two TT-R125LEs have titles and are registered, so I'm good to use 'em in the offroad parks.

[saddletramp]

 
After riding them all I chose the DRZ400!  It's been great!

[spinalator]

Uncle Bob's Turbo DRZ400 is the one to have. Woot!

Here is a link for making the XR-R streetable, that i had saved from about 3 years ago.

http://www.xrdualsport.com/

The suzuki gel seat is nice for the 650 if you are on the road longer than 15 minutes.

[tshelver]

What do you want to do with it?

Road/Dirt

If it is 50+road and a lot of longer distance commuting, go with a big trallie or F650GS/KLR
If it is a 50/50 split, go with the KLR, DR, or TE-610
If it is 50+dirt and short commuting, the KLX250S, DRz400, DR650, or the KTM offerings (less than 600cc displacement), and Honda XL series.

Actually the TE610 blends the roadability of the DR with the off-road ability (actually better than) the DRZ400, and definitely better than the DR650...

Makes about 50 rwhp (again a bunch better than the non-XR650R Jap 400 - 650 dual purpose bikes), and has quality suspension: 45mm upside down forks up front, 4-way adjustable rear shock (including hi and low speed compression), and very good brakes.
The wide ratio 6-speed box and good spread of power let you run comfortably at 75 - 80 mph on the freeway, while still being as good in the woods as a DRZ400E (which is geared lower than the S).
Of course, the stock saddle and headlight suck, but you weren't expecting perfection, were you?  

If you're comparing the DR650, and the XR650, how can you skip the KLR?

[MrVvrroomm]

I bought a used '05 DR650 a couple of months ago.   I'm making it into a street supermoto for my wife over the winter.  I have put about 100 miles on it, all street.  Once converted to supermoto the most off-road it will see is a gravel road.

The bikes reputation is that it's basically bullet-proof.

[OnlyVees]

I am a dual sport idiot. What does the SE mean on the newer DR650?

[Johnny Monsoon]

Actually the TE610 blends the roadability of the DR with the off-road ability (actually better than) the DRZ400, and definitely better than the DR650...

Makes about 50 rwhp (again a bunch better than the non-XR650R Jap 400 - 650 dual purpose bikes), and has quality suspension: 45mm upside down forks up front, 4-way adjustable rear shock (including hi and low speed compression), and very good brakes.
The wide ratio 6-speed box and good spread of power let you run comfortably at 75 - 80 mph on the freeway, while still being as good in the woods as a DRZ400E (which is geared lower than the S).
Of course, the stock saddle and headlight suck, but you weren't expecting perfection, were you?  

If you're comparing the DR650, and the XR650, how can you skip the KLR?

Make no mistake about it, the TE is on my top 3 list, but I didn't put it at the top of the offroad capabile machines simply due to its weight.  While it can go everywhere, and will do so a lot better than the KLR or DR (and maybe moderately better than the DRz) it will still be more difficult to handle than a smaller CC bike in more gnarly stuff; or will have to slow down more despite better suspension, etc.  The KLX's suspension is nothing to sneeze at though; I can't tell you how capable that machine really is.

It is honestly down the TE (as a long range machine with serious dirt ability), the KLX for mind-blowing offroad prowess and good highway capability, or the KLR just because of the ability to load it with anything and count on it to get you there on a minimum amount of fill-ups.

[Wholly Kaw]

...What does the SE mean on the newer DR650?

Yellow plastic!:lol:

[blakebird]

I've had about all the big XR's (XR500R, XR600R, XR650R, XR400R), a number of KTM's (RFS and LC4 and 2t), and a 2005 DR650.
 
First - the XR650L is derived from the (Baja winning) XR600R engine-wise.
It's definitely old-tech, but that isn't completely horrible. So is the DR.
 
The XR650R (I had a 2001) is an great bike. Won about every desert race there is to win. Someone said old-tech suspension, but others might say it has the "legendary" 46mm Kayaba's that were an industry standard for  years.
 
The DR650 is tough to beat for bang-for-the-buck. I would probably put it in front of the XR650L if I was doing more road or wanted a bit of a shorter bike. I'm 6'-1", tall bikes are fine.
The DR's forks have zero adjustment, they really are the old school items. I had Racetech springs and had them reworked to suit my size and ability - they were always a compromise. An Eibach spring in back made it pretty darn good. If dirt is a priority, the XR-L is a better bike.
 
But don't narrow it down to just those. Find a nice LC4 Enduro, a dualsported XR650R, a used TE610.... The TE's are great bikes. The 610 motor is more akin to the LC4 KTM, where the smaller 450/510 is more akin to the RFS KTM motor.

[Frantik1]

I've owned both, but the DR was a '92, a different animal than the current one. The XR was an '03. If you want to do dirt, the XR wins hands down. The XR's suspension is STIFF!  I'm 240 lbs and had the suspension as light as I could go, and it was Almost too harsh on the street. The DR's suspention off road was and still is.... well, Crap. On the street though, its another story. In the engine department the DR wins without a doubt. The zuki wins in the miles per gallon department too.
XR  best bike for a off road/trail bike, stiff suspention, best handling, tall seat .
 DR  Best engine, not a good serious offroad choice,comfy STREET suspention, good seat height.
 I don't know about fuel tank capacity on the newer DR, but my old one had a 4+ gallon stock tank, 200 miles per tank was great. The stock XR's fuel capacity SUCKS. It still comes down to what you are going to use it for. No matter what, a dual sport is a big trade off between on and off road.