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 Honda - 250 XL S (Japan SL - S)
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Honda XL S (Japan SL - S) motocyclette motorrad motorcycle vintage classic classique scooter roller moto scooter
Photo ou archives : F-M. Dumas
3314

Capacity : 250
Model : XL S (Japan SL - S)
Production : 1972 - 1974
Category : (On-Off) Dual Purpose

HONDA

XR650L - 1992

Off-road excellence

Honda belatedly produced a road-going version of its successful XR600R dirt bike. The XR650L was worth the wait. Combining the 600R chassis with the single-cylinder engine from Honda's more road-oriented NX650 Dominator brought new standards of off-road ability to the big trail-bike division.

Developed on the Dirt

Built solely for the American market, the 650L was developed in the States on rough terrain. From the outset, Honda aimed to create a dual-purpose machine that came close to matching the performance of the off-road only XR-R. Numerous road-going parts were added, and the chassis was strengthened to cope. But essentially the 650L really was a Dominator heart in a dirt-bike body.

Strengthened for the Street

Its engine was almost identical to the NX650's air-cooled 644cc single, with four-valve combustion chamber, slightly modified cam timing and electric starter. The steel frame was the same as the dirt bike's, apart from a little extra gusseting to handle the roadster's extra 50 lb. Suspension was a slightly stiffened version of the Rs, with sophisticated 43mm cartridge forks and multi-adjustable Pro-Link rear shock. The Honda was very tall and slim, its long-travel suspension and responsive engine making for a great city bike. But it was on the rough that the XR-L showed its ability. The thumping motor meant there was always instant acceleration on tap. The Honda's single-mindedness and high-speed vibration made it unsuited to long road journeys, but for off-road use the XR650L was in a class of it'> own.

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 644cc (100x82mm) air-cooled single-cylinder

Power Rating: 42 hp @ 6000 rpm

Valves: sohc 4-valve

Fuel System: 40mm Keihin carburetor

Transmission: 5-speed, chain final drive

Suspension: telescopic forks (front); vertical monoshock (rear)

Brakes: single disc brakes (front & rear)

Wheels: 21 inch wire (front); 18 inch (rear)

Weight: 324 lb

Maximum Speed: 95 mph

Apart from added lights and a few other road details, the XR650L was pure dirt bike.




Le fichier Moto Passion réalisé par François-Marie Dumas réunit près de deux mille photos accompagnées d'un historique très complet des machines présentées.
Il sera progressivement mis à jour ici et toute information complémentaire est la bienvenue sur info@moto-collection.org.

Cette documentation unique, qui constitue sans doute l'encyclopédie la plus exhaustive jamais écrite sur l'histoire de la moto, a été réalisée avec l'assistance de nombreux spécialistes dont principalement Didier Ganneau, Christophe Gaime, Mick Woollett, Jean Goyard, Bernard Salvat, Christian Rey, Yves Campion, Helmut Krackowizer, Michael Dregni, Michel Montange, etc. que je remercie ici.

Disponible sur demande :
- Les fiches originales sur papier
- Les photos et archives signées de mon nom en haute définition ou les documents originaux.
Me contacter sur info@moto-collection.org pour les conditions et droits d'utilisation.