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.
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Honda
