what mods should be done to a xr650r for a RTW trip

[NothingMan]

what type of mods should be done to a honda xr650r for a trip around the world, i am a heavy guy so what should i do with the suspension does it need upgrades as well?

[RichLees]

you'll have to help us out, first. what sort of riding do you plan? long days on tar? short days of dirt? long days of hardcore off-roading? most people considering the XRR would fall into the 2nd and 3rd, but the amount of effort needed in prep depends how remote you want to get!
eg do you need 900km range and 8-10 days autonomy? or will you be able to get water and fuel each day?

[BCK_973]

maybe this link can help you a bit out.
Gerardo Ibarra has converted his bike to a great RTW bike indeed.Soft luggage of course.
Bye
KH

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102842

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http://viento-de-ripio.blogspot.com/

[NothingMan]

I plan on going everywhere, canada down to south america then to africa and up to asia and who knows whatelse. i can handle a uncomfortable road on tarmac but would like a very capable offroad bike for trails in south america and africa and would like to do desert trips.

[*Touring Ted*]

Id get your seat rebuilt.. £150 quid will get you a resculptured gel inserteted seat.

Suspension is your preference but if your heavy then looks like you will need uprated springs.

[skidder]

I've been traveling on mine for 12months now. Other than personal mods, here's what I've done.
1.Bark busters, purely for lever protection.
2.26 litre tank, she's a bit thirsty.
3.Alloy bash plate, one that doesn't have a 'T' bar above the frame rails.
4.After market indicators, tucked neatly out of harms way.
5.The bolt that holds the rear subframe onto the main frame next to the top of the shock bent recently. This caused the main frame to crack. Bit of clever welding (not mine) and a new, hardend bolt, seems to have things straight again. I'd replace the bolt before it bends if I were you, it takes alot of stress and deserves to be a hardend one.
6.Just experimenting with opening the airbox up a bit, my soft bags seem to restrict air flow.
7.I'm 75 kilo's and would like a firmer rear spring.

Can't praise my bike enough, I love it.

[davidlomax]

Originally Posted by skidder

.
2.26 litre tank, she's a bit thirsty.

....How thirsty is 'A BIT' ? What km/l do you get for road/trail/sand?

Ta,

Dave Lomax

[skidder]

I generaly get about 350kms to 26 litres of fuel. I've got over 400 just pottering around town and closer to 250 once when I was riding stood up at 120kmh for ages, (sore arse). Off road doesn't seem to make that much difference really, I rode across the Simpson Desert which was slow going in the deep sand, and 1100 dunes to go up and over and still managed 500kms with 36 litres. I think it's higher speeds that kills the economy.

The Acerbis 26 litre tank has either swolen to around 28 litres in the sun, or all the petrol staions in Oz are on the fiddle. I've heard you can heat plastic tanks and put compressed air in them to make them grow.

Has anyone used soft tanks, like Camelbak bladders?

[RichLees]

our bikes (3 off) were much less thirsty. we did 730km of dunes and gravel on 40 litres each.
on the road, we regularly did over 500km at 100kmh on 25 litres.
20kpl is a reasonable average with 17kpl being a sensible off-road score. we were carrying up to 50 litres of fuel and 15 of water with food for 8 days so we were generally riding conservatively. that didn't stop Martin breaking his back and me dislocating my collarbone, though :-(

we used IMS main tanks (28litre), custom rear tanks (13 fuel, 11 water) and Ortlieb 8 litre water bags for fuel. it sounds precarious, but we tested them for months before setting off - I left one soaked in fuel and another part filled in the sun, rain, frost and kicked it around the garden for good measure.

[nate]

Rich,
I am strongly considering making my next bike an xr650r and I am curious what country your xr650r was made for and what (if any) air box/carb/exhaust mods you may have done to them.
Thanks,
Nate