Has anyone had problems with the higher compression of the R when burning crappy fuel?

Might be my imagination, but I feel like I get a bit of a top end knock if I don't use premium. I'm 40,000k's in now, so it's going to get a rebuild soon anyway. I'm interested to know whether the bike will suffer crappy third world fuel well.

This forum thing is great. I've got heaps of ideas for modifications I'd like to do before I head out into the great unknown. Thanks everyone.

Thats my thoughts also...... I have not been able to locate any info on burning low octain fuel in the 650R. A very important consideration when using it as a RTW bike...I'll start a new thread to see if it catches anyones attention. Thanks

I don't know is it is still an question xr650l or xr650r
but i know some one who rode 35000km on his xr650r with 1 oil change (the one after 1000km) and now it broke down
not surprisingly with his driving style and a hrc kit.

35,000 km on an XR and only ONE oil change :eek3: ! Why torture a bike like that? It's almost unbelivable that a knowledgable rider would do that.

Not a single problem last year in Mauritania and Mali.

Best of luck, be careful.....RTW isn't really much like a weekend trail ride.

One huge re-build later.

I've just put my bike (XR650R) on a boat to East Timor, I'll be joining it in a couple of days and we'll ride back to the UK from there. Mostly.

After 18 months, 47,000kms, several races, desert crossings, trips up the cape, snow and every other corner of Australia, I thought it would be a good idea to take a good look inside.

Briefly, I replaced: Cam chain, valve stem seals, piston rings, swingarm bearings, head set, chain, chain slipper, chain roller, sprokets, discs, pads, radiators, numerous seals and gaskets.

There was also a heap of adjusments and maintenance done. Like lapping the valves.

I've ridden this bike hard. Just to give you an idea; I went up and down Cape york, which is almost a thousand K's from Cairns, in two days and sat on about 130kmh most of the time. Regardless of the terrain. Lots of other trips like that.

The bike's had a hard life. Despite the use, bordering on abuse, the inside of the barrel looked like new. The original hone marks were still there from the factory. It's a very, very tough machine and I love it. I have a heap more confidence since the re-build, because I know that I'm not capable of throwing anything at this bike that it can't handle.

To solve the vunerable rad issue, I've installed a couple of PWR units and fabricated a little brace that simply sits infront and deflects all the sideways force from the tank back to the frame.

I went big on the right footpeg and bolted straight through the frame. No more loose nuts.

Lots of other bits and bobs, too many to list.

Don't know much about the L, but the R rocks.

This is a great reccomendation for the 650R. It proves that even when
ridden hard the bike can take it. My guess is your bike would have needed
less motor work (cam chain, rings and such) had the super high speed
for long distance was avoided. But even so, the bike did well. If I was
going RTW, I would take it a bit easier. In that situation I'd guess that
bike would need very little in the motor dept.

Chains, Sprockets, rollers, slippers, rads are all either normal maintenacne items or crash related. Once again, tells me the bikes up to whatever.

I re-read this post and see that Wiesse had switched to a DRZ? I guess he's
probably off on his RTW by this point. Good luck. I think you guys did a great
job of pointing out the pros and cons of both bikes.

BTW Skidder, the XR-L is an older air cooled model, heavy but strong. I owned
one. I'd say the XR650R is just as reliable. The L has a wider seat and steel
rear subframe.

As someone suggested, the R needs a steel subframe for RTW. And maybe
a better seat (for the old guys at least).

Patrick:scooter:

I can't remember if I answered the low-octane question elsewhere, but the R doesn't give a damn what you put in it: we had sub 90 octane stuff in Africa and it was sooty, but fine. we were told it was only 80-85, but that seemed implausibly low. I reckon some had been cut with oil or diesel and was quite waxy, but, again, the Rs didn't care.
good luck on your trip, Skidder

We always use Super
when available.

I wonder if we have the same rating system. I think most is quoted as 95 in the UK. like I say, the XRs ran fine everywhere we used them - bit smokey, but still pokey

More sulpher perhaps? (smells like Bush!)

Patrick, you must go out with some fiery dates.

I refer to "Our" Bush. You know, the one
Chazez, the president of Venezuela reffered to as "El Diablo" in front of the
UN. Said he could still smell the Sulphur odor lingering behind after
Bush spoke.