XR650R travelling and registering
 

I have two options I'm looking into a) buy a TDM850 here in Europe or b) buy a new XR650R from a dealer in the USA , register it there, and travel around for a month. So question is, is the XR road legal out of the shop? I will buy the bike in Minnesota and ride it to New York.

I have an address in NJ I can use, but it's only a mailbox address, do I need to go to NJ with the bike to register it? Or can I get an preliminary address from the dealer while travelling around? What about insurance, which companies do you recommend? I intend to ship the bike home after the trip.

Are there any neat offroad trails on the way I should look into?

Thanks,
John

Insurance in the US
 

Hi John,

I used progessive insurance here in the US. I am from the UK & it was extremely easy to deal with them. They insure you for the year but return the balance when you cancel the policy.

https://www.progressive.com/online-c...r-service.aspx

Sorry cannot help with your other questions.

Regards Mojo

Hi John - I did this last year - flew to the US (Nevada) bought an XR650R, registered it etc, rode it around for 3 months, then flew it back to the UK...

Buying and insuring the bike is the easy part - no problem if you have an address you can use in the US (not sure a mailbox is enough though?) - do you have a friend's address you could use?

The problem with the 650R is that it is a dirt only bike in the US, so getting it road legal and titled can be a bit of a problem, or not, depending on the different State laws (you need to check what exactly is required - go to the DMV website for the state you want to register it in)...

I took a load of parts with me (e-start, big tank, fairing) but the least you'll need to get it road registered is the correct lighting kit to get it through the DMV test, then you can change the machine from an 'off-road use only' on the certificate of newness, to a proper title (registration) document - see below:

I bought a lighting kit from Baja Designs (includes turn signals, you need them in the US), plus a couple of mirrors (most states require them) - didn't need a speedo in Nevada, but used my GPS for that anyway. You'll also need DoT tyres - the XR comes standard with off-road only Dunlops.

You then have to get the machine inspected by an 'authorised' dealer - most likely the dealer you bought it from... then you take that paperwork to the DMV and get your registration processed (takes a couple of weeks to come through, but the give you a temporary plate in the meantime).

However, to get the machine actually titled, the DMV also have to do a VIN check (plus make sure the lights etc meet requirements), then you take that slip into the DMV and they will process you title paperwork too - again, typically takes a couple of weeks (up to a month) to come through to your address, but you can be riding in the meantime.

Also, consider if you really want a 650R (I did, that's why I did it this way) - you'll need to get a higher output stator (either new or rewound) fitted if you want to run the lights properly, and it is kickstart only of course.

Then there is the cost of shipping it home and subsiquent re-registration and corresponding tax/duty implications you may face in your own country.

It might be easier to buy a bike in Europe and take it there (you can get foreign machines insured in the US, no problem), or buy a bike there and just sell it again (or get someone to sell it on your behalf after you've gone) - otherwise it's a lot of faffing around - especially if you're only going for a month?

Of course, if you really want a bike you can't buy back home it is the only way...

Hope that helps,

JennyMo xxx

ps. XR650L, while nowhere near as sexy, you can buy and ride out of the shop the same day - title will be in the post two weeks later... same for KLR650, DR650 etc. All street legal out of the door, and cheaper than an XR650R too... worth a thought?

Xr650r
 

Thanks guys, very helpful!
Seems a lot of hassle, don't want to spend most of my vacation running in and out of offices! I fancy the XR650R, but another option should be easier. Again, thanks for your response!

Regards
John

Road Legal Yes
 

Hi John

Check out on the honda web site the xr650L it is the road legal version of the xr650, with only slight differences.
Hope that keeps out of some of those offices.
Cheers Chris

totally different bike - dude!
 

Erm - with the greatest of respect Chris, the XR650L is nothing like the 650R, save for the fact it has two wheels (even the knobbily tyres are different!).

Without going into too much detail, the 650L has an air cooled ex-Dominator engine (with electric start) and around 35bhp, the 650R is water cooled and makes 50+ hp easily.

The R also has an alloy frame, not steel, far better suspension and is essentially a race/enduro bike whereas the 650L is a middle weight trailie dual-sport...

There's nothing wrong with the 650L, and as you say, is road legal straight out of the showroom... but it a world away from the performance and (off-road) ability of the 650R.

xxx

But, would be a much simpler option than trying to street-legalize an off-road bike. Unless he is planning some really back roads, the L would be the easier option for the US--I have never ridden it, but have heard the Trans Am trail doesn't need an extreme off-road bike to ride, if he was planning to ride that.

Oh I agree (which is what I suggested in my first post, along with the DR650/KLR650 etc) - I got the impression he had his heart set on the 650R, that's all...

I've seen some very nicely modified 650Ls (check out the Adv Rider website for more on dual-sport bikes in the USA) and there is a lot to be said for buying a road legal machine, especially if you are on a limited time frame - a lot less hassle!

I just wanted to point out to anyone else reading this thread that the XR650R and XR650L are two very different machines - as you say, you've got to want what the 650R offers to make the (potential) hassle worthwhile, for general tour/trail riding, the 650L has a lot going for it...

xxx

hello,
i owned a xr650r for a while at home and i drove a xrl650 for 3500kms through Peru (they had 32.000 miles on it without any serious trouble...). Yes, they are technically totally different bikes: competition versus all-road touring. water vs. air cooled, different frame and suspention etc. etc.

the xrl has four big advantages compared to xr650:
*streetlegal
*maintenance intervals.
*electric starter
*seat

so, the rational choice would be the xrl, buy then, since when is bike choice rational? :smartass:

cheers,

Sander

Yes, the problem is that he only has a month, and trying to get the "R" street legal would be outweighed by convenience. I am sure the "L" is essentially "maintenance-free" (I know, nothing is 100%), although the "R" probably is too.

BTW, what will you do with the bike at the end of the month?

I would agree with you had he stated he was coming to Arizona, and riding through Baja/Mexico for a month. In AZ, it is fairly easy to street register anything as long as it has all street equipment (yes, quads are welcome on the roads in this state, but not too many other states), so it would be worth the extra effort to street legal the "R" in this scenario.