If you're taking an XR650L then I would recommend fitting an oil cooler. I have one of Mark Suttons oil colers (GS Mark on ADV rider) Sutton Cycle Works Honda XR 650L Oil Cooler on my 650 dominator (same engine as the 650L) and can highly recommend it. I found out the hard way what can happen when one of these engines overheats. My bike dropped a valve seat only 200miles after I bought it! My problem was caused by me caning the bike at 90mph with a damaged inlet manifold seal causing a lean mixture. The weak point of these engines is minimal finning on the head especially on the right hand side and the first thing to go is the RHS exhaust valve seat falling out the head. Honda's fix was to fit air scoops on the tank of the 650L but you won't have them if you're fitting an oversized tank so an oil cooler would be prudent. I believe that the later heads were cast from a better quality alloy so are less prone to this problem (mine's a 1990 bike) so a later 650L with a cooler should be bombproof.
Here's what mine looked like when I pulled it to bits.
Once repaired though I did 3100 miles in 11 days on a round trip from Scotland to the Pyrenees to take part in The VINCE with no problems at all.
Best of luck with your trip
cheers
Stewart
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