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Riding to Mongolia/Russia. Which would you pick ?? Riding to Mongolia/Russia. Which would you pick ??
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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
Photo by Sean Howman, The Pamir highway in an unseasonably cold late October, Tajikistan

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Sean Howman,
The Pamir highway in an unseasonably
cold late October, Tajikistan



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Old 12 Sep 2014
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Riding to Mongolia/Russia. Which would you pick ??
If a UK-Mongolian along the silk road trip was on the cards, which out of these trusty steeds would you ride ?

XR650L or NX650 ?
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Old 12 Sep 2014
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For me it would come down to condition and readiness, if they are both up together whichever one I prefer riding.
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Old 12 Sep 2014
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Originally Posted by mark manley View Post
For me it would come down to condition and readiness, if they are both up together whichever one I prefer riding.
They're both close to ready. Nothing I couldn't do in a free week.

That's a total case of thinking with the heart... Which is a very very good reason.

I'm 50:50 with that way of thinking. I get all technical and geeky too.

XR650L - Tuned Engine, big suspension, noisy exhaust, narrow seat..

NX650L - Same (un-tuned) engine, lower, more sedate , solid chassis.

It's a kind of case of off road performance vs comfort.
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Old 12 Sep 2014
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amigo,

you have answered your own question ....

XR650L - Tuned Engine, big suspension, noisy exhaust, narrow seat..

NX650L - Same (un-tuned) engine, lower, more sedate , solid chassis.

... take the NX and go ...

cu on the road
mika
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Old 13 Sep 2014
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I'd go for the lightest, which according to my google searches is the XR.

But I'd like to quieten the exhaust a little and also make sure that narrow seat does not mean uncomfortable seat.
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Old 13 Sep 2014
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Go with the NX Ted. The XR seat will cut you in half by the time you've got to the end of your road, you'll be deaf by Dover from the exhaust and the tuned engine will go bang the first time it has to work for a living in sand.
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Old 13 Sep 2014
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Take whatever you want and borrow the other one to me because I want to come with you
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Old 13 Sep 2014
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They're both in a similar weight league, but I'd tend towards the XRL: You'll be able to get off the beaten track more. So: Take the one with the best (quality/strength/reliability/repairability) suspension. Buying/making a seat comfortable/an exhaust quieter is easy.(From someone who's done it, who set off on one bike and ended up on a different bike, because bike A wasn't up to that specific job).

Doesn't the XRL have the same motor as the NX-Dominator?
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Old 13 Sep 2014
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Which ever one you choose there will be a time you wished you were on the other one . Go with the bike that you look back at after a good ride and smile (or hug in my case!) I would fit soft motor and sheep to XRL and take that .
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Old 13 Sep 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ta-rider View Post
Take whatever you want and borrow the other one to me because I want to come with you
haha I like it...

Quote:
Originally Posted by chris View Post
They're both in a similar weight league, but I'd tend towards the XRL: You'll be able to get off the beaten track more. So: Take the one with the best (quality/strength/reliability/repairability) suspension. Buying/making a seat comfortable/an exhaust quieter is easy.(From someone who's done it, who set off on one bike and ended up on a different bike, because bike A wasn't up to that specific job).

Doesn't the XRL have the same motor as the NX-Dominator?
Yes.. Same motors entirely. NX has a slightly longer gearbox but hardly noticeable.

MY XRL has a Dynojet kit and FMF system. It also had vastly superior suspension.


I'm actually tempted with the Dommie. It's lower and more comfortable and probably more reliable due to it's standard state of tune. (also more economical with smaller jets).. And I COULD upgrade the suspension at a cost of £500. It will still never be as good off road as the XR650L though.

The weight saved on the XRL is because it has such a pathetic subframe which I'd have to brace anyway and make it the same weight..

I might have to flip a coin at this rate.
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Old 13 Sep 2014
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Swap motors and go on the XRL. Good and reliable suspension is very important. Trust me on this one.

You at Danny's next weekend?
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Old 14 Sep 2014
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Swap motors and go on the XRL. Good and reliable suspension is very important. Trust me on this one.

You at Danny's next weekend?
Sure am... See you there.
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Old 16 Sep 2014
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Seat will cause the most uncomfort. You need a very comfortable seat.
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Old 16 Sep 2014
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Get an air hawk for the seat or spend some pennies having the seat reworked somewhere cheap once you head East...
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Old 16 Sep 2014
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Get an air hawk for the seat or spend some pennies having the seat reworked somewhere cheap once you head East...
Yup.. Just bought one. It's sitting on top of the XRL.

I'm going to try it out this weekend. Not really tried them before. A bit like sitting on Jelly it seems.
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