XR650R Set Up To Go Round The World
A little background first, I am planning an RTW trip in the future and I chose the XR650R because I wanted a simple bike with a kick start and easy to fix in a 3rd world country like Whogivesashitastan! I know that kick start isn’t for everyone, but once you have the carb set up right it starts easily in 2 kicks cold (32F) and almost a half kick warm. I see most problems that people have boil down to electrics so I went simple, this bike has no computer or complicated electronics. Parts are easy to find as Honda is everywhere, even in Whogivesacrapastan! :-)
You can use just about any bike really, I've seen people take Harleys, Gold Wings, to scooters. It's all about what you are comfortable with and can you repair it anywhere. I also have a Buell XB12X and I have read about guys taking it around the world. I might change and take that bike as it is easy to fix and will give me more comfort. This blog is about the XR but who knows what I'll take...
Now I see everyone using KLRs, KTMs, or BMW GSs, but I love the XR650R Pig and it’s motor. Rock solid and built so tough to race Baja. You really never hear of major problems with that motor. Plus the bike is so light for that size of a bike. I had mine weighed with a full tank of gas and everything you see below at 328lbs. Easily manageable in adverse situations. I’ve taken this bike on trips as long as 8,500 miles, and so far everything works great!
OK, now for the bike.
2000 Honda XR650R “Pig”
ENGINE MODS:
I didn’t want to get too crazy because I wanted long term reliability. I rebuilt the motor with new bearings and rings but stock. I only added the cam for some more torque. This motor has so much torque now that the gearing I did doesn’t really affect it too much in tight single track. I’m not talking about motocross type stuff though…
Stage 1 Cam
Carb rebuilt and re-jetted with 68s/178/needle 3rd position, I didn't get a pumper carb as I wanted to repair it in Whogivesacrapastan! You can get Keihin parts everywhere.
NGK Iridium plug
Big Gun exhaust now repacked and opened up
XRs ONLY choke plate
Airbox side case mod and removal of internal baffles
K&N filter
Thermostat mod
1.8 radiator cap
XRs Only silicone hoses
Evans Waterless coolant - AWESOME STUFF!!
Recently dyno’d 55 HP at the rear wheel
Uncorked of course
THE REST OF THE BIKE:
Excel rims w/HD spokes all safety wired, new bearings and Xrs Only quick change race bushings
RaceTech reworked front forks and Gold valving (didn’t do the CRF fork conversion, not needed now plus I'm not racing it)
RaceTech rear shock and Gold valving reworked, RaceTech rear spring for my weight plus the weight of gear for travel. I'm 6'4" 245lbs.
XRs Only case saver
15 tooth front sprocket normally, for more offroad I carry a 14 tooth front sprocket and a 42, 45, or 48 rear sprockets depending on terrain I might encounter, currently it's a 42 tooth. That's 70 mph at 4500 rpm.
Devol radiator guards
Devol skid plate
Oil Level tube mod
XRs Only dipstick with temp gauge
Moose Racing magnet drain plug
TrailTech 8" Baja light
Auxbeam LED headlight bulb and Auxbeam LED driving lights
TrailTech Vapor computer
Ricky Stator 200 watt stator wired dual output (AC for front LED and rear tail/brake light, DC for acc’s)
TrailTech HD regulator
TrailTech right side KTM electric fan mod (AWESOME! It’ll never overheat!!)
Battery Tender Lithium battery 240 CCA in a Roost Pakpak on top of the light bracket
Acc. ports for running electronics
Whole bike completely rewired and rerouted by me (really easy there’s like 6 wires)
Ram Mounts for phone, GPS 64st, Cobra iRadar radar detector
street plated in AZ (easy only needs a brake light w/license plate light, front light and horn)
IMS Desert tank 4.6 gal
EBC Dirt Digger clutch
Clutch bushing mod
Right peg mod
EBC red brake pads front and back. I didn’t do the upgrade to a larger disc… Might do it in the future.
Rebuilt the front and rear master cylinders and use silicone fluid
TCI Products Borrego Rack with fender stiffener
Beefed up rear sub frame with add’l stiffeners and bracing, basically welded on some gussets
Tires for a long trip with mostly asphalt Kenda K270s, cheap and they last a long time
Michelin Ultra HD tubes
Ride On flat prevention and balancing goo - WAY better than Slime!
MSR Roost Pak
MSR hand guards
Oxford heated grips… I know, I’m a wimp, I hate cold hands...
Ken Sean folding mirrors
Seat Concepts seat foam and cover (the stock seat is like sitting on a 2X4!)
AirHawk Dual Sport seat pad (a must for long trips on any bike!)
Renthal 520 O ring chain
New Steering head bearings
GPR2 steering stabilizer
GPR top triple clamp for fat bars
Pro Taper KX high fat bar with foam grip puppies and bar snake
30mm bar spacers
XRs Only extended cables
Baja Designs keyed ignition
For luggage I only use soft bags and the best one is the Wolfman Beta Plus and I add a Wolfman Enduro tank bag, fender bag, and a Sealine 30L dry bag
I'm sure I missed some other stuff but you can send me questions if you have any…
Sounds like a lot of farkles but I am planning on a RTW trip on this bike so I did a ground up prep. BTW, some of these were already on the bike when I bought it so pick one carefully and save some time and money.
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