2003 Honda XR650L reviews

The XR650L is a true dual sport motorcycle. I recently picked up my '03 XR pre-owned with 2000 miles in great condition. It handles rough ground with ease and tackles the pavement with a "what is that guy riding" type of style. I'm 6' and the 37" seat hieght is a bit of a stretch and can put you in an awkward position on un-even ground, however I see it as a bearable handicap on an all around great machine. Show less

When I got my new 2003 machine last spring, I was a bit disappointed at first. Everything people say about it coming from the factory choked up for emissions purposes are true. It seemed as if it was a track star trying to run flat out while breathing through a soda straw. Never having been one to try and out-think engineers, even I was driven to do something about it. I changed the gearing from 15-45 to 14-48, put in the Baja Designs smog pump block off kit, re-jetted it with a Dyno-jet stage 1 kit, put in a K&N filter and finally topped it off with a White Brothers E-Series exhaust. I would urge you not to do some of the above, but all. Each step alone will not make a huge difference, but let me tell you, the night I bolted on the White Brothers exhaust (the last mod) and took it out on a back road, she tried to peel my fingers off the grips. It looks like the bike I bought, but doesn't act like it. Honda made a wonderful machine and these mods are the lightning bolt that will bring it to life. It jumps, it wheelies, it climbs like a beast and other than being a bit tall and heavy, I can't imagine a better dual sport. I know you can't buy one. In short, buy it, but if you don't do the mods, you will never hear her roar. Show less

This is my first bike since 1980. I have owned many dual purpose bike's in the past. I am 59 year's old and cannot belive how wonderful the springs are on this bike. Could someone put me in touch with a vendor for a bigger gas tank and a sugestion for a little better gearing. We will be retiring to Bradenton, FL in about 15 mounths so I would like to look at jetting for the sea level area. I will alos be using my bike to go to and from work a lot so is there any seat options for a more comfortable seat? Show less

Very good power stock.I spent a lot of $'s and didn't really increase power that much. Very good choice for a tall rider, very comfortable for me a 6-03. I would recommend it. Show less

I recently purchased this bike in April of 2003. Overall I think it is an excellent do anything all around bike. But? My minor quibbles are that the gearing is too high. One of the first mods will be a gearing change. Other reviewers have complained about the bike running lean, I have only noticed a minor problem there. Long warm ups and some coughing when you snap the throttle open even after it warms up. This bike is very tall, reminds me of riding a real motocrosser. Although once you get used to it, it's no bother (I'm about 5'11"). Eventually, I will do something with the intake and exhaust system and when the tires are gone, will invest in a set of Metzler Karoo's. Current handling in the dirt on the stock Bridgstone Trailmaster tires is marginal, although street handling is pretty good. Fuel range is poor about 100 miles on a tank full. If you have this bike check out dirtrodders.com for a listing of mods that he has done. I would recommend this bike to others interested in a dual sport bike over the competition. Other purchases considered were the KLR650, DR650, DR400. I chose the Honda because I have experience with Honda in the past (although I think all of the bikes now a days are pretty good on quality) and they had good reviews in the magazines and internet sites. Also, Honda had a great financing program with 0,0, and 6.9%. I am almost to the 600 mile point for my first oil change and am looking forward to many years of service. Happy Trails. Dean Show less

I bought this 2002 model in the uk in 2003 new. I have owned an XR600 among other 9 less significant bikes. Here in the UK we do not have the land to use our off road bikes as we would like to -overpopulated and over built on. However this bike makes a great all round dual purpose machine, its practical with an aftermarket tank. It comes strangled with smog gear and lean jetting and pipe that is welded which means that you cant just undo the spark arester. Simple- junk smog gear, buy an aftermarket pipe tune carb richer by turning screw and raising needle by sliding two small washers over needle to seat it slightly higher (OR BUY JETTING KIT FROM BAJA RACING)also block ports in barrel where smog pipes feed to. This bike has no click raising ability in the needle to raise it so my method with the washers is the kind of cheap instant way of remedying the problem but is limited as if richer jetting is applied still more than 2 small washers wont fit. This bike is one tough piece of engineering and beautifully simple by some unnecessary standards, it will one day be a classic but id love to see the big H continue with this design. The whole bike is balanced, powerful (enough, how much do you need to have a blast and maintain a durable usable sensible package). You can make these bikes into what you want and that is what is so great about them, Theres bars, pipes, bashplates, tanks power up kits -you name it, but leave the engine as it is in my opinion for reliability. Why the Big H dont officially import these to the UK is a mystery to me -I know handfulls of people who would buy this bike over any other big single as it is not laden with plastic crap and boggy suspension like the Dominator yet has enough road legality to be practical and safe, and most of all the electric boot. This bike uses the Dominator engine in an XR600 frame - I love it- I never owned anything like it that has pleased me as much because when you buy a bike like this its not all about top speed, its about practical freedom and usability and all year function in all weather including snow.For street and A road riding its lovely -for motorway use it will cope but of course its not its environment- take the A roads. I really cant say a bad thing about it exept Honda could have sold it to us with stainless headerpipes if nothing else, id pay the extra no problem,Keep the Honda quality comming....... Show less

I own and race a 2002 XR650L. This is a very good bike that requies only minor maintence to keep it at peak performance. I race GP's and motocross with this bike. Change the tires, metal gas tank to plastic, do a little suspension work, take off smog pump and air canister, change handle bars add a muffler and it's a different animal. Show less

I have owned two of these bikes so far. One day I'll be smart enough to quit getting rid of them! These bikes have not changed much over the years. I believe 94 was the last mechanical change. This is a very good bike with a few factory faults that seem to give it a bad rap in magazine reveiws. One factory fault is the gearing. Before you leave the dealer, get him to spring for a 15 dollar counter shaft sprocket. Stock gearing it will do 55 in third. A bit tall I would say. Also the jetting is extremly lean. You can get a kit from baja design to ditch the emissions and rejet, this is worth it's weight believe me. The stock air filter is paper. Replace it with a K&N and it will last forever. Once you do these simple mods to the bike which all together cost under a 100 bucks it is a whole new creature. You can get great roll on acceleration from the bike and have alot of fun. It is a very stable bike, great at sliding sideways on fire roads. It loves to climb hills as well. It will handle the average trail with ease. Get into motocross style tracks and you be reminded of the 340 pound weight. In really slick mud it is a bit of a handful as well(again weight). But dual sporting is about doing everything well. The bike will handle mud if you change the tires but then it will be scary on the street. BUT the absolute best thing about this bike is it will become anything you want it to be. If you want to jump it you can add moto tire and springs and a power up kit and go nuts. You want to commute to work or take trips? Add a big gas tank and go for it. that's what keeps me coming back to this bike. It will do everything and take on any kind of weather. I have ridden in floods, snow, mud, sand and huge rocks. It will do it all and start every morning for you for years. The aftermarket parts for this bike is endless. Power up kits from white brothers or thumper racing. Gas tanks, tires, gel cell batteries, different pastic. It is one of my favorite bikes and to date I have owned 19 different bikes so far, so that is saying something. Great bike if you use it where it was intened, aka not motocross. And for street riding it is one of the safest. Your head light is right in peoples back windows and the soft suspension makes the head light bob alot so people always seem to see me right away. I also hit a basket ball size peice of pavement that a came out of a pothole, I was doing 40mph! The bike ran it right over. I didn't crash, partly luck but.. If I was on a road bike I guarrantee I would have been going faster and I would have crashed for sure. I also hit a racoon that looked like he was half grizzle bear! I survived that with out a scratch as well, can't say the same for ol'Racky though. Very safe bike for road hazards. For all the versatility you can't beat the price. Show less