RIDER'S OPINIONS

Nov. 01, 2005 By ORC STAFF

Email
Print
Discuss

PAGES:

Stock muffler tip is way too small and strangles the EPA version of the bike.

Arturo Lizarraga. Age 36. Vet Intermediate. Rides GPs and races buggies off-road. Owns a KX-250.

"The bike felt balanced like a 250, and there was no vibration, like the old 600. Brakes were perfect and I never had to think about them when stopping. If I owned the bike, I'd probably buy an aftermarket pipe/muffler and install Pro Taper bars.

"The jetted bike started much easier than the EPA bike. Turning was good and the high speed stability was excellent. And it was very, very fast. I would buy one."

Mike Hobbs. Mid-30s. Intermediate. Rides hundreds of miles without stopping just for fun. Owns a Yamaha WR four stroke.

Power delivery is extremely strong everywhere especially in the mid-range. With a twist of wrist even in taller gears you can still loft the front end. With a 99mph top speed the XR will eat WR's well before the WR hits the rev limiter. I noticed that the XR doesn't spin the rear wheel as easily as my WR. The XR has a more controllable power delivery as long as you don't over throttle it. Off camber downhill turns had me thinking the 650 would slide out as my WR would, but it didn't, the 650 stuck to the intended line. My 240-pound weight with gear tested the bottoming limits of the suspension. Hitting G-outs at speed used all of the suspension without hard core bottoming. The XR 650 weight felt similar to my WR 400 even while jumping. In tight rocky areas the 650 starts to show its weight but no more then my WR would in the same situation. Is the XR 650R better then the WR 400? Yes, there's no substitute for piston size and raw power. If I do sell the WR and buy an XR 650 the first thing that goes into the trash is the handlebars. As with all Japanese bikes the stock bars are junk.

Rogelio Brambila. Age 31. Intermediate. Rides MX and Baja. Owns a YZ.

"I rated the EPA bike a "6" and gave the "jetted" bike a "10." Further ratings would include a "7" for the forks, an "8" for the shock and an "8" for the overall suspension package. I think I could make it much better if I owned the bike and spent some time with it.

"The bike felt very balanced and was smoother than a YZ two-stroke. I would also install Pro Tapers. I didn't feel the weight when I rode the bike. I have ridden 600s, and this bike is in a different class. No comparison at all."

Rick Sieman. Age 59. Old Fart Class. Races bikes once a year, trail rides a lot. Owns a lot of weird bikes.

"I was very surprised with the fantastic power. The thing pulled hard at idle and pinned you back in the saddle as you ran through the gears. Funny thing; even though I was in terrible shape, the thing did not beat me up or make me tired. There was almost no vibration to speak of, even when you revved it out to melt-down numbers. This just might be the best bike Honda ever made. Period."

Making The 650 Run Right