However, stock tires are 80% road and 20% dirt. Plus, there is very little to no change when comparing the tires of both XR650L and XR650R. XR650R horsepower is 61.2, and the top speed is 98 mph.įront and rear piston calipers provide excellent stopping power. The drivetrain in both models is very similar, with a difference in reduction. Keihin Carburetor, 1x 42 mm (Piston-valve type) Its unique engine design and dual aluminum radiators provide optimum cooling and maximum performance. Its compact, lightweight engine (weighs only 88 lbs), Nikasil cylinder lining, and dry-sump oiling system paired with an in-chassis oil tank make for a better-revving engine. The engine is powered by a four-stroke, liquid-cooled single-cylinder OHV engine with a piston-valve 42-mm Keihin carburetor. Additionally, the XR650R’s bore-stroke ratio of 100 mm x 82.6 mm eliminated the need for modifications or a power-up kit. The motorcycle had the needed displacement to pull it through desert races. The shift from air to liquid cooling was a clever move from Ogilvie and his team, as this enabled the monster bike to handle the heat better and made it bulletproof as a result. It would have been a fascinating neck-and-neck run in the desert had the XR650R been able to race against the old champ.īesides its unequaled Baja record, the Honda XR650R was popular for its reliability and potential.
Sadly, Kawasaki pulled the plug on its Baja racing program by then, so the two giants never competed. But in the 1999 Baja 1000, the XR650R broke Kawasaki’s winning streak with Johnny Campbell as the record rider. Kawasaki’s KX500 dominated the Mexican 1000 nine years in a row before the release of this two-wheeler. He wanted it to be able to hold its own in the unforgiving conditions of the Mexican peninsula. It came to life through Bruce Ogilvie, a visionary who wanted a dream bike mightier than the old XR600R. Often thought of as an improved version of the XR600, the XR650R has triumphed over many desert and GNCC races by Johnny Campbell and Scott Summers. It was produced from 2000 to 2007 and, like its predecessor, has conquered the Baja racing scene.
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The Honda XR650R is the 17th of 19 XR series motorcycles made by the Japanese manufacturer. It will also go over some pointers on making this desert-racing royalty street-legal. This article will cover its differences from the Honda XR650L and provide you with an outline of your first build project. Thanks to the persistence of Bruce Ogilvie and the racing community’s support, enthusiasts and daily commuters can take advantage of the Honda XR650R’s strengths. Referred by Dirt Bike Magazine as the “the gold standard of Baja bikes,” the championship-winning Honda XR650R is the undisputed king of the desert, thanks to its powerful liquid-cooled engine, tough aluminum frame, race-ready suspension, and off-roading capabilities. It has many nicknames, such as Dominator and Big Red Pig, all coined from its wins in the Baja 1000 event. This renowned dirt bike is on par with Honda NR and other off-road greats. Dirt bikes have improved immensely since their beginning, with most descending from legends such as the Honda XR650R.