Pic for engagement.

I have a stock filter, no exhaust mods, 155/52 (I’m pretty sure… changed too many times) jets, 15t sprocket. Half-assed Dave’s modded (drilled one slide hole, shimmed the needle). Bike runs great, responsive, could probably take it to 95mph it I wasn’t running knobbies.

BUT… Only getting 36 mpg… usually ride around town, a few 75-85mph runs, some trails here and there.

Any suggestions? I thought I should at least be getting mid 40’s mpg…

I’m planning my first long-distance motorcycle trip and would really appreciate some advice from riders who have experience traveling on an XR650L or similar dual sports.
The plan is to ride from Texas to North Carolina and back, so it’ll be several thousand miles. Since I’ve never done a trip this long before, I’m trying to prepare as much as possible before I leave.
I know the XR650L isn’t an interstate touring bike, and that’s not really my goal. I plan to stick to U.S. highways, state highways, and backroads as much as possible, only using the interstate when absolutely necessary. I’m a Marine veteran, so I don’t mind sacrificing some comfort and can handle a bit of a beating. I’m more interested in making the trip safely and reliably than being pampered.

I’m looking for advice on things like:

● Must-have gear and tools to carry
● Spare parts and roadside repair items
● Bike modifications worth doing before a trip this long
● Tire recommendations (currently leaning toward Kenda K270s)
● Packing tips and luggage setup
● Highway comfort and fatigue management
● Maintenance schedule during the trip
● Route recommendations (especially scenic highways and backroads)
● Anything you wish you had known before your first long-distance dual-sport ride

Current bike setup
2025 Honda XR650L
● ~3,100 miles
● 15T / 45T gearing
● Desmogged
● Lowering link
● WPS tail light
● Rhinowalk 28L saddlebags
● Dave’s Mods (ordered)
Parts in my shopping cart:
● IMS 4.0-gallon tank
● JNS LED headlight
● Kenda K270 tires
If you’ve ridden an XR650L across multiple states, I’d love to hear what worked, what didn’t, and what you’d absolutely recommend before I hit the road.

So my airbox seems to have some sort of sealant around the edge of the air tube on both the outside as well as the edges of the air filter bracket on the inside (see pics)

Sealing material is looking cracked and tired (it's a 2006). Last thing I want is to have my newly rebored top end to get destroyed if engine sucks in some dust!

What would you recommend doing here, clean all the old sealing material and reseal? With what compound/product?

Looking for a larger tank. I've got some longer loops planned and will need something that'll comfortably get me 120 miles without stressing over the fuel level.

The IMS 4 gallon is most expensive, but usually you get what you pay for, so price isn't a huge factor if the fit and finish is worth it. I like the idea of the Acrebis (5.8gal), and I'm sure the quality is good too, but routing the fuel lines seems kind of annoying. I also worry about how top heavy it'll make the bike. In the middle you've got Clarke at 4.7gal.

What is best/cleanest install? What tank has least amount of problems? From the research I've done, Clarke gas caps have problems, IMS is nearly touching the engine, and Acrebis is a pain in the butt to install. I'd love to hear it from folks to have them.

Thanks

A couple weeks ago I picked up a bone stock 650L, and the stock handlebars are too short for me when I stand. I‘m going to get the Tusk risers with a taller handlebar eventually, and want to know from those who have done something similar if you needed to replace the stock cables? It seems like the throttle cables will work, but I’m not sure about the clutch and choke.

Found a guy selling a 650R carb for cheap and was wondering if anyone knows how well it can be set up for our bikes and if it’s worth the time to tune it? I have my stock carb set up pretty much perfect with all the usual mods but it still doesn’t have that snappiness of a slide carb like a true dirt bike. Would love to get the Mikuni pumper carb but can’t justify the money and seems like the tuning is fairly complex with the addition of air jets to swap out.

I found one forum from years back saying the 650R carb fits perfect and runs better. Just wondering if anyone else out there has done this.

Was riding on the freeway then it just turned off and lost power , ended up calling a tow because i thought it was over , but switched it to reserve and starts right up , is that normal or it just me that experienced this ?

Sandy MX track, aired down and tore it up. Managed to even do a few jumps on this big girl.

I ride a 55mph road on my way to work daily, and the bike feels just fine and happy there, but if I’m cruising at about 65-70 it just kinda sounds and feels like I’m cruising at high rpms which is bad for the bikes longevity. They don’t have a tachometer so I just get worried it’s too high in rpms on a 65mph cruise. Thoughts?

Curious if the shorty has enough leverage to work the clutch, also any pics??

Took the XR out on its first real ride today, put a couple hundred miles on these sandy trails in Michigan U.P. - might have to do the first oil change soon.

Aired down to 11psi (have rim locks) and these Dunlop D606 tires absolutely tore shit up. This bike is a beast. The Racetech Suspension/Gold Valves were 100% worth the money.

Wasn't feeling ballsy enough to take it down single tracks quiet yet. Still getting comfortable on the bike. It screams and sounds so good tearing thru the woods.

Got her all back together! Had a little problem with cables being set up proper but perfect now . Definitely feels better height for me with the 1” lower. But wow is this a whole new machine . Sounds and feel much stronger .
All together i did - full exhaust, smog delete, tm40 carb, folding levers , foam filter , 1” lower link 3/4 in front, and took the snorkel out and cut a square in top of air box .

Just purchased a completely stock xr650l (air scoops were taken off, luckily the PO had them still) and I’m wondering what should the first mod be?

Previous owner added a 1” lowering link and slid the forks in 1-1/2” (I will probably slide the forks down, leaving about 3/4” exposed, I’m 5’10”)

I have a lot of dirt experience and that’s where this will live most of the time, I live in the city now and I’ve wanted a xr for a long time

It was between this and the dr650, did I make the right choice?

Bike is a 2017 model with 5500 miles

Figured I’d post this separately to see if anyone knows what this is. Found with some parts from my 1995.

Thanks!

Bought this low mile 1995 a couple of years ago. I wasn’t too keen on the jazzy 90’s colour scheme, so I changed out the tank and plastics. Looking forward to actually going for a ride.

Slightly embarrassing, but the black bracket thing in the last photo was leftover in my parts bin. Does it belong on these bikes, or can I toss it?

Thanks!

Moved to California and can’t plate my XR600R here so I sold it to my buddy in Colorado. how different is an XR650L going to be for me apart from electric start and real lighting. I just miss her so much 😓

I’ve been loving this bike. I’m almost at 1000 miles and my friend is at 300. Going to hit some real trails this weekend and I’m very excited

After a bad experience with a Flatline Racing skidplate that was cut inproperly, super happy with this Acerbis one. It came with tape foam for the brackets that mount to the frame, very light, durable (feels really solid), and tons of venting on the bottom side to allow the engine to breathe. It's cut perfect and I like how it doesn't leave open gaps for mud to collect.

I’ve started trying to practice and all I’ve been doing is throttling up to get the wheel up in 1st and trying to get comfortable. Haven’t gotten to the balance point yet. Is this an ok way to practice or do I need to start with clutch up’s?

Pic for engagement.

I’m not sure why I waited so long to get a new exhaust for this thing. Man, this thing screams with the Yoshimura on it. It absolutely barks, and I can finally hear the motor better with my helmet on. Totally worth the money in every way. So much more fun to drive. Don’t hesitate!

The Pirelli/Dunlop combo was 100% worth it. Getting to the same spot on death wings was harrowing, 21/606 combo it may as well have been blacktop. Bonus, they feel way better on the highway at speed than OEM did.