The fuel tank on my XR650L holds 4.7 gallons of gas.
One quart of fuel in the tank will only get you about one mile before the reserve fuel pickup can't get any more gas out, unless you're going up a fairly steep hill.
The closest gas station is 1.1 miles away on flat ground.
The fairly upright riding position of my ST2 feels like a racer crouch if you ride it immediately after getting off of an XR650L. I must not under any circumstances go directly from the XR650L to the 888 Superbike.
The common saying that a Ducati corners as if on rails as new meaning if you get on it immediately after riding an XR because it steers like a train, or maybe a bus. At least that's how it feels initially.
The Ducati feels much more confident to me now when leaning into a turn at speed.
A 944cc Ducati 2-valve engine is much more responsive than a 650 single.
I need to be in fourth gear on the XR before I can go as fast as first gear on the Ducati.
The 2-valve V-twin Ducati engine is still my favorite motorcycle engine for it's combination of low-speed torque combined with the ability to pull strongly to its redline.
It's possible to have a lot of fun on any of the three bikes that I currently own.
IN RESPONSE...
1) Baja Designs or Acerbis 5.5 gallon gas tank!!
2) wheelie time!
4) why not from the XR to the 888? just gotta keep more flexible and do more calistenics and whatnot while riding the XR!
5) turn the XR into a supermoto and you might not have that turning problem anymore.
7) depends on how it is geared!
10) that's what they are made for! to ride and enjoy...otherwise, what's the point?
Quote from: zooom on December 30, 2008, 12:26:33 PM
5) turn the XR into a supermoto and you might not have that turning problem anymore.
I'm not having any turning problems on it, in fact, I was amazed at how well it works on twisty roads. But you can change your line in a turn by just thinking about it, while the Ducati requires you to plan the turn and carve it smoothly. But it also feels much more stable in a turn. The few supermotos that I've ridden, as well as the Hypermotard also let you get away with mid-corner corrections rather than smoothly carving them.
I think what you are feeling is also the result of the leverage you are getting with the wide handlebars as apposed to the clip-ons and that is also paired with the general overall lighter weight of the machines you are comparing.
did you ever ride with the stock tank on the XR? the diff in weight and COG is noticable the first few times you ride with it.
the duc is A LOT better once you get over 50mph
i can still hang with most of the sportbikes in corners, on knobbies, sliding the rear end on the XR.
coming out of the corners i dont' stand a chance though
the front wheel of the xr doens't like staying on the ground through 2nd gear.
the rate of accelleration of the XR pretty much drops off after 40mph
handling:
the xr is like a serrated knife that you have to constantly move but will cut through quite a bit relatively quickly. the monster is your fave chef's knife kept very sharp. the 1098 is more like a scalpel.
the ducs overall are just more precise in every aspect from shifting to throttle.
also, the duc is easier to push if you break down or run out of gas [laugh]
Yes, but after having an XR650L, and many other street legal dirt bikes:
A short cut on the Monster means taking a road less traveled.
A short cut on the XR650L means ramming INTO the curb, through the grass, ripping through the woods, hitting a few logs and pulling a wheelie when merging back in with traffic. And if you dump it, no biggie.
Ah, I miss my dirt bike days.
Sounds like you had fun today.
I started on the Bandit -- trip to the UPS store to send a package. Then home and switched to the Monster for a pre-lunch ride. Home for lunch and then back out on the Bandit for some errands, and finally switched back to the Monster for a trip to TapeWorks. [moto] Holidays with nice weather are great!! [moto]
Quote from: MTBryan on December 30, 2008, 01:40:17 PM
And if you dump it, no biggie.
don't let get dirt you down.
Scott,
QuoteThe 2-valve V-twin Ducati engine is still my favorite motorcycle engine for it's combination of low-speed torque combined with the ability to pull strongly to its redline.
Mine too. And, I have the best of both worlds - A 650cc Pantah powered Cagiva Elefant - sort of a desmo XR-650 without the irritating Honda reliability. What I've noticed is that I like the pure functionality of the Cagiva, my '66 Bonneville and even my XT-225, while my M620 is in my view a slight case of form over function with the short turning radius and bars denting the tank at the slightest misstep, although I haven't done it myself - yet 8). I think the perfect bike (for an old dog like me) would be a Monster with some old school features like a 19" front and 18" rear spoke wheels like my old Triumph to give it some versatility, although at the price of high speed handling. Not quite a Terra-Mostro, but something in between.
As far as adjusting to one bike after getting off another, the Triumph is the hardest with the rear brake and gearshift on the "wrong" sides.
Love me some dirt bike thread ;)
How do you guys like the xr650l off road? I'm a short guy looking for my next dual sport (once i get my 696) so light weight is a big plus. What do you all think of the ktm 300 smoker?
A
Quote from: ScottRNelson on December 30, 2008, 01:01:39 PM
I'm not having any turning problems on it, in fact, I was amazed at how well it works on twisty roads. But you can change your line in a turn by just thinking about it, while the Ducati requires you to plan the turn and carve it smoothly. But it also feels much more stable in a turn. The few supermotos that I've ridden, as well as the Hypermotard also let you get away with mid-corner corrections rather than smoothly carving them.
I too have noticed this comparing my monster to my supermoto.
The Ducati also felt short and HEAVY compared to the KTM when ridden back to back.
The acceleration on the Ducati feels like a freight train (torque maybe?) compared to the the KTM, where I thought it was going to rip my arms off.
The Ducati definitely feels more stable in turns than the KTM, but the KTM just tips right over either direction as fast as you want (sometimes faster).
Oh, and the Ducati feels super-smooth and vibe free compared to the KTM. (However, I think paint shakers feel smooth and vibe free compared to an LC4 engine KTM, new 690 LC4 motors notwithstanding)
Quote from: bulldogs2k on December 31, 2008, 01:32:39 PM
Love me some dirt bike thread ;)
How do you guys like the xr650l off road?
After spending a few hours at an off road vehicle park (Carnegie) I now know why it has earned the nickname of "the pig". It's more than 100 pounds heavier than the motocross bike I used to ride. And it sure seems tall to me when I get it into an awkward situation, and I'm 6' 1". I only dropped it once, when I slide off of the trail in some gravel. Photo here: http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c67/scottrnelson/XR/Carnegie1/IMG_7996.jpg
But it was a lot of fun anyway and a bit more of a challenge than the YZ-250 that I used to ride. The bike is clearly a compromise both on the road and off of the road, but that won't stop me from having a lot of fun on it. But I hate to think of only making it half way up a long, gnarly hill climb and ending up with the bike upside down way up the hillside. It would be a real bugger to get it back down.
Quote from: bulldogs2k on December 31, 2008, 01:32:39 PM
Love me some dirt bike thread ;)
How do you guys like the xr650l off road? I'm a short guy looking for my next dual sport (once i get my 696) so light weight is a big plus. What do you all think of the ktm 300 smoker?
A
it's ok. i have a 36" inseam and it's a high kick to swing my leg over it.
trying to muscle it through the woods is a pain in the ass. and arms, and legs (and back if you have to keep picking it up)
on the road it's ok, gets buzzy really easy. you can throw it into turns , but because of the height i am afraid to hang off like i would on a lower bike.
off-road it's pretty decent. i would say it's far better offroad than on. it's best used on wide trails since it's too heavy to be a great bike in the woods. in the mud and sand i can keep up with smaller, lighter bikes just because of the power. when the sand turns to silt or gets deep, i tend to get left behind with the other big bikes. the only one that has outrun me in a "drag race" through said deep sand is a ktm 950 adv with much better tires on it. (mine were balding)
overall, i love my big red pig. it's just plain fun.
you will want to get a bigger gas tank than the 2 gal stock one.
Quote from: KnightofNi on January 02, 2009, 09:08:58 AM
it's ok. i have a 36" inseam and it's a high kick to swing my leg over it.
Wow... If I wasn't plenty flexible, I wouldn't be able to get on a DRZ-400, which I can barely do. I can't imagine trying to get on that thing!
JM
Quote from: the_Journeyman on January 02, 2009, 09:39:55 AM
Wow... If I wasn't plenty flexible, I wouldn't be able to get on a DRZ-400, which I can barely do. I can't imagine trying to get on that thing!
JM
stock seat height is 37"
Yea, my inseam is like 31"
I'll not be riding an XR without some platform boots...
JM
Quote from: the_Journeyman on January 02, 2009, 10:00:17 AM
Yea, my inseam is like 31"
I'll not be riding an XR without some platform boots...
JM
or a lowering link
one other thing i just remembered...get a 14 tooth front sprocket if you plan on doing much dirt riding. it changes it just enough that you arent' on the clutch all the time while trying to pick your way through rocks or take tighter turns.
and water obstacles
Quote from: bobspapa on January 02, 2009, 11:04:02 AM
and water obstacles
no, for that i owuld have needed a 3 ft snorkel, and a better rider.