Newbie

Purchased a 2001 XR650R last week, and since I know next to nothing about them, thought I better make contact with folks who do.

I have very little off road experience, did a couple of twin shock trials about 15 years ago and the Beamish Trial a couple of times, first on a BSA B40 and then on my late fathers 1958 BSA A7ss in trials trim.

However I have committed to a trip to limousin in France next month to spend 4 days riding the trails there so I better get up the learning curve pretty swiftly.

My other bike is a 1994 Speed Triple.

Old, Bald and waiting for my kids to finally leave home.........

Welcome,
do you intend to trail ride on the XR. It is a big beast but also very capable
If you do there are a couple of low cost, even free mods that will make the bike more enjoyable.
Mind you it probabally feels lightweight after a A7ss
Eddie

Yes, I am intending to do some "gentle" trailing on it. What are the Mods?

Cheers

bp

Very few mods really,
You will need proper road legal off road tyres.
Renthal handlebars are a good idea as I have seen a few Jap OE bars snap in an off.
Wider foot pegs are a plus but not essential I have some similar to these.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252179409498?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT.

Make sure that you replace the mounting bolt on the right side footpeg hanger with a high tensile one as the original will snap. This could well have been done but better safe than sorry.

I use 14 - 52 sprockets which lowers the gearing enough to suit me.

The best change though is to open up the forks, hopefully the original oil (snot) has gone, drill out the compression valve in the fork to increasse fork oil flow for a plusher ride. see this link for a better explaination. It made a real difference for me as the bike soaked up rocks etc. on the trail instead of being deflected off course. http://www.xr650r.us/forks/

The other thing is to make sure you know how to start it after it has been on its side. Easy enough and absolutely reliable but you can kick it forever using the wrong technique and it will never go.

The original plastic bash plate is fine for protecting the sump.

There is loads of other stuff to fiddle with but it really is a great bike.

Hew wrote:I use 14 - 52 sprockets which lowers the gearing enough to suit me.

Hi Hew, I'm similar gearing 14~54 any problems with lower chain guide block ?...black one close to rear sprocket....mines a wee bit tight due to the larger sprocket ?

I've been running the gearing that long that I can't remember now.
I know that I have filed out a mounting hole on a chain guide to elongate it on one bike but I don't think it was this one.
I ll have a look next time I am in the garage.

Here my rear sprocket... the guide is held within the white lower block...

Mauser wrote:Here my rear sprocket... the guide is held within the white lower block...

That's far too clean

Hew wrote:That's far too clean

I agree, I'm almost tempted to ship mine and lure Maus' for a properly dirty trip.
But Mauser, your chainguide will wear horrendously!
Think I've said it before: have some nylon bits machined so as to make your own one, just a notch lower?
Will keep the chain straight hence will work like a charm!