XR650R for enduro

Lads, every time I mention to lads that I have wanted an XR 650 R for years and am finally saving for one to do the odd enduro and rally raid even I get the same response. "THEIR TO HEAVEY. looking at the stats with its lighter cr450r brother there's not much in it.

With out been biast which I'm sure will be hard are they really to Heavey for enduro. I'm 6ft 3 inchs and weigh 18.5 stone so I can handle the extra weight and I'm sure it will better to handle the weight of me.

Should I look at smaller or stick to my dream.

I Wil. also do the odd rally raid on it.

I have 3 bikes i have used for trail riding regulary swapping between them
The XR650R. Husaberg FE450 and Honda CRM250.
I have ridden all of them on the most extreme trails we have in North Wales inc. some enduro tracks.
The XR is great for long summer rides where the terrain is generally more firm allowing all the smooth power to be used.
It is fantastic on forest fire roads. It will do all the tough Knarrly stuff. rock climbs, bogs roots etc. but it needs absolute commitment to do it. If you get stuck on a root it is very heavy. With the weight difference feeling far more that what is shown on paper. Get stuck in a bog and stall it needs huge effort to get it out and it needs a full swing on the kickstart to start it so it has to be clear. It is not as nimble as the lighter bikes as I found out jumping some roots that I had cleared a week earlier on the 2 stroke.
But on the more open terrain used for rallys it is pure joy with power on tap all the time.
So to sum up for regular enduro riding you would do far better on a lighter bike like a 250 2 stroke or the latest 250 4 strokes.If you are young and strong the XR will get you round but the others will get you better results with a lot less effort.

Thanks for the reply. Still young. Could be fitter. Not going to be competing to win as my skills wouldn't even be close so just getting around would be it. rally raid will also be done so might endur the weight on the odd enduro. Decisions decisions.

Xr650r is still first choice me thinks.

Hew is 100% right , XR is not for everyone , but you should be fine .
( the suspension is too soft for ya , you need to research this )
 

You are similar size and weight to me. In a certain way the BRP IS a light bike for me, and I get only as tired as a smaller chap lifting his wee 250 around things.

But then again I have been riding around on a 950SE, so compared with that the BRP is a 250... But that is rally riding, not enduro's. Plus I'm feeling my knees/back/age, and so are not after red-mist racing anymore.

The rear shock is pitiful - I shelled out £££ on a Wilbers 642 built up for my weight, which is amazing. The forks I actually just gave a complete service, 5 weight oil, and wound the compression to 4 clicks from max, and they are actually ok.

Fixing your right footpeg is a must with our weight. I drilled through the frame, and welded a hooked tab onto the peg, so it bolts and clamps on both sides of the frame. Plus 75mm risers, and good to go....

If you have (like me) always wanted one, then you'll just live with the compromises.

I am riding at the minute a Ktm 950 adv s so just as big as you super enduro. So the XR650R been a dream bike will have to happen.

if its a dream bike then you have to get one - thats the only way you'll know....otherwise you'll always be thinking 'what if...'

Never a truer word said.

I recently did a fun run (funduro) with my XRR. This track was meant for 250's and 300 KTM's but I managed perfectly fine. As soon as the terrain would open up I would catch just about anything in a straight line! Going up the mountain tracks I had my hands full with the front floating everywhere.

Would I do it again, No, only because I have a 2010 YZ250 with a rekluse and well, that should say it all. The XRR can be a handful and will make you tired after 60 miles of technical riding.

Was a blast to fly by the bogged 450's in the mud pit. The XRR just went through there as if it was water.

Eric me lad,

not used to furlongs per fortnight measurement increments, neither fully conversant in counting with the base-root of Pi..... but I noticed you say you weigh 18 stone.
Now, please no offense as we're all normal hot blooded males here (Mauser excepted, he bought his kids), but that seems odd - as I only have two of 'em?
Oh, no, please no picture of the grapes, but explain to me what went wrong where?


 

18.5 stone = 114.3kgs, 252lbs, 571526.4 carats, 0.11ton, 1764000 grain, 4032 oz's or 73500 pennyweights - now does that cover everybodys national measurement scale here?  If not I can add more....  

Cheers
SkidMark  

Thanks skidMark.

No BuRP nothing odd or exciting in the grapal region. :-)

here in nz were poor ,[ well i am] so i have to make do with one bike to do everything, i think i just about have the perfect bike, ive just completed 6oook tour of sth island, it loves gravel roads, most of the other use it gets is hardcore trail riding, we have a surplus of big hills, brp loves them, only thing brp doesnt seem to like is big jumps, i have to admit i really notice the weight factor when it tossed me down a bank and then landed on my back,[ two broken ribs]or when on the experts leg of the waimiha enduro ride i rode it straight into a 4 foot deep bog[ took 30mins to drag it out, but hell its a pretty versatile peice of kit, id say go for it , especially as your 6 stone heavier &7"taller than me!

That's for the reply. Could be waiting a while as there not coming up for sale that often here. Theres only one at the minute and it's back up for sale after selling only two weeks ago. No documents with it either so not bothering with that