Buying Advice

Hello all,

I am a new member to this forum and looking for some advice from the people who know best!

Firstly I am sorry if there is already a 'buying guide' thread. But I have tried my best to search the site and have had no luck!

Basically this Wednesday I am going to see a Dec 2001 XR650R.  

From what I have been told it is completely unmolested and apparently has around 3100miles on it. Which all sounds appealing.

Im basically looking for a guide on what to check and look out for before committing to purchase; I found this article online which is pretty useful but I would really appreciate if anyone has any other suggestions on what to look out for/ be weary of!?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/gds/BUYING-A-HONDA-XR650R-REVIEW-AND-VIDEO-ROAD-TEST-/10000000000960518/g.html

It is going to be my very first motorcycle so id love to get the right one from the get go!

Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

triptonite.

As it is going to be your first bike it may well be important to remember that it is kickstart only.
If you use the correct technique it will start up straight away but get it wrong and you can kick it all day and it will not fire.
It is not hard just has to be right.
What do you intend to use it for?

Welcome, clutch bush may be a concern for your year not a big issue but worth checking after buying, worth checking chain adjuster bolts as these seize !!! again can be a pain to fix and maybe swinging arm pivot bolt....apart from that the bike is bomb proof ...spokes tarnish from day 1

Hew wrote:As it is going to be your first bike it may well be important to remember that it is kickstart only.
If you use the correct technique it will start up straight away but get it wrong and you can kick it all day and it will not fire.
It is not hard just has to be right.
What do you intend to use it for?

Thanks - I do feel pretty comfortable using a kickstart as I have a lot of experience with kicking quads. So Im sure I could find the nack to it. And on the whole am pretty sure the xr650r is exactly what Im after.
I own a barge and am often on the move, so intend to use it as an all round practical vehicle that I can lift onto deck. On and off road, probably around 70% on.

Mauser wrote:Welcome, clutch bush may be a concern for your year not a big issue but worth checking after buying, worth checking chain adjuster bolts as these seize !!! again can be a pain to fix and maybe swinging arm pivot bolt....apart from that the bike is bomb proof ...spokes tarnish from day 1

Hi Mauser thanks,

Right, great that's all really good to know! Cheers,
Am I right in thinking that on the whole there is very little, if any, difference between the years? (2000-2007)

where would be the best place for me to get parts like the clutch bushing?
is there an alternative to ordering from the US? im based in England

I got my bush (    ) from Lings Honda parts (I wouldn't buy a secondhand one as they are only 28 squid new) , generally I use lings, ebay or xr650r.co.uk

triptonite wrote:where would be the best place for me to get parts like the clutch bushing?
is there an alternative to ordering from the US? im based in England

As above UJ for cheaper items but panels etc I import from the states and save a fortune even with shipping, I'm a bit worried about you getting the bike on and off the barge...they are not light bikes by any means.

Cool - thanks all for your useful replies.
Yes I know its not going to be the easiest thing to lift onto deck - but thank fully I have a big steel davitt onboard already that will hold up - just need to get an electric winch setup as the manual trailer type winch which is current setup on it is definitely not strong/ capable enough, also would take far to much elbow greece with the manual one!. So all ill really need to do is work out an appropriate lifting harness for the pig! All good fun!

triptonite wrote: Am I right in thinking that on the whole there is very little, if any, difference between the years? (2000-2007)

Oh nooooooooooooooooo mate, the stickering, they have several different types, and also the seat comes in 2 (or more?) versions!
Serious, 2 mods through the years, and yours falls in them - 20000/2002 models have a clutch bushing withOUT oil cavities on/in the inner surface, and this you better check and replace if it is indeed still the 'old' (smooth) type.
Then also the seal behind the countersprocket has been updated, twice so - renew and Bob's your Uncle!

However, pls keep in mind this bike has seen 15 years of use... and you're what age now?
That's a long time so I would remove the steering assy, swingarm and linkage, and check & regrease all that's moving there.
Be anal about the valves, make sure you KNOW the correct procedure for setting them (the auto-decomp does not allow turning back of the crank, nothing, just before you call me an idjit), and then learn how to start this bugger failsafe with 1 (one!) kick (after cycling it a few times & using the decomp full, then partial). If it still has the std camshaft with working autodecomp then it will not kick back, however first make sure the aforementioned is the case.
Then enjoy this lump, it forks off!

Yes yes I know the graphics and the seat varied over the years but thats no major concern to me - I was talking mainly in terms of mechanical differences. Sooo apart from the clutch bush and the countershaft seal updates that I have come to know of - there is nothing else really is there?

Im 25. And would really like this bike to last me a good long while - the bike only has 5800km on it since new - Which isnt much really!? And most of it has been on road. So It hasn't been completely shagged.

I have now bought the bike from Paul @ xr650r.co.uk - Went to see it yesterday and fell in love with the beast. Also got along very well with Paul who seems like a good honest guy.
It has indeed got the original cam - He ran me through the kick-start procedure. And I don't think ill have any problem with it at all. Dont know what your all moaning about!! haha
I managed to kick it over after the second take. Im sure after using/ getting used to it ill be down to ONE kick in no time! (I am also installing an ignition though just for convenience. )

I am defiantly of the opinion that its probably better to change the clutch bush sooner rather than later - but again have heard a mixed bag of opinions, some people have never changed it, and no problems after 15years of abuse! But hey better safe then sorry. And rubber doesn't last forever, so again, changing the countershaft seal is no biggie.

Ill get Paul to double check the steering assy, swingarm and linkage, and check & regrease if necessary. But when I had a good look around it yesterday it all looked very good.

Thanks again for all the tips! Anything else just keep it coming. Have lernt a great deal in a short time thanks to yall so cheers!

Grab some spanners and do the work yourself....I did a poor mans headstock greasing for you as well.....
http://www.xr650r.co.uk/service/headstock/headstock.shtml

Mauser wrote:Grab some spanners and do the work yourself....I did a poor mans headstock greasing for you as well.....
http://www.xr650r.co.uk/service/headstock/headstock.shtml

Not to worry got loads of spanners as I service 2 stroke marine engines! Looks straight forward enough. Thanks for the link Mauser!