I've owned a XR650L (2008, bought new) for about four years now. At 1600 miles the motor toasted because the dealer messed up the oil feed line into the lower strainer causing it to kink and restrict oil flow. &*%$#@
Fix, added an oil cooler to be on the safe side (thumper talk.com) after reading thread on oils and how they broke down - in the 650L after about 500 miles until a cooler was installed. Since you are in Texas I highly recommend one (Sutton is your man, he's in Scottsdale and his instructions will impress the heck out you).
CDI will strand you when the solder joints cold work and crack. Easy fix but a PITA.
No cush drive so if you do a lot of road riding you will ruin the counter shaft with a stock L counter sprocket. Get a cush drive or upgrade to 650R counter sprocket (just ordered mine this week as I'm going to 95% road).
Just recently the pulse generator went belly up, cheap fix again, but annoying - again.
Mileage sucks for a bike with only a 650cc single sucked too - about 35mpg. Bought a arcibis 5.8gal gas tank to get reasonable range. Before, I'd be on reserve at 80 miles!
This has been the most unreliable bike I have ever owned. I have so much money into her I don't dare sell it. Got to get some use out of it.
I have a 36" inseam and can flat foot her and bought her because I found the 570lb Quota was NOT a dirt bike for a guy with my limited dirt skills, shady back and advancing age. The 650L was about 200lbs lighter. Not nearly enough weight loss as she is still a heavy pig.
I have bought a second set of wheels so knobbies are one set, dual sport sport tires on the others. I've added wolf man side racks (no longer made!), Giant Loop tank bag, bark buster hand guards (worth it!), EXP fat handle bars (love 'em but so fat you can't get farkles to fit) and now a NC windscreen - really enjoying it. Perhaps a custom seat next.
After the engine rebuild I had the 2nd gear upgraded to the one from the NX650, not so big of a jump, rejetted and added the UNI air filter. Seems to have a bit more poop now. She is a hoot on the road now. I'm too scared to really lay her down in a corner, I bet she will drag the bar ends......
I only have 2500 miles on her (a lot has happened in such a short time) but I think it is sorted now.
It is too much bike in the dirt for my limited skill set and if I had know what I know now I would have gone with a DRZ400 or 650. Now Honda has the 300cc dp, I'd need to look close at it.
Guys that have ridden the KLR and the XR say the KLR is much better on the freeway, but I find the XR just fine on the interstate. She will start to head shake around 75mph while on knobbies, but with dual sport tires she is pretty steady up to 90.
I weight about 165lbs so the suspension is tuned for my weight; guys on the forum that complain about shocks and such are well into the 200's. No really a fault of the bike.
If your dirt experience is limited, go smaller. A lot smaller. You may end up getting a 650 later on, but you won't kill yourself do it. I still think the 650L is a good bike; but she has these niggles and once addressed she approaches the built like an anvil rep that I think is not really deserved.
My take, the 650L would not be a good choice for you and I would highly encourage you to look at the DRZ. Yamaha as a 250, very expensive, but the king of the hill in its' calls. Four guys in the Phoenix and Prescott area that had 650L's sold them and bought the YZ250's. Like us, they are more mature and wanted something more manageable in the desert.
The advantage of e-start, in my humble opinion, can not be over stated. A buddy has the 650R, a regular hot rod, but kick start only. Meh, I'll take the e-button over the hot rod.
If you have not yet, get over to thumper talk.com and check out the forums. There is good natured kidding over brand choice, but you will good advice. Good bikes are recognized as such, no matter the brand.
