PerryRObray
New member
I ride my 2023 Honda XR650L mostly on federal and state pavement. My first summer I went off pavement about once a week on USFS roads, logging roads, user created 4X4 roads, quad runner type single track, ......
I dropped 5 teeth on the rear sprocket, put in a wider front sprocket to cover all the countershaft splines, and installed a high tensile strength X-Ring chain. Z ring might even be better.
A water cooled KLR 650 apparently has a temperature of 200 degrees F. Supposedly an OEM 2023 Honda XR650L has a baseline minimum oil temperature of 260 degrees F during normal weather. I'm currently running at 240 F sustained at speeds under 80 MPH.
I opted for super tuning, heat radiation/convective cooling, and full synthetic oil for lower friction.
Super tuning involved K&N air filter (dusty conditions require a synthetic terry cloth cover or something as the K&N is not the easiest to clean. ProCycle SS header (FMF Powerbomb might be as effective or better), and a Yoshimura street series muffler (street legal all 50 states at minimum and USFS legal).
Rejetting from OEM should lower the head/oil temperature too. I also have a Brisk racing spark plug in conjunction with a 8mm copper spark plug wire to install for more efficient ignition. Tuning such as this has been claimed to smog less, more power, and cooler oil temperatures.
Then the aftermarket finned aluminum valve covers and oil filter cover. The steel oil drain plug has been replaced with aluminum for convective cooling. Relocated the OEM fender to the front fork brace for direct cooling air to the upper engine area. Still more convective cooling to do, such as an aluminum T bar on the frame square down tube that holds oil.
I'm running steel belted radial big block tires. The widest rear tire that will fit in the wheel well for added traction off and on pavement. Some modification of the chain guard was needed for the added width. Planning on a cush rear wheel hub for less harsh driveline pavement conditions. Hopefully installing a super wide (140) tire on the front for better silty/sandy low speed control at minimum.
I dropped 5 teeth on the rear sprocket, put in a wider front sprocket to cover all the countershaft splines, and installed a high tensile strength X-Ring chain. Z ring might even be better.
A water cooled KLR 650 apparently has a temperature of 200 degrees F. Supposedly an OEM 2023 Honda XR650L has a baseline minimum oil temperature of 260 degrees F during normal weather. I'm currently running at 240 F sustained at speeds under 80 MPH.
I opted for super tuning, heat radiation/convective cooling, and full synthetic oil for lower friction.
Super tuning involved K&N air filter (dusty conditions require a synthetic terry cloth cover or something as the K&N is not the easiest to clean. ProCycle SS header (FMF Powerbomb might be as effective or better), and a Yoshimura street series muffler (street legal all 50 states at minimum and USFS legal).
Rejetting from OEM should lower the head/oil temperature too. I also have a Brisk racing spark plug in conjunction with a 8mm copper spark plug wire to install for more efficient ignition. Tuning such as this has been claimed to smog less, more power, and cooler oil temperatures.
Then the aftermarket finned aluminum valve covers and oil filter cover. The steel oil drain plug has been replaced with aluminum for convective cooling. Relocated the OEM fender to the front fork brace for direct cooling air to the upper engine area. Still more convective cooling to do, such as an aluminum T bar on the frame square down tube that holds oil.
I'm running steel belted radial big block tires. The widest rear tire that will fit in the wheel well for added traction off and on pavement. Some modification of the chain guard was needed for the added width. Planning on a cush rear wheel hub for less harsh driveline pavement conditions. Hopefully installing a super wide (140) tire on the front for better silty/sandy low speed control at minimum.
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