Honda XR650R review: bring back the big red pig, Mr Honda!︱Cross Training Enduro

From http://www.crosstrainingenduro.com The big red pig, also known as the Honda XR650R. Some have called it the world's best dirt bike that flopped because it was released at the wrong time. Released in 2000, it replaced the hugely successful XR600 which began in 1985. The 600 was a prime example of what the Japanese could achieve back in the days when they were passionate about making the best dirt bikes, instead of being controlled by their accountants nowadays. For years it was THE bike for desert racing and kept winning at Baja relentlessly, until eventually the lighter more powerful Kawasaki KX500 entered the scene. Let's check it out in this Honda XR650R review.

Cross Training Youtube channel:    / @crosstrainingenduro  
Cross Training Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cross.traini...
Our enduro vlog series:    • All our enduro rides!︱Cross Training ...  
Cross Training website: http://www.crosstrainingenduro.com
Like to support our vids? http://www.crosstrainingenduro.com/cr...
Traction eRag:    • Видео  

The XR650R was a completely new bike, with a much more powerful engine in an alloy frame and a dry weight of only 130kg. It continued to win many of the desert races but the timing sucked. The age of the 450 four stroke enduro bike had arrived and the market was moving toward these lighter more nimble bikes instead of desert racing models. Sadly production of the XR650R was cancelled in 2008 and in its place was the emasculated XR650L - way less power, way more weight and dicky suspension.

The Honda XR650R big red pig has a strong fan base today and you can see why. It produced so much power but was matched with incredible reliability, along with handling and suspension that puts most of the current big bore four strokes to shame. Currently the only high performance big bore four stroke is the KTM 690 and many argue Honda would take a huge chunk of their market share if the XR650R was released again but with an electric button. I'm one of the many people who were disappointed with the KTM 690 and would love to see a much more reliable well designed Japanese equivalent on the market. This Honda XR650R review firmly believes the big red pig should be brought back.

Could the Honda XR650R sell again today? There's a strong dual sport market, and the rapidly expanding adventure bike market. And there are many riders buying bikes like the DR650 and modifying them to be more like the XR650R. The most common issues with the XR650R today would be its tall seat height, the small fuel tank and no electric start. A redesigned seat could make the bike a tad lower. There are still aftermarket tanks around but a bigger tank would not be hard for Honda to design. And Honda actually did an electric start version for their 650 quad so that's an easy fix.

"if Honda started building the XR650R again, but made it with electric start, a 6th gear, and made it street legal, they would sell the hell out of that bike."
Chuck Wallace

Sadly the Japanese brands are happy to let the European brands be the innovators nowadays so it is very unlikely we'll see the Honda XR650R big red pig brought back. Which is sad as it's one hell of a big bore thumper that deserves to live on. We hope you've enjoyed this Honda XR650R review.

MUSIC
Title: Ready by Stonebank from Monument EP
Video Link:    • [Electro] - Stonebank - Lost Without ...  
iTunes Download Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/mon...
Listen on Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/album/0CyItHR... Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
Music: www.playonloop.com
Music: https://soundimage.org
Music: https://audionautix.com/
Music by Tobu: https://tobu.io    / tobuofficial  
Music: https://www.bensound.com/royalty-free...
Music: https://soundimage.org
Music by Atch:
SoundCloud: https://bit.ly/AtchSoundCloud
Spotify: https://bit.ly/AtchSpotify
Instagram: www.instagram.com/atchmusic