Tuning and Re-Jetting the Honda XR650R for High Altitude Adventure and Overlanding Fuel Efficiency

Spring snowmelt signals the riding season. For many riders, this is the beginning of long awaited travel. The Motorcycle Tech and Travel channel begins this year's ambitious filming schedule with a preventive maintenance tune-up and service on the Honda XR650R. A valve adjustment, cylinder leakdown test and precision re-jetting of the Keihin PE carburetor contribute to reliability on the long rides and trail runs at higher altitudes.

In this walkthrough, Moses Ludel shares tips and tricks for keeping any motorcycle dependable and at peak performance. He discusses the Pulstar spark plug that helps fire through richer fuel mixtures. The channel's three Honda XR motorcycles can tolerate brief stints at high elevations without changing jets. In this video, Moses selects and installs jets that will work from near sea level to at least 8,000 feet elevation, providing complete burn and better fuel efficiency for long trips and remote riding at altitude.

Footnote: A subscriber noted my use of a Phillips screwdriver to loosen carburetor float bowl screws. Japanese manufacturers have traditionally used JIS screws. They come loose without damage if you use JIS screw drivers and not a Phillips head type. We do need JIS drivers on tight screws. (I manage to loosen the carburetor float bowl screws using a quality Phillips screwdriver and pressing inward on the screw heads.) On stubborn, tight Japanese motorcycle engine case screws, the traditional approach has been an impact driver with JIS bits, tapping with just enough force to loosen the screws. (My impact driver set has JIS bits, which readily loosen and preserve the case screws.) JIS drivers work properly, tighten screws securely and generally protect the screw heads for reuse...JIS screwdrivers ($$$) and bits are available at Amazon.com. Search under the keywords "JIS screw drivers".