So it was one of those winter days when you are browsing the ADV forums and you think...I wonder if they have any XR650L bikes for sale in New England as I had been bitten by the "I wouldnt mind trying to ride some trails" thought and also "if I was to rent a bike in a foreign country for some adventure its probably going to be a trail bike (like in Laos) and I have no idea how to fix it or change a tube on something like that"....
On Thursday I see one ...a one owner XR650L for sale in Fairhaven MA
"Great condition, one owner bike bought new in 2006. Meticulous maintenance schedule, oil changed every 1,000 miles. All the best accessories including; CE Baily short windshield, Happy Trails tail rack, Twin air foam filter (2 of them rotated so always clean) Shori battery, Rental aluminum bars high bend, Moose bark busters, Hot grips heated grips, jet kit, over sized silecer tip in stock muffler and just last winter a new XR's Only 10.5 to 1 piston installed by local Honda dealer. MT21 pirelli tires and o-ring chain. Bike needs nothing! I have the original title, bike is registered on road and off. Will throw in Tour Master heated jacket liner that bike is wired for, dual mounted controllers run grips and jacket. 23,000 miles. $3000. Just purchased my new bike and there is not room in my life or in my shed for 2 bikes. Not to mention the cost of insurance in Mass. You think they would give you a break for multiple bikes, you can only ride 1 at a time!"
I arrange to go see it today...and despite it being 15F when I leave the house I pack the gear and helmet with that silly thought that if I like it Ill ride it home....
We arrive in New Bedford and meet Glenn the car mechanic who owns his own little garage on Purchase St. He starts off by telling me his long history with trail bikes starting from age 12. Meanwhile I am looking at this...sitting there...waiting...put on the stand to let me test steering head bearings and rear wheel play (both excellent)
and then Glenn starts on the XR650 -owned it since 2006, all service records, all stock parts taken off (front springs, rear shock) come with the bike, he explains all he has done to the bike - its very well kept! So eventually I sit on it...
its a good size....bigger of the course than the XR250 in Laos
and the XR650L
So of course I gear up and take it for a ride down the street
Feels good, snappy throttle response, good acceleration...so I buy it after a brief negotiation
.
But of course I am thinking...the only way to really test it is to ride it home...I think for a moment...1 hour, 19F...and consider that the bike comes with heated grips and he is giving me his heated liner (as long as I dont exceed 3/5 on the power scale the alternator/Shorai battery will be fine
)....oh why not! So I go for it.
The first 30 min are a breeze...cruising along at 65-70mph...until suddenly a slight stutter then the bike dies at mile 73 (on the odometer; he had told me fuel capacity for 90+ miles/tank). I hope that its just ran out of gas and nothing more....turn on reserve and hit the starter...bike fires into life! Wooohoooo! Pull off for gas at the next exit take my helmet off get my hands cold...oh yeah its chilly! I set off again but the damage has been done...my warm bubble I had before the gas stop is gone...cold seeps in...lucky for me I only feel it in the finger tips...they slowly start to freeze despite the Scott winter gloves and heated grips. I arrive home just in time
Nothing like a little winters ride
Looking forward to some trails this spring/summer!
cheers
Andy
