A Sharp Axe in a World of Broken Chain Saws

[Jeff Higgins]

I couldn't have put it better myself - that was a comment a viewer made regarding this review of the timeless Honda XR650L:



I can't believe they are still manufacturing this bike in 2025. That now marks 32 years of continuous production of the exact same motorcycle. Oh, they change colors all the time, going from white to blue to red to blue and white to red and white, but that's easy. It has been mechanically the same bike for 32 years.

Those of us who own and ride these "Big Red Pigs" appreciate their rugged simplicity. Mine has never let me down in over 15 years of use. Oh, there are "better" (more powerful, lighter, etc.), but I'm not that "better" rider. Neither are most people, if they are honest with themselves. And with these "better" bikes come real and potential problems that these Hondas will simply never put us through. The "sharp axe in a world of broken chainsaws". I love it.

[herr_oberst]

Electric start, made in Japan, 30 years worth of spare parts.
An axe in a world of broken-down chainsaws, indeed.

[cjh]

I sold my big red pig 3 years ago.

[Jeff Higgins]

The guy from whom I bought my Ducati 900 Super Sport over 20 years ago was the original owner (sadly, he passed away about three years ago). When he bought the Super Sport, he traded in a Ducati 851, their top of the line water cooled, fuel injected marvel. I still keep in touch with the owner of the shop (his name is Dave) where he purchased the 851 and made the trade for the 900 SS. Dave tells me that when he made the trade, everyone at the dealership told him he was nuts. "You are trading in a surgical scalpel for a stone axe" is what they all told him. "You're right" was his reply. Today, that 900 SS is a much sought after motorcycle, where the 851 is pretty much forgotten. Not in spite of, but [i]because[i/] that 900 SS is the "stone axe" of that class of motorcycle. There is a lot to be said for rugged simplicity.

[gregpark]

I sold my '93 XR650L last year and I have sellers remorse. I just wasn't riding it much and a friend kept pestering me for it.
I put a narrow rack on the back and a 4gal. Baja tank. Dang, I should've known I'd miss it. Before that one i had an '85 that lacked the electric start. Got tired of kicking that big cylinder over

[Bill Douglas]

Yes, a lot can be said for a bike that you can ride into the forest or the desert, and then come back again.

[rfuerst911sc]

A 650 single , that must have torque everywhere ! Nice bike .

[unclebilly]

These are fine for logging roads but a handful on tight singletrack.

I sold my CRF450X which was the next generation of these old XRs last year and bought my Austrian 2 stroke 300. I know which I would rather have for the type of riding I do.

[Seahawk]

Both gone...

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

These are fine for logging roads but a handful on tight singletrack.

I'll even go a step further - they are unmanageable on tight single track. It's not just the weight (350 pounds dry), it's how high they carry that weight, along with the sheer height of the bike as a whole. I'm 6'1" and a fairly stout 250 pounds, and this bike is too big for me on single track. I even went as far as to instal a Soupy's lowering link and raise the forks as high as they will go. And it's still by far the tallest bike in my little riding group.

So, yeah - logging roads, open desert, etc. is where this bike excels. Plus, I can ride it a couple hundred miles to get to my buddy's place in Eastern Washington to go for a ride. Or, for that matter, I can ride it 20 miles away and start up one of my favorite logging roads. Your Austrian two stroke is going to make either of those trips in the back of a pickup, or on a trailer. Which is fine - we know that going in, and accept it, for the off road performance on offer. Horses for courses...

Originally Posted by unclebilly

I sold my CRF450X which was the next generation of these old XRs last year and bought my Austrian 2 stroke 300. I know which I would rather have for the type of riding I do.

KTM just announced, today, that they are closing. Completely. Gone. Let's hope someone buys them, they make great bikes, in a way. Fast as hell, capable as hell, but perhaps too "race bike" for general consumption. They have earned a reputation as being one of the most fragile, with some of the lowest recommended rebuild intervals in the industry. Most of us don't need, and can never take advantage of, the extra edge in performance they can eek out by doing that. I know several riding buddies who sold KTM motorcycles when that short rebuild interval just got to be an expensive pain in the ass. Precisely the "broken chainsaw" to which this commenter referred.

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

The guy from whom I bought my Ducati 900 Super Sport over 20 years ago was the original owner (sadly, he passed away about three years ago). When he bought the Super Sport, he traded in a Ducati 851, their top of the line water cooled, fuel injected marvel. I still keep in touch with the owner of the shop (his name is Dave) where he purchased the 851 and made the trade for the 900 SS. Dave tells me that when he made the trade, everyone at the dealership told him he was nuts. "You are trading in a surgical scalpel for a stone axe" is what they all told him. "You're right" was his reply. Today, that 900 SS is a much sought after motorcycle, where the 851 is pretty much forgotten. Not in spite of, but [i]because[i/] that 900 SS is the "stone axe" of that class of motorcycle. There is a lot to be said for rugged simplicity.

You talking about Dave Roosevelt? He's a good egg. Ducati Seattle under his ownership was great. Service was done right.

[908/930]

Jeff, where did you read KTM is gone? Pretty sure they are restructuring.

[Jeff Higgins]

Yup, Dave Roosevelt. Great guy. Really got screwed by the guy who essentially stole DOS from him. Dave landed on his feet, though, opening Seattle Used Bike. He even lured Marty out of retirement to be his lead mechanic.

The KTM news just broke a few hours ago. I saw it on Fortnine's YouTube channel.

[908/930]

KTM is not gone, just restructuring. I would consider another one, possibly a 1290 Super duke RR. I really enjoy riding my RC8R, by far the best handling bike I have had.

I remember riding a friends XR600 years ago, the first time letting off the throttle the engine braking almost put me over the bars.

[LWJ]

Funny. I have been shopping for a cheap, reliable thumper... XR250, XR400, or ??? Considering how I never ride on the street the 650 seems a little much. I do have aspirations of desert riding so who knows?

[unclebilly]

Jeff - KTMs restructuring was approved. They aren’t going anywhere.

[unclebilly]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

KTM just announced, today, that they are closing. Completely. Gone. Let's hope someone buys them, they make great bikes, in a way. Fast as hell, capable as hell, but perhaps too "race bike" for general consumption. They have earned a reputation as being one of the most fragile, with some of the lowest recommended rebuild intervals in the industry. Most of us don't need, and can never take advantage of, the extra edge in performance they can eek out by doing that. I know several riding buddies who sold KTM motorcycles when that short rebuild interval just got to be an expensive pain in the ass. Precisely the "broken chainsaw" to which this commenter referred.

Nope - KTM is not going anywhere. Their restructuring deal got approved.

The new TBI 2 strokes go over 200 hours on a top end and outside North America come with signal lights and are street legal (XC-W, EC, and TE flavours). Mine is registered as a street bike and I plan to put a light kit on it so I can drive it on the street if I choose to.

[Jeff Higgins]

That is fantastic news regarding KTM. I'm certainly rooting for them.

Here in Washington state, it is remarkably easy to "plate" any motorcycle. One would think, being the far left wing greenie hell that it has become, that plating a two smoker would be impossible. Fortunately, however, no one in authority has any idea the differences and nuances of internal combustion, so they do not discern. If it has lights, signals, and a horn, we are good to go. We see some, but not many, plated two strokes every now and then. It's glorious.

That said, plated or not, no one is going to ride one a couple hundred miles over our Cascade range from the Puget Sound area into Eastern Washington. The guys who I know who've plated theirs only did so so that they can "connect the dots", i.e. ride on public roads to get from one logging road to another. We all used to anyway, counting on not getting caught, but as we all age and get a little more "responsible", it's nice to know we are legal.

Anyway, back to "horses for courses". All motorcycles are fantastic. Pick one you like for how you like to ride. There's a bike for every ass. Or something like that.

[flipper35]

Still have my old XT600. Good bike other than it does not have electric start and at my age that magic button is quite useful.

Wife has an XT250.

[gregpark]

Another advantage of old school off road MCs over modern is if you crash in the desert on a liquid cooled and lose your water you're **** out of luck