Honda XR series
The Honda XR series motorcycle is a range of single cylinder Four-Stroke off-road motorcycles that were designed in Japan and assembled all over the world. This series of motorcycle is gradually being replaced with similar CRF series motorcycles. Some of the XR Series motorbikes came in two versions, R or L. Simply, the R version bikes were designed with off road in mind; they had very few creature comforts, and tended to come standard with knobbly off-road tyres fitted. The R version bikes, without modification, generally were not street legal. Conversely, the L version bikes were designed to be ridden predominantly on road, with appropriate lighting, tyres and other features pertaining to road riding.
In its heyday, the XR series consisted of 10 models; however, currently only the XR 50,XR 80 and the baja-racer XR 650R and dual-sport XR 650L remain. [1] The rest of the XR line has been transitioned into the CRF line.
The Small XRs
The bikes that fall under this category are physically smaller than any of the other bikes in the series. They are predominantly designed for children, or as pit bikes, for recreational fun, nothing more. For an adult rider, they would not be comfortable for a ride of any length.
XR 50R
The XR 50 is a small 4-stroke 50cc children's entry level motorcycle. produced from 1968 until today originally called the Trail 50, then Z-50, the XR 50, CRF 50, and now a street (mini motard) legal version called the XR 50.. again.
XR 70R
Engine:
Engine: 72cc, air cooled, single cylinder, four stroke, SOHC, two-valve
Displacement: 72cc. BORE X STROKE 47mm X 41.4mm. COMPRESSION RATIO 9.0:1
Carburetion: 13mm piston-valve. IGNITION CDI.
Dimensions:
Weight: 125.7 lbs. GROUND CLEARANCE 6.5 in. WHEELBASE 41.5 in.
Fuel Capacity: 1.6 gal., including 0.2 gal. Reserve
Seat Height: 25.5 in.
Drive Train:
Transmission: 3-speed with automatic clutch. FINAL DRIVE #420 chain
Suspension: Front: 27mm Telescopic fork, 3.9" of travel
Rear: Single shock, 3.7" of travel
Brakes/Wheels/Tires::
Brakes: Front: Drum. Rear: Drum
Tires: Front: 2.50 X 14. Rear: 3.00 X 12
XR 75R
Engine:
Engine: 75cc, air cooled, single cylinder, four stroke, SOHC, two valve
Displacement: 75cc
Carburetion: Information not available
Dimensions:
Weight: Approx 140 pounds. GROUND CLEARANCE: Information unavailable WHEELBASE: Information Unavailable
Fuel Capacity: 1.6 gal
Seat Height:: Information Unavailable
Transmission: 5 speed Manual clutch. FINAL DRIVE Information unavailable
Suspension: Information Unavailable
Brakes: Front: Drum. Rear: Drum.
Tires: Information Unavailable
Information on XR 75R hard to find. Personal research is a must.
XR 80R
Engine:
Engine: 79cc, air cooled, single cylinder, four stroke, SOHC, two-valve
Displacement: 80cc. BORE X STROKE 47.5mm X 45mm. COMPRESSION RATIO 9.7:1
Carburetion: 18mm piston-valve. IGNITION CDI.
Dimensions:
Weight: 141.1 lbs. GROUND CLEARANCE 8.3 in. WHEELBASE 47.0 in.
Fuel Capacity: 1.6 gal., including 0.2 gal. Reserve
Seat Height: 28.5 in.
Drive Train:
Transmission: 5-speed. FINAL DRIVE #420 chain, 14T/46T
Suspension: Front: 27mm leading axle Showa fork, 5.0" of travel
Rear: Pro-Link single shock, 4.3" of travel
Brakes/Wheels/Tires::
Brakes: Front: Drum. Rear: Drum
Tires: Front: 2.50 X 16. Rear: 3.60 X 14
XR 100R
Engine:
Engine: 99cc, air cooled, single cylinder, four stroke, SOHC, two-valve
Displacement: 99cc. BORE X STROKE 53mm X 45mm. COMPRESSION RATIO 9.4:1
Carburetion: 20mm piston-valve. IGNITION: CDI.
Dimensions:
Weight: 149.9 lbs. GROUND CLEARANCE 10.4 in. WHEELBASE 49.4 in.
Fuel Capacity: 1.6 gal., including 0.2 gal. Reserve
Seat Height: 30.3 in.
Drive Train:
Transmission: 5-speed. FINAL DRIVE #428 chain, 14T/50T
Suspension: Front: 27mm leading axle Showa fork, 5.0" of travel
Rear: Pro-Link single shock with spring preload adj., 4.7" of travel
Brakes/Wheels/Tires:
Brakes: Front: Drum. Rear: Drum
Tires: Front: 2.50-19. Rear: 3.00-16
XR 125L
A popular learner bike for many due to its highly forgiving handling, long-travel suspension for absorbing otherwise dangerous bumps, excellent fuel consumption (80-90mpg) and highly reliable four-stroke 124cc engine. While not a particularly powerful 125cc bike, generating 11.13 HP (8.1 kW) at 8500 RPM,[2] and a top speed of around 65mph, the engine is generally regarded as being, with adequate maintenance, all but bullet-proof when it comes to reliability. The XR 125L doesn't feature a kick start, but its dependable electric start and ease with which this bike can be bump-started negates the need for one.
Tyres on this bike are generally dual-sport as standard, being grippy enough for road riding, but having a deeper tread than usual to allow for a little off-road riding without submitting to the on-road handling problems associated with full off-road knobbly tyres.
XR 250R
For many years, this bike was the standard small-bore off-road four stroke. It had a 249 cc air-cooled motor with Honda's famous Radial Four Valve Combustion Chamber (RFVC). [3] In 1996, the bike entire was updated. The updated engine put out a usable 19 hp (14 kW) at 8100 rpm. Though the bike was new, it kept the antiquated air-cooling and conventional suspension fork. [4] The XR250R was the king of entry level off road four strokes. It was simple, indestructible, and reliable. Modified XR 250's were even raced in the GNCC's by Scott Summers. This bike was discontinued in 2004, replaced by the more modern CRF 250X.
XR 250L
For many years, this bike was the standard small-bore off-road four stroke. It had a 249 cc air-cooled motor with Honda's famous Radial Four Valve Combustion Chamber (RFVC). In 1996, the bike entire was updated. The updated engine put out a usable 19 hp (14 kW) at 8100 rpm. Though the bike was new, it kept the antiquated air-cooling and conventional suspension fork. [4] The XR 250R was the king of entry level off road four strokes. It was simple, indestructible, and reliable. Modified XR 250's were even raced in the GNCC's by Scott Summers. This bike was discontinued in 2004, replaced by the more modern CRF 250X.
XR 350R
Introduced introduced in 1983, Sold from 1983-1987.
Make Model: Honda XR 350R. Specs for Years: 1983
Engine: Air cooled. four-stroke, single cylinder SOHC, 4 valve,
Capacity: 339ml. Bore x Stroke 84 x 61.3 mm. Compression Ratio 9.5;1
Induction: 2x 26mm Keihin
Ignition/Starting: CDI/electric
Max Power: 22.4 hp @ 7500 rpm. Max Torque: 19ftlbs
Transmission/Drive: 6 Speed/chain
Front Suspension: 41mm Air adjustable forks, 280mm wheel travel.
Rear Suspension: Single gas shocks, fully adjustable , 290mm wheel travel.
Front Brakes: Single disc. Rear Brakes: Drum
Front Tyre: 90/90 -21. Rear Tyre: 130/80 -17
Wet-Weight: 165 kg
Fuel Capacity: 9 Litres
XR 400R
Introduced in 1996, the XR 400R was wildly popular. It was reasonably light (264 pounds) and made a pleasant 32 hp (24 kW) at 7600 rpm. It shared a frame, plastic and suspension components with the XR 250R, and had a similar air-cooled engine with RFVC technology. XR 400's were heavily modified and raced. In 1998, however, Yamaha eclipsed the XR400R with its answer to the midsize off-road four stroke: the WR 400F. The WRF was much more advanced in technology than the XR. In 2006, Honda replaced the XR 400 with the CRF 450X.
Specs
Engine: Air-cooled dry-sump single-cylinder four-stroke, SOHC; four-valve RFVC
Displacement: 397cc. BORE X STROKE: 85.0mm x 70.0mm
Compression Ratio: 9.3:1.
Fuel System: 36mm piston-valve
Ignition: Solid-state CD with electronic advance
Dimensions:
Weight: 257.0 lbs. GROUND CLEARANCE 12.2 in. WHEELBASE 56.1 in.
Fuel Capacity: 2.5 gal. (including 0.4-gallon reserve) SEAT HEIGHT 36.6 in.
Drive Train:
Transmission: Five-speed. Final Drive #520 O-ring-sealed chain; 15T/45T
Suspension: Front: 43mm leading-axle Showa cartridge fork w/18-position compression
and 12-position rebound-damping adj.; 11.0-in. travel
Rear: Pro-Link Showa single-shock with spring-preload, 16-position comp. and 16-
position rebound-damping adj.; 11.8-in. travel
Brakes/Wheels/Tires:
Brakes: Front: Single disc with twin-piston caliper. Rear: Single disc
Tires: Front: 80/100-21. Rear: 110/100-18
XR 500R
Early twin shock model. Followed by a monoshock four valve XR 500.in 1983 motor was upgraded to RFVC technology with full cradle frame to suit. This won the Baja race and was quickly revised to 600 cc (see XR 600R)
Produced from 1979 through 1985
Engine and transmission:
Displacement: 500.00 ccm (30.51 cubic inches)
Engine type: Single cylinder. Stroke: 4
Power: 37.00 HP (27.5 kW))
Fuel system: Carburettor
Fuel control: OHC
Starter: Kick
Cooling system: Air
Chassis and dimensions: Frame type: Steel
Top speed: 150.0 km/h (93.2 mph)
XR 600R
The XR 600R was king of the Baja races. It was introduced in 1985, [5] and was updated again in 1992. The XR won many desert races at the hands of Johnny Campbell and Scott Summers. It's air cooled engine was very similar to the XR 400 and XR 250 engines, with the same RFVC valve train. The XR 600 only made 38 hp (28 kW) at its peak, but its torque was impressive. In 2000, Honda replaced this desert warrior with the XR 650R.
Early versions had a twin carb setup 85-87 later model (88 onwards) were designed to run on a single carb and coupled with a completely different bodywork styling took the XR to the next level. 85 and early 86 models were believed to suffer from 3rd gear problems when exposed to heavy use, this was addressed in later 86 and all 87 models. The late 86 model is regarded as the best to own from all the XR 600R models, it has the best colour scheme, the best styling, 88 onwards were plain in comparison and lost the rugged appeal attained by it's predecessor. The XR 600R make excellent supermoto conversions although difficult to achieve on the 85-86 due to the rear drum brake setup, this would require a bespoke back wheel to be fabricated as they are not commercially available for these models.
XR 650R
The XR 650R was not just an update to the XR 600--it was a totally new bike. An all-new 649cc, liquid cooled, SOHC engine was mated to an aluminum box frame. The large XR did carry substantial girth, however, at 280 pounds dry. [6]
The XR 650R is an incredible desert racer. It has won every professional desert race its entered [7] It remains one of the few stock dirt bikes that can touch 100 mph (160 km/h)*. The stock Australian geared bike can reach 180km/h.
2003 XR 650R Manufacturer Specs
Engine: Engine Type 649cc liquid-cooled dry-sump single-cylinder four-stroke Bore and Stroke 100.0mm x 82.6mm Compression Ratio 10.0:1 Carburetion: Keihin 40mm piston-valve Ignition Solid-state CD with electronic advance Drive Train: Transmission Five-speed Final Drive #520 O-ring-sealed endless chain; 14T/48T Chassis/Suspension/Brakes: Front Suspension 46mm leading-axle Kayaba cartridge fork with compression- and rebound-damping adjustability; 11.2-inch travel Rear Suspension Pro-Link Kayaba single-shock with spring-preload, compression- and rebound-damping adjustability; 12.1-inch travel Front Brake Single 240mm disc with twin-piston caliper Rear Brake Single 240mm disc with single-piston caliper Front Tire 80/100-21 Rear Tire 110/100-18 Dimensions: Rake 27.8 degrees Trail 111.0mm (4.3 inches) Wheelbase 58.3 inches Seat Height 36.8 inches Ground Clearance 12.0 inches Dry Weight 277.0 pounds Fuel Capacity 2.6 gallons, including 0.5 gallon reserve
XR 650L
The XR 650L is a street/trail bike that is more similar to the XR 600R than the XR 650R. It has a steel tube frame as opposed to an aluminum spar frame like in the XR 650R. It also has an air-cooled 644 cc SOHC dry-sump single cylinder 4-stroke engine similar except for an increased displacement to the XR 600R, unlike the totally redesigned XR 650R that has a liquid-cooled 649cc SOHC dry-sump single cylinder 4-stroke engine. With a headlight, taillight, turn signals, mirrors, smog system, revised exhaust system and a 2.8 gallon gas tank with 0.6 gal reserve, the 650L is a hefty 324 lb (dry weight). It is commonly referred to as the BRP(Big Red Pig).
See also
References
- ^ Honda Off-Road Motorcycles - Review, Performance, Specs
- ^ Honda Motorcycles Models
- ^ http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mcdirt/mcphotos/xr11.gif
- ^ a b 2004 XR 250 vs DR-Z 250 vs KLX 300R - MotorcycleUSA.com
- ^ Honda XR 650R: The King of Baja
- ^ "Race Test: Honda XR650R." Dirt Bike Magazine. February, 2000. p. 40.
- ^ Honda XR 650R: The biggest, baddest dirt bike on the planet
