The Honda XR650L is a dual-sport motorcycle released in 1992 as a 1993 model and part of the Honda XR series. It combines the RFVC engine of the NX650 Dominator dual-sport with the lighter, off-road-capable XR600R chassis, which is not road legal in the United States.
Honda XR650L at a glance
| Maker | Honda |
|---|---|
| Released | 1992, as a 1993 model |
| Series | Honda XR |
| Engine | 644 cc air-cooled SOHC single, RFVC |
| Power | 40 hp |
| Oil system | dry sump |
| Starter | electric |
| Fuel tank | 11 litres (2.8 US gallons), metallic |
| Wet weight | 349 lb (158 kg) |
| Seat height | 37 inches (940 mm) |
| Legal equipment | headlight, taillight, indicators, mirrors, EPA and CARB compliant exhaust |
| Changes since launch | virtually none |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the XR650L.
History of the Honda XR650L
Two bikes into one
The XR650L combines the RFVC engine from the proven NX650 Dominator dual-sport with the lighter, off-road-capable XR600R chassis. The XR600R itself is not road legal in the United States, so the 650L gave buyers the Dominator’s engine in a more dirt-focused road-legal package.
Specification
The engine is a 40 hp air-cooled 644 cc SOHC dry-sump single-cylinder four-stroke. With an electric starter, headlight, taillight, indicators, mirrors, a US EPA and California Air Resources Board compliant exhaust system and an 11-litre metallic fuel tank, the 650L has a wet weight of 349 lb. Seat height is 37 inches.
A long production run
The XR650L has been produced virtually unchanged since 1993 and was still in production as of 2027, which makes it one of the longest-lived models in Honda’s range.
Design and features
- RFVC engine: the 644 cc single from the NX650 Dominator.
- XR600R chassis: lighter and more off-road capable than a pure road frame.
- Street-legal equipment: full lighting and emissions-compliant exhaust for the US.
- Minimal change: the same basic bike for more than three decades.
Honda XR650L versions
- XR650L (1993): the original dual-sport.
- NX650 Dominator: the source of the engine.
- XR600R: the source of the chassis, not road legal in the US.
The XR650L sits at the top of the Honda XR range and shares its engine with the NX650 Dominator. More Hondas are in the Honda collection.
Sources
- Honda XR650L, English Wikipedia: engine, chassis, specification, production
