Since its 1993 debut, the Honda XR650L, which is regarded as one of the top dual sport motorcycles for experienced riders, has essentially stayed the same. Byron Wilson of Motorcyclist went so far as to refer to the XR650L as “long-in-the-tooth” during a preview of the 2025 model, even if one could consider a motorbike design approaching its 32nd year to be outdated. Nonetheless, its cheap MSRP makes it one of the most reasonably priced dual sport motorcycles available, and Honda’s build quality keeps it current.
The venerable XR650L is indeed outperformed by rivals with even lower displacement engines and more recent designs. The vintage Honda is still among the quickest street-legal dirt bikes available, despite the fact that it was never intended for maximum highway speeds.
The Honda XR650L’s speedometer can reach 115 mph. Few riders will ever witness that, it is safe to assume. When amateur video reviewers try top-end speed runs, they usually tap out at about 75 mph since it feels really quick to ride a dual-sport with aggressive off-road tires at high speeds. In 2015, however, the experts at Cycle World reported that the XR650L could reach a top speed of 91 mph. The Honda XR650L ran from zero to sixty miles per hour in six seconds during Cycle World testing. The Honda dual sport finished the standing quarter mile at 84.33 mph in 15.01 seconds.
The Honda XR650L is a fantastic motorbike because of what?
Several interpretations can be made on the 32-year history of the Honda XR650L. Wilson used the old proverb, “if it am not broke, do not fix it,” to Honda’s aged dual sport in addition to the “long-in-the-tooth” remark.
The 2025 Honda XR650L’s MSRP of $6,999 is unchanged from the previous year in every way. The 2025 Kawasaki KLR 650 in its most basic configuration costs $6,899 and might be a better option, even though it is an excellent pricing point for a large displacement dual sport. In contrast, the 2024 KTM 690 ENDURO R is priced at $12,999 in the US, while the 2025 Suzuki DR650S has an MSRP of $7,199.
The XR650L’s 644cc air-cooled four-stroke engine is one of its outstanding features. On its dynamometer, Cycle World recorded 34 horsepower at 6,120 rpm and 31.4 lb-ft of torque at 5,320 rpm with the 2023 Honda XR650L. The drivetrain is completed by a chain drive and a five-speed manual gearbox.
When it comes to fuel, the Honda XR650L weighs slightly under 350 pounds. Its Pro-Link rear suspension and 43mm Showa cartridge forks provide good support for the weight. Before the bike is loaded, the ground clearance measures 13 inches, and the suspension offers 11.6 inches of travel up front and 11 inches at the back. The height of the XR650L saddle is 37 inches.
Is the Honda XR650L the most affordable dual sport motorcycle?
The Honda XR650L is unquestionably a fantastic dual sport motorbike. People all over the world adore the XR650L, even the press, and even its detractors find it hard to find anything bad to say about it. But not everyone finds it to be the best dual sport motorcycle.
As previously mentioned, the Kawasaki KLR 650 dual sport is priced $100 less than the XR650L and is a competitor. Furthermore, the KLR was updated in 2008, yet it has been around since 1987, unlike the XR-L. With around 42 horsepower and 39.1 lb-ft of torque, the Kawasaki KLR 650 outperforms the Honda. Additionally, it loses almost 5 inches of ground clearance (8.3 vs. 13 inches) to the XR650L, which makes its 34.3-inch seat height more comfortable for shorter riders.
The 2008 KLR 650 was stated to have a quarter-mile timing of 14.81 seconds, a speed of 85.97 mph, and an acceleration time of 6.27 seconds from zero to sixty miles per hour. Lastly, for just $200 more than the Honda, the 2025 Kawasaki comes equipped with ABS, a pleasant feature for novice riders.
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