So I’ve been riding my XR650L for about three years now, man what a beast. But after a gnarly trail ride last summer where I nearly busted my foot on a rock, I knew this pig needed upgrades. Pulled out my toolbox and got busy. Here’s the dirty details.
The Starting Point
First thing I did? Stared at the bone-stock bike in my dusty garage. Felt like looking at a blank canvas. My butt was sore after hour-long rides, the mirrors shook like crazy, and that tiny gas tank meant stopping every 100 miles. Total buzzkill on adventures.
The Mods That Changed Everything
Upgrade 1: Fat Footpegs
Swapped those skinny OEM pegs first. Wrenched off the old ones – took like five minutes. Bolted on some wide stainless steel pegs. Tested by jumping on ’em in work boots. Solid! No more slipping during muddy climbs.
Upgrade 2: Cushy Seat
Ripped off that concrete slab Honda calls a seat. Measured the pan, ordered memory foam, and carved it knife. Took three tries to get the shaping right. Staple-gunned new marine-grade vinyl cover while watching football. First test ride felt like sitting on marshmallows. Game changer!
Upgrade 3: Bark Busters
Got real tired of bent levers. Slammed some aluminum bark busters onto the handlebars. Busted knuckles tightening those bolts. Dropped the bike sideways on purpose later – levers survived! Felt like a genius.
Upgrade 4: Better Mirrors
Swapped jittery stock mirrors for convex ones. Couldn’t believe the difference! Actually saw cars behind me instead of blurry blobs. Used locktite so vibrations won’t shake ’em loose.
Upgrade 5: High-Flow Airbox
Cut the airbox lid with a dremel like surgery. Installed foam filter. Bike breathed deeper instantly – sounded angrier at low RPMs. But noticed it ran lean…
Tuning & Troubles
Upgrade 6: Carb Jetting
Popped the carb out – messy job with fuel everywhere. Changed jets bigger. Trial-and-error for three days! Finally got crisp throttle response without backfires. Sweet spot was two sizes up.
Upgrade 7: Taller Gearing
Hate buzzing highways? Me too. Counted teeth like a madman. Went up two teeth in back sprocket. Chain didn’t fit! Had to adjust swingarm like crazy. Worth it though – cruising at 65mph feels smooth now.
Finishing Touches
Upgrade 8: Aux Lights
Wired LEDs for night trails. Accidentally blew fuse twice. Mounted on fork legs with hose clamps – temporary became permanent.
Upgrade 9: Aluminum Skid Plate
Bolted on a half-inch thick plate after denting my frame. Sounds like a drum solo on rocks but saved my motor twice!
Upgrade 10: Big Tank
Saved biggest mod last. Drained gas, yanked stock tank, wrestled 5-gallon aftermarket beast on. Fuel line kinked first time – spilled petrol everywhere. Trimmed hose, tight fit. Rode 200 miles without stopping!
Aftermath
Took six weekends total spending about $1,200. Messy garage? Hell yes. But this old thumper rides like new money now. Still find grease under fingernails but zero regrets. Next project? Maybe suspension… or just riding!
