Honda XR150L - Actual Off-Road Testing
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- Опубликовано: 28 сен 2024
- I got to ride my daughter’s new XR150L. I ride it both on the highway and off-road, testing the suspension, power, top speed, brakes, hillclimb capability, downhill braking control and handling.
I think this is the most realistic test of this bike that I’ve seen on RUclips. If you are interested in buying one I feel you’ll find many of your questions answered and concerns addressed. Feel free to comment on the video if you have any questions. We both like the bike and I have a feeling it will surprise you.
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What is neat about this bike is that it doesn't feel like a mini bike but gets the fuel economy of a small bike. If you are looking for a weekend trail bike that you can put in the back of the truck to go fishing or camping then this is perfect. If you need to run to the store for something small you can put a cargo pod on the rack for a beer run or just a place to put some rain gear. Extremely versatile and has a long track record overseas and in South America.
@@gailmaplesden7380 my daughter was initially looking at a Grom and I told her to check out this bike as it’d be way more versatile. On our last ride I told her I was thinking about how bad the Grom would have been for both the trails and highway sections we rode. Because she’s much lighter than me she can go 60 mph on it. She’s still wide open throttle but it’ll do it. I think it’s a great little bike. Like you said, extremely versatile. 😀👍
I like this vid. This bike reminds me of riding bikes back in the 70's and 80's. All basic with nothing electronic. Real riding is what this bike is, other than kick start. This bike IS the real back to basic riding in about 35 years.
@@rockthesix1679 Thanks! I was trying to show the bike in the real world being used in places that can be pretty challenging. I was pleasantly surprised to see how capable a 150cc bike could be. It’s definitely easier to ride off-road than my DR650. I love the fact it’s so basic and easy to work on. It’ll still be running long after many more complicated and expensive bikes are cast off into far corners of people’s yards after they become too expensive to repair.
You did a great review and it makes me want one now 😊
Thanks! I don’t think it’s much different from your DR200 besides being smoother.
Same
Very accurate review, I’ve owned one of these since February
@@chadriddle3517 Thanks for the kind words! 😀👍
"It feels like a Honda feels" 👍🏼👍🏼
@@MishMashMoto You get it! 😀👍
@@thatalaskaguy Yep!
I feel gud n relief everytime i see my XR150L.. PERFECT for me.. all stock, allows me 56km/ltr..
Beautiful ‘back yard’ !
I almost bought an XR 150 and decided to ‘up it’ and ordered a 2024 KLX 230s, that was in April, and when the 4th of July rolled around I finally called my dealer and said I need a bike, which they then called a Kawi rep and said it would be in sometime in fall. By the the XRs were all sold, so somehow I ended up with a used side x side, lol, which I do enjoy, but I miss having a bike, and with the price point of the XR, I may be able to swing a XR and keep my side x side, so maybe it was a blessing in disguise my Kawi never came in.
I’m almost 60 years old, had a lot of bikes, broke a lot of bones, so that in the back of my mind I’m thinking this would be a great bike for me, and probably my last bike.
I had a Honda Monkey prior, which I dual sported it pretty hard core and I loved it, but the 12” wheels were plain old dangerous off road, and I’m assuming the 150 will be the same power and speed, but bigger wheels and all together better off road.
Great video.
@@mikem9953 Thanks for the kind words. 😀😆 My oldest daughter was initially looking at a Grom and I was concerned about the lack of visibility with that little bike in traffic. I think the XR150 is way more practical and capable compared to a Grom sized bike.
As long as a guy buys the XR knowing it has limited top speed for highway use I think they’d be pleased. Like any dual sport bike, if it’s going to be ridden off-road a lot it’d benefit from more dirt oriented tires.
I’ve not ridden a KLX230 but I’ve got both a CRF230F and a TTR230 dirt bikes and while they both have more power, acceleration and I assume top speed over the XR150, the 230 engine size would still struggle on the highway at 55-65 mph. I personally think a dual sport needs to be 350-400cc’s to be good on the highway. That engine size isn’t too ponderous off-road but is still generally heavier and harder to ride in tight technical conditions than a 150 or 230 size bike. I’m also comparing like for like with simple, air cooled engines. Unfortunately the big 4 quit making bikes like that decades ago. 🙁 I don’t know how a modern 300cc liquid cooled bike does off-road but in my experience since the 80’s, the higher performance motors tend to be more tuned for midrange power and sacrifice torque at low speeds which is much easier to ride off-road in tight, technical conditions.
For the price of the XR, it’s hard to go wrong.
Nice little bike, I have a Kawasaki KLX230 which is kind of like your XR150L. I weigh around a 100 kg so I guess I'm too big for both of these, even the TW200, but these smaller bikes are just so fun to go on long day explorations, like you do.
But dude, your scenery over there is amazing. Alaska right? It's so beautiful.
@@uncletom1971 yes, I’m in Alaska in Prince William Sound. We don’t have a ton of trails but the ones we do have are very pretty. 😀
The smaller bikes are a lot easier to ride off road than something like my big, heavy, DR650.
Great detailed review! The video answered all my questions. The bike even compares favorably to a DR650, except for highway speed.
@@dr.x4050 Thanks! I tried to demonstrate and answer the questions I’d have as a perspective buyer. I’ve also got a DR650 so I’m familiar with its pros and cons.
Definitely one of the best spot on owner reviews I have heard thus far. I can completely agree as I have this bike as well with 3,000 trouble-free miles and loads of fun with it.
Thank you! I worked to create a review featuring things that were important to be and that I’d be interested in.
It’s a great little bike. 👍😀
great review of the bike and awesome scenery thankyou
@@nigelbodieNB thank you! Cheers 😀
What a great review. Like your style. Thank you.
@@lisafarmer7041 thanks for checking out my video! 😀👍
awesome video! really informative and the place you ride at is paradise! im getting one when im getting back to costa rica. Thank for the content!
Thank you! I enjoy switching back and forth between it and my wife’s DR200 when I go out riding with my daughter. The 150 is noticeably smoother than the DR200.
Thank you for a very informative video.
I live in Florida so my environment is completely different than yours. I currently have two 50cc scooters that I ride around town but I’m seriously considering buying one of these bikes just for a little more power and speed. Although it’s highly unlikely I would ever take this bike on off-road trails, (or any highway, for that matter) I’ve always liked dual sport bikes and I think this would be great for riding in town. Thoughts??
PS. Great scenery up there in Alaska. 😁
PS.
@@SteveSanders-SPB-FL Your weIcome, thanks for watching!
I’m not familiar with scooters but I imagine they have automatic transmissions? Between that and the size, those would be your two main differences.
This Honda would be a lot more capable and versatile than a scooter at the expense of being more difficult to ride. But, if you already know who to shift and use a clutch then no big deal. You’d have more capability going over curbs, pot holes, unpaved roads, sand, etc. Plus being taller you’d be more visible to traffic and be able to see better for yourself. It’s limited in top speed for highways but will do just fine on city streets. I suspect you’ll also immediately notice a smoother ride by virtue of the larger diameter wheels. For the price I think it’s a great value for a street legal dual sport bike.
@@thatalaskaguy Thanks for getting back to me. Yes, I have a Honda Ruckus and a Vespa Primavera and you are correct they are automatic - just twist the throttle and go. Using a clutch and shifting is not an issue as I’ve ridden motorcycles in the past. All in all I think I would really enjoy this bike. Thanks again for the great feedback. 😁
Great upload, less power sometimes = more fun.
Thanks! I had a really good time riding it and kept wanting to try it in different areas to see how’d it do. It’s not a high speed highway bike but does reasonably well on the road to keep up with traffic at 55mph. It’s very comfortable and smooth and it feels more torquey than one would expect off-road.
Thanks for the great review. I live in the mountains in BC with lots of logging roads nearby. It is often steep with loose rock similar to whay you encountered on this review. I am 6' and 190 lb. Speed limit on highways is 55.
What would you recommend between this and the TW all things considered?
I would upgrade the tyres on the XT right away to knobbies if that makes a difference since I would primarily ride on gravel.
Thanks!2
@@Robbbbooo Thanks! I’ve got a TW200 and the XR 150 feels more spacious and comfortable. The seat height is a little bit taller on the XR but not drastically higher. The TW is actually faster on pavement than the XR but it’s sounds like it’s revving it’s guts out with stock gearing to do 55 mph. The TW sounds and feels better at 45 mph. The XR has to be wide open throttle to do 55 mph but the engine is noticeably smoother. Neither bike is great at highway speeds but the XR is more comfortable and noticeably less buzzy from vibration.
Either bike will be great on logging roads, available tire choices will be better for the XR. The TW is better and easier to ride on more more technical and gnarly trails but it’s tires are not great in mud. The XR will act and feel like any other dirt bike when riding off-road once it has knobbies. Stock for stock the TW is more capable off-road, but with knobbies on the XR, I think it’s a total toss up with one bike being slightly better in different areas than the other and then vice versa.
For your use primarily riding gravel I’d go with the XR. You can get tires for it anywhere as the TW’s rear tire is pretty specialized. The TW is a unique bike and I really like mine. But for more casual, normal riding on both pavement and logging roads I think the XR would be more enjoyable and fun as it feels and handles like a normal motorcycle. If you end up riding a lot of rocky type terrain like riverbeds, sand washes, things where the floatation and cushioning of the TW tires comes into play than the TW is more enjoyable and comfortable.
@@thatalaskaguy thank you for the thorough reply.
Logging roads run all through the mountains here, and there are some neat peaks you can ride up to.
I'm going to try and find a used TW since that sounds slightly better for steep rocky ascents, and if I can't find anything decent soon I think I'll just go with the XR. Thanks!
@Robbbbooo For sketchy rock accents and descents the TW is more capable and way easier to ride. It excels in those conditions and I did a video where I climbed a really steep, rocky, loose gravel hill with stock tires on my TW and it did amazing! I was super impressed at how easy it was to ride back down that same hill. The rear tire gets a ton of traction in those conditions. The TW has really good low end power and it happy putting along slowly in 1st gear on gnarly trails. It rides noticeably more cushy over rocks than a regular tired motorcycle.
Be careful don't start it with the high beams on. I love mine
@@zac_in_ak Uh oh! What happens if that occurs?
@@thatalaskaguy fuse blows but there’s a spare in there lots of people have upgraded to a 10amp or a led headlight
@zac_in_ak Gotcha! Thanks for the warning, very good info. 👍
Just a quick question how is the clutch lever pull like soft or hard ect ect tia , Great review and thats some beautiful country you live in !
@@kellywilson8440 Thanks for the kind words. 😄 We don’t have a ton of trails where I live but the ones we do have are very pretty. The bike has a very light pull at the lever. Unlike the one video where the guy complained about missing gears and mis-shifts while beating the hell out of the bike in the desert, it shifts quickly and smoothly just like one would expect. Nothing weird has happened to this XR 150 in that respect.
@@thatalaskaguy Thank you for the reply and info !
I just got a klx 140 RL dirt bike it's 144cc and I tell ya what that thing Flys man lol. And I'm over 200lbs. Got it for kids. But yea pretty good little bike man
@@KTT1985 I’ve been amazed at how capable those bikes are. Full size wheels on a small frame was pretty genius by Kawasaki! 👍
I HAVE TWO OF THEM THEY'RE GREAT 👍😎
I think it’s a really great bike for the price. I’m glad to see a big Japanese OEM stiff offering a very simple and basic bike. Many times that’s all you need and it’ll be running long after higher performance, more complicated bikes are in disrepair.
Does it lug down enough in first gear (stock gearing) for technical, single track uphill?
@@thebeardapostle4446 I don’t notice it being geared too tall in first gear. But, like anything, if the trail is super slow and technical a guy often wants a lower first gear. With the stock gearing on my TW200 I’ve found myself in places where I wanted a lower first gear even though 1st is plenty low for 90% of the riding I do on it. I’ve had a number of guys tell me to gear my TW up as I don’t like how high it revs at 55.
I wasn’t needing to slip the clutch anywhere in my video while climbing hills. In stock form the tires it comes with are it’s limiting factor rather than power.
I think the XR 150 could likely be geared down a bit and not suffer too much on the highway. Right now it feels like it can barely pull 5th gear if there is a head wind or an incline. I suspect they were trying to give it as much top speed as possible to keep up with traffic on highways that have a speed limit over 55 mph.
I think honda was going for maximum gas mileage with the gearing. I geared mine down with a 16t sprocket from 17t and found it better at both ends, with lower gearing for trail riding and better ability to maintain 55mph, due to the rpm's being closer to max hp. I get 83mpg with both.
@@steventyree3851 I’m glad to hear there are improvements that could be made to help the bike maintain 55 mph easier. 👍
It’s about the same speed as a stock Grom, but it’s a more useful bike than a Grom.
@@Nine_883 my daughter was actually looking at a Grom initially. I didn’t care for it as you sit so low in traffic that people in trucks might not see you. Plus I felt it’s be terrible off-road with the tiny tires.
@@thatalaskaguy it’s a novelty. It’s fun, but not very useful. Some people like the hobby of customizing them. It’s a fun city crawler, but it’s really just that. Just for fun.
I’d read somewhere that Groms are the most fun when riding with other similar type bikes. That made sense to me as I can see a Grom being fun in certain areas where a standard type bike wouldn’t be.
@@thatalaskaguy yeah. That’s why I bought one, but those group rides are fewer than I thought. Although now I think I can get more than I paid for it. I paid $2500 and it had 1000 miles on it. I think I can get $3k for it now thanks to inflation!
@@Nine_883 that would work out pretty sweet! 😀
Is this in Kenei?
@@adrianpozos3498 no, Valdez up at the dam.
@@thatalaskaguy oh dope I just got a Xr150 too! Thanks for sharing
The dealer wants 4600 for this bike , Louisiana
I like it's size & cost, this is one of the bikes on my Dual Sport list. I can buy her for $2700 + $500 tax/title & fees for
my County. Call it $3,300.00 w/ Title in Hand..... I've been saving for 8-9 months now & have $2600 but I don't really
want this bike opting for a bike that can travel on the highways safer & at speed. BUT if I can't see getting what I'm
wanting I'll take this little bike b/c it is a Honda & this aircooled engine is almost bullet proof! I appreciate you going
out to show us your take & I've watched 12-14 different people ride this & every person brings something different
to the bike ; something they found about it being good/bad & that's where real pearls of wisdom are dropped upon
us. Thanks for your take, If I do wind up w/ this it'll fit on a trailer hitch motorcycle carrier w/ ease.
Thanks for the videos
@@diggy-d8w Thanks for the kind words. 😀 If lots of high speed, highway running makes up your riding area I’d get a larger displacement bike. I’ve always thought it took at minimum of a 350cc air cooled bike to be able to maintain highway speeds of 65 mph and still have enough in reserve to pass at that speed. A 650 is even better naturally. But a 650 is too heavy for tight/technical trails. A 350 is a good compromise but the 150 is fun on tight trails. It all depends on where and how you’ll spend the majority of your time riding.
In my experience of riding dual sport bikes for over 20 years, none of them are pleasant on the highway past 55 mph unless you have a fairing (it’s cold here in Alaska). But fairings absolutely suck for off-road, I hated the one on my KLR 650. My KLR was an absolute pig off-road. My DR650 is better in that regard but it still pales in comparison to a lighter, smaller 150 and 200cc dual sport bikes for tight, technical trails.
What I'm learning as I try to save enough to buy ; IF we threw a bunch of LOTTO Picks into a bucket & put a bike on
each PICK, Drew just 1 ; we'd all make do w/ what we got !! I've spent about 8months researching all these Dual's
& this little bike is my last pick on the low end of power. It's taken me 8 months to get $2500 & it might be that all I
can afford is this bike? Yeah, I live in Texas w/ lots of straight roads w/ 75MPH speed limits but the idea of owning
the bike outright might be wise on my part? So I come watch people & I like the ones who I identify with like you, I
think you are frugal w/ money & make do w/ what you have. Or that's my take on many Alaskan's living in such a
hard place. These channels that do one bike after another for "Views", I don't like so much b/c they miss important
things or I think they do. Anyhow, I'm here to see what you do before winter sets in.... peace
@@diggy-d8w I know what you mean about the channels that only do reviews. You basically hear only the good things and none of the bad since they get the press bikes for testing and that’ll end if they put out negative reviews. It’s the same for the bullshit ambassadors. They get their machines for a discount and are obligated to say only good things and promote the product. It’s really prevalent in the snowmobile world.
With those really high speed limits any single cylinder dual sport bike is going to be no fun on the highway. When I got my KLR 650 I’d go on long highway rides with my father-in-law and his buddies and they’d cruise at 70 (speed limit was 55mph back then). It was not enjoyable to me even with the stock mini fairing as I’d get buffeted by wind and it was so noisy. We switched for a few miles one day and I rode his Harley, I then discovered he sat in a pocket of still air, isolated from the wind and cold. No wonder he went so fast! But, that’s a type of riding I didn’t enjoy and would get soooo bored. I use the highways to link up to good areas off-road so having a bike that is better off-road is my priority.
For your area, you’d need a twin cylinder dual sport bike for those highway speeds and despite the marketing, those bikes are garbage off-road, unless one considers two lane gravel roads as “off-roading”. They are too heavy and have lots of crap that breaks when you dump them over. I see tons of those bikes making trips here to Alaska but I never see them on our local trails.
Another big thing to consider is are you mostly solo riding or riding with a group? If it’s a group, are they acquaintances or your best buddies. If they are your best buddies get the same bike they ride. The camaraderie of owning and riding the same bike is huge and when you’re all equal in capability that makes for rides that are more fun.
It sounds like you’d be limited to secondary roads with the 150. Those are actually more interesting and pleasant to ride. Since you have the option to haul the 150 on a hitch mount, that’d provide you with greater access to more riding locations but would be a pain in the ass. Perhaps a regular dirt bike would be better as you have to haul those to riding areas? The beauty of a dual sport to me is being able to ride straight from your house. Do you envision your riding to be predominantly off-road or on road? If it’s on road and requires speeds over 55mph I wouldn’t settle for the 150, you’ll likely regret it. But if you can ride secondary roads and get to see pretty areas off-road on true single track trails the 150 would be awesome as it’s easy to handle off-road.
Also, like you wrote earlier, the simple, air cooled Honda engine will run forever. No radiators to smash when you dump it over which is going to happen repeatedly.
WoW, thanks for all of that, I do mean it & I appreciate your Alaskan situation, w/ weather such as you deal
with this bike probably handle most your needs whereas a snowmobile is much more important. But I also
think that Alaskan Folks learn to make do the best they can w/ whatEVER they have on hand !! I think that's
the rule to survival & I once wanted to go up there but not now, too old for it but as I think about it a little
150 could suffice & it requires very little attention = that's a major plus especially up there where getting
to the shop to fix stuff is a task! As for the big arse'd bikes loaded w/ sH!T that breaks - No Thank You,
all the interactive displays & finger F#@King of screens is just more stuff that breaks ! Yamaha XT250
is another air-cooled bike I am interested in! She's a $5,200 bike & if I can't/won't wait I'll grab up this
Honda & never give it another thought. It is that good of a bike. You may have helped me rule the KLR
& Honda 650L both out as bikes for me. Another thing is a Trailer Hitch Bike carrier w/ handle this bike
or up to 2 bikes under 400lbs each. $300 buys this Trailer Hitch carrier & if my mom passes away I'm
gonna drive right on down the road..... lol, told you my life story here. I do TY for sharing & I'll be here
watching whatever you decide to throw out here..... peace
@@diggy-d8w Glad I could help! The XT250 is a great bike as well. I’ve also got a TW 200 and often ride with my brother who’s got one as well. The TW’s suck for going highway speeds but are amazing off-road. The easiest bikes to ride in tight, technical conditions.
I’m 250 miles away from my closest dealer so simplicity and reliability are really important factors to me. Taking something to the dealer, even for warranty work, is a pain in the ass and takes up a whole day. Then you have to spend another full day to pick it up.
I think you’ll end up being happy with whatever bike you choose as you’ve done your research and know about their pros and cons. Definitely put emphasis on the things you’ll be doing most often with the bike rather than the exceptions. Seems like we often focus on the one off aspects when we buy something new just to find that doesn’t translate well to the real world. Like buying a big expensive ADV bike that’s great and comfortable on the highway just to find out it’s awful on regular trails due to weight, power delivery and the fairing obscuring the trail.
nice review, good to see honda taking the small dualsport to north america, i m proud owner of a ( 2007 HONDA BROS ESD 150) brazillian version, here we have since 2004 and is pratically the same bike but with a vintage look witch i think looks so much better, if you wnat make a search for it to see what i meant, square rims in dual sport just look so nice, my bike is almost 20years old about 60k miles still original engine, never lets me down!! srry for my english heheh not my first lenguage
60K miles is awesome to hear! I just looked your bike up, looks like the front fender is different and of course the color and graphics. I didn’t realize that Honda had been making this bike for so long. Very cool! I’m glad that’s the case as it’ll then be trouble free over its lifetime as all the bugs will have been long figured out.
I think it’s a great move for Honda to offer a smaller, less expensive dual sport for the US market. Hopefully other OEM’s follow suit and we start seeing more bikes in this price range.
@balaxan, what mods do you have done? I’ve seen the 150’s there be turned into awesome street racing bikes.
@@thatalaskaguy 100% agreed, Honda making this step, makes other company's start doing the same thing!!!
@@DustySteel my is most original, the region where I live it's pretty difficult tô make mods without getting in trouble, Brazilian laws for this kind of stuff are very strict, just some grippier tires, handle bar riser, and took of the plastic piece that goes over the air filter! Next I am planning to make a long trip in her so probably will stay stock for some time!!
@@balaxan okay, that’s understandable. A 26mm carb is recommended for stock bikes to stay in regulations. Porting the intake and exhaust really helps and is not something that can be seen/ shouldn’t be illegal. I’m not familiar with laws there. The intake and exhaust are most restrictions for this bike. Good luck on your trip. Ride safe. Cheers!
I have a 2023 model. I ride on the Kenai Peninsula, and occasionally venture out onto the highway to connect with backroads. It does OK. It's fun and even more fun with better tires.I have gotten 60mph with mine. Didn't know there as that many trails around Valdez to explore.
@@stevepeterson9759 we don’t have a ton of trails but a number of the ones we do have are very pretty. The XR is definitely better on the secondary roads. We’re going to upgrade her tires when the stock ones wear out.
Love mine very fun thanks for sharing video
@@leesops710 thank you! 😀👍
The perfect review. You would do well in general doing reviews.
@@flat6fever680 Thanks for the kind words! This video turned out to be quite a bit longer than I had planned but I wanted to cover a lot of aspects and things I’d be curious about if I was considering buying the bike.
I have 1,200 miles in ours, more than half of that on dirt and I gotta say I came to pretty much the same conclusions as you. I will say the TW’s first gear is definitely lower and it’s additional torque down low makes really technical stuff easier with less having to slip the clutch but I don’t think I want to reheat as it’s about perfectly balanced for its intended use otherwise. I am 6’1” and on long rides the seat starts to make my butt sure but it’s mostly because I naturally want to sit more at the point where the seat scallops up. But yeah what a great seat. I was surprised by how well the stock tires do off-road. Mud, they are terrible but everything else, including sand they exceeded my expectations. We live in the UP of Michigan so there is endless dirt roads and trails and this thing is just perfect. I got it for my wife but ended up loving it and riding it a ton. It’s like a mini adventure bike that dual sports well because if it’s small size and weight…. And it’s cheaper than most lower end mountain bikes… 😆
@@Kristian_Saile I’ve had guys tell me in the comments of my TW videos that I could gear up for highway to reduce the revs and it won’t negatively affect it for off-road. I’ll have to pay closer attention next time I ride my TW to see how much I’m in 1st versus 2nd in tight terrain. I also want to ride the TW back to back with the XR150.
I can see how the scallop part of the seat gets in the way. I noticed that too (since making this video) while riding on the highway when I went to stretch out and it wasn’t comfortable to slide further back on the seat. Maybe that’s the nature of things? Cruiser riders don’t have long seats to slide back on, if doing a lot of highway miles on the XR, perhaps some crash bars up in front of the engine would allow for a place to set a guys feet on?
Funny how it’s less expensive than a lot of mountain bikes! I too think it’s a fun bike to ride. I hope there will be a trend towards smaller, cheaper, lighter dual sport bikes in the coming years. The UP of Michigan sounds like a great place to ride and explore. 😄
@@thatalaskaguy yeah, on longer rides I will sometimes sit up in the back part of the seat just to stretch out. I am 6’1”. I got this bike for my wife so I am not going to change it too much but I know some bar risers would get it pretty dialed for fit for me. Also swapping the legs made a big difference for confidence. And you are right, it’s such a small displacement that it isn’t really buzzy when ringing its neck on the road. Love the Valdez area, trying to make a trip up that way with the fam in the next year. 👍
The (Da) UP, did you do a review on the XR also?
@@mikem9953 I did an initial one but am do to make another now that I have more miles in it.
This was a man doing a review of his wife’s XR in his garage in the Up in mi.
(Northern Wi. Here)
So jealous of those trails wow
@@John-sn4hl it’s a really beautiful area! 😀👍
Does it have enough power?
I was surprised by how smooth and torquey the engine was. It’s not a powerhouse, it’s not going to scare any experienced rider but it’s likely not as gutless as a person might expect just making assumptions about the small displacement.
It’s limited in top speed so don’t buy one and plan to cruise high speed open highways for long periods of time. But around urban areas it’ll get around fine and the engine had good power for off-road. I was really surprised and pleased with how well it could tractor its way up steep hills. The small size and easy to control power made it fun off-road, kind of the opposite of my DR650 that often feels heavy and clumsy to me off-road in tight areas but does nicely on the highway.
@@thatalaskaguy thanks for the info brother!
@@jameskirk5906it has enough with BBK, cam, and supporting mods.
It does with a big bore kit, cam, and supporting mods. I built an undertail exhaust for mine. Super cheap, no welding. I have a short of it on my channel if anyone wants to check it out sometime.
@@DustySteel I was checking out your videos yesterday, very nice!
Good review! I bought mine late last summer, and now have 3000 miles on it. I definitely recommend putting wider, grippy foot pegs on it, along with a skid plate. I put a Ricochet skid plate on mine, and it’s deflected a lot of gravel that would have chipped the finish on the engine cases. Currently shopping for off road oriented tires. I ride a lot of fire roads here in NW Montana, and find that it’s ideal for that purpose. Also have a KLR650 and Honda CTX1300, so I have the higher speed riding on the road covered. I like your laid back style, and honest review! Hitting the sub button right now! Take care out there😁
@@bryanbrowning5746 Thanks! It’s definitely not the bike for higher speed riding on roads but it’s way more fun and easier to ride off road than a 650. I’ve got a DR650 and had an ‘01 KLR 650 around 20 years ago. I learned that no one bike can do it all. This XR is really great for my daughter and I agree with your mods, I was wanting a skid plate while I was riding it. I’ve got gift ideas for her birthday and Christmas covered with the upgrades her bike needs. 😄
Cheers!
@@thatalaskaguy I’m in agreement with you: my KLR can be a handful when trying to pick your way around through rock gardens and tight woods trails. I bought in new in 2003, and now has 64,000 miles. I’ll keep it for as long as I can ride it! I’ll bet your daughter will get some nice Christmas surprises! That’s awesome! Take care, see you here on the Tube👍
@bryanbrowning5746 I rode my DR650 the other day for the first time in two years. Whoa! I wasn’t used to the weight, it was really noticeable after spending the past two years riding much smaller displacement, lighter weight bikes.
The power and speed of the 650 was amazing but dang, what a pig!
The rubber peg inserts come right off, the metal pegs are small but grippy. The bike is so smooth there's no vibration problems with metal pegs.
@@steventyree3851 That’s great to know! Thanks for sharing. 👍😄
A Nibbi carb and Tusk D Sports, and this thing would be unstoppable. Awesome video, I'd love to see more of this bike. ✌️
Thanks! I went out riding with my daughter yesterday and I got to compare her XR150 to my wife’s DR200. The DR being 50cc’s larger could do over 55 and she got the DR up to 70mph when we switched bikes. She said she’s gotten her 150 up to 60mph. With me on it, 55mph was its limit as we had a head wind.
The 150 is sooooo smooth! It was even more noticeable on this ride. I didn’t realize the 200 buzzed so much at highway speed. Even at low speed the 200 had more vibration. The 150 was also more comfortable and had a better ride off road. The ergonomics were more comfortable as well. It’s a nice dual sport bike!
@@thatalaskaguy I've been thinking of getting a Xr150l but didn't know really what to expect, I am 5'10 and weigh 210, most the ppl who review these bikes are 150 to 180 and barely take them off road let alone up a steep incline on gravel, now I have a better understanding of how capable this bike really is, by far the best video out there. Could you do a in depth comparison of the Tw200 and the Xr150 on and off road.
@@travisphelps7922 Right on! I’m glad you enjoyed my video. 😄 Yesterday when we were riding the XR and DR the Honda had no issues going everywhere the DR did even though the XR uses smaller diameter wheels. We were just riding trails, nothing too technical, difficult or muddy. For really technical or soft terrain the TW would still be better and more capable. It’s like a street legal, 2-wheeled ATV as it’s big tires work really well except in mud and snow. I’d have to compare the XR with my brother’s TW as I put ATV tires on my TW 200.
As far as on road, the XR 150 is a lot better than the TW200. It’s way, way more comfortable, smoother, less vibration and handles better. With stock gearing the TW sounds like it’s revving it’s guts out on the highway at 55 while the 150 doesn’t. That said I’ve had numerous guys write me in my TW video comments that gearing it up a little but solves that and doesn’t take much if anything away from off-road capability.
@@thatalaskaguy awesome, I think the XR might be the best bike for me here in rural Oklahoma. I want to say the XR has a counterbalanced engine, I may be wrong tho, but that would explain why it is way smoother. 👍
@@travisphelps7922 that would make sense and I’ve been meaning to look it up. It’s definitely smoother at all RPM’s. Switching back and forth between the two bikes made it really noticeable.
What mods do you have done? I’m trying to get my XR150L to be able to cruise at 75mph or 120kmh.
None, it’s my daughter’s bike and it’s 100% stock. I don’t see it ever going that fast unless it’s in the back of a pick up truck. 😀 If you are really light and all tucked in behind the tank, maybe you’d see 65 on flat ground at sea level with no head wind.
@@thatalaskaguy I have a big bore kit and a cam, I think with different gearing it’ll do 75mph.
@@thatalaskaguy I have a short that shows some cheap leds, I definitely recommend them.
@@DustySteel I wonder what the long term reliability would be like with a big bore kit?
@@thatalaskaguy i think that depends on the kit. If not a cheap kit then the piston is probably better than stock.
Best review on this bike anywhere! You answered all the questions I wanted, but you also answered the questions that I didn't even think of. Fantastic work all the way from Australia 👍🏻 I'll be heading to the nearest Honda dealer asap! Thanks again!
@@tangosucka2000 Thank you! 😀 I’m glad you liked the video. I wanted to present info that I’d be looking for on a new bike.