Denver wrote to find out if the emissions controls in his Honda are hindering its performance – will it?
Just got an ’08 Honda XR650L last week and I love it. Did a 50-mile ride on mountainous single-track and it performed great. The factory engine runs like a dog and I need to do some work to get it running smooth. With all the emissions requirements Honda has to meet, they’ve installed all kinds of excess tubes, air pumps, etc, which make it run poorly–all kinds of hiccups, burbles, and lag in low end throttle. If anyone has any suggestions for ways to improve it, I’d love to hear it.
On the Honda XR650L Parts page I read that a "block-off kit" for emissions control system didn’t help performance, and then found http://www.4strokes.com/ that looks like it’s got a good forum for the XR650L with talk about muffler mods.
It’s worth noting that the motorcycles we love, even though they’re great for saving gas, are really bad guys when it comes to smog. Susan Carpenter reports, in her LA Times Throttle Jockey column, that a
. . . surprising level of emissions [spew] from on-road motorcycles and
scooters. In California, such bikes make up 3.6% of registered vehicles
and 1% of vehicle miles traveled, yet they account for 10% of passenger
vehicles’ smog-forming emissions in the state. In fact, the average
motorbike is about 10 times more polluting per mile than a passenger
car, light truck or SUV, according to a California Air Resources Board
comparison of emissions-compliant vehicles.
Best case scenario, you’ll be able to get both great performance and keep the emissions control system. If anyone can help point out the best forum or listserv for the XR650L, please use the comment form below.
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Absolute must…remove snorkel, rejet carb, block off emissions…
Expect 5-8 more horses…
google “daves mods” and also check out the 600/650 forum in thumpertalk.com lots of info there…
get rid of the smog stuff..it’s easy to do and you can buy a kit for about 20 bucks. The best bang for your buck is to rejet the carbs and change the spring in the carb etc. Again you can buy a cheap kit for this. throttle response will be astounding after this. install a good air filter and take the snorkle out of the airbox..also remove the guts from the back end of the exhaust. none of this will cost you a lot of money and will put a huge grin on your face. you should also consider changing the stock sprockets. at the very least put a smaller one on the front. you won’t be able to go quite as fast but u will be able to pop wheelies like crazy. it’s not a great bike on the highway anyway.