Motorcycle manufacturers have to keep updating their models every couple of years; that’s what the buyers want. That’s almost the rule when it comes to the motorcycling industry. However, there are some exceptions where updates hardly matter for the actual owners. Sure, people online may crib and cry about the bike not being updated in years, but they aren’t usually the ones paying for that very bike. Instead, those who buy these bikes are looking for something that’s reliable and gets the job done.
More often than not, these bikes belong to the dual sport segment, where priority is off-road capability and reliability. Ride your bike off-road, and you’ll quickly realize these things matter more than spec-sheet horsepower, the list of electronics, and design. So, if you’re looking for something like that, there’s one dual sport that delivers stress-free ownership, backed by Honda reliability.
When You Want Effortless Ownership Over Everything Else
Motorcyclists come in a variety, and so do their motorcycles. Some look for all-out performance, whereas others look for comfort. But what about those who look for something that’s as dependable as a trusty old dog? That would be a motorcycle that offers the kind of ownership experience that feels easy and seamless; no more worrying about cold starts, the engine grinding itself on the highway, or the electronics throwing a fit in cold weather.
Of course, effortless ownership can mean different things for different folks, but it usually narrows down to one thing: reliability. While many bikes can be super reliable, from minimotos to grand American tourers, 650cc dual sports arguably do better than the rest. These bikes are old-school, simple, and designed to take all sorts of abuse the road and trails throw at them. And if you want something as indestructible as that with a Honda Wing Mark, there’s just the thing for you: a 650cc thumper that might just be the most reliable Honda you can buy today.
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The Honda XR650L Offers Bulletproof Dependability For $6,999
The Honda XR650L has been in production since 1993, and it has been virtually unchanged since then. It’s a 650cc dual sport that still retains that old-school charm, which may look outdated to some, but it adds an undeniable level of simplicity to the picture that makes it one of the most reliable motorcycles you can buy today. It takes the RFVC engine from the NX650 Dominator and pairs it with a lighter and off-road-ready XR600 frame, and it’s designed with one purpose in mind: to go anywhere without any fuss.
Still A Favorite Among Dual Sport Enthusiasts
Even after three decades of virtually unchanged production, the XR650L is still a favorite among dual sport riders who pick it over new-age models, like the Kawasaki KLX series or Honda’s very own CRF series. There’s a good reason for that. Underneath its old-school design hides a torquey thumper engine and capable dual sport setup that makes it not only an incredible off-roader but also super easy to run, fix, and maintain. Owning it is like having an outdoor cat; feed it oil once in a while, and it will be around for years to come.
Life Expectancy Of A Diesel Truck
When one user asked on Reddit about the XR650L’s life expectancy, the highest-rated answer was “somewhere in the neighborhood of 80 years.” While there might be slight exaggeration there, it still shows how trusty the XR650L is. The simplistic design, particularly the low-stress single-cylinder engine that is still carbureted, is very easy to maintain. According to the owners, all you need is a shop manual and some basic tools to work on it and fix it, if it ever experiences any issues.
If you take a casual look at online forums or classifieds, it’s easy to come across many high-mileage examples that only prove how dependable this bike is. Forums are full of owners reporting over 70,000 miles on their XR650L. Here, one owner reports their XR650L has 121,000 miles on it, claiming the bike’s “brand new, only needed a carb clean, new brake lights, and new battery” over the years. That’s how easy it is to own an XR650L.
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Powered By A Simple Carbureted Thumper Engine
The Honda XR650L is powered by an age-old air-cooled 644cc single-cylinder engine that’s largely akin to a tractor powerplant. It produces 43.6 horsepower and 38.2 pound-feet of torque with a broad powerband, which is enough to tackle everything from daily commutes to an occasional triple-digit highway ride. The thumper design also gives it plenty of low- to mid-range grunt, which can help you tackle challenging off-road trails easily without feathering the clutch.
Compared to a modern engine, this engine looks like a dinosaur. It’s about as simple as a motorcycle engine can get today, starting with air-cooling, a 42.5mm constant velocity (CV) carb, single overhead camshaft (SOHC), and a five-speed gearbox. There’s also a gear-driven counter-balancer to smooth out the thumps. This lack of complexity works to its advantage, making the engine extremely reliable in the long run while being super easy to fix. All it asks in return is regular oil changes.
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Underpinnings Designed To Tackle Everything On The Road
The XR650L takes stress-free ownership beyond just basic reliability by being a dual sport that you can take even on the worst terrains. It starts with the semi-double cradle steel frame, which brings balance and rigidity to the package. This frame is unique, too, as it holds the engine oil in its spine, acting as an oil cooler while raising the ground clearance to a whopping 13 inches. That is the highest among the 650 dual sport class.
The frame is suspended on Showa suspension, including a 43 mm fork with compression damping adjustment at the front and a fully adjustable monoshock at the back. The suspension offers 11.6 inches and 11 inches of travel, front and back, respectively. For the little things that count, the XR650L also features an aluminum-box swingarm with quick-detach rear wheel and a 21/18-inch spoked wheel combo. Braking duties are taken care of by a 256 mm disc at the front and a 220 mm one at the back.
The bike weighs under 350 pounds; add to that the high ground clearance and suspension travel, and the agile riding dynamics, and you have a dual sport that you can ride anywhere. The only thing that may hamper its rideability, though, would be the relatively tall 37-inch seat height, making it inaccessible for shorter riders. Still, for most riders, the only thing that’s stopping the bike from being ridden at its full potential would be the rider’s skill level, not the motorcycle’s design.
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Lack Of Features Means There’s Nothing To Go Wrong
Compare the 1993 XR650L and the 2026 model, and the only difference you’ll find is the paint and sticker work. The XR650L is a retro-vibing dual sport that still carries the essence of the first-gen design even today, and it looks awesome. With its boxy enduro-style handlebars, large fenders, tubular engine guard, and tall boy stance, the XR650L’s design has aged beautifully today. It also gives the bike a bit of a blank canvas appeal, so you can turn the bike into exactly what you want it to do.
On the comfort front, Honda says the motocross-style seat is designed to allow maximum rider movement. It’s still tall, but with enough practice, you can get used to it. Apart from the seat, the handlebars are nice and wide, paired with neutral pegs. The seat also extends far enough to take on a pillion, complemented by frame-mounted passenger foot pegs. Don’t expect ADV-like highway comfort, though.
Another thing that adds to the bike’s easy ownership experience is its feature list, or lack thereof. The bike is devoid of anything you’d expect from a modern bike, including LED lights, ABS, and even fuel injection. Instead, Honda markets the features list with an all-analog instrument cluster, an electric starter, and a sealed battery. That’s a good thing because there is nothing on the bike to break. In an era of bikes riddled with complex engineering and a laundry list of features, this lack of features is a breath of fresh air and something that adds to the XR650L’s charm.
Source: Honda, Reddit