Things come and go but the XR650L remains. The iconic motorcycle has been around for decades but it is still one of the most desired off-roaders on the market. The main reason lays in the model’s famous reliability, which is a guarantee that you won’t be left in the middle of nowhere, no matter how hard you push it. At the same time, the 2022 Honda XR650L is convenient enough to be used in the street ride, which makes it one of the most versatile motorcycles today.
Of course, the key thing about this bike is its engineering. As we’ve just mentioned, it’s mostly about durability and reliability and as you may presume, everything starts with the well-known single-cylinder air-cooled engine. Furthermore, you may count on a rock-solid frame, as well as on a long-travel suspension, which makes this bike super-capable off the road.
For the next year, the Japanese manufacturer won’t bother with modifications and it will offer a familiar design, which will keep the 2022 Honda XR650L one of the most capable off-roaders on the market.
2022 Honda XR650L Design
When you look at the 2022 Honda XR650L, it clearly shows that it has been built for the hardiest terrains and ride conditions. Not many things have changed in the last couple of decades, so you can easily notice a couple of old-school details, that clearly show that this bike was designed in another era of the motorcycle industry. The instrument cluster is a perfect example, as it comes in classic fashion, with completely analog instruments and old-school indicators.
The rest of the bike also features a lot of retro details, but all that comes in a pretty nice package that makes this model look pretty appealing even today. Things are even more impressive under the skin.
Under the skin, you will find a rock-solid frame, which can handle off-road rides with ease. Also, the frame’s backbone doubles as the engine’s oil tank, which has a nice impact on weight and space saving. Furthermore, such a design provides superior ground clearance and protection. Moreover, the frame acts as an oil cooler as well.
Another thing we like about the 2022 Honda XR650L is that, even though it is primarily an off-road performer, it also comes with a full pack of features that make it street legal. This refers to things like lights, turn signals, license-plate light, mirrors, speedometer and more.
Suspension and Brakes
As we are talking about an off-road, dual-sport legend, it’s easy to conclude that the suspension setup is pretty amazing. Not only that it is impressive in terms of durability, but it also performs in such an impressive way. At the front, you get a long-travel 43 mm air-adjustable axle Showa® cartridge fork with 16-position compression-damping adjustability, with 11.6 inches of travel. Things are as impressive on the rear end, where you may count on Pro-Link® Showa single-shock with spring-preload, 20-position compression- and 20-position rebound damping adjustability. It offers 11 inches of travel. Add to this a 21-inch front wheel, as well as 13 inches of ground clearance, and you get a complete package, which is capable of dealing with pretty much anything.
With 57.3 inches in wheelbase, the XR650L is quite maneuverable, while the seat height of 37 inches ensures excellent control of the situation in all conditions.
Besides the advanced suspension setup, this motorcycle also offers solid brake power. Thanks to the front disc brakes with twin-piston calipers, and rear disc brakes, the 2022 Honda XR650L’s braking power is excellent. Another reason for great braking performance is the lightweight chassis, which is one of the reasons why to overall weight goes just around 346 pounds.
2022 Honda XR650L Engine
The powertrain hasn’t changed much over the years and you may still count on the well-known and proven 644cc engine, which features air cooling but also a dry-sump layout. Such a setup provides excellent durability and reliability, while the 42.5mm diaphragm-type CV carburetor ensures great throttle response. Furthermore, fully-transistorised ignition with electronic advance guarantees smooth engine operation in all conditions. For more convenience, the XR650L comes with an electric starter.
The power comes to the rear wheel through an O-ring-sealed chain, with Honda’s well-known 5-speed manual transmission.
Another thing we really like about this motorcycle is its sealed battery design, which keeps the battery perfectly safe during off-road rides and from potential tip overs. Also, the battery has plenty of power to ensure the smooth operation of the electric starter in all conditions.
2022 Honda XR650L Release Date and Price
The 2022 Honda XR650L should arrive by the end of this year. Changes in terms of the price shouldn’t occur, which means that the famous off-roader will cost around 7.000 dollars, plus a $400 destination fee. Of course, it will come in the famous Red finish, with a one-year warranty and optional HondaCare Protection Plan for extended coverage.