My Recently Acquired, 2005 Honda XR650L

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by FastDoc

Dang that's high!

Amazing view too.

Amen! Just think, Brother Bill, we live on a cursed Earth; imagine how beautiful heaven will be!

Spud

[FastDoc]

Very well said.

There is a lot to enjoy here, for a season.

[SpudRider]

This afternoon my Christian Brother Andy shortened Porky's kick stand by one inch. I will try to install the mounting plate for my J.C. Whitney travel trunk in the next few days.

The daily high temperatures here are now barely above freezing. Here are some photos taken during warmer weather, which is, alas, gone until spring. :(









Spud

[FastDoc]

Cold winters are a fair price for the utterly amazing riding you get to do 8-9 months out of the year, Brother Spud. I'd bet our members down in the flat but warmer southern climes would be the first to agree.

Today I put the XS400 up for the season. She's pickled in the barn with the GS750. With the colder weather I'll use the Gold Wing to commute on with it's full electric heat and huge windshield. The Dirt Rat and Q and the ATV will see year round usage, but less so because it's DARK when I get home from work every day. I hate that!

[Weldangrind]

I second Doc's earlier suggestion of an ATV for the winter months. Our Beasts give TurboT and I some much needed sanity during the winter season.

[FastDoc]

I figure fun on the ATV can be had with a windchill of less than 20 MPH . I also use heated gloves and I'm good to go. I've seen some inexpensive ATV windshields also that may be worth looking into.

[SpudRider]

The high temperature reached 40 degrees Fahrenheit today, so I installed my second, J.C. Whitney mounting plate on Porky's luggage rack! After picking up some groceries, I headed a few miles south of town to get a photograph of the travel trunk mounted on my BRP before the sun went down.



The lowest elevation here is 4,600 feet above sea level, so we don't have any "low" trails. All of the mountain trails are closed to ATVs in the middle of November, and won't reopen until spring. Also, I must admit, I greatly prefer motorcycles to ATVs, so I will content myself to ride the urban streets whenever the pavement is dry, and eagerly await the passage of winter.

Spud

[Weldangrind]

Being such a tall bike, it occurred to me that a vertically challenged person might have trouble climbing aboard with the trunk in place.

The trunk looks right at home on Porky, Spud. 8)

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by Weldangrind

Being such a tall bike, it occurred to me that a vertically challenged person might have trouble climbing aboard with the trunk in place.

The trunk looks right at home on Porky, Spud. 8)

Thank you, Brother Derryk. Since I installed the Performance Design lowering link, Porky is exactly the right height for me. However, the stock, 37-inch seat height is definitely very tall.

I decided to purchase my Manracks luggage rack for several reasons.

1) The price for this rack is very reasonable.
2) This luggage rack has bungee rails underneath to facilitate bungee hookup.
3) The rack attaches securely to the bike.
4) This rack doesn't require you to relocate the stock tool kit.
5) This luggage rack is narrow, and attaches farther back on the bike, so it does not hinder either mounting, or dismounting the motorcycle.

Because of reason #5, I can easily mount, and dismount my BRP, even with the J.C. Whitney travel trunk installed! However, you are certainly correct, oh wise and observant friend; the Honda, XR650L is not a good choice for the "vertically challenged" rider.

Spud

[FastDoc]

Looks great Spud. I was wondering if you'd use the same trunk on both bikes or get another.

I also greatly prefer bikes to ATV's but they are fun in their own way too.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by FastDoc

Looks great Spud. I was wondering if you'd use the same trunk on both bikes or get another.

I also greatly prefer bikes to ATV's but they are fun in their own way too.

Thank you, Doc. I use my J.C. Whitney travel trunk all the time, so I bought a second trunk a while ago while they were still priced at $48, delivered. I decided I would like to have a spare trunk handy in case the first trunk became damaged, and I could also acquire a second mounting plate. Therefore, when I acquired Porky, I had the second mounting plate available to attach to the BRP's luggage rack. I need to fix the hinge pins on my original travel trunk, so I am currently using the spare trunk on both motorcycles.

Whether I am running errands, grocery shopping, or traveling with my motorcycle, I really enjoy taking the J.C. Whitney travel trunk along with me. I am very glad I bought a second travel trunk when they were priced at $48, delivered.

Spud

[SpudRider]

Today I made another trip to the grocery store with Porky. Here's a view of the J.C. Whitney travel trunk from the left side of the motorcycle.



P.S. I am so very glad I excised the SMOG tumors from Porky! I never enjoyed a mechanical project more than I enjoyed Porky's SMOGectomy! :twisted:

Spud

[MICRider]

Looks sharp with the trunk Spud! Very nice bike

Cheers,
Stew

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by MICRider

Looks sharp with the trunk Spud! Very nice bike

Cheers,
Stew

Thank you, Stew. I love my J.C. Whitney travel trunk; I am lost without it. I couldn't wait to get the trunk installed on Porky!

Spud

[FastDoc]

Snow's getting low Spud! Glad you and Porky are having such a good time. Have you looked into electric gear? I installed the outlets on The Dirt Rat for my vest and gloves.