2024 Honda XR650L First Look

Honda introduces new graphics on XR650L for 2024. An icon in the dual sport segment since 1993, the Honda XR650L has received few mechanical changes in its 31-year history. The 644cc SOHC air-cooled single-cylinder engine is known to be tried, true, and dependable like a hammer.

This big-bore (100mm bore and 82mm stroke) thumper is fed by a 43.2mm constant-velocity (CV) carburetor and matched with a five-speed transmission. A gear-driven counterbalancer reduces vibration. On the Cycle World Dynojet 250i dynamometer, the 2023 Honda XR650L produced 34.05 hp at 6,120 rpm and 31.42 lb.-ft. of torque at 5,320 rpm. With no changes other than the addition of a blue stripe on the gas tank (2.8 gallons), expect the 2024 model to produce similar power figures.

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Chassis components remain the same from the prior model years. The 2024 Honda XR650L maintains a 43mm telescopic Showa fork with compression damping adjustability and 11.6 inches of travel, a fully adjustable Pro-Link Showa shock with 11 inches of travel, and a semi-double-cradle steel frame. The brake system features a familiar dual-piston caliper with a 256mm disc up front, and a single-piston caliper with a 220mm disc at the rear. Full-size off-road wheels (21 front, 18 rear) provide a variety of tire options for all types of users.

For 2024, the Honda XR650L receives only a minor styling update: red and blue stripes on the tank replace red and black. Although this is not big news, it is good news. Another year of the XR continues the legacy of a dual sport with rich history. In an era of high-performance, technical electronics and water-cooling, the Honda XR650L provides simplicity that many riders appreciate and even prefer. Whether you are working in the garage or out on the trail, the air-cooled thumper’s analog engineering is easy to navigate.