jasonferrier/XRRvs690Enduro

## XRRvs690Enduro
The XR was good after I addressed the few issues - reinforcing the aluminum subframe with 1/8" aluminum welded onto the front; fixing the electrical issues by adding a larger capacity LiFePo4 battery along with a Baja Designs Squadron Pro headlight with Skene Designs dimmer. I ran the bike with a Giant Loop Great Basin bag and had room for everything I needed for an 8 day, 1800 mile trip with a small backpack on top of the Giant Loop.

The biggest things with the XR that made me sell and move onto the 690 were the following:

- Realizing that I wasn't going to take the bike through South America and need the simpleness of the XRR and ability to run terrible gas through the carb

- Upgrading / fixing small annoyances would have cost me about $3k+ (new wheels, stripping the bike down to replace all bearings, and other small things)

- I badly sprained my right ankle a few months into owning the XRR. Kick starting the bike on multi-day trips where I was starting the bike up half-dozen or more times per day really starting hurting. I didn't want to compromise and learn how to kick start with my left foot in the case where I was loaded and on a trail where I HAD to start the bike with my right ankle.

With the above, I knew my bike and the process to get it to kick over with 1 kick most of the time. Sometimes it would take twice on cold-start because I had to adjust the idle up a bit after the first failed attempt.

The XR is a great bike and a great value at around $3k if it doesn't have a lot of issues - especially if someone has already put money into it like a rewound stator, better rims, better lighting, rack, etc.

These days, the 690 is a get on and go bike now that I have it setup with the necessary things - skid, handguards, rack (top & pannier) with Wolfman panniers, and other small things that all the 690's need.

Lastly, I would argue with the 690 that if you are concerned about the suspension, you are likely to send it off to a tuning shop to adjust for your weight. At this time you could have them address the less travel with different springs, shims, oil weight and such and it will be better than any stock setup.
	The XR was good after I addressed the few issues - reinforcing the aluminum subframe with 1/8" aluminum welded onto the front; fixing the electrical issues by adding a larger capacity LiFePo4 battery along with a Baja Designs Squadron Pro headlight with Skene Designs dimmer. I ran the bike with a Giant Loop Great Basin bag and had room for everything I needed for an 8 day, 1800 mile trip with a small backpack on top of the Giant Loop.

	The biggest things with the XR that made me sell and move onto the 690 were the following:

	- Realizing that I wasn't going to take the bike through South America and need the simpleness of the XRR and ability to run terrible gas through the carb

	- Upgrading / fixing small annoyances would have cost me about $3k+ (new wheels, stripping the bike down to replace all bearings, and other small things)

	- I badly sprained my right ankle a few months into owning the XRR. Kick starting the bike on multi-day trips where I was starting the bike up half-dozen or more times per day really starting hurting. I didn't want to compromise and learn how to kick start with my left foot in the case where I was loaded and on a trail where I HAD to start the bike with my right ankle.

	With the above, I knew my bike and the process to get it to kick over with 1 kick most of the time. Sometimes it would take twice on cold-start because I had to adjust the idle up a bit after the first failed attempt.

	The XR is a great bike and a great value at around $3k if it doesn't have a lot of issues - especially if someone has already put money into it like a rewound stator, better rims, better lighting, rack, etc.

	These days, the 690 is a get on and go bike now that I have it setup with the necessary things - skid, handguards, rack (top & pannier) with Wolfman panniers, and other small things that all the 690's need.

	Lastly, I would argue with the 690 that if you are concerned about the suspension, you are likely to send it off to a tuning shop to adjust for your weight. At this time you could have them address the less travel with different springs, shims, oil weight and such and it will be better than any stock setup.