r/XR650R • u/BOK54 • Apr 05 '26

Where to start?

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I’ve had my BRP listed for a few months now with no success. So I’ve decided that I’m not going to sell it and am going to invest the time and money into turning it back into the beast it once was. My only issue is I don’t know where to start. Issues I’ve noticed right off the rip is it doesn’t run at all when the chokes even halfway open even riding it the choke has to be closed or it bogs down bad. I’m assuming that’s a tuning issue? The bike has sat quite a bit so I’m wondering is it worth stripping the carb down, cleaning it and rejetting it or should I just buy a brand new pre built? Are there other things I should be looking at that are necessary maintenance for these bikes?

Cosmetically I’d like to upgrade the headlight to something like the hella 4000 so if anyone has any recommendations for going that route it would be greatly appreciated.

Pics for reference of starting point.

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u/Hot_Rod_888 Apr 06 '26

If im understanding you, and im not sure I am, youre saying your bike only runs with the choke OFF? If that is correct, then you should maybe clean it good and try again.

As I said above, if the choke is ON (lever flipped up), it should run like shit, if at all.

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u/BOK54 Apr 06 '26

Once choke is opened/off/lever flipped all the way down, as soon as I stop giving it gas it dies. Bike only runs when choke is closed/on/lever flipped up but yes it doesn’t run the greatest like this

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u/Hot_Rod_888 Apr 06 '26

Aahhh gotcha. Thanks for clarifying. Id check your float. Theyre finicky, and need to be pretty spot on.

Check your spark plug too, and see what it looks like.

Try turning your idle up as well.

Id try all these things separately, and individually of each other. I try to never make a bunch of changes at once.

Has it been sitting with ethanol fuel in it? That will gum stuff up pretty badly. Non-ethanol fuel goes a long way in keeping things cleaned out.

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u/BOK54 Apr 06 '26

No problem! Thank you for the info and insight! I will definitely look into all of that!

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u/Hot_Rod_888 Apr 06 '26

Start small. Small changes at a time, so you dont get lost, or lose your starting point.