Rode one years ago very twitchy with not great feedback from the front end probably cos they feel short in length but also they are well tall and a technique to start em as you said kick only
Had one years ago as a supermoto also had a few XR400's on the lanes the 650 was great fun on the road but would be to heavy for the lanes in my opinion
I've had a couple of R's (watercooled) and they are a lot of fun with massive grunt, and very stable chassis. Weigh less than a DRZ-S (trail) model, but of course you have to kick it (actually very easy).
The L is the air-cooled, less power, heavier, but a good dual-sport bike. Like the XR600 the chassis is more old-fashioned feeling, less stable.
I may be wrong but the L e/start honda doesn't have the XR frame me thinks its a diff animal have a chat with longman he has had a couple of Rs mind he is a big and tall chap ,bike very reliable big horse power big bike kind of like a CCM or a big DR not many of on the lanes to to BIG! Poss sorry dont want to sound dismissive but its the old enersure thing here the big mirror will make the bike feel like a tank in the lanes hence not to many large capacity bikes everybody wants a nimble light feeling bike that will skip dance accross obstacles
mirror opps motor sorry pradictor text again mind big mirrors may slow you down in the summer ?
-- Edited by Lost on Tuesday 21st of May 2013 03:53:41 PM