I tired everything to get more spunk out of my 2003 XRL-650. I previously owned the 85 XRL-600 and it would kick the s---- out of this bike. (I wish I had the damn thing back but the guy will not seel it back). The after-market stuff cost me too, on top of the new price. The bike is good on the level off-road... but forget the hills. The weight plus tall stature of this whale makes for an interesting project on rocks. Honda needs to go back to the drawing boards on this bike and see where they went wrong. I have owned several honda bikes, I am 58 years old. I just bought a little Yama-haha XT-225 dual-sports and this little bike is a blast. Sad to say, I like it better than the 650!