Honda XR190L - I Bought One

[cabanza]

We get the XR150L from Mexico but not the XR190L. And why not? 16 HP, 295 pounds, disk brakes front and back and it costs $3,050 OTD in Mexico. Wake up Honda USA!

Honda XR190L | Alto desempeño, Motor 184 CC, Full Injection, Tablero análogo, Horquilla telescópica.

Honda XR190L | Alto desempeño, Motor 184 CC, Full Injection, Tablero análogo, Horquilla telescópica.

www.honda.mx

 

[SilverBullet]

12 liter fuel tank is nice, bumped up from the 150. Should net close to a 300 mile fuel range.

 

[ntklr650]

These are the kinda bikes that interest me right now. Probably cause don't ride much and this would scratch the itch when I need it.

 

[William Wolfen]

One if the guys on advrider's big DR thread just bought one in Costa Rica. He seems to be happy with it for the purpose of riding down there.

 

[cabanza]

Here are the maintenance schedules for the XR190L (in Spanish) and the XR150L (in English). The maintenance schedule for the Mexican and US XR150L models are identical. Engines don't seem to be that different. They require the same amount of engine oil for example. The 190L requires less maintenance. Would anyone know why?

 

[cabanza]

So I bought an XR190L from Mexico. Here's the story:

- Week - I Didn't Get the Job = Honda XR190L

Or when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. My wife and I both applied for jobs in Hawaii a few weeks ago. I was certain we were going to get them. So certain, I sold my Honda Dax and even made plans to ride my CB350 back to Mexico and sell it. Neither of us got the job. I was not only...

advbikes.com

Why and XR190L? Well, it's the bike Honda USA should have brought instead of the XR150L. 15.5 HP, disk brakes front and back, low maintenance. What's not to like?

I wanted the beige one. I think it stands out for the other red/ yellow/ green/ blue bikes. Tires are actually decent. I may still swap them. I don't know. My wife thinks the XR is more comfortable than the CB350 I have. That's a winner in my book already.

 

[Windmill]

So I bought an XR190L from Mexico. Here's the story:

- Week - I Didn't Get the Job = Honda XR190L

Or when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. My wife and I both applied for jobs in Hawaii a few weeks ago. I was certain we were going to get them. So certain, I sold my Honda Dax and even made plans to ride my CB350 back to Mexico and sell it. Neither of us got the job. I was not only...

advbikes.com

Why and XR190L? Well, it's the bike Honda USA should have brought instead of the XR150L. 15.5 HP, disk brakes front and back, low maintenance. What's not to like?

I wanted the beige one. I think it stands out for the other red/ yellow/ green/ blue bikes. Tires are actually decent. I may still swap them. I don't know. My wife thinks the XR is more comfortable than the CB350 I have. That's a winner in my book already.

Is the motor buzzy or vibration. Really a nice bike.

 

[cabanza]

Is the motor buzzy or vibration. Really a nice bike.

The engine is smooth and linear for the most part. It gets buzzy right around 7,000 rpm and smoothes out again after that. It's fairly punchy for what it is.

 

[Spyvsspy]

How did you buy it? I am interested

 

[cabanza]

How did you buy it? I am interested

You need residency or citizenship in Mexico to buy and register a vehicle.

 

[xcaliber]

so you keep the registration in Mexico and run a Mexican plate here in Texas or do you re register it in Texas?

 

[cabanza]

A motorcycle has to be 25 years or older to be imported to the US. My bike is titled and registered in Mexico. It has a Mexican plate and a Mexican title. You need both to cross the border and proof of insurance. That's it.

 

[cabanza]

I did the first oil change this morning. That's all it calls for at 600 miles. No issues, everything looked good. Chain looked good too.

I have been tracking my mpg as well. My first tank gave 92 mpg. I couldn't believe it. But I was going slower and the gas I used in Mexico had a higher octane and I believe it didn't have ethanol in it either. My second fuel up came out at 72 mpg. Now I was running the bike pretty hard at that point. 3rd tank was 76 mpg and this morning was also 76 mpg using regular 87 octane with 10% ethanol. Again, this is 2 up and running the bike pretty hard (60-65 mph sustained). I am hoping my gas mileage will improve now that I am riding at lower speeds in town. Plus it won't be 2 up most of the time.

 

[Boulder Ed]

Sorry about the job, but work is highly overrated. Just like living in Hawaii. Sure is a cool bike though, until you get stopped and have to look real convincing. I once bought a new 2007 BMW GSA in Montana. Then we sold the house there and kept our primary residence in CO with a couple year excursion to CA, then to TX. I sold it with the MT plate on somewhere around 2014 I think. I felt like I'd won big not having to pay annual license and taxes which is a rip off.

 

[Spyvsspy]

so you keep the registration in Mexico and run a Mexican plate here in Texas or do you re register it in Texas?

I wonder if i can find a buyer in MEXICO and have them ship me the bike in a slightly dismantled state.

 

[cabanza]

Honda really hit the bullseye with the XR190L.

The little XR has become my daily rider. Good torque, easy to ride: it works great in town.

I average 85-86 mpg and that's on regular gas.

Miles of smiles

 

[Simmons1]

Honda really hit the bullseye with the XR190L.

The little XR has become my daily rider. Good torque, easy to ride: it works great in town.

I average 85-86 mpg and that's on regular gas.

Miles of smiles

So it will be for sale in a few months?

 

[cabanza]

So it will be for sale in a few months?

I'm going to go take a look at bikes so...

Maybe tomorrow?

 

[cabanza]

Got a tire chance this morning. Winter is coming and while the OEM tires are fine, they are a little sketchy in the rain. Plus I put Michelin tires on. They are a little wider and the rear has a lower profile. The XR rides much better now. It's less dirt bike and more street bike. Got the tubes in Mexico for about $11 for both. What a bargain.

About 1,200 miles on the speedo so far.

77 mpg on the last tank.

 

[kiko]

I wonder if i can find a buyer in MEXICO and have them ship me the bike in a slightly dismantled state.

You can find a buyer in Mexico but I doubt if the buyer will obtain a Mexican plate for you in his name because he would retain liability. It cannot be registered in Texas so no liability insurance can be purchased. Basically a farm bike. They are good motos, I ride once a week with a guy who has one. Tomorrow we will do about 180 miles. He pins the throttle most of the day and I am usually in 3rd or 4th gear on my 390 Adv.

 

[kiko]

We clutched out at 9 AM and got back around 5 PM along with a 2 hour comida up in a Mountain pueblo and the XR190L did great. He said the motor got a little wheezy over 8000 ft to 10,000 ft but it was not a problem. 200+ curves so a slow ride just perfect for a 190 motor. Always more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow. I wanted to swap the 390A for theXR190L at lunch time but he wasn't interested. It did have one problem, those unreliable Hondas run out of gas sometimes and he forgot to fill up when we left at 9 AM. He said he gets over 80 mpg. (Photo of the waterfall is from a different ride but on the same route.)

 

[kiko]

I wonder if i can find a buyer in MEXICO and have them ship me the bike in a slightly dismantled state.

You can msg this guy, he moves stuff back and forth from my area Jalisco to the US frequently and may be of help if you want a XR190L. I do not know how he would handle the customs issues so you need to work that out. toyhauler4u@gmail.com

 

[inroads]

Here are the maintenance schedules for the XR190L (in Spanish) and the XR150L (in English). The maintenance schedule for the Mexican and US XR150L models are identical. Engines don't seem to be that different. They require the same amount of engine oil for example. The 190L requires less maintenance. Would anyone know why?

Valve clearance check intervals every 2500 miles is a bummer..time consuming ?
Are they rocker arm actuation ?

 

[cabanza]

Valve clearance check intervals every 2500 miles is a bummer..time consuming ?
Are they rocker arm actuation ?

Valve check is 4,000 miles for the 190. I have not had to inspect the valves yet. I don't even have 2,000 miles on the bike yet.

 

[inroads]

Says its every 2500 miles on the scheduled maintenance...but it looks like rocker arm valve actuation,single over head cam and a 2-valve head so it should be easy.