QUICKSPIN I 2023 Honda XR150L
P94
had was the small footpegs. My
size 11 boots were wishing for
more platform while standing.
The engine's power is ultra-
smooth and docile; a first-time
rider won't feel intimidated. You
can hold the throttle wide open in
any gear without fear of the bike
getting away from you, especially
if you're an experienced rider. If
there is a long and steep hill in
front of you, no problem, it will
climb it, as long as you put some
speed in the bank, carry as much
momentum as possible at the
bottom, and hold the throttle wide
open the whole way up. And it
helps not to be in a big hurry.
The Honda's little engine is ca
-
pable of 65 mph; I can vouch for
that. If conditions are just right,
we expect the bike to top out at
around 70 mph.
The rear rack is a bonus for a
budget-friendly motorcycle. The
passenger seat is elevated and
acts as a nice bumper for the
"driver." It locks you into place and
makes wheelies a little easier.
The XR150L is a simple motorcy
-
cle. It's carbureted, there is no fuel
gauge, no ABS, no suspension ad-
justers, and no rear disc brake, just
an old-school drum-style rear brake
system that works just fine. But
anyone in the market for an entry-
level, light-duty motorcycle, such
as the XR150L, won't mind missing
out on some of these amenities but
will appreciate the resulting afford
-
able $2971 price tag.
The XR150L is not a light mo-
torcycle. Honda claims it weighs
282 pounds with a full tank of
gas. That's getting up there. It's
