Honda XR

I am 48 years old and beginning riding 'enduro's in 1975 on a Hodaka Super Rat. In the interim I've owned : 1975 Suzuki 90 DS, Honda 1979 CX500 (rode to college in '70's), Honda XL250R 83 model, Kawasaki KLR 250 '90 model. Now I've convinced the better that the Big Red Pig will keep me mentally stable for another 10 years. In comparison to all the other DS bikes I've had this bike is AWESOME! It has a few detractors and I'll cover these first. The bike is -very- tall: I'm 5'11", the bike had the lowering already installed on the rear suspension and I am on the balls of my feet at stop signs. I have a Corbin seat I'm installing today and this will lower the seat height 1 more inch and my forks are still in the stock configuration so I think I will be flat footing this bike at stop signs shortly. Next the bike is a -little- heavy. I only notice the wieght when moving it around before riding off. Once moving the bike, to me, doesn't feel near as heavier than my old KLR 250 as I was concerned it might. It is about 70 lbs heavier and even two upping my kids and wife the excessive weight is not an issue. Otherwise the bike is nearly perfect for me, I ride 80% street and 20% trails/offroad. The quality of this bike is the best. If you are riding mostly street and trails occasionally and can sit on a tall bike you won't be disappointed. If you wish to run street legal to a motocross track and then race with the kids, this bike will be too heavy for you. For me I believe I will be keeping this bike with no intentions of ever selling it. It has the quality to probably outlive me, look at the old XL/XR's running around out there.