Point 1 - Avoidance

Wait until morning - rivers often get lower overnight, especially in the mountains, as melt water freezes.

Walk the crossing 1st, mark out a safe route & any big rocks, etc. Use a long wooden staff as a third leg if the current is strong (pole upstream), or cross with your mate using each others shoulders as support. Remember a bike is bigger than you & will create alot of resistance so don't take river crossings lightly, if you come off mid current & get pinned - you could die. Build an entry & exit ramp.

Learn from kayakers: ferry glide. This is traversing rivers at an angle. This should reduce the resistance in the water, not sure whether this is best upstream or down.

Have your mates standing by to assist you across or rescue you. If you take the baggage off it will be easy to push & rescue, however, extra weight may keep you down in a current! I think kit off, because if its that strong, dont cross. Drive upstream or wait.

Keep revs up & speed down, to stop water going into exhaust & you stalling. Hit the kill switch if you think you are going in, & get off it quick, you won't hold it up.

OK - you fluffed it! - Now what.

Point 2 - Solution

Get the bike out. Let it drain off for a while.

Don't start it. You will have water in the exhaust, in the airbox & probably in the cyclinder pots. Maybe even in the carbs.

Put it on a centre stand, rear wheel off.

Hopefully your exhaust has a drain hole at the lowest point of the pipes xrv650's do.

Tank off (if an AT). Remove a plug per cyclinder (AT's have 4 plugs). Put it into 4th & rotate the rear wheel to pump the water out the pots.

Drain the carb float bowls, with screw at base or side of carb bowls to remove water.

Undo bung on airbox/crankcase ventilation tube - this should drain water & oily goo, from the airbox & oil fume recirculation system. May need to remove & dry air filter & empty airbox or you will suck in water again.

Take off HT leads from other plugs, plugs out, turn over engine to expell last of water.

All plugs & leads back.

Ok, now risk a live fire up.