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About 100 miles. Why? 
Also...this XL500 (in opening post) doesn't have two carbs does it? I hear people talk about some "dual carb" XLs (on the ADVRider thread). I want to be sure...because I really have no interest in a singe cylinder bike with two carbs.
Clem
That's the 83. Quite a few changes for that year, including dual carburetors. The 82 is still a single carburetor.
Good...I hoped it was single carb.
So...when I asked the seller to elaborate on any problems...here was the response: "I put new Kevlar clutch plates in it a couple hundred miles ago. First issue. When I put it back together, there is a spring around the kick-starter, well while you have the side-plate off, your suppose to put the kickstart lever on and cock it a half-a-turn and push in the spring into a slot. I didn't do that. So, that needs to be done. But, it works, just every now and then, you have to cycle thru the motion. Easy fix the next time you take the side-plate off to clean the oil screen. Second Issue, between the carb and the head there is a air-gas mixture screw. Well there is a plug where that screw is suppose to be, so there isn't adjustment for higher altitude. About a 20 dollar screw. But other than that the bike is very strong, and very reliable. If your bike was that reliable, I'd ride it up there and drive yours back. I'd say the only draw back to the Honda XL500R is, kick-starting it after it has been left sitting. Ride it every day and starts very easy, let it sit and you will kick on it for about 5-10 min, but then it will fire up."
None of this worries me too much...but I thought I'd submit here for your perusal. Actually, I take that back...I'm not too sure about the "air gas screw" story.
I've never heard of a carburetor working well with a plug where a mixture screw should be. But maybe this carburetor really is different than any I've seen before.
Thanks!
Clem
Sell your bike and go buy one of those 350s. They're the perfect size, impossible to find and have the front disc. I'd buy both if they weren't 18 hours and 8 minutes away.
The 350's were the ultimate 4 stroke enduro bike of their time.
That air screw thing is fo' real. For emissions reasons, the mixture was set lean at the factory and a plug put over the screw. The plug can be removed so the screw can be adjusted, not a big deal.
Honestly, if I were in your shoes I'd hold out for a later XL600. Not that the XL500 isn't a good bike because it is. The reasons I suggest this: there probably won't be much difference in the price and there are quite a few upgrades to the RFVC motor. The forks and rear shock got big improvements as well. There's approximately a metric E36 M3 ton of XR600 upgrade stuff available and 99% of it bolts right onto an XL600. The early bike won't have a whole bunch available.
The XL had front disc/rear drum until 1991 when it got a rear disc. At the same time, it got a larger cross section aluminum rear swing arm and the shock got internal upgrades.
So the deal: buy an XL600 because you will have zero issues with getting a tag for street riding. Lurk on advrider etc and pick up good used XR600 hopup stuff cheap. That means you can build an ass whoopin' dual sport on a budget.
Thanks...but I just don't want a 600cc sized bike. I want something I can toss around rather than something that can toss me around.
There will be no measurable difference in tossability between an XL500 and an XL600.
I kinda figured that may be the case. But anyway...I don't have anyone wanting to trade me a 600. I suppose i could hang onto the 450 and just keep my eyes out for something better. I'd rather keep the 450 anyway and trade this ugly GL1000 for a dirtbike.
Clem
Woody wrote:Sell your bike and go buy one of those 350s. They're the perfect size, impossible to find and have the front disc. I'd buy both if they weren't 18 hours and 8 minutes away.
I also just want to reiterate that I've already got a bike with two carburetors...If I'm going to be rid of this bike...it will be for one with one carburetor...lol. It may be a goofy requirement, but it's the one I have at this point. The "impossible to find" part is also the opposite of what I'm going for ;).
Woody wrote:There will be no measurable difference in tossability between an XL500 and an XL600.
QFT. The 'tossability' is a function of the big ol' crank spinning, it's like a big gyroscope.
I'm very late to this discussion, but you could make a really nice cafe bike out of the 450. The 500 would make a nice "motard", too. I'm sure you'd like the 500 for what you have in mind. My brother, who has access to a pretty wide range of bikes (including a SV1000 and a Gamma), spends more saddle time on his DR650 than anything else.
It's kinda like a guy with an "end of the world" arsenal who burns out barrels on his 10/22 from plinking so much.
Curmudgeon wrote:Woody wrote:There will be no measurable difference in tossability between an XL500 and an XL600.
QFT. The 'tossability' is a function of the big ol' crank spinning, it's like a big gyroscope.
Which is why I'd ideally like a 250-400...and may hold out for one.
Thanks again, all!
Clem
ClemSparks wrote:Which is why I'd ideally like a 250-400...and may hold out for one.
Thanks again, all!
Clem
Like this?:
http://newhaven.craigslist.org/mcy/2797989137.html
1982 Honda XL 250 R Endure / Dirtbike - $1500 (obo / trade) Date: 2012-01-20, 9:05AM EST Reply to: Up for consideration is a 1982 Honda XL250R Endure - Just under 14K miles Tires are in great shape, bike is all original no replacement parts on it, chain might need to me replaced eventually works fine though.. Bike is currently registered and is driven weekly depending on the Weather. 50 MPG.. Call for more details 203-414-2038 $1800 will consider trades must be street legal if vehicle..
Hehe...yeah, except local and about $500 less (maybe it would be $500 less if it was local...who knows).
Hmmm...I'm at a decision point here. Trade a 40 year old bike for a 30 year old bike that I want to ride more, or keep the '71 and sink a bit into the reliability of it: Sync the carbs (I have a mahna-mahna-meter, but the bike has no ports), get the fuel system to flow a bit better, maybe diagnose some spark problems, etc, etc.
Thinking, thinking...
Thanks again, Clem
Trade it and ride.
No great and experienced dirt rider am I. Been on street bikes since I was a kid, but managed to accidentally avoid the dirt.
Have an old XT or TT 250 Yamaha. I've found the Honda XL500 to be almost as tossable a bike. They are both about the same size.
I'm going to scratch my head and wonder what the seller is describing as an air fuel screw in between the carburetor and manifold. I know the screws in the carburetor, and the diaphram piece on the side of the carburetor. I don't know what he's talking about in between the carburetor and the head though.
Equally not sure about his description of screwing up the kick starter installation. Though I have been told many of them will occassionally stick down when you kick start the bike, requiring you to tap the lever with your foot to get it to come back up. The sprag clutch buzzes while the kick starter is down with the engine running.
Well...for better or worse, it's mine.
Looks like it's going to be a whole lot of fun. More power and much more nimble than the '71 CB450...I think this will go well.
Clem
Clem wins!
The first order of business was to "cal" the bike. De-decal? Un-decal? anyway...I took the P.O.'s various dead stickers and skulls off the bike tonight.
Next order of business will be to learn how to start the thing cold. I know these are notorious for being hard on ankles. Probably need to research valve settings, carb settings, etc.
Clem
Paint me jealous.
Excellent! I figured out how to start it last night. I found the manual compression release. Previously, I didn't realize it had that. I'm not sure the automatic one is working. It might be, though...I'll have to look into it. however, I think I'll prefer the manual release anyway.
This thing is going to be FUN!
I hear they are very dependable. I hope mine is.
Clem
Welcome to the club!
For some inexplicable reason, after bringing home my XL500 I found myself no longer lusting after a Vmax nearly as much. 
Stupid fun bike!
I pulled the battery out of it to charge up a little bit and asses. Realized it wasn't pulling any current on the charger, got out the multimeter, and read 11.54 volts. huh?
Koyo YB3L-A googles out to a 12 volt battery.
I imagine this was the result of a well-intentioned-yet-ignorant previous owner not realizing that this bike uses a 6v battery. I will, however, test the output to make sure it hasn't been converted or something.s
Clem
Wrong answer...
Now I'm thinking this bike IS 12 volt. At least Bike Bandit lists this 12V battery for the bike. Who's ignorant but well intentioned now? D'oh!
Maybe they went 12V when they went single rear damper (generation change)...?
Clem
You're right, I went and checked the Honda parts fische, and the 82 is 12 volt. Didn't know that. Thought that wasn't until a bit later.
