'82 XL500r...hmmm

So...I posted my '71 CB450 up for trade only for a dualsport bike on Cl. I have a guy wanting to trade me for an '82 XL500. That piques my interest.

Just thought I'd check here for feedback from anyone who's had one.

I did enough research to know that they are kick start only, kick starting takes a special expertise (compression release and such), and it has a 6 volt electrical system (seems odd...) [edit...I think I was wrong about this...confirmation pending].

I'm not too concerned about any of this. I'd rather have only kick start than only electric start, frankly. I would prefer a disk brake on the front, but I've ridden drum brakes before and know that the drum will do just fine.

My plans for the bike would be to use it for running around town occasionally, maybe down to the river for a nice evening ride, and off road occasionally at the Back 40 (where we do off roading and junk car racing).

I'm interested in other resources on XL/XR stuff from this era. The '82 XR250 I had briefly (http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/sprockets/82-honda-xr250-dirt-bike/17933/page1/) but didn't ride had a plastic tank. This one seems to have a metal tank. I was kind of looking for a timeline for these bikes (when did they get front disk, when did the tank go to plastic, etc).

Just kind of looking for general discussion on the old Hond a XR/XL bikes.

Main reason I'm looking to trade is to get something more simple and reliable, yet still street legal. I will actually take it off road occasionally...so there's that. I figure one carb (on one bike) to maintain suits me better than several.

Here's a photo of the bike in question:

Here's a photo of the bike I have that I'd trade for it...fyi:

Thanks,
Clem

Ha! For some reason, I had a feeling that was your CB.

I know very few details on the XR off the top of my head aside from the fact that I want one. Bad. I have a street-tracker/fighter/scrambler-ish build in my head that I'm anxious to get started on.

Knowing Hondas of this era, there's an incredibly high likelihood that a ton of stuff swaps from bike-to-bike and generation-to-generation.

In solid shape, your CB is worth a bit more than his XR. They're pretty easy to find in the sub-$1000 range if you're moderately patient and you don't mind one a little beat up from the kind of riding you'll probably do on it.

BTW, here's the general direction I'm planning to go with one:

So, if you make the swap happen, let me know if (when, knowing you) you want to unload it.

XR are great bikes! HOWEVER they do not like infrequent oil changes or being run low on oil. So depends on the condition of his bike. Often the cam journals in the head wears to the point where you loose cam timing and have chain problems. Go look pull the dip stick if oil is black I'd decline. Head work get expensive quickly. Pictures look great but wash and wax can do wonders for looks.

At first I was like no.

Then I was like yes!

I'd probably want to find someone willing to trade a Yamaha 500 single before I'd go for a Honda. I like the Honda Singles, but they are more complex than the Yamaha's.

Yammer parts are weirdly expensive, though, and that thumper of theirs (XT? TT?) wasn't nearly as ubiquitous as the big XR.

First off...I have folks offering me $300-$700 for my CB450. I'd let it go for $1,200, but that seems more than the market will bear. Maybe a different story in the spring, I suppose. Anyway...the upshot is that my bike probably isn't realistically worth more than a running/riding Dual sport. It's neat, and that's what makes folks want it ;). I like it too...but have decided I'd like to go a little simpler, a little (if only just) more modern, and dual purpose.

About oil change frequency...That's a complete gamble. The only history I'll have is the current owners claims (which could be completely fabricated). An '82 that is still in reasonable condition tells me it stands a good chance at having been maintainted fairly well. But still just a toss of the dice.

I don't know Yamaha at all. Not that I'd shy away from one...but that's the whole deal. I'm not looking for a particular bike...just something that meets my criteria that I can trade the CB450 for. 500 is at the top end of displacement/size I'd like to have. I'd rather a ~400cc or so.

In the end...If I don't trade for this XL500. I'll just keep the CB450 until something comes along for trade. It's ridable (though not without issue) and doesn't cost me anything until it breaks...which it does...regularly.

Clem

alex wrote: Yammer parts are weirdly expensive, though, and that thumper of theirs (XT? TT?) wasn't nearly as ubiquitous as the big XR.

That cause so many Yam were blown up on the race track XT and TT and SR's were all very widely used in flat track racing. I've see the wrist pin break at over 10,000rpm and cut the cases in half with the spinning rod. Oh the humanity.... You can make some serious torque with the Yamaha.

One thing that worried me about the CB450's was the lack of parts and the more complex engine over the CB360.

I prefer the dead nuts reliablity, better power, and very common parts selection of the XS650...so thats what I ended up with.

I even chose the XS650 over the XR650L because I could find XS650 parts so much more easily, so much cheaper, and I felt the XS650 would make a better road bike.

XRs had plastic tanks. XLs were metal, but many off-roaders replaced them with larger plastic tanks.

I'd make that trade, but keep in mind that the 500 was replaced by the 600 not long after that.

Thanks Woody. I expected you'd be one to chime in at some point. Much appreciated!

Clem

I have an 80/81 XL500s myself.

6 volt isn't actually an answer. The bike has three seperate electrical systems. I kid you not. One for the ignition. A second for the headlight (unregulated ac), and a third goes to everything else (regulated dc 6 volt). This means the bike will always start and run, no matter what you do to the electrical system. And the bike will have a headlight, unless you break the bulb. Cool. 6 volt upgrade could be as easy as swapping a 12 volt regulator/rectifier onto it. Which I might get around to this weekend on mine.

Kick starting isn't bad, but it isn't the easiest either. It's a tall kick and a big thumper. None the less, I do it just fine and I'm quite inseam challenged.

Virtually no aftermarket support, very few dedicated forums, etc. None the less, there are threads and forums where the bike certainly can be talked about.
advrider.com. Search the forums and you'll find a 40 page thread on the XL500. Thumpertalk and XLBoard as well.

The bike handles well, the brakes work well enough. But it is not a modern bike and certainly not a sport bike. Fundamentally, it's a 70's era dirt bike make street legal. Which is really cool, if you're into that sort of thing.

So check the bike out. Start it, ride it, and decide.

I can tell you I do not regret buying my XL500. I'm enjoying it so much I'll probably be selling all my other street bikes this spring, and haven't even been looking for a cheap V-max very much.

Clem,

If these appeal to you, you may want to look for a slightly newer XL600.

My XL-fu focuses mainly on the 250-350s, but I know that the 250s had front drums, but the (hard to find) 83+ XL350 had a front disc. I suspect that when Honda bumped the 500 out to 600 around that time, they probably went disc up front with them as well.

The red and black XL/XRs are by far the best looking in my opinion. Around 85, they went to orange/ yellow/ blue and a few years later, they went to white with red engines. Ugh...

Honda made approximately a gazillion XL600s. I have seen some with crazy high mileage for an air cooled dual purpose bike.

XRs came with knobbies and off road lighting. XLs had more street biased tires and a more complete lighting system. I can't remember if XRs had electric starters (I don't think so), but XLs did. I did know a few guys who had XRs plated for the street back in the day. Not sure how they accomplished this.

Thanks again all,

I'm not really interested in a 600. I might get this one and then if at some point someone wanted to trade for a newer-yet-smaller-displacement dual sport...I'd probably want to do that.

I know it's different but I've ridden a KLR650 a friend has and I don't want one. Just too big a bike for me to want to muscle around. Call me strange...but I'm into the smaller (500 and less) stuff, primarily. My '74 CL200 got me around just fine for what I ride. But it was not even remotely capable off-road.

I think Honda had a dirt bike, a street legal dirtbike, and a dual sport...kind of. I think the XL was the latter, the XR the former...and then some other version of XR with headlight, taillight, and speedometer for the "Street Legal Dirtbike."

Ultimately, what I want is the "street legal dirtbike"...but I'll take what I can get for now ;).

Thanks again, all, for the discussion!

Clem

ClemSparks wrote: Ultimately, what I want is the "street legal dirtbike"...but I'll take what I can get for now ;).

You want an XL.

More XL info:

An "XL---S" will have dual shocks in the rear, pre 1981.

An "XL---R" will have the Pro Link single shock rear. 1982 and newer.

Right...I guess what I'm saying is that I'd rather a minimalist dirtbike with lights than what modern dual sports have. Fortunately, this isn't a modern one ;).

As an example (maybe not completely relevant), Kawasaki has a Dirt bike (K-something?), a street legal version (KLX, I think), and then the KLR. I'd rather the KLX in that scenario.

I believe you are right...the XL honda is right down my alley. I've actually wanted one for years...but always ended up with other bikes as good deals came along.

Clem

Found the KLR too big for me as well. I can toss around my XL500 just about as easily as I can my old Yamaha XT250.

The XL is a street legal version of the XR. Like I said, it's a street legal dirt bike of the 70's era.

Coming the other way, you went CL and SL, which where dirt versions of street bikes. Most notable being the 350's. The CB350, CL350 and the SL350.

Fwiw, I've read vague stories about installing the electric starter from an Ascot into the XL500's. They share the same basic engine. The Ascot had 12 volts and electric start. Never seen clear documentation showing it being done though, just stories.

foxtrapper wrote: Found the KLR too big for me as well. I can toss around my XL500 just about as easily as I can my old Yamaha XT250. The XL is a street legal version of the XR. Like I said, it's a street legal dirt bike of the 70's era. Coming the other way, you went CL and SL, which where dirt versions of street bikes. Most notable being the 350's. The CB350, CL350 and the SL350. Fwiw, I've read vague stories about installing the electric starter from an Ascot into the XL500's. They share the same basic engine. The Ascot had 12 volts and electric start. Never seen clear documentation showing it being done though, just stories.

Make sure you start with the correct Ascot. There were VT500s and FT500s. Very different engines and maybe a different starter as well.

Well,

The guy is about 4.5 hours away from me (according to thegooglemaps) and I think he's planning to ride up and ride back to do a trade. I sent him an email stating that I'm considering it but worried that he expects to ride this '71 home. Not that it won't, but that I wouldn't do it and I wouldn't be able to help him out if he broke down. I strongly suggested a truck and/or trailer for this transaction. Can't get much more clear than that.

If he's still interested, I think I'll pull the trigger. We'll see.

Thanks all,
Clem

Of absolutely no help to you is that I lusted after one of these when they were new in 1982.

Dammit you guys, now what is a clean 87 XL600 worth guys.

wow yeah im with aussie, what are they worth I want one now!

for Fritzsch and Aussie:

In my state, there are 4 XLs (of any displacement or year) on CL:

http://kansascity.craigslist.org/mcy/2825917787.html

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/mcy/2834212975.html

http://joplin.craigslist.org/mcy/2819670381.html

Um...Clem, how far are you from Wentzville, MO?