I didn't plan on buying another motorcycle today...(Honda XL185S content)

I just sort of stumbled upon this on the way home from the lumber yard today.

It's a 1982 Honda XL185S with less than 750 miles on it. One female owner since new, perfect seat and even the original warning decals on the speedometer that usually get removed on the first day. The battery is a week old and the tires are either perfect originals or dealer replacement Bridgestones. It started on the first easy kick. There was no way that I could leave this one behind.

Tomorrow, I will change the oil and adjust the valves (both of them), using the procedure outlined in the included owner's manual and the original tool kit that came with it, and then begin riding the crap out of it.

Dang it, that is nice. Congrats.

That thing looks like it belongs in a museum!!!

Nah...on second thought just rind the wheels off of it.

I just read through the owner's manual and there are a few notes written inside.

The bike was purchased new on March 30, 1984, so it was obviously a long term leftover. And it got a new spark plug on June 28,1989.

In reply to Woody:

Really nice looking bike. I spent two weeks looking for something like that. I ended up finding a great bike but not a dual sport. Yeah, you couldn't leave that one behind.

Whew, this needs to make it into the Good God Almighty thread! Excellent score.

I've got a big-brother version, the XL500. They look virtually identical, just you have a little more space around the engine. Delightful bike. Great dual-sport ride.

I read the owner's manual last night and stopped at the Honda dealership this morning.

There's not a whole lot of maintenance to be done on an old air cooled single. I figured that I should start by changing what was most likely the original break-in oil. I drained it, checked to be sure that the oil screen was clean and put in a fresh quart of Honda 10W-40SJ Four Stroke Oil. I also picked up a new spark plug (probably not necessary) and ordered a new foam air filter ($14). I checked the valves and they were were within spec, just as I expected.

I replaced the original fuel line, but wasn't able to add even the tiniest inline fuel filter because there wasn't any room for it. The fuel line is only about five inches long and makes a 90 degree bend.

The front forks are air-over-oil, and there was no measurable pressure, so I pumped them up to 7 psi. The chain slack was dead center within the suggested range, but it did need to be oiled.

Both the front and rear tires are supposed to have 21 psi in them. The front was perfect, but the rear pegged my gauge at 65 pounds. The rear valve stem is coming out at an angle, so I suspect that the rear was flat and the tube shifted. I adjusted the pressure and I'll keep a close eye on it.

I had planned to clean up all the electrical connections and grounds, but everything looked great. The tool kit has never been opened, but the single spare 10 amp fuse was missing from the battery cover, so I'll have to grab a couple. The bike only uses one fuse.

I filled the tank with fresh fuel and that was about it. Once again, it started on the first kick. I took it for a ride around the neighborhood and it performed just like an old small single should. The power was good and the drum brakes were perfectly adequate. I've had my eye out for a nice XL 250R or 350R for years, but this one will be fine

Thats great Woody, keep it all oe and that will appreciate forever! Nice bike!

Air over forks? I'll have to go check mine now. I might have that and never have realized it. Drum brakes aren't the bain anti-drum drivers/riders claim. True, they aren't as powerfull and responsive as discs, but they will stop you, and right quickly. Though I cannot lock my front on pavement. So I try to be far more careful in getting my stopping actions happening earlier.

I still have my old CD175 simply because it's a delightful size. Almost like riding a toy. I'm sure yours feels similar. Which is a great portion of their appeal. The ability to step off it, the ability to walk it anywhere, the ability to (almost) pick it up and carry it home.

I've had my eye out for one of those for years. Second bike I ever rode, first being a Trail 90, and I looking a circus bear on one of those. That thing is in great shape! Enjoy the heck out of it!

gotta love them XLs

have a two-fitty gathering dust in the corner

thanx for reminding me

verry nice score Woody

One of the most reliable bikes ever made. Enjoy that one!

fasted58 wrote: gotta love them XLs have a two-fitty gathering dust in the corner thanx for reminding me verry nice score Woody

Hmmm...where is this corner of which you speak? I have a friend who's looking for a 250.

It's official: the bike is now registered and insured. It took a little longer than expected because the clerk at the DMV had never seen a one-owner Connecticut Title that was this old before.

I listened to Loverboy and Joan Jett on the way home.

I was able to put about 30 miles on the bike today before the rain fell. It's such a nice light bike for riding around town and blasting down dirt roads. There's obviously not a ton of power, but its right in my current comfort zone for the type of riding that I enjoy the most. I've had a bunch of other bikes (Honda Super Sports: 400F, 550F and 750F, a Kawasaki GPz, a Suzuki DRZ 400 and a few others) but I'm really enjoying the crap out of this little thing.

Woody wrote:

fasted58 wrote: gotta love them XLs have a two-fitty gathering dust in the corner thanx for reminding me verry nice score Woody

Hmmm...where is this corner of which you speak? I have a friend who's looking for a 250.

Buried behind mowers, tractor, snow blowers etc, IOW, pretty deep. Be pulling it out in the spring if anybody is interested.

fasted58 wrote:

Woody wrote:

fasted58 wrote: gotta love them XLs have a two-fitty gathering dust in the corner thanx for reminding me verry nice score Woody

Hmmm...where is this corner of which you speak? I have a friend who's looking for a 250.

Buried behind mowers, tractor, snow blowers etc, IOW, pretty deep. Be pulling it out in the spring if anybody is interested.

You have mail.

Nice score. I've been looking for something like this for a while.

I'd love to find something like that locally. My stepmom had something similar and sold it before I could get my hands on it...hate it when that happens.

I have been thinking of putting an enduro kit on my XR 250 to be able to ride it around town. nice score and have fun.

In reply to cdowd:

Is there such a thing as an enduro kit? I could use one for my sl175.

The SL175 came with all the street parts to be an enduro. If yours is missing the parts, just source them on ebay, or from a scrap yard. Just generic Honda parts will do fine.

dual sport kit

bravenrace wrote:

In reply to cdowd:

Is there such a thing as an enduro kit? I could use one for my sl175.

I was looking at a kit like this for my xr 250. I had a friend do this to his xr600 and made extra money because of it.

cdowd wrote: dual sport kit

bravenrace wrote: In reply to cdowd: Is there such a thing as an enduro kit? I could use one for my sl175.

I was looking at a kit like this for my xr 250. I had a friend do this to his xr600 and made extra money because of it.

And that right there, is good to know. Thanks.