Honda XL500R: Bringing it back from the dead
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- čas přidán 25. 08. 2024
- / strange.garage
In true Strange Garage fashion, I pick up a 1982 Honda XL500 for $400 and try to turn it into a viable motorized cycle. As usual, fun and wheelies are in the future.
I bought one new in 1982. It was stone reliable and I miss it. Wish I was still the same age as I was in 1982! Enjoy!
It's been good to me, I have vanquished many nasty trails with this machine. I just wish the brakes were better, but it has tons of torque and rides great.
@@StrangeGarage Yes the rear brakes always used to squeal and had to remove the back tire and sandpaper the glaze off the brake shoes. Nice all around bike but not too good for long highway rides. Jealous but happy you have one to ride.
@@StrangeGarage Maybe brakes are just overrated these days...😆
Love that bike. Still have my 1979 XL 500 I bought when in high school. I've kept it clean and close to mint and now at 40 years old it still runs as good as when it was new.
Oh I want it. (too bad I cant afford it.
40 years...!!
we’ll hello out there to all the XL fans. Came across this blog, haven’t been on the forum for quite awhile.
I also am the proud original owner of a 1982 XL500R, with low miles and love how the bike rides for me.
I am also the original owner of a 1972 XL 175, still runs and I almost like this bike better. Use it on the trails
in Idaho.
Both bikes have been sitting for a bit and being semi retired I plan on blowin the dust off them and take em
to the trail. Had put a larger desert tank on the 500 but over time the plastic tank started going south. Found an
original 500 tank in Alberta, Canada and am anxious to beauty this bike back into shape.
Had a 75 XL 175. My last and favorite trail bike. Think i last ran it in 1982. Great, fun, almost indestructible bike. I tried to break it, I really did. Wouldn't be surprised if it was still running now.
I had a ‘79 XR 185. That thing NEVER failed to star and I rode the crap out it. Great bike, all be it, yes it was rather under powered. Bought it new and had it for 37 years. It even lasted through the abuse of my two sons. Testament to Honda quality.
The XR185 is the bike that restarted my love for old Hondas. I hopped on a friends 79 XR185 with a rebuilt engine. Sucker was amazingly fun! Ugliest bike I've still ever ridden, no air filter box, seat was mostly gone, couldnt grab 4th gear, still amazing to ride. My XL185 is pretty good, just trail riding really throws me around on the poor XL suspension.
One of my favorite tv shows in the 80s that unfortunately only lasted 13 episodes brought me here cause it was a 1984 Honda XR500S.
What was the name of the TV show btw?
@@DaveZee01 Street Hawk
Started to gather some of thouse in order to restore them. They are realy worth it. Great bike, simple, fun to ride. Already 25 of them in my garage waiting to become the next winter project
Right now, May 5th, 2020, I still own an '81 XL500 that I bought, brand new. This is the year I'm fixin' it up and riding it again 'cause right now we're in this "social distancing" BS and I'm retired so I have the time. I rode this thing to work for quite a few years and went "woods riding" on weekends with a bunch of guys who had 2-strokes... they always laughed at me having a 4-stroke but now theirs are long since gone to "dirt bike heaven" and mine is still around.
I can't believe how well these hondas run for years and years. Just amazing how reliable they are. Now you're the one laughing!
Long ago it was commonly thought only 2-strokes were valid, especially offroad, but they seem finnicky, troublesome, buzzy by today's standards. Mixing fuel? How primitive! And smoky!
Dude you're awesome. I have a 1982 honda XL500R and it's my first bike. I'm 25. Stoked. The ignition is bad I need a key. Charging the battery. I'll shoot you a message if I'm lost? Idk. Great video!
They're good bikes bro. Don't really need a battery if you aren't riding on the road. You shouldn't have many problems.
I got mine for free from some dusty old mennonites homestead in co. The original owner gifted them the bike and they keft it out in the dust steepes of jefferson co to die. He said eff it and took me out there. They didn't even want it anymore and said it didnt run. A few days on the log straightened it right out along with the parts from DK. I rode that hog up pikes peak through blm land. Sick.
That was 20 yrs ago almost and now I just got back on the bike (mt03) and I'm in love all over again. Never stop riding man. 😎🇺🇸
Had an 84 xl600r, what a beast. Could keep up with modern 600 sport bikes on the backroads, damn good in dirt too.
I bought a KLR650 for cheap because it wouldn't start, I got it running with some carb parts, it had vacuum leaks cv diaphragm leak, but them it ran great. Street legal thumpers are addictive, my KLR has okay brakes, e-start, it is the perfect commuter.
Love my 1980 s model!!
My 1st bike was a 1980 Honda XL 80 .... GOT IT ON MY 13TH BIRTHDAY IN 1980....
Great video strange
Thanks man!
I sir am a wee bit jealous LOL. congrats on the find. Bout 4 years ago i found a kawi klr 250 for 900$ and it still runs great. Carb work and fork seals it needed
Great POV
Thanks man, trying to keep my content as clean as I can with the time I have. Thanks for watching!
I just picked up an 82' 500 xlr pretty excited!!!
Had one in 95. A bolt broke off inside the motor that went to the counterbalance shaft. The bolt then went between the gears and bent the end of the crankshaft. I had it for 2 weeks. Boy it would fly though.
The first motor bike I ever rode was a 1965 Honda 90 trail bike. Had a lot of fun on that thing. Great video. 🙂👍🏻👍🏻
My dad also grew up riding one of those trail 90's. They are absolute classics! Thanks for watching man!
Strange Garage Your welcome 😃!
A month ago bought my 1984 xl 600 a true beauty, mint
Got the same bike, ain’t it a tank? You should keep it their hard 2 find and the motor is like gold.
Yeah it's a sweet old girl. Especially in the shape that mine is in!
@@StrangeGarage You aren't by chance in either Oregon or Washington are you? I'm in Portland, and do a lot of riding in both Oregon and Washington, and that vid of you riding looks like very familiar area.
@@smallblockchevy1022 I shot that video on the columbia river across from Columbia city oregon. It's near the end of one of my favorite rides that goes through Cougar Washington. One of my favorite areas.
@@StrangeGarage I knew I was on to something, lol. I'm very familiar with all that area. My initial comment was actually in reference to the clip of you trail riding through the woods though. Sorry for the lack of clarity. Was that Jones creek by chance? I've done a lot of riding there myself. Yeah, when I watched that clip I thought, damn that looks familiar, and paused the video to message you. Then I continued watching and seen you pull up to the river and I thought, "that has to be the Columbia", lol. Right before you responded I was looking on Google earth trying to confirm my suspicion. I initially thought it may have been on Sauvie Island but wasn't able to find that beach there. However, I still knew that had to be the Columbia. Just out of curiosity, you from Oregon or Washington (I'm assuming Washington)? And just generally, what part?
@@smallblockchevy1022 you probably won't respond but if u do, i live in that area and i can't find any single track trails can u help me?
Great buy!
Had a 75 XL 175. My last and favorite trail bike. It wasn't all that fast, wasn't all that big. But it always started and would tractor through anything.
Stellar deal on a more powerful bike SG. Your "I am not going to pay somebody else to do it" modus operandi is awesome. So many people today would much rather pay someone else to do it.
The deal was incredible. Couldn't walk away from that when I had a pretty good idea what was up with it!
My mentality originally stemmed from not having a lot of money, but it's turned into something different. Now I try to do everything I can because my abilities have developed so much. If I pay someone to do something that I can do it's out of pure laziness, and I'm not ok with letting myself get lazy!!!
My Suzuki engine rebuild on the other hand... The machine shop wanted $1,100. Yep, no way. I don't have that "skill", but I'll learn it for $1,100 dollars. The parts were only $350.
I'm in complete agreement my friend. Are we going to see the rebuild process on your Suzuki soon?
Man, I wish I could rebuild it right now. My viewers have been calling for some specific videos that I want to get up first. I need to do a "Car panel welding" video this week, to post mid to late next week. And I'd like to get a boat update video in, but I'm unsure weather will allow.
Suzuki rebuild I'm also not excited about, which is why I need to do it. It's good to push my comfort zone. I know it's not complicated, I'm just not equipped for it, if that makes sense.
Yeah man, I completely understand. There are projects I get excited about and projects I loathe in my line of work.
My first bike was an XR 80. My dad bought it new in ‘83
Got one of them in my backyard 😁
hopefully you figured out the front brake. Looks like your shoes are glazed over, easy and cheap to replace and you should have solid front brakes again. Work well on my '82 XL500r
I use sandpaper on the shoes to kill the glaze and they revive pretty well. They will never be great so I adapted a KLR650 front wheel, disc brake--it was an easy swap and it stops like a sport bike now. Good used tires are common and cheap too!
Sweet my first bike was 1984 xl250r for $700
Great bikes man. They last for generations.
My first bike was the 250 one. Back in the early 80's, there were no disk brakes on dirt and trail bikes. I think the Honda XL600R was the first one with a front disk
I still have my 81 honda xl500s. About to clean it up and sell it.
The brake drum surface were the shoes touch should be shiny metal for better stopping power....Yours Looks Rustafide....
I got mine running and riding for $850 also! Needed some stuff, leaking a bit, needed tires, brakes...
Kactapuss nice, there’s I bought one for $500, it’s gonna need probably twice that amount to run
If you need more front-break-power you should be able to put the frontshocks and breaksystem of a Honda Transalp on there to get diskbreaks up front. ;)
Oddly enough, one of my viewers reached out to me and had a 1984 shock setup for me. $75 bucks, well worth it!
Now that’s a steal!
Oh wish these were still $500-800, now a fully working one is $2k
cool deal
I feel pretty lucky. I'm just glad he didn't sell the bike to some poor sucker for the full 850.
Thanks for watching man!
this is my favorite bike! i would like to trade my '80 XL80s but sadly nobody in NC has that kinda shit
That would be a great bike once i get my big motorcycle license.
It's pretty slick. A true street and dirt assassin.
@@StrangeGarage Well... Thats gonna be another 2 years til then. Now its 125ccm time.
That double leading front brake should be more than adequate for that bike. But the front disc of the 83 600r and later Honda xl's is a lot stronger. I like My 82 XL500R better than my 1983 XL600R. I bought the 500 used with very low miles from a guy who couldn't start it. Being a lifelong four stroke single rider I fire it off 1st kick all the time hot or cold. The 600 is fine too but I just like the 500 power characteristics better. Re-jetting does wonders for both of them.
I'll buy it
I bought a 83 xl185 brand new for around $900. Forks twisted on every tip over though, easy fix with a 12mm wrench but stil....
$400.00 for a XL or XR dual is a steal even if it needs a top-end.. Like the modern 650L they are bullet proof and handle highways well.. I've done touring and desert trails with both the XL 500 and XR 650L and would take one used over a new Suzuki or Kawasaki 650 any day...
You aren't kidding. I've been taking it out as much as possible, and I really like riding it! I got some newer forks with disc brakes, so I'm really excited to keep this old girl!
The brakes work well, you just have to get the double leading shoe adjusted properly. I had a 1980 XL500S brand new.
@@malcolmnuttall3165 I had the 82 XL 500 as my second ever street legal bike. Honda dual sports and old 70s street bikes are all I ride
I have Honda XL500 82 bud, kick stater is too hard, same one have idea, replace for electric motor stater? Please.
I had the 500r it was awesome and mine was way far gone than the one you got. Two words, Dennis Kirk. Is that still a thing? I did mine around 2004. Seat still had the ductape but new carb new fork seald and oil and a set of jets for the altitude (co). Rode like a scalded dog. Love to see my old girl still being a thing. Peace
I used to trail ride this beast all the time, fantastic piece. Now I ride a chinese 250, but I really miss that thumper torque! Well worth the money!
The torque to pull up them gnarly rocks in Co. Priceless memories.
That was my first bike also!!l xl100
I have a question .How can I get wiring diagram for 1980 xl500s
🤘
Damn son thats a sexy bike
Thanks man, I got lucky for sure! Thanks for watching!
I previously owned a 2013 100cc 4 stroke honda that would start up first try if you could give it a really solid kick. Loved that thing, but i got too big for it.
They really are great bikes. The power is nonexistant but for a beginner there isn't anything better!
I have an '84 XL600R which is mid-resurrection -- the things some people will do to these things. I do personally believe, though, that the '82 XL500 was the best-looking of the XL line. I am very interested to see what you do with this. Also, what part of the country are you in? It looks beautiful, wherever it is.
Pacific Northwest. It's not bad, but our riding season is cut short by rain and regulation.
The bike is good. I'm having trouble sourcing some semi-critical parts though... we will see what happens.
@@StrangeGarage I'm hoping locating some of those specific parts is coming to fruition and that we'll see this bike again, sir! With regret, I've had to wheel mine into a storage unit for the short-term while I sort through unrelated life "predicaments".
Damn and 200 and a ps4 trade I got a 83 185s and, I'm debating to get a 500 or make the 185 faster. I'm a small dude and my 185 kinda feels right tbh
Does anyone know how to time the balance shafts?
I just got a xr500 off Craigslist for 650
Same. Mine was a little bit more because the guy completely rebuilt the engine. So excited to use this as my summer commuter and to go fishing deep in the mtns. Hows the bike doing?
I also have a mint Honda 82XL500. Can you let me know who you found the carb rebuild parts from? Also, have you done any work to the rear mono shock. Thanks for any info,.
Wasn’t this the bike used in the 80s TV show Street Hawk?
Trying to adjust my clutch(at the engine) on my 81' XL500 S. Cant find anything online or in the manual!!
You said that first 185 you bought had a stuck piston ? Were you able to ride it after braking it free or did you have to bore it out? I’ve got the same thing with my 600
Yeah, started right up after I broke it free. Never even had to take it apart. Rode it for years after that.
@@StrangeGarage Nice, how’d you break it free?
@@jables2845 Took out the spark plug, sprayed penetrating oil in the cylinder, put the bike in 6th gear and rocked it back and forward until the engine started moving. It didn't take very long at all.
Hi..How are you?
I recently got a honda xl500cc still in good condition,amazing bike but i want to get rid of mine
They're cool and all, but it weighs over a hundred pounds more than a CR250. I'll keep mine for now, only time will tell.
Have you sold it yet, is it an '82?
I know this was 3 years ago but I need little help I found a 1981 Xr500r it looks very clean the guy said he put 3000 into it and asking 2500 should I buy it..
Well, I currently don't trail ride this bike anymore. It's a lot of fun, but it's a ton of work. It's a heavy bike with kick start. I have a 2021 Orion RXB250 now, it was $2600 brand new. Modern brakes and suspension, electric start, great bike. If I were you, I would get a newer, more nimble bike. That being said, the 500 is a ton of fun, and I still love it.
@@StrangeGarage I appreciate your reply I know the Orion is newer but that's exactly why I want the 1981 it's a Rarity something we don't see lot of that's what pushing me get it Hondas keep going and going if there treated right especially the old one's from what i heard... got some thinking do I know the Honda won't be up for sale long....
Do you have a link to this carb rebuild kit? I can only find the KH-0464NA for the non-R model.
Also, I was cleaning the carb, taking it apart and cleaning it and there is this tiny tiny jet that we couldnt get out. Any idea what that one is? Not the main jet, not the slow jet or the air screw. A tiny one that goes into a tiny hole on the engine side of the butterfly valve
If I understand you correctly, that's your accelerator pump jet. I wouldn't bother removing it. Just clean it and leave it be.
czcams.com/video/3-8_tkaqiFQ/video.html
This video explains your accelerator pump in a little better detail. I don't have a link for the kit, btw. The seller isn't selling anymore
Quite possibly. I'm running lean and running out of ideas on what to do. Gonna fiddle with the tang on the float arm first then move into more carb investigations
Took apart the accel pump, checked its actuation. It moves veryyyyy little when the linkage contacts it. Like the diaphragm is too stiff from age or the linkage spring has gotten too weak to push it down. So I'll pick up a replacement. I watched your other video and yes that is where that little jet i couldnt remove is located.
Do you have any video of what the pump looks like properly actuating? or how much travel there is really supposed to be?
I'm looking at buying one of these, do you struggle to find parts for these? Or are there kits out there for whatever you need.
So far they seem mostly accessible if you're crafty. The carb kit took a minute to find, but seals and hard parts for the engine should be pretty interchangeable.
I would advise getting a different bike honestly. When hot this bike doesnt like starting up, and it's a chore getting it going. And the CDI boxes are problematic (which need to be purchased used). I would go with a newer XR650. Parts galore and everyone has glowing reviews on them.
@@StrangeGarage Thanks for taking the time to reply man and the advice!
Of course man. Thanks for watching!
@@StrangeGarage Try a Suzuki DR650 if you can find a cheap one.
What lake is that? Beautiful area!
Columbia River. It's one of the best places on earth for about 2 months a year.
We're you riding at?
Use stock pads EBC’s don’t work that great
anyone sell it?
Ive got a 86 xl600r i cannot for the life of me find out why it will not fire.
What did you check so far? Could be lots of little things but if it has spark and compression my money is carb needs cleaned.
Also, pay close attention to the compression release. If it's stuck open no way that bike is gonna fire.
Are you in the lower mainland of BC?
Nope, but you are close. Washington State. I visited BC in 2016, stayed in the Grand pacific right next to the parliament building. I like that place. Hope to go again someday.
you would not find one in bc for 300 . I have 2 of them and in looking to get 2500 each on the low side .
drum brakes are stronger than disk brakes and last longer in offroad conditions
They also lock up, which is my issue with them.
Drum brakes are NEVER superior to disc brakes--sorry.
i just got the same bike. starts and runs good doesent smoke. just will die at an idle sometimes idk why. seems if i were to idle it up ever so slightly would run just fine. thnking maybe the carb needs rebuilt? the battery is totally dead which im sure does not help. any tips?
Yep, just turn the idle screw up a little bit. It literally just holds the slide open, just like if you cracked the throttle by hand. When sitting on the bike it should be under your left leg, it has a black knob on it if I remember correctly.
Now, you could have a clogged idle jet. It's an easy replacement, but you gotta fully disassemble the carb. So maybe pickup a rebuild kit, but the idle screw will work for now.
@@StrangeGaragehopefully rebuilding the carb scares me lol
You got it. Just pay attention to how it came apart.
@@StrangeGarage is the keyster KH-1191NA the right kit? I paused the video and got the number off your kit and it appears to be for a 500s.
@@StrangeGarage my dad laid the bike over trying to do a wheelie lol. now it wont start...started right after though. i think maybe the float is stuck in the carb or something...
Street Hawk
Shoes not pads
1985 Xl600R mine don’t even run I need piston rings rebuilt but I can’t afford 1000$ for someone to do it hmu if u will or anuome
*not stupid.
hondas dont die 1978 honda cr250elsenor 1983 honda xr200r some of them now im 100years old and i ride a honda cm250t hahhahahha
No doubt man. I have the 1983 XL185, most reliable machine I have!
Che. Dici. Alza. La. Cresta. E. Abbassa. La. Coda. Lo so lodo lo so. Con. La. Frizione. A. Posto. E. Olio. Motore. Un. Po'. Denso. Ottimo. Hpx. Fiat. Te. La. Tiri. In. Testa. Da. Paura. Rapporti. Un. Giro. Di. Pignone. Più. Corto
Totally
where the heck do you live? You won't find any bikes that cheap in Colorado. $500 will get you an incomplete non-running POS
I only buy broken bikes usually. I also negotiate a little. I started doing this because I couldn't afford to pay retail for a clapped out old bike.
That's not a 500 that's a 600 and it's not a n XL it's an XR. It's a dry sump enginge for god's sake. All XL's got 23 inch front tyres.
He has a title for it. He should know... Otherwise he has a title for another bike.
Not all of them. Later models went to smaller wheel.
Its propably an xl 500 r, that is the newer model with the monoshock in the back. Those also have 21" front tyres.
Dry sump was introduced in 83, 23" tire was ditched in 81, and the 600 wasn't introduced until 85.
Being a 1982, with "XL" written on the seat and "500R" on the side covers I'm fairly confiden't it's an XL500.
i have an 81 honda xl500s and it ran once but after i took it off the frame to put on my dunebuggy it wouldnt run it has spark and fuel but the compression is only 90 tho it ran one time before so idk whats going on
I'd be looking at the compression release lever on the left grip. It goes to a linkage at the top of the engine, it literally releases compression.