The Honda XL (and other vintage singles) thread!

[sidetrack one]

Who would have thought putting an XR front end onto the old Moto Sport would be so easy!!!
Half an hour on the lathe for two bushes for the XR bearing cups, and bolts straight in!
Now to get ten inches of travel out of the rear!

[pommie john]

Originally Posted by sidetrack one

Who would have thought putting an XR front end onto the old Moto Sport would be so easy!!!
Half an hour on the lathe for two bushes for the XR bearing cups, and bolts straight in!
Now to get ten inches of travel out of the rear!

Could these bushes be used to convert a Motosport headstock to use tapered roller bearings?
I've had a look around and can't seem to find any to fit the early XL250

[JeffS77]

Now my question is with the XR front end on it the clamps most likely have way less offset. Most likely increasing trail ? How much ?

[FR700]

Originally Posted by JeffS77

Now my question is with the XR front end on it the clamps most likely have way less offset. Most likely increasing trail ? How much ?

...it now has leading axle forks ... so probably a wash ... and he still gets to jack up the rear and/or run the tubes up the clamps.



.

[villageidiot]

just picked up this 76 xl100. its got a wrong tank and seat on it, but otherwise original-ish with 550 miles on the odometer



once i get the plate for it, the plans is to make a mini street tracker out of it, something i can run around on the oval tracks of so cal with, and use it as a to work/trail/fun bike as well.

i know i could have built a better flat track mini out of a "normal" xr100, but this can be street legal in california.

[Al Tuna]

Originally Posted by villageidiot

just picked up this 76 xl100. its got a wrong tank and seat on it, but otherwise original-ish with 550 miles on the odometer



once i get the plate for it, the plans is to make a mini street tracker out of it, something i can run around on the oval tracks of so cal with, and use it as a to work/trail/fun bike as well.

i know i could have built a better flat track mini out of a "normal" xr100, but this can be street legal in california.

That looks like an SL, check the date on the Steering head yolk.

[villageidiot]

Originally Posted by Al Tuna

That looks like an SL, check the date on the Steering head yolk.

the date is a 7/75 it says xl100 on the headstock label.

sl's had flat fenders with no "bob tail" in the rear.

the tank on it is off a CB125 from about 76, its pretty beat up. but i have found a couple tanks i can make work (not going original here)

[Al Tuna]

Originally Posted by villageidiot

the date is a 7/75 it says xl100 on the headstock label.

sl's had flat fenders with no "bob tail" in the rear.

the tank on it is off a CB125 from about 76, its pretty beat up. but i have found a couple tanks i can make work (not going original here)

Yeah, I had a brain fart. Had it in my mind the XL 100 came along in 77.

[jitterymonkey]

Originally Posted by villageidiot

the date is a 7/75 it says xl100 on the headstock label.

sl's had flat fenders with no "bob tail" in the rear.

the tank on it is off a CB125 from about 76, its pretty beat up. but i have found a couple tanks i can make work (not going original here)

that CB125 tank actually looks pretty good on there.

[john479]

Got my 82 XL500R running today's after my restoration. Never heard it run before but it seems to be very loud.
Are they loud bikes anyway? Anything I can do to quieten it down? I've got the stock muffler on it and its in good condition, no rust or holes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfGiy...UBkryg&index=1

Thanks :)

[Al Tuna]

Originally Posted by john479

Got my 82 XL500R running today's after my restoration. Never heard it run before but it seems to be very loud.
Are they loud bikes anyway? Anything I can do to quieten it down? I've got the stock muffler on it and its in good condition, no rust or holes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfGiy...UBkryg&index=1

Thanks :)

Sounds a bit louder than my 82, hard to tell on the video.
Is the little cover plate in place underneath the very rear of the exhaust?

Mine is louder than I would like for it be.

[villageidiot]

Originally Posted by jitterymonkey

that CB125 tank actually looks pretty good on there.

yeah, but its not staying, its full of rust and the whole top is smashed in, add to that it doesnt even fit really. but for 200 bucks, i wasnt complaining for something mostly complete, and street legal-able.

actually, me and a friend each got a bike from the same dude. mines a 76, his is a 77, both are xl100's and were both makin mini trackers out of em. (gotta have someone to race with)

[Al Tuna]

Originally Posted by Rot Box

This thread has remained dormant for far too long (Assuming this is the official XL500 thread.......)

Just picked up this 1981 XL500S (12,000 miles) from a co-worker for $150. The good is it starts right up without any stress, idles well without any strange noises and it doesn't seem to burn oil. The bad so far is a major oil leak coming from what looks like the head or valve cover, blown forks and shocks, blown wheel bearings amongst other things. Planning on a major tune up and a lot of cleaning/repairs should be a fun project tough.

Anyway please school me on the cam chain tensioners. From what I've read it is very important to keep it adjusted properly but I have no idea where to start or what to look for...

Nice project!

[sidetrack one]

And so the quest for rear end travel begins!

A few basic measurements



got me here

Hmmm, not much to work with!
Gonna need a longer swingarm for a start!

No turning back!!

I m,easured afew other bikes and settled on a axle to axle length of 500 mm
Found a bit of 75mm x10 mm flat bar, lopped of a couple of bits, some rough and ready jigs


and I had this

Bac
k in the bike for some checking, all square, chain alignment spot on!
Tried every position I could


but all I'm ever going to get with that little shock stroke is 6and a half inches of wheel travel,so the hunt is on for longer shocks!

[Rot Box]

I pulled the oil screen out of my new to me 81 XL500S.. Its probably the first time its ever been done and it was spotless

While the cover was off I wiggled the timing chain and it had plenty of slop. I loosened the two 10m (1 nut 1 bolt) on the upper part of the cylinder and it seems to have taken the slack out of the chain. Is this the proper way to tension it? Is it good to go now?

So far I'm very happy with my $150 purchase!