The Honda XL (and other vintage singles) thread!

[jack82]

Originally Posted by hunter_greyghost

Neat photo, where was that taken?
Cheers
Baza

Undera......near Shepparton.

[lookfar]

Originally Posted by john479

Thanks very much redprimo, that explains a lot. I shall get replacements ordered.

Also, if you or anyone else can advise; the seats and valves are about 1.7-1.8mm wide (for the exhaust side) and the manual says the service limit is 2.0mm. I spoke to my local bike guy who is very experienced and I trust him and all but want to see what others think. He says, as this isn't a high performance race bike/engine, I can just lap in valves and not have the seats recut. Do you think that I could just relap the valves I have instead of getting more? They had a little carbon build up on the seats as I think they were not quite sealing as well as they should. They have plenty of meat on them, not as much as the intake side but now I have removed the carbon they are very smooth and clean.
I should say that the carbon was not that bad, just the odd spot around the edge.

Thanks once again :)

John

Years ago when I had a car that ran on LPG, I had the engine valves cut with a 2mm seat. More than a few cars used to burn exhaust valves purely because they ran too hot.
I never had any problems with burnt valves at all.

I stand to be corrected by more RKI on here, but I would be happy to just lap the valves in and run with it.


.

[lookfar]

Originally Posted by donmoto

Here's my first project

That's a very nice XL200, what do you plan to do to it?
Doesn't look like it needs much

.

[neilios]

Originally Posted by jack82

My old girl.......she only comes out on Sundays.

Yes very nice, I like to see the old ones in action, I use my classics more than my modern bike!!

[51D7H3K1D]

Hey guys! Ive been reading this forum for a while, so much good information. This thread especially. I love the old XLs. Ive been shopping for a first bike, and this 1973 XL 250 crossed my path.

http://delaware.craigslist.org/mcy/3178439549.html

Is $1000 too much? it seems steep for a not-quite-fourty year old bike. It has new tires, plugs, and mirrors though, which might account for the high price. one thing that worried me is that when i asked him if it was running, the seller said "It is hardwired to start but at the beginning of summer when I rode it last it started up after a couple kicks." hardwired? meaning wired badly so it will run? is this something im going to have to fix? I love the bike, but Im not sure if its worth it...

Thanks!

[rpet]

Originally Posted by 51D7H3K1D

Hey guys! Ive been reading this forum for a while, so much good information. This thread especially. I love the old XLs. Ive been shopping for a first bike, and this 1973 XL 250 crossed my path.

http://delaware.craigslist.org/mcy/3178439549.html

Is $1000 too much? it seems steep for a not-quite-fourty year old bike. It has new tires, plugs, and mirrors though, which might account for the high price. one thing that worried me is that when i asked him if it was running, the seller said "It is hardwired to start but at the beginning of summer when I rode it last it started up after a couple kicks." hardwired? meaning wired badly so it will run? is this something im going to have to fix? I love the bike, but Im not sure if its worth it...

Thanks!

That looks like a bike that would be $600 during winter. I bet for similar bucks or a couple hundred more you could get one in much better condition.

Unless of course that muffler is completely rust free... haha

[LawlerClan]

Originally Posted by 51D7H3K1D

Hey guys! Ive been reading this forum for a while, so much good information. This thread especially. I love the old XLs. Ive been shopping for a first bike, and this 1973 XL 250 crossed my path.

http://delaware.craigslist.org/mcy/3178439549.html

Is $1000 too much? it seems steep for a not-quite-fourty year old bike. It has new tires, plugs, and mirrors though, which might account for the high price. one thing that worried me is that when i asked him if it was running, the seller said "It is hardwired to start but at the beginning of summer when I rode it last it started up after a couple kicks." hardwired? meaning wired badly so it will run? is this something im going to have to fix? I love the bike, but Im not sure if its worth it...

Thanks!

Take a look at this one (no affliation): http://binghamton.craigslist.org/mcd/3169097167.html

I drive from Ithaca region to Hershey PA with my truck fairly regularly so could help if you were interested. Again, no affliation, just helping out an inmate.

[glassman64]

Here is my 84 XL350R.... still holding onto her glory and keepin up with the newer stuff....




unfortunately she developed a clatter in the top end during my last 500+ ride..... cant identify where the exact noise is coming from , guess i am gonna have to tear the ole girl down....

[OldJohn]

Hi gang. New to the website, first post in this thread, although I did post a pic of my bike higher up in the forums.

I recently decided to get back into off road riding, although at a little slower pace at 55, than I did when I was 25.

I picked up a really nice bike, with about 5k miles. When I bought it, the owner pointed out a small weeper from the cyl head cover which I need to take care of. It's not a big leak, and the job looks straight forward.

I like to think that I can work my way around engines, both mechanical and search, but I cannot locate a gasket for it.

Is there one? Or, do you just use a thin film of gasket maker?

Thanks.

[dorkpunch]

None that I know of have a gasket there, just use the grey liquid gasket stuff- yamabond? or I think 1104 is the tube of stuff I have.

[JeffS77]

there is no gasket oldjohn...if you do use a sealer I say use very little..remember that cover is also what holds your cam in place..machine fit is pretty important.

[OldJohn]

Ok, thanks guys.

I couldn't find a gasket, and my inclination was that there was not one, but I didn't want to get it apart and find that it needed one, and then be starting from scratch.

Thanks!

[STARSKEY]

[brucifer]

Picked this little gem up a few weeks ago.

[JeffS77]

you boys need to stock up on them 23" tires before they are obsolete