1982 Honda Xl500r Vintage Street Legal Enduro - Clean Ohio Title on 2040-motos

Honda Other description

·         UP FOR SALE IS A 1982 HONDA XL500R. THIS BIKE HAS BEEN MECHANICALLY RESTORED TO GREAT CONDITION. THE TANK IS STRAIGHT AND CLEAN INSIDE. THE TANK DOES HAVE SOME WEAR POINTS AND SMALL SCRATCHES FROM BEING RIDDEN, BUT RETAINS FACTORY PAINT. THIS HAS BEEN A MANY MONTH RESTORE, AND IT SHOWS WHEN YOU RIDE IT. THIS IS ONE FUN AND INTERESTING BIKE TO RIDE. I LIKE TO THINK OF HER (YEAH HER) AS A GENTLE GIANT WITH GOOD MANNERS AND EASY TO RIDE. BUT WHEN PROVOKED, SHE CAN RAISE SOME SERIOUS POWER AND TORQUE IN AN INSTANT. THIS LADY IS READY TO RIDE ON THE STREET TO THE STORE OR ON A 100 MILE BACKWOODS VINTAGE RUN. 

     Update: One chain guide is not shown. I have it it but it was not pictured. I do not have the ugly upper LH chain guard that runs from the sprocket to the front of the bike.  Most people remove as it is so ugly. 

      THE END RESULT OF THE RESTORE WAS A VERY SOLID MACHINE THAT I WOULD TAKE ANYWHERE. THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT BIG HONDA THUMPERS THAT MAKE THEM EXTREMELY RIDEABLE AND DURABLE. I WOULD KEEP HER BUT I HAVE 3 MORE CLASSIC HONDA RESTORES IN LINE BEHIND HER - I NEED THE ROOM.

·         THE BIKE STARTS ON THE FIRST OF SECOND KICK PROVIDED YOU UNDERSTAND HOW TO START THIS BIG GIANT. THE KICKSTART DECOMPRESSION AND THE HANDLBAR DECOMPRESSION WORK JUST FINE, BUT THERE IS A PROCESS THAT WORKS ALL OF THE TIME ON THIS TYPE OF BIKE.

·         FROM THE PICTURES YOU WILL SEE THAT THE RIMS LOOK FANTASTIC FOR THIS AGE OF A BIKE. THAT WAS THANKS TO A FULL RESPOKE ON BOTH WHEELS USING U.S. MADE (BUCHANAN OF CALIFORNIA) STAINLESS SPOKES WITH NICKEL PLATED NIPPLES. NEW BEARINGS (ALL BALLS BRAND) FOR BOTH WHEELS, WITH NEW ENDURO TIRES AND TUBES. THE RIMS HAVE SOME TRAIL MARKS BUT ARE STRAIGHT AND TRUE. THE PREVIOUS SPOKES WERE RUSTED AND UNSAFE, I WON'T LET SOMETHING GO THROUGH MY SHOP LIKE THAT.

·         THE ENGINE HAD SOME OIL LEAKS AT THE HEAD (COMMON FOR THIS BREED), AND A NOISY TIMING CHAIN. ALL HAVE BEEN RESOLVED. THE CAMSHAFT IS VERY NICE AS WERE THE CAM ROCKERS. THE MAIN OIL LEAK WAS IN BETWEEN THE HEAD AND LOWER CYLINDER HOUSING FROM A FAILED OIL FEED SEAL. THE VALVES WERE REDONE WITH NEW SEALS. THE ENGINE IS QUIET AND RUNS OUT VERY STRONG. ALL HONDA PARTS WERE USED FOR GASKETS AND SEALS (WHEN AVAILABLE) ETC. EXPENSIVE, BUT WORTH IT. THE CYLINDER BORE WAS CLEAN AND SCRATCH FREE. NO DAMAGE TO THE PISTON WAS EVIDENT.

·         I REINSTALLED THE PUSH SIDE CABLE WITH A NEW MOTION PRO THROTTLE - AGAIN FOR SAFETY.

·         THERE IS A NEW BATTERY, BUT HONDA NO LONGER SUPPLIES THE RETAINING (RUBBER) STRAP. SO I MADE ONE, AND ADDED A SOLID ALUMINUM BRACKET TO HOLD THE BATTERY FROM VERTICAL MOVEMENT.

-      NEW DRIVE 52O DRIVE CHAIN (NON-O-RING). THE SPROCKETS HAVE A FEW MORE SEASONS OF HARD RIDING LEFT IN THEM. BESIDES IF I GEARED IT YOU MAY WANT SOMETHING ELSE.

·         I SODA BLASTED AND SANDED THE EXHAUST SYSTEM TO REMOVE SURFACE RUST, AND ADDED A VHT FLAT BLACK TO RESTORE AND PROTECT THE SURFACE. THE RESULTS ARE EXCELLENT FOR A BIKE THIS VINTAGE. THE PIPES THEMSELVES ARE SOLID AS THE RUST WAS JUST ON THE SURFACE AND NO SOFT SPOTS OR CRACKS WERE EVIDENT. THE FRONT SUSPENSION WAS REWORKED WITH NEW STEM BEARINGS (ALL BALLS BRAND) AND THE FORKS TAKEN DOWN AND INSPECTED AND RESEALED.

·         I ADDED BACK THE SEXY RED FORK BOOTS, ONE BECAUSE I LIKE THEM, AND TWO THEY ARE NEEDED FOR THIS TYPE OF FORK SEAL. THE FORK WEAR BUSHINGS WERE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. I POLISHED OUT A LOT OF THE FORK DINGS AND SCRATCHES, AND RE-CLEARED THE FORKS TO LOOK LIKE ORIGINAL. IF YOU WANT THAT DINGY DIRTY YELLOW FACTORY CLEAR I AM SORRY - NOT IN MY SHOP. THE BIKE DESERVES BETTER.

·         I REPLACED THE SPEEDO CABLE WITH A MOTION PRO CABLE, REPLACED THE DRIVE WASHER, AND CLEANED AND CLEAR COATED THE SPEEDOMETER HOUSING.

·         REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED, AND THE FRONTS LOOK FINE. THE FRONT SHOES WERE OUT OF SYNCH AND THAT MADE THE FRONT BRAKE CABLE LAZY TO RETURN.

·         THE REAR SUSPENSION WAS DISASSEMBLED AND INSPECTED. THE PROLINK WAS DRY, BUT SUPRISINGLY SHOWED NO TO LITTLE WEAR. I SAND BLASTED THE SWING ARM AND RESTORED THE FINISH AND THE PROLINK LABELS. THE SWING ARM BEARINGS WERE IN GREAT SHAPE. THE PROLINK MONOSHOCK WAS JUST FINE AND READY FOR A VINTAGE ENDURO RACE.

·         I ADDED TURN SIGNALS AND A FRESH HEADLIGHT.  I HAD TO CUSTOMIZE THE HEADLIGHT TO WORK WITH THE OLD FASTENING SYSTEM. THE HEADLIGHT BUCKET HAS ONE SMALL CRACK AROUND THE TRIM RING. I HAD TO FILL IN SOME PLACES ON THE BUCKET AND THE RESULT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD. THE FACTORY FLASHER WAS DEAD DUE TO A BAD CAPACITOR, I UPDATED TO A NEW FLASHER FROM THIS DECADE.

·         THE FACTORY SEAT COVER WAS NOT HORRIBLE, BUT IT NEEDED FRESHENING. I SEARCHED AND COULD NOT FIND ONE WITH THE FACTORY XL LABEL ON THE REAR OF THE SEAT. SO I BOUGHT ONE FROM A REPUTABLE SELLER AND I HAVE THE OLD ONE IF YOU WANT TO BE 100% FACTORY (2 SMALL TEARS TEARS AND ALL).

      WITH A RESTORE OF THIS DEPTH,  THERE ARE BOLTS AND NUTS THAT ARE NOT FIT TO BE TRUSTED WITH A RIDERS SAFETY. WHERE POSSIBLE I ADDED BLACK 10.9 HIGH GRADE METRIC FASTENERS TO THE KEY AREAS. YEAH IT COSTS MORE, BUT I LIKE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT.

·         ONE OF THE MORE MUNDANE ITEMS WAS THE KICKSTAND. SOMEWHERE DOWN THE ROAD SOMEONE ADDED ABOUT AN INCH TO THE KICKSTAND.  SUPRISINGLY, IT IS ACTUALLY MORE FUNCTIONAL NOW THAN THE FACTORY ORIGINAL. HOWEVER, AFTER LOOKING CLOSER I SEE WHY THEY DID THE CHANGE. THE KICKSTAND BRACKET WASN'T CRACKED, BUT IT HAD FATIGUED AND WOULD YIELD (BEND NOT BREAK) UNDER LOAD. SO OFF IT CAME, AND I REWELDED THE BRACKET WITH NEW MATERIAL THAT WILL HOLD UP NICELY. IF I DID NOT TELL YOU, YOU WOULD NOT SEE IT.

      NEW SCOTT GRIPS IN MORE SEXY RED.

      NEW MIRRORS

      NEW LEFT HAND LIGHT CONTROL AND HORN SWITCH - THE HORN WORKS!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT A TROOPER!

·         MORE ENGINE DETAILS FOR THE GEAR HEADS: THE TIMING CHAIN MEASURED OUT FINE, BUT YOU CAN'T TELL WITH THEM OUT ON THE BENCH, SO IT GOT A NEW ONE. THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER RUB STRIPS ARE IN VERY GOOD CONDITION AND THE TENSIONER WORKS JUST FINE. WHILE I HAD IT APART, I REPLACED THE CLUTCH BEARING AND INSPECTED THE CLUTCH WHICH WAS PRISTINE. THE BALANCE CHAIN WAS LOOSE AND ADDING TO THE TIMING CHAIN NOISE. ALL NEW SEALS FOR THE SHIFTER AND THE DREADED COUNTERSHAFT. THE CARB WAS CLEANED AND FRESHENED. THE MAIN JET WELL WAS PLUGGED IN THE FLUTED AREA. YOU HAVE TO GO TO EVERY PORT TO FIND THIS RESTRICTION. I REPLACED THE MANIFOLD O-RINGS. I EVEN DID THE CYLINDER HEAD ROCKER SHAFT O-RINGS.