School me on a 1982 honda xl500r

tat2prcdman · 10-07-2012, 08:58 PM

Looking at getting a 1982 honda xl500r anyone have anything to say about them good or bad?

laserb · 10-26-2012, 05:37 PM

Not sure about the XR but I traded a guy on here for an 82 CR480R and love the vintage MX bike. If it's in good shape, go for it if you haven't already. I'm a Kawi guy but Hondas seem to run forever!

Did you get it?

james1300 · 10-26-2012, 07:12 PM

Can you still get parts? You know. Breakable stuff. Chain adjusters, Fork and dust seals, rear brake pedals, swing arm bearings/bushings, ect.

antivalve · 10-27-2012, 08:00 AM

I had an 82 xl500 years ago. It was a tank, i road it hard an put it away wet and never had a problem. Except on whoops and water breaks the gas cap liked to vibrate loose... the source of a few embarrassing pictures of me. As for parts i cant see it being an issue and if it is im certain Cycle Salvage out of Redding has an ample supply of hard parts.

jkester92 · 10-27-2012, 09:53 AM

If I rember right I think that was about the same year my brother in law had. It was big, heavy, underpowered , and handled terrible. He tried to ride with us on our dirt bikes a couple times, the thing it did best was try to swap ends on any thing that wasn't a smooth surface. Probably ok on the street.

james1300 · 10-27-2012, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by jkester92

If I rember right I think that was about the same year my brother in law had. It was big, heavy, underpowered , and handled terrible. He tried to ride with us on our dirt bikes a couple times, the thing it did best was try to swap ends on any thing that wasn't a smooth surface. Probably ok on the street.

The bike was never intended to keep-up with full on off-road bikes. Its like trying to swat flys with a claw hammer.

What it was made to do is cow trail at a Leasurley pace. Forest roads
worked fine for it as well.
Then if you wanted to cruise down the hi-way at 70 mph, It could do that too.

Try that on a 'Dirt Bike'.

tatonka · 10-27-2012, 12:57 PM

During the Reagan years he put a tariff on the jap bikes , they didnt raise there price but all jap bikes of that time have high parts costs.

PeteN95 · 10-27-2012, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by tatonka

During the Reagan years he put a tariff on the jap bikes , they didnt raise there price but all jap bikes of that time have high parts costs.

First, it was only on bikes larger than 750cc. And second, I don't think it had any effect on parts prices, even for the larger bikes!

The XL500 is a great bike and will run for ever if treated fairly well. I think most parts are still available, as that motor is still sold in the XR650L.

antivalve · 10-27-2012, 04:59 PM

This

Originally Posted by PeteN95

The XL500 is a great bike and will run for ever if treated fairly well.

I really cant remember ever changing the oil, filter, or spark plug.... never had a mechanical problem... Upgraded to a 92 dr650 was meticulous about servicing my new investment.... welded the rod to crank hmmm

ndurosteve · 10-27-2012, 05:24 PM

IIRC:

The 82 was a two valve head that was used in the FT500 Ascot. (not the same as the 84 XL500)
The 82 bike had a 23 inch front wheel, which will be a pain when it comes to tire selection.

They are good for exploring and plonking around but it would be unfair to compare that frame and suspension to a dirt bike. Lace up some 17's and get some slicks and you would have an awesome time on the street!

ndurosteve · 10-27-2012, 06:36 PM

correction
Doh! My 79 XL IS a four valve. I just looked at it (it just shows you how little attention they need!). My newer XR has the 4 CB style rocker caps for easy adjusting, while the 79 uses a single oblong cover for ex and intake. But as far as parts interchanging with the four cap type head beginning the generation after the Xl500s: they are different designs-begining with the mid 80's.

Elderber · 10-28-2012, 08:40 PM

I used to have an 82 XL500R and it was a great bike. In the early 90's a friend and I rode our Xl500's one winter from Western Washington down to Cabo San Lucas. 10,000 miles (we went the long way) in 2 months in temps from 8 to 80 degrees without any major problems.

The only thing I didn't like about the bike was the lack of electric start, and the nasty decompression lever that never seemed to work quite right, and always seemed ready to launch me over the bars when I kick started it.


10-07-2012, 08:58 PM	#1
tat2prcdman Permit Joined: Jul 2009 From: Medford Area	School me on a 1982 honda xl500r Looking at getting a 1982 honda xl500r anyone have anything to say about them good or bad? __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


10-26-2012, 05:37 PM	#2
laserb Endorsed Joined: May 2007 From: Tacoma I Ride: ZX7R, CR480R	Not sure about the XR but I traded a guy on here for an 82 CR480R and love the vintage MX bike. If it's in good shape, go for it if you haven't already. I'm a Kawi guy but Hondas seem to run forever! Did you get it? __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


10-26-2012, 07:12 PM	#3
james1300 Track School Dazed Joined: Oct 2005 From: CENTRAL I Ride: When I can	Can you still get parts? You know. Breakable stuff. Chain adjusters, Fork and dust seals, rear brake pedals, swing arm bearings/bushings, ect. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter Last edited by james1300; 10-27-2012 at 10:24 AM..


10-27-2012, 08:00 AM	#4
antivalve Training Wheels Joined: Sep 2012 From: Salem I Ride: poorly	I had an 82 xl500 years ago. It was a tank, i road it hard an put it away wet and never had a problem. Except on whoops and water breaks the gas cap liked to vibrate loose... the source of a few embarrassing pictures of me. As for parts i cant see it being an issue and if it is im certain Cycle Salvage out of Redding has an ample supply of hard parts. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


10-27-2012, 09:53 AM	#5
jkester92 Chicken Strips Joined: Aug 2007 From: WOODINVILLE I Ride: 08 1098R/ 06 999S/ 07 R1/ 06 ZX10	If I rember right I think that was about the same year my brother in law had. It was big, heavy, underpowered , and handled terrible. He tried to ride with us on our dirt bikes a couple times, the thing it did best was try to swap ends on any thing that wasn't a smooth surface. Probably ok on the street. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


10-27-2012, 12:57 PM	#7
tatonka Licensed Joined: Feb 2011 From: dundee , oregon I Ride: 1998 harley sportster custom	During the Reagan years he put a tariff on the jap bikes , they didnt raise there price but all jap bikes of that time have high parts costs. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


10-27-2012, 05:24 PM	#10
ndurosteve Training Wheels Joined: Oct 2012 From: Tacoma WA I Ride: R1100S XL175...STOLEN XMAS '12: Tiger, CRF250X, XL600, XR400, Montesa315R, K75C REWARD!!!!	IIRC: The 82 was a two valve head that was used in the FT500 Ascot. (not the same as the 84 XL500) The 82 bike had a 23 inch front wheel, which will be a pain when it comes to tire selection. They are good for exploring and plonking around but it would be unfair to compare that frame and suspension to a dirt bike. Lace up some 17's and get some slicks and you would have an awesome time on the street! __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter Last edited by ndurosteve; 10-27-2012 at 05:27 PM..


10-27-2012, 06:36 PM	#11
ndurosteve Training Wheels Joined: Oct 2012 From: Tacoma WA I Ride: R1100S XL175...STOLEN XMAS '12: Tiger, CRF250X, XL600, XR400, Montesa315R, K75C REWARD!!!!	correction Doh! My 79 XL IS a four valve. I just looked at it (it just shows you how little attention they need!). My newer XR has the 4 CB style rocker caps for easy adjusting, while the 79 uses a single oblong cover for ex and intake. But as far as parts interchanging with the four cap type head beginning the generation after the Xl500s: they are different designs-begining with the mid 80's. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter


10-28-2012, 08:40 PM	#12
Elderber Training Wheels Joined: Aug 2012 From: Langley, WA I Ride: 01 R1 champ Ed. #863	I used to have an 82 XL500R and it was a great bike. In the early 90's a friend and I rode our Xl500's one winter from Western Washington down to Cabo San Lucas. 10,000 miles (we went the long way) in 2 months in temps from 8 to 80 degrees without any major problems. The only thing I didn't like about the bike was the lack of electric start, and the nasty decompression lever that never seemed to work quite right, and always seemed ready to launch me over the bars when I kick started it. __________________ Follow PNW Riders on Facebook and Twitter

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