1986 Honda XL 600R, Feedback appreciated

wilserchinarider · 11-23-2011, 11:50 AM

http://jerseyshore.craigslist.org/rvs/2627726756.html

Might this be a worthy candidate to tinker with over the winter? Any clues on the smoking? Simple valve seals, or and entire motor rebuild. Not really interested in spending a ton of money restoring a piece of history!

Current owner claims he has been advised that it needs piston rings??

Any ideas or guesses how much time and money would be involved in freshening this thing to be a reliable runner?

FastDoc · 11-23-2011, 12:13 PM

You're asking the wrong person! I've owned about 6 XR/XL's and I think they are the best!

The price looks great to me. If he has it plated already and the title and the tires chain etc are good it's a fair deal. :wink:

If it smokes some but runs good and does not foul the plug you don't have to do anything right now.

The mileage is low so I don't think you're looking at a full rebuild, but somewhere down the line plan on a new oversize piston and rings and valve seals and maybe new valves and a gasket kit. :?

If you do the work yourself and have the maching done by a shop you are looking at about $200 in parts and $150 in the shop and maybe 5 hours of your labor so not bad.

I'd restore it personally, but I have a sickness. Check out my latest XR restoration thread.

Weldangrind · 11-23-2011, 03:11 PM

*Fellow XR addict chiming in*

I'd jump on it! I'd love to have that old thumper, and I'd be happy to put new rings in it, although I bet that valve stem seals will do the trick (at least well enough).

SpudRider · 11-26-2011, 04:56 AM

I love my XR650L, so I will join the band of enablers!

That bike appears to be in pretty good shape.

I am currently doing a top end rebuild on my bike, with 28,600 miles on the odometer. Since that bike only has 11,000 miles on the odometer, I think new valve seals will probably fix the problem.

Spud

11-23-2011, 11:50 AM	#1
wilserchinarider Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 380	1986 Honda XL 600R, Feedback appreciated http://jerseyshore.craigslist.org/rvs/2627726756.html Might this be a worthy candidate to tinker with over the winter? Any clues on the smoking? Simple valve seals, or and entire motor rebuild. Not really interested in spending a ton of money restoring a piece of history! Current owner claims he has been advised that it needs piston rings?? Any ideas or guesses how much time and money would be involved in freshening this thing to be a reliable runner?
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11-23-2011, 12:13 PM	#2
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	You're asking the wrong person! I've owned about 6 XR/XL's and I think they are the best! The price looks great to me. If he has it plated already and the title and the tires chain etc are good it's a fair deal. :wink: If it smokes some but runs good and does not foul the plug you don't have to do anything right now. The mileage is low so I don't think you're looking at a full rebuild, but somewhere down the line plan on a new oversize piston and rings and valve seals and maybe new valves and a gasket kit. :? If you do the work yourself and have the maching done by a shop you are looking at about $200 in parts and $150 in the shop and maybe 5 hours of your labor so not bad. I'd restore it personally, but I have a sickness. Check out my latest XR restoration thread. __________________ Happy to serve.
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11-23-2011, 03:11 PM	#3
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	Fellow XR addict chiming in I'd jump on it! I'd love to have that old thumper, and I'd be happy to put new rings in it, although I bet that valve stem seals will do the trick (at least well enough). __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
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11-26-2011, 04:56 AM	#4
SpudRider Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 25,054	I love my XR650L, so I will join the band of enablers! That bike appears to be in pretty good shape. I am currently doing a top end rebuild on my bike, with 28,600 miles on the odometer. Since that bike only has 11,000 miles on the odometer, I think new valve seals will probably fix the problem. Spud __________________ Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894
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