I found another potential project...

It's a '86 xl250r.  Looks to be mostly all there, BUT upon closer inspection The splines for the shifter snapped off in addition to the Kick-starter spline part..

FOR THE LIFE OF ME, I can't/don't understand how these got snapped off!!  The foot pegs are still there and no evidence that it fell off of a skyscraper!!
Yeah, it's kinda beat up (like me)  but it's cheap and would be a good addition to my stable and it COULD BE STREET DRIVEN..

Does the whole case need to be taken apart to 'fix' these two parts?
I won't know how this thing runs until I can get it to start.

OK, now that I've asked that, Are these XL's even worth it? I mean, It's a Honda but everybodys got there black sheep..?
Do they have head problems due to this unique engine?

Thanks for your time.

E

If I'm not mistaken the kickstart shaft can be reached by removing the OUTER case cover (not splitting the main cases), for the shift shaft I think you will be splitting the cases for that. I'm pretty sure But not %100, you need to get a manual.

got the manual coming..

BUT..  What else is there to know.?
Is it desirable to own?
Are there issues with any system in particular?
HORRIBLE mileage considering engine size?


Thanks E

77amc, on 28 April 2012 - 08:47 AM, said:

Not much... just go through it axel to axel doing all the basic maintanance checks, manual will spell it out for you.
I think they're highly desireable if you get a good deal, not particularly fun on the road but great for the trails.
I don't know of many "problems" with the design itself, in fact the xr lineup has been prettymuch bulletproof through the years. Not sure if that model is a dual carb or a single, I'm pretty sure it's single carb which would be quite a bit easier to tune. I helped a friend out with his 86(?) xr350 and it was dual carb., got it running pretty well but I felt like they were very finiky to synch up IMO. Both that and my old 88 xr250r were absolutely put through the ringer week after week for a very long time and they just wouldn't quit. Bulletproof! As for fuel mileage, I never had any complaints but I'm usually within 5-10mi max from the truck anyway.

Don't forget to wear your gear even for short rides, be safe and have fun. Good luck man.

It's an "XL-250-R". And yes, it's a 4-stroke, dual carb design.
I've got the 'safety' thing covered. I spent the first 1/3rd of my life growing up on a farm.

E

I read the model in the first post, that's why I specified that my experience was on an XR, and as far as I know all of the Honda XR/XL lineup is 4-stroke. The motors are VERy similar, in fact I think most of the differences are EPA smog type nonsense. If you can get it swapped to a single carb setup it would probably be easier to tune. I think I have a cabe from my 88 XR sill around if you end up looking for one later on. Not sure how well the the swap would work but I would think it would be an improvement once jetted properly. Lot's of free mods for those as well. If you pull the header pipe and look right where it mates with the cylinder, the welds are usually protruding into the inside of the pipe and if you dremel them down a bit you help to unrestrict airflow. You can also uncork the air-box. Make sure if you do that you do it before tuning the carb.

Edited by GodHunter, 29 April 2012 - 04:43 AM.

The dual carb setup runs much better than any single carb setup on those bikes.  Finicky yes, but once setup properly they pull harder and longer than the single carb setup.

I would be very concerned with both of those shafts being snapped.. Sounds like bigfoot used it to get away from the humans! Its possible the trannys in bad shape