'82 Honda XL500R To Buy or Not To Buy?

[Superlukie]

Hello forum, I'm new here to both this website and to riding in general.

I used to have a little Honda 50 but that's about all the riding experience I have had.

I have been wanting to get into riding this summer and my neighbor is selling his 1982 Honda XL500R.

It has about 2000 miles on it (He bought it from a guy that had it in storage), very clean bike with only a few scratches here and there.

He is asking $1500 and is firm on that price. I have been looking online for the same bike and can't find any with so few miles.

I have a few main questions:

1. Is this a good dual sport for a 20 year old beginner like myself?

2. Is $1500 a good deal?

If you answer no to one or both of the questions, what other bike can you suggest for me?

My budget is the $1000 to $1800 range but I could go to $2000 max.

Thanks

[380tom]

An XL500 is an all around solid dual sport for it's time but..........It is heavy (335 lbs) and lacks in power

(27 hp) for it's size and displacement. It is more street friendly than dirt and being that old no matter what conditon it is in once you start riding it regularly you will surely have some gremlins pop up. Especially anything rubber is probably getting pretty brittle. Also check the tank for any rust.

That being said I rode one around back when I as 20 something and had a blast on it.

As for price.......IMHO $1500.00 is a bit steep for a dual sport that old.

I would expect to pay around $1000.00 for a clean XL500R

[JoeBlow Kokomo]

Agreed. Although if it's REALLY clean, those bikes are worth more money to some people as keepers.

As a regular driver you could buy a MUCH newer and more competent bike for that money.

What do you want to do with the bike?

For steet use, commuting, casual sport fun, perfect bike for a beginner, assuming you can start it (not hard, but not everyone can) and it doesn't eat you up in replacement parts.

But I wouldn't pay more than a 1,000 for a bike that old (with that crappy of suspension and heavy) and that's only if it's close to perfect.

In this case it's NOT about how nice the plastic (metal?) looks, but stuff like does the carb need rebuilt? Is the clutch good? ect

IF you want to ride ANY dirt, you want something newer and better suspension.

You could find a cheap 650L for $1500, with electric start, "workable" suspension (with tuning), rear disk brake, parts availability, etc BUT much taller bike, no problem if 6' or more, less than that and it's a stretch.

One thing that doesn't get mentioned much here because so many work on their own, but MANY shops don't want anything to do with these old bikes. Just too many things to go wrong that can be expensive and/or a PITA for them, and the average customer isn't willing to drop significant dollar on these old bikes. (Usually)

Edited June 18, 2013 by MindBlower

[Qqqqqqqqqqqq]

Can you post a pic ?

[ickfinger]

I paid $800 for a showroom 10k mile unit that needed nothing in 2003. 23" front tire hard to find replacement for, valve covers prone to leaking. Might not have lots of raw h.p., but torque was awesome. For fire roads and light exploring, its a fun bike, but it will bottom the suspension when pushed. Then if you stiffen up the suspension, you need to adress the brakes as your going faster now. Still a fun bike, but $1500 is a price for a honda purist who loves clean, oem bikes. There are more practical bikes for daily use.

Edited June 22, 2013 by ickfinger

[JoeBlow Kokomo]

I paid $800 for a showroom 10k mile unit that needed nothing in 2003. 23" front tire hard to find replacement for, valve covers prone to leaking. Might not have lots of raw h.p., but torque was awesome. For fire roads and light exploring, its a fun bike, but it will bottom the suspension when pushed. Then if you stiffen up the suspension, you need to adress the brakes as your going faster now. Still a fun bike, but $1500 is a price for a honda purist who loves clean, oem bikes. There are more practical bikes for daily use.

+1

[JoeBlow Kokomo]

Also the factor of fewer and fewer of these older bikes getting parted out by individual riders for "reasonable" prices and more being bought up by re-sellers and sold on ebay for ridiculous prices. Sometimes have to give in and pay the ridiculous when you cna't find it elsewhere. Very much of that and you've jumped the "Buy" price into dual sported XR400 or 650R territory, hugely better bikes.

[Enviroconman]

I just sold my 1996 KLR650 with 22,000 miles and all the necessary goodies for adventure touring for $1800.

I had an 82 XR500 back in the day. This was a time of transition for Honda and not their best bikes.