why not buy an 83 xl600?

[Carphunter]

Been looking at buying a current-ish, used xr650l for a while. Big, 6'5" 300#, newbie to bikes, 80-90% street 10% trail/farm/woods to start with.

Got to try my friend's xl600 and found it comfortable enough to ride, and it seemed to have a power curve that matched my comfort level. I now have a line on an another 83 that seems to be in good shape from owner's description and answers to questions.

aside from lack of magic button... any blatant reason not to proceed with an xl600 as a first, learning bike? It seems to be a good option to save some bucks on first bike before moving on to something better if I enjoy it.

[creeky]

The '83 XL600 is a decent bike. Pros are great reliability, easy maintenance, comfy. Cons, suspension is not up to snuff for offroad use, but OK for the street, not great. Top end of the engine tends to run hot, use good oil. Here's a test report.

http://www.4strokes.com/articles/honda/cwxl600test/

[akarob]

+1 what Cleonard said. It's reliable but old so use some decent oil and don't wind the piss out of it.

The '83 would be a good bike to learn on. It'll hold it's value as long as you don't blow it up so you can resell it when you are ready to take it up a notch or two.

[HeadTrauma]

For a rider of your stature, an XL600 may start to feel a little short after a while. I know it does to me and I'm "only" 6'4"/210. Also be aware of the abundant power. It won't peel your face off and is very usable and linear thanks to the progressive twin carbs, but could be a surprise if not expecting it. There was a newbie 650L rider on here not long ago that almost destroyed himself and the bike doing a WOT run way too hot into a turn.

Other than that, the bike has no real faults that would make it anything but a good first dual sport.

[exdirtbiker]

that is a great first bike.

If you change the jets, the kicker becomes alot less of a problem.

and a new stator and cdi box let me start my 87 XL600R with out my fat A$$ leaving the seat.

if the price is right, then jump on it. (cheap)

If the price is 'high', then wait for something more modern.

there is no free lunch... you will learn about jetting, spring rates, and high-flowing air filters on ANY bike you purchase.

and tires. Oh, the tires.....

Please keep us posted, we like it when we 'convert' another soul to the XR/XL army.

[painter]

Cheap is a great way to start. A year from now you might want a 400 dirt only and a 750 street only.

[Carphunter]

define "cheap" figure the bike is aesthetically pretty imaculate.. scratches, no cracks in plastic. mechanicals in good condition and functioning properly. (honestly, my only real worry with the thing is i buy it and don't spot some grievous underlying problem...cracked head, or other major mechanical that doesn't rear its head in 10 minutes of test riding).

[painter]

This is also a good place to ask "how much" a bike is worth. for me anything under 1500 is cheap

[Carphunter]

This is also a good place to ask "how much" a bike is worth.

"is"... or did you mean "is NOT?"

[painter]

IS a good place to ask. I used to see more threads about price. I can't see paying more than 1400 for a 1983, kick only

[exdirtbiker]

I sold this for $1800 in Feb of this year:

with new tires, chain, sprockets, different engine,{ I still hate the red motors !!! ) and "stiffer" forks. and new cdi and stator. no rips, started without my butt leaving the seat. ( probably should have kept it ! )

[Onederer]

Those XL600R's are antique after all, and I figure one of those bikes thats worth keeping up and hanging onto. Inflation since the 80's has made the price of bikes like that from the 80's almost bring a used price today equal to what they cost new, kept in good condition its hard to loose $ when and if one decides to sell.

The 84' I bought has'nt seen any off road harder than gravel roads, the longer I have it the less I want to risk breaking something. I have other machines to abuse off road.

At your size a XL600R may feel cramped, they are much smaller than a XR650L, but have more power.

[TheBikeIsThor]

I have a 86 XL600R that I got a year ago from a buddy of mine for $500; it was my first bike. I was the fourth person to learn to ride on it and it was in great shape other than the bangs and scratches from use. I just gotta say this is a great bike. It takes a lickin and keeps on rippin. I'm 5'10 and it is a little tall from the previous owner's setup; I just haven't adjusted it since I got it. I been too busy riding it. I ride mostly on the road and it has no problem keeping up with traffic on the highway. I know that the previous owner was a junky for the forest access roads, so it has seen lots of dirt and gravel. It's not a motocross bike and it won't tolerate abuse, but it is a very forgiving bike. I say buy it.

[Horri]

Yep there a good bike and if you are tall like me..(you are about the same height but not weight) what you can do is put some XR600 forks and steering head on it and then put a different shock on the back(or add an extension) and use the old one. Just gives you that much more height and makes it so you don't feel like you're sitting on a mini bike as the XL is quite a lowish sitting bike,,Add a better muffler (CRF250X) and bigger jets in the carbs (120's)and it's a rocket ship.

[Carphunter]

passed on an xl600 listed on CL up in Duluth. while touted as being good looking... it had cosmetic repairs done, but had bad front brake, clutch was at it's end, no battery, questionable wiring, oil leak from clutch pedal area, rust through muffler, wrong mirrors, etc. a fixer upper being sold at non-fu price. I didn't even counter his price...

[exdirtbiker]

I got $1800 for the bike pictured above because it really was in GREAT condition. I spent $300 for a 85 parts bike that ran after 15 minutes of work.. and had another motor in a bucket. ( that's where the black motor came from)

Parts bikes should be priced as such... I purchased the 87 (above) bike on ebay for $900-ish, and when I got there, I couldn't find the caliper under all the "gunk"..... sprockets missing teeth.... wouldn't idle... and a 2 hour drive to get to it !!!!! I got upset, and he let me take it for $400. should've got it for $200, after all I had to fix on it.

[Onederer]

I got $1800 for the bike pictured above because it really was in GREAT condition.

C'mon, GREAT condition, are'nt those Suzuki mirrors on it:smirk:

[valvesrule]

I sold this for $1800 in Feb of this year:

with new tires, chain, sprockets, different engine,{ I still hate the red motors !!! ) and "stiffer" forks. and new cdi and stator. no rips, started without my butt leaving the seat. ( probably should have kept it ! )

I'm working on one just like this right now. It's very close to the same condition, a beautiful bike for it's age. I had an 85 years ago. DirtBike magazine had an article on a rejet for the XLs back in the late 80s. Wish I could find a reprint. The starting can be improved by a rejet and airbox unplug. Mine was a 1-2 kicker after the rejet. That's what the one I'm working on is getting. Something else that is pretty cheap and easy is to pull the XL flywheel and replace it with an XR500 or 600 flywheel. The acceleration is greatly improved when the crank gets about a full pound lighter

[bruzzie410]

I just bought one off of Tulsa craigslist for 550.00 dollars and cleaned the carbs and rode it 25 miles so far and I just love the bike altough I have to do a topend. As far as I am concerned you are going to make alot of people happy with a classic still on the streets, It will bring back lots of memories for the old timmers who once rode them, me included, this is why I went old school. Now don't get me wrong I would love to have a new one but for now I like bringing back memories for people Ron Tulsa, Ok...

[bruzzie410]

By the way if anyone knows where I can find the original license plate holder I would appreciate it, Email me at bruzzie410@yahoo.com. Thanks everyone.