XL600R Honda

[FJRay]

A guy down the street from me is selling a 85 XL600R and wants 1000.00 for it . KBB says thats a good deal so I was wondering if any of you have experience with these. Been looking for a cheap dual sport and would prefer a KLR but this would do . Any thoughts???

 

[08FJR4ME]

Well mines a little bit newer and a 4 stroke engine. My guess is this is a 2smoker and not street legal but I could be wrong. Honda makes great bikes and if its running decent and has been taken care of you might be O.K.

Good luck,

Dave

 

[Ignacio]

I love it when FJR folks start talking about dual-sports.

25 year old technology, but if it's a solid runner that's a pretty good option for adventure stuff in our PNW. Air-cooled, 4-stroke, steel frame, Honda's equivalent to the KLR with factory headlight and running gear for the road. I've always thought quality on Hondas are a bit better than Kawis. Seat height is 34 inches...so you wouldn't need a latter to mount the thing.

Usual deal to look at are the details like wear on the pivoty parts, whether it's been maintained, any electrical issues, etc.

I imagine it's already street licensed? If not, I think Oregon is an easy state to get one licensed....just check to make sure.

My friend rode the slightly beefier and taller XR650L all through the WABDR and 1/2 the Oregon ride (we made it to Sisters before I bent a V-Strom rim) and we called it the "USS Sofa". He packed tent and gear in soft bags so we could camp for 2 or 3 days reasonably. But, you wouldn't want to ride it to Utah and back.

Also, if it comes with some goodies...bonus. As usual, I'd suggest ADVRider...the site is LITTERED with discussion on this specific model and even more on it's closely related variations.

Just remember XR600L and XR650R...are NOT close. The latter is aluminum frame, kick-start, Baja racer from the 90'/00's and nicknamed "Tasmanian Devil". They're fun adventure riding too, but are not very good pack mules.

Clicky here for what you could do on it.

 

[08FJR4ME]

Make Model

Honda XR 600R Year

1985 Engine

Air cooled, four-stroke, single cylinder SOHC, 4 valve. Capacity

591 Bore x Stroke 97 x 80 mm Compression Ratio 9.0:1 Induction

2x Keihin carb Ignition / Starting

- / kick Max Power

46 hp 33.5 kW @ 6000 rpm Max Torque

51.9 Nm @ 5500 rpm Transmission / Drive

5 Speed / chain Front Suspension

43mm Air assisted telescopic forks Rear Suspension

Pro-link single shock 3-way hydraulic preload 14-way compression and 4-wya rebound damping. Front Brakes

Single 256mm disc 2 piston caliper Rear Brakes

Drum Front Tyre

80/100-21 Rear Tyre

110/100-18 Dry-Weight

134 kg Fuel Capacity

10.5 Litres

1985 - 1987 Honda XR 600

Honda, realizing that more cc's meant more power, injected a 100cc 85 XR 500 dose to the XR 500 engine making the XR 500 an XR 600 in 1985. This made a fairly strong running machine run a bit stronger. Other changes included an aluminum, rather than steel swingarm, a dry sump engine oiling system, and frame changes.

Except for graphics, the XR 600 did not change appreciably until 1988.

How many motorcycles can you name that won Baja 1000 races spanning a 12-year period? Not to mention nine off-road championships and dozens of other major off-road events. Only one motorcycle makes the cut: Honda's mighty XR®600R. Honda's off-road four-strokes have been immensely successful in terms of both sales and race wins for decades, and the most successful of them all is the legendary XR600R.

 

[Niehart]

Ray wishes it was a XR but for what he's gong to use it for, the XL should work just fine. And priced right.

 

[rushes]

A guy down the street from me is selling a 85 XL600R and wants 1000.00 for it . KBB says thats a good deal so I was wondering if any of you have experience with these. Been looking for a cheap dual sport and would prefer a KLR but this would do . Any thoughts???

I think you'll wish it had electric start. Mine would either start on the 2nd kick or the 50th. I never did get it sorted out.

Other than that, a fun bike.

 

[FJRay]

Agree on the electric start but my experience with thumpers is once you make friends with them then it's easy. Can't be any worse than the AJS I had in high school. I have read that a fresh stator solves a lot of starting issues with these.

 

[PhilJet09]

I have an '83 XL250R, very similar to the 600. It's a solid runner and you can find almost all the parts you'll ever need still on eBay.

 

[Bugnatr]

I had a 85 XL350 and a friend had the 600. Stators were trouble and I would throw a fresh one in it as it will go out in the worst place possible-we found out the hard way.

Also had a 91 XL650R, better dirt bike than the KLR but too tall for me. The Gen 1 KLR is a better 50/50 dualsport with a larger gas tank, seat and rack.

The 85 is almost 30 years old with twin carbs, I'd look for something in the 90's with electric or offer him 800.00

 

[Ignacio]

I think you'll wish it had electric start. Mine would either start on the 2nd kick or the 50th. I never did get it sorted out.Other than that, a fun bike.

Oh, yeah. Forgot about that. I hate to admit it as I *thought* I was a purist...but the electric start on those big cc 4 strokes is definitely a nice-to-have.

 

[NMRoadRunner]

Go show him $800 cash and see if he lets you take it home with you. I wouldn't be afraid of giving him the $1000 for it, those things run forever, Unless your going to go racing, it's all the bike you'll need for playing "Forest Rat" on. It'll go where the big ADVs can't.

 

[Auburn]

they are bullet proof. If you have to work on it, you are more than capable.

 

[FJRay]

Went and looked at it. It's pretty rough and all there but not for me. I tried starting it and my lower back said NO!!. Probably shouldn't even be looking at dual sports but If the right KLR shows up I could get in trouble. I need MM2 to make me a good deal on my old one

but I'm sure he's smarter than that. This guy is moving to Alaska in a week so I'm sure he would deal if some one close has an interest.

 

[Bugnatr]

I hate it when body parts say no and they mean it!

 

[FJRay]

Yeah!! The gloden years is a crock of ****. I still got a puppy brain though

 

[HotRodZilla]

My grandparents have been saying for years that we age the wrong way. We should start out old and get younger.

 

[FJRay]

My grandparents have been saying for years that we age the wrong way. We should start out old and get younger.

Cool we could start old and go out with an orgasm.