My first bike was a brand new 1979 XL500S . The differences between XR and XL was different sprockets , lighter flywheel on the XR and 34MM carb vs 32MM carb on the XL. You never forget your very first bike. So many good memories :-) Selling price back in 1979 was $ 2,200 Canadian.
Dad had an 80 or 81 in the early 90s. He put a good pumper carb on it. I've never ridden anything with so much instant of idle torque. What a hoot! Something about that big front wheel and low center of gravity made it so easy to hang the rear out flat track style and drift through curves. I ride a 650R now and I'd still love to have that 500!
Heck yes!!! I’ve been waiting on this one and y’all absolutely did not disappoint!! I love everything about this bike. I have a 1980 and a 1982. My dad had 2 1980’s and a 1981...all 500’s. His first, he bought off the showroom floor for $1,500. He has kept the oil changed and the oil screen clean. Motor has never been off the bike nor the carb. It still starts the first or second kick. A true testament to the durability of this amazing masterpiece of a machine. Very very well done, gentlemen. Must be like a dream to work there! God bless America!
Imagine the front washing out on you every time you try to turn then you will imagine a new bike but what I can say is In my opinion the old bikes LOOK better so much better
Nice machine, one around here sold for 2200$ last week. Love the fact that you guys make these videos, get to see the evolution of these machines and learn alot.
I love watching these videos of classic bikes. I've got a 1981 XR500R that needs some work. I've got to find someone here in Maine who knows their way around these bikes
Nice bike. I love my 79 . Paid 800, just under 1400 miles all original except carb. a 21 inch front wheel, brake light, and airshocks. It's a beast of a bike. Plan on doing 5000 miles on trans American trail hopefully next spring.
Man, my buddies uncle parked his 79 XL500 in the back of the garage, in 1982. In 1985 we found the key and that beast fired right up in about 5 kicks! Old gas, dead battery. WHACK! Shenanigans followed. That was a very special day.
I have one of these. Picked it up for 400$ running and in good shape side a pin hole in the tank. Weeleee king of the xr!!! Torque monster and all around great bike
The first thumper I rode was one of these . And I was hooked ever since on thumpers. I think 10 is too high of a compression ratio 9.5 is a sweet spot 4 pump gas
My friend just dropped one off so I can get it running. I just got it started and took it for a spin, it's a strong bike. All it needs is a wizard tune and we'd be golden. 😂😂😂
Zdravíme Kaplana z České republiky a jsme rádi že u něj nechybí taková moto legenda jako ,, naše,, ČZ motokros 😍😍 ahoj a hodně zdaru do budoucna Tazzy..
Very cool . I bought the first XR200 twin shocks road registered in in 1980 i paid $1200 AU brand new and i was 16 thought I was the shit . ha ha ha . Have had quite a few XR's . 75/200/350 & 600 very sad they are no longer available . Not a big fan of the CRF . dreaming of when Honda brings out 500/ 600 modern XR ??? love seeing these old bikes brings back so many great memories . Thanks KAPLAN AMERICA ✌
My dad and his best friend both had a '79 XR500. My dad removed the muffler & added a straight pipe to his. In My Opinion = That was The Most BADASS Sounding 4 stroke I have Ever Heard. On a quiet & calm evening just before the sun went down, That bike could be heard for Miles away
One of my very favourite bikes you have done. My big brother had one of these, and I used to rip the shit out of it. I was 14 at the time lol. Great job guys!
I used To run that big 23 front wheel on my 1979 fully worked blueprinted Suzuki 80 .cc It seemed to slow it down a bit ,but had no problem pulling up a fairly steep mountain.
hell ya the beast had two ankle breaker it would spit bolders for 10 feet behind i think the most bad ass 70s honda ever made i get the chills endless power god bless America🇺🇸🏁🇺🇸🏁
Great Bikes they last forever with just some common sense maintenance . You could literally buy that bike back in 1979 and it will last your entire life and bequest it to your family
Ill post my SL100 mx er' when i get it all done, its mid build now. But TOO HOT IN ARIZONA to even go outside let alone work on the darn thing. Ill show it off this winter
The vintage big bore Honda's often we're endearingly called tanks. Which is true, more so if you have ever dropped one, I dropped my 1985 Yamaha IT 250. Dam getting that beast upright again was a pain in the ass! But in my opinion, that's a good thing because if you combine the weight and the torque of a big bore it firmly plants the bike in place giving you extra traction. I don't know if the engineers over in Japan had that in mind while designing and building the bike but along with a highly reliable motor I'm seeing a perfect balance. It makes me think why did Honda discontinue the XR 650's? Don't get me wrong I love the vintage two strokes for many reasons, primarily because they are obnoxiously loud, cranky, violent and that smell two strokes produce. While all the same some may argue I disagree. Each bike back then had a separate personality. That aside I can't think of anything more enjoyable than riding that bike down trails up hills or just cruising down logging roads. Another quality is they have friendly predictable power which permits a fresh intermediate rider to enjoy without the same threat two strokes offer up. It's a given that hauling down an open stretch of gravel road at 100mph would be badass! Dam I'm looking at another bike for my growing fantasy collection! Thanks for sharing the badass machines!
My dirtbike has one of those front light/number plates, and it isn't one of those... Lol, it is a 1979 Honda though, just not as big... mine isn't stock though 👍.
“Under stressed” man that bike sounds like it’s barely doing. My uncle had a wore out 82-83 model. Such a easy going bike with big torque at very low rpm I wish I had this one right here
Would you believe some knuckle head scrapped one at the local scrap yard I picked it up for $20 just needed a new plug and carb cleaned started 2nd kick I traded it for a RM 500 wish I had keeped the XR tho ☹️☹️be safe in the hurricane I remember living in Massachusetts how bad those storms can get
I can't even believe its taken me so long to find your channel! Also that there is a person out there who is crazy into the 80s and old iron as I am! Are these bikes forsale to any buyer or are they built for clients?
Yeah F. U. Kaplan ...... I apologize but I’m jealous of you mr Kaplan and you’re a gentleman who I appreciate and you are definitely an expert and the truth is powerful and important to understand... I’m going to come to visit you one day on my xr650l
Value depends on condition with antiques. Most shops round here charge $100+ an hour plus parts so over 5k for a resto. Only an idiot would sell a resto for 1800
The answer is you won’t.. on my Cr125 and my xr500 I had to find an original claw action tire that was not rotten. It’s hard. That’s y now the 23in wheel hondas don’t come out but a few times a year to save the rubber
Mark Kus I have 68 bikes . I have other choices . But I do have a video of me my daughter and my dog all riding on my xr500 at the local state forest on my channel. Check it out . Lately I’ve been riding my 86tt350 and my 85xr600.