First honda changed the biker world in 1968 with the first 4 cylinder bike , the CB 750.then they did it again in 1978 with the XL 250. they did it again with the V 4 interceptor , the first sport bike.
Nice Video, I had a 1980 or 1981 XL 250 I gave to my brother. I had the same year 185 XL.I liked it better than the 250, It was great I was in the Army and would go offroad at Ft.Bragg NC. It was great so much fun in the thick sand down there. Great Memories on 4 different Honda Motorcycles while I was in the Military.
Great video Dave. These are the vids i loved about Davidsfarm the most, where it was just you and telling us about the history or all the bikes and cars. You didnt need all of the other crazy things at the farm. I just think all them people took advantage of your farm. Keep up with these videos because they are very informative.
Ya there was two sides to davidsfarm - the teaching and informative side for gearheads - and the crazy amusement park side for the drunks and other crazy idiots. lol
My parents bought a '77 civic new, so I spent lots of time wandering the showroom and picking up brochures in those years. Back then, Honda dealers sold cars and bikes and other stuff all in the same dealership. I probably saw this model bike brand new on the showroom floor!
Nice! I was looking up some info on these as a low cost trail runner bike, I was a big Daves farm fan back in the day, the multiple car field races were great! Fixing that big dozer you had, good times.
I had one these when I was about 14 to 18. Il now soon be 39. Long cool story about how I got it, but I give short version, about how ppl thought it was trashed and I got it free, brought it home , cut muffler off,(it was clogged so bad it's unreal, also turns out that's why it wouldn't crank or run) and I cranked it up after cut off clogged muffler and new sparkplug and it ran perfect ever since, put on a loud supertrap racing muffler, took off all blinkers and put new dirt bike tires on front and back, and my dad put a diff front and rear sprocket set on it better for trail riding and new front forks and rear shocks. I LOVED tht bike. My fave I ever had. And I got my first dirt bike at 6 yo.
I had a 1978 xl250 in 1993-1996. The engine bent a rod and I ended up getting another 1984 xl250r after I could not locate an engine. Sold it to go to college in 1998 for $1200 for rent deposit. 25 years later I purchased a 1987 xl250r with the red/white/blue last month. The 1978 is the one I still remember riding most and enjoyed through my youth. I'm nostagic and I know the RFVC bikes have more power (e.g. 1983+) . I loved cruising my first one at 70mph with a motorcycle permit at 15 1/2 years. Lots of memories riding these bikes with friends in high school. Would love to collect them all and get my son on one.
I’m 65 now. I bought a brand new 1978 XL250 in Hawaii when I was stationed there when I was 19. I put a Super Trap exhaust and a Preston Petty front fender on it. Stock otherwise. I rode that bike everywhere. When I got out of the Army a year later I had it shipped back to California. I kept it about 6 more months and I traded it to my buddy +$700 cash for his 1970 Ford Bronco. It was a good bike. I used to lean that bike over so far over into turns it was crazy. I ride a Husky FE501S these days.
Hi i know exactly where you coming from about these bikes I'm in the UK trying to save as many as possible I think they are a very special and so cool.
Hello Dave. i always wait and watch your video ever since yes also that 10years ago, that fixing small engines. learned a lot from it. thank you for sharing. always have fun always youthful, stay at shape, wine is good. cheers from Philippines.
I own an '81 xl250s and so understand and agree with all said. It's got the sound and just runs so well and is easy to handle but don't underestimate that torque as it'll buckaroo you off if uncontrolled.
Road this bike as a young man the year this bike came out,❤ loved it. Now I have found another one. What a mess of wiring to fix.😢 But it will ride again verry soon.
Love these old bikes Dave, I'm a Honda motorcycle man myself. Started out in an 84 z50 when I was 6 and worked my way up to an 05 250x that has had some motor work done so now it's a 300. I'll never ride anything other than Honda motorcycles, I've ridden others but there's nothing more reliable than a Honda bike. I'd live to own one of these nowadays! Unfortunately my 250 isn't street legal due to emissions bullshit even though it has head/taillights. Really want to get a 450L, I waited for so many years for Honda to make a streetlegal water cooled dual sport and I'm glad they finally have, even though they're too expensive for my budget lol.
As a teenager I had a new 79 XL250, I had trouble with the frame in front of the engine from jumping the bike, seems to me I had some welding repair done as a result, the engine was reliable but I thought it was underpowered, it would not power wheelie first gear from what I remember.
@@davidbrock4506 hi Dave i’ll like the new bike I saw one somewhere for sale they were selling it for $900 I should’ve grabbed it and bring it to the farm but I’ll fix it first but sold to fast with that price
DAVE BROTHER I MISSED YOU VERY MUCH. LOVE SUPPORT AND RESPECT ALWAYS BROTHER!!! I have the exact same thing a 1978 Honda XL250(5) for 5 speed which was my 2nd bike my brother's 1979 Honda XL100S and my 1988 Suzuki RM250 and my dad's has 2 old school Yamahas a YZ450 and a IT490 still have my first dirt bike ever a 1973 Suzuki TS 125 Duster we also have a 1973 TS185 and a 1974 TS400. 1984 YZ80 and my 1975 Honda XR75 and my brothers 1979 Honda XL100s and last but not least my 1967 Suzuki K11 Hillbilly 80cc. We've had these 13 bikes for over 25+ years still near pristine mint condition. My favorite was my 1991 Honda XR25OL and I also loved my dad's 250cc Honda Elsinore that almost killed me. They're all stored at my uncle's ranch and he has a massive barn sized room of ours and his dirt bikes from all the years. We have nowhere to store them where we live.
My original tires have become hard as a rock & slick, so I saved the old rubber (as you're doing) when I found a replacement "TW9" (Trail Wing) $110 (Dunlop rear). I purchased mine from the original owner, an Indian Guides pal, my 1980 XL250s has never spent the night out of the garage. As long as Bridgestone keeps producing this 23" dual sport tire, I'll hopefully never need a 21" conversion.
my original yokahoma rear tire is barely worn. it slides out to easy on mud and wet grass. thats why i bought a knobby. i had a spare rim and saved the original complete and put the knobs on the spare rim.the original front tire does well in these conditions.
I've lost count of the bikes I've owned and I consider the XL250 from this era to be the holy grail of off-road motorcycles, forget today's overweight bloated machines that struggle to do anything other than a level track that a car could travel on, these go places no other bike has ever been, I've had just about all the XLs and TLs from the 1970s -1980s, I have Japanese rockhopper now that is going to get an upgrade in CC to 200cc, back in the day these were so common good clean all working and all there bikes were changing hands for a few hundred quid ($200) But now they have rocketed up in price in the UK, selling for up to £6000 for a pristine, restored concourse example, a street legal unbroken bike with 40 years patina will cost you $3K-$4K, absolutely crazy money, everyone whos owned an XL wishes they didn't sell it.
I just bought one running off a buddy pretty cheap lol thought it needed valve seals but starting to think it needs piston rings but all together it’s a fun bike to ride
David i highly agree im old grew up on a farm had many bikes only other bike that could stand close to the perforamance of the xl was a early maco but the macos were 3 times the price and parts are impossible to find hence ill take the dependability and performance of the xl any day
Hello David, love the video. I’m currently looking for bulbs for my 1978 xl250s which was recently converted to 12v. I’ve read that the 1978 is Ac 6v, while the 1982 and up are dc 12v? Would dc 12v bulbs plug and play into the assembly? Or would I look for ac 12v?( or does it not matter at all??) They don’t seem very common, any insight helps thanks.
@@davidbrock4506 I wouldn’t be using led, an older 12v electrical system from the some bike newer year, was curious as if there were any plug and play bulbs. Not necessarily led but maybe I’m misunderstanding? If you had a link to the ones you got I would check them out.
Dave I need your help. I’m helping my friend fix his 1978 xl250s his motor piston broke in a million pieces and he bought a used 1982 xl250r engine to replace it. The problem is it’s 12v instead of 6v. The guy he bought it from is trying to tell us to take the 6v components off and put on the 82 engine. We can’t get the magneto off. We would rather not take the new engine apart yet and would like to change the bike to 12v instead. What all needs done to do this? New bulbs-headlights taillights turn signals instrument clusters New battery -is there. 12v one that fits in the small battery compartment or do we have to get a battery frame from a 82? And a new rectifier/ regulator from an 82? Anything else?? I think it’s easier for us to do electrical work than engine work. You are prob the expert owning several of the same bikes and the 82+ model as well. Please give us your expert guidance
I longed for one of these then I was about 12, they had been around for a few years by then. That 23" wheel was a thing to gawp at. But the TS 185 was faster, lighter and cheaper so I went for the Suzuki. Still envied the thumper sound track of the XL 250. ITO today's equivalent bikes, Honda's CRF 300 is just uninspiring and somehow not a real scrambler although it looks like one, the Kawa KLX300 is a better option imho.
Did you know there's a compression release engineered into the bike for easier kick starting? BTW, my 1980 XL250s has identical tank stickers to your 1978. Did you keep the tailights for both bikes?
i knew that. 1980 should be a darker red tank with a black and white stripe that goes around the tank in in a reverse c shape.i have a 1980 xl 100 also.
Hey Dave. You're kind of the go-to all around electrical/mechanical genius on YT, so i got a question. What would happen if you sped up on a carb bike like this xl, drop it down a gear or 2 and rev it full throttle, cut the ignition. Would that hydrolock the engine? (Not suggestin you do it on this bike. Just seein' if you had done something like that before)
@@davidbrock4506 Thanks man. So no chance of hydrolocking even when pumping the carb pump and pulling on the cholke on a winding down engine with no spark?
These were amazing and this kind of was the ushering end of modern motorcycle technology. On the Honda XL or XR/L versions not much is changed. My personal favorite is an 84 XL 350. It’s still small enough and light enough but has all day wheelie power and I’ve always lived around hills in the 250s aren’t quite enough to get a big guy up and down the hills easily, the 350 is mission just a little more go never mind and helps out on the hills and the freeways, especially if you’re two up or fat. Lol. I drove an 85 XL 600 for a while and loved it but they give me a handful and the 250s and 350s are just very easy to ride you can just jump on it and go there’s not a lot of thinking about it and you don’t have to be too careful, with the 600 if you’re not paying attention years ago it was you can lose control of it pretty quickly. I think the real beginning of it was the 74 and my favorite model the 75 XL 350s. They weren’t quite as much of a dirtbike they sat a little lower but they’re the easiest thing on the planet to drive, it’s kind of a scrambler and in its day it was the hot Enduro bike and praise by all the magazines. It didn’t have much of the newer technology but that was the first time I saw these four valve engines that are still pretty much used, 2023 XR 650 L has pretty much the same engine they were the first motorcycle first, these things have been great bikes for 45 years and you can pay Nine or ten Grand hour for the newer updated CRF versions but they’re not the same. They’re “modern“ and have a bunch of bells and whistles and extra stuff to break but they’re just not built as good. I doubt 40 years from now there’s gonna be a lot of CRF 300 rallies around, But I bet there will be a ton of these 250s and the old 80s excels out they are still chugging along. 83,000‘s a lot I’ve seen an XL 600 with 106,000 miles on it and the guy took care of it and it was still in good shape. They do need maintenance they’re not completely bulletproof but they need very little maintenance as long as you keep your valves adjusted change your oil and air filter these things will go forever. You can usually bore out and upside your piston twice so with rebuilds these things could go 300,000 miles no problem. I love them. My ideal dream bike is a 1984 Honda XL 350 my second bike is gonna be at 75 XL 350 which would be a little easier stretchable version to ride but you can have a fat guy riding his fat friend drive on back and the thing just keeps going no problem I hit pretty good mileage and these old Hondas were built different, quality materials quality metal and they just go forever. Unfortunately everybody knows that so they’ve gotten really expensive now but I always jump on Facebook marketplace or craigslist and start looking around the neighborhood to see if anybody’s got any of these to unload. And not just the Hondas, the XT Yamaha‘s and even some of the Suzuki DR models. A DR 350 SE in the late 90s is a great bike there a couple problems that can break in the engine but you can fix them with a drop of Loctite and hammering the head of a pin to make it mushroom out a little so it doesn’t fall out and they do pretty well but the Hondas are A bit tougher, I just like the SE because it’s an electric start and easy to have Kik and electric start. Lol. That’s one of my dream project some days to add an electric start option to a 1984 XL 350😂
The only problem is that you can't buy parts for it if it breaks because nobody makes anything for the old bikes anymore unfortunately. I have a 1991 Suzuki RM250 and I can't find shit for it. I need a new crankshaft and I don't even know where to look anymore.
@@davidbrock4506 I never find good stuff like that but I still try lol. In your old garbage picking videos I couldn't believe some of the cool things you got for free, not to mention cars. Well that's not how it is here in Maine anyway. Everyone wants top money for old rusted out shit here eh..
@@davidbrock4506 And its really great to hear from you man! I'm glad you still have the cheviac with barbie and her daughter on the hood lol that car was always my favourite one that you had. I actually went out and bought a squarebody Chevrolet caprice classic for $600 because I liked yours so much. And I immediately welded dual straighpipes on it with downturns in the back so it would echo off the road. It was a 1990 and it had a tbi 305 and 2004r automatic transmission. And when the transmission output bushing went bad, I pulled it out and put in a turbo 350 3 speed. A lot like what you did to your white dodge ram 318 truck. But the point is that you taught me how to do that stuff without even knowing and that means a lot to me. I always wanted to go to your farm and meet you back in the day when you were having people over.
Nice Video, I had a 1980 or 1981 XL 250 I gave to my brother. I had the same year 185 XL.I liked it better than the 250, It was great I was in the Army and would go offroad at Ft.Bragg NC. It was great so much fun in the thick sand down there. Great Memories on 4 different Honda Motorcycles while I was in the Military.
Great video Dave. These are the vids i loved about Davidsfarm the most, where it was just you and telling us about the history or all the bikes and cars. You didnt need all of the other crazy things at the farm. I just think all them people took advantage of your farm. Keep up with these videos because they are very informative.
Ya there was two sides to davidsfarm - the teaching and informative side for gearheads - and the crazy amusement park side for the drunks and other crazy idiots. lol
It's nice to not have to listen to Rick the amazing living boneman laughing isn't it? Guy sounded like skeletor..he was so annoying!
you should be awarded something from utube for the people that watch all the new stuff becuse of watching your old stuff
I missed these video's for about 10 years. Awesome! Keep up with more content! Cheers from Poland!
My parents bought a '77 civic new, so I spent lots of time wandering the showroom and picking up brochures in those years. Back then, Honda dealers sold cars and bikes and other stuff all in the same dealership. I probably saw this model bike brand new on the showroom floor!
Nice! I was looking up some info on these as a low cost trail runner bike, I was a big Daves farm fan back in the day, the multiple car field races were great! Fixing that big dozer you had, good times.
I’m not a motorbike fan but you have a knack for making any subject interesting.
I love everything Honda. Cars, bikes, generators. They just make top quality things.
So nostalgic I’m glad you’re back Dave
I had one these when I was about 14 to 18. Il now soon be 39. Long cool story about how I got it, but I give short version, about how ppl thought it was trashed and I got it free, brought it home , cut muffler off,(it was clogged so bad it's unreal, also turns out that's why it wouldn't crank or run) and I cranked it up after cut off clogged muffler and new sparkplug and it ran perfect ever since, put on a loud supertrap racing muffler, took off all blinkers and put new dirt bike tires on front and back, and my dad put a diff front and rear sprocket set on it better for trail riding and new front forks and rear shocks. I LOVED tht bike. My fave I ever had. And I got my first dirt bike at 6 yo.
I had a 1978 xl250 in 1993-1996. The engine bent a rod and I ended up getting another 1984 xl250r after I could not locate an engine. Sold it to go to college in 1998 for $1200 for rent deposit. 25 years later I purchased a 1987 xl250r with the red/white/blue last month. The 1978 is the one I still remember riding most and enjoyed through my youth. I'm nostagic and I know the RFVC bikes have more power (e.g. 1983+) . I loved cruising my first one at 70mph with a motorcycle permit at 15 1/2 years. Lots of memories riding these bikes with friends in high school. Would love to collect them all and get my son on one.
i also have another 78 with a big bore kit and xr cam. it is faster than my 87 xl250r.i like it more too.
I love Nothing but Hondas powered motorcycles I my be getting a 1971 Sl250 honda dirtbike this week fingers crossed
Both are beautiful diamonds ❤😮
I’m 65 now. I bought a brand new 1978 XL250 in Hawaii when I was stationed there when I was 19. I put a Super Trap exhaust and a Preston Petty front fender on it. Stock otherwise. I rode that bike everywhere.
When I got out of the Army a year later I had it shipped back to California. I kept it about 6 more months and I traded it to my buddy +$700 cash for his 1970 Ford Bronco.
It was a good bike. I used to lean that bike over so far over into turns it was crazy.
I ride a Husky FE501S these days.
No you never lad stop telling lies lad
Dave showed me how to ride this when I first came to the farm. Awesome bikes
I just bought this exact one on Monday because you like them so much
Hi i know exactly where you coming from about these bikes I'm in the UK trying to save as many as possible I think they are a very special and so cool.
Hello Dave. i always wait and watch your video ever since yes also that 10years ago, that fixing small engines. learned a lot from it. thank you for sharing. always have fun always youthful, stay at shape, wine is good.
cheers from Philippines.
I had 1 in high-school..ohhh during summer vacation..I'd only come home to sleep...all day riding the trails n going 2 the swim hole
I own an '81 xl250s and so understand and agree with all said. It's got the sound and just runs so well and is easy to handle but don't underestimate that torque as it'll buckaroo you off if uncontrolled.
Road this bike as a young man the year this bike came out,❤ loved it. Now I have found another one. What a mess of wiring to fix.😢
But it will ride again verry soon.
Love these old bikes Dave, I'm a Honda motorcycle man myself. Started out in an 84 z50 when I was 6 and worked my way up to an 05 250x that has had some motor work done so now it's a 300. I'll never ride anything other than Honda motorcycles, I've ridden others but there's nothing more reliable than a Honda bike. I'd live to own one of these nowadays! Unfortunately my 250 isn't street legal due to emissions bullshit even though it has head/taillights. Really want to get a 450L, I waited for so many years for Honda to make a streetlegal water cooled dual sport and I'm glad they finally have, even though they're too expensive for my budget lol.
We bought one brand new last year and filled the entire engine with spring water to see how long it would take to rust and sieze everything up lol!!
As a teenager I had a new 79 XL250, I had trouble with the frame in front of the engine from jumping the bike, seems to me I had some welding repair done as a result, the engine was reliable but I thought it was underpowered, it would not power wheelie first gear from what I remember.
Great bike!
Feel same way. Bought a badly abused. 84 XR200 new oil / filters. running well. Japanese quality ✅
I am buying an 81 xl250S on saturday and I cannot wait!
What a beauty, and the bikes are cool too.
I just bought the same bike, awesome machine.
it will last you the rest of your life.
@@davidbrock4506 That is my plan.
@@davidbrock4506 hi Dave i’ll like the new bike I saw one somewhere for sale they were selling it for $900 I should’ve grabbed it and bring it to the farm but I’ll fix it first but sold to fast with that price
DAVE BROTHER I MISSED YOU VERY MUCH. LOVE SUPPORT AND RESPECT ALWAYS BROTHER!!! I have the exact same thing a 1978 Honda XL250(5) for 5 speed which was my 2nd bike my brother's 1979 Honda XL100S and my 1988 Suzuki RM250 and my dad's has 2 old school Yamahas a YZ450 and a IT490 still have my first dirt bike ever a 1973 Suzuki TS 125 Duster we also have a 1973 TS185 and a 1974 TS400. 1984 YZ80 and my 1975 Honda XR75 and my brothers 1979 Honda XL100s and last but not least my 1967 Suzuki K11 Hillbilly 80cc. We've had these 13 bikes for over 25+ years still near pristine mint condition. My favorite was my 1991 Honda XR25OL and I also loved my dad's 250cc Honda Elsinore that almost killed me. They're all stored at my uncle's ranch and he has a massive barn sized room of ours and his dirt bikes from all the years. We have nowhere to store them where we live.
Great video
Nice bikes. I love these old Honda's
farm looks nice Dave
My original tires have become hard as a rock & slick, so I saved the old rubber (as you're doing) when I found a replacement "TW9" (Trail Wing) $110 (Dunlop rear). I purchased mine from the original owner, an Indian Guides pal, my 1980 XL250s has never spent the night out of the garage. As long as Bridgestone keeps producing this 23" dual sport tire, I'll hopefully never need a 21" conversion.
my original yokahoma rear tire is barely worn. it slides out to easy on mud and wet grass. thats why i bought a knobby. i had a spare rim and saved the original complete and put the knobs on the spare rim.the original front tire does well in these conditions.
love this kind of videos dave!
Love the video Dave, if you have the dozer still may you please do another update on it and show us how it works for us new subscribers?
the dozer does work great still.
@@davidbrock4506 that's good, at least she's a good runner for you
@@davidbrock4506 you’re not old Dave you still look good for your age
Man that thing is mint. It would be worth some serious money the way bikes are expensive lately
I've lost count of the bikes I've owned and I consider the XL250 from this era to be the holy grail of off-road motorcycles, forget today's overweight bloated machines that struggle to do anything other than a level track that a car could travel on, these go places no other bike has ever been, I've had just about all the XLs and TLs from the 1970s -1980s, I have Japanese rockhopper now that is going to get an upgrade in CC to 200cc, back in the day these were so common good clean all working and all there bikes were changing hands for a few hundred quid ($200) But now they have rocketed up in price in the UK, selling for up to £6000 for a pristine, restored concourse example, a street legal unbroken bike with 40 years patina will cost you $3K-$4K, absolutely crazy money, everyone whos owned an XL wishes they didn't sell it.
awsome Dave plz dont stop making videos
Thanks for the vids dave
I'd love to have a bike just like that they really are the best enduro
nice motor bikes you there I have never rode a motor bike but I have rode several mopeds I would like to learn how to ride though
I just bought one running off a buddy pretty cheap lol thought it needed valve seals but starting to think it needs piston rings but all together it’s a fun bike to ride
Nice angle rear shocks
Kind of reminds me of my 1972 ct 175 enduro 2 stroke
Hoe Lee Chit!!! youre back in action buddy!!! sweet!! i use to watch your videos years and years ago!!!😎
David i highly agree im old grew up on a farm had many bikes only other bike that could stand close to the perforamance of the xl was a early maco but the macos were 3 times the price and parts are impossible to find hence ill take the dependability and performance of the xl any day
Hello David, love the video. I’m currently looking for bulbs for my 1978 xl250s which was recently converted to 12v. I’ve read that the 1978 is Ac 6v, while the 1982 and up are dc 12v? Would dc 12v bulbs plug and play into the assembly? Or would I look for ac 12v?( or does it not matter at all??) They don’t seem very common, any insight helps thanks.
you cant use ac on led bulb replacements.
if you ad one diode to an ac line it clips the wave to cut the voltage in half back to 6v.
@@davidbrock4506 I wouldn’t be using led, an older 12v electrical system from the some bike newer year, was curious as if there were any plug and play bulbs. Not necessarily led but maybe I’m misunderstanding? If you had a link to the ones you got I would check them out.
if your head light and all other bulbs are 6v, then add a diode to 12v ac and it will make it 6v dc.bulbs dont care for ac or dc.
@@davidbrock4506interesting, I think I’m going to try, where did you get your diode? I’m unfamiliar.
All the grass on the farm now. Use to be all dirt...
Makes me want a 70s xl haha
I wonder if it was just that year, or if future models are just as nice.
future models were to much like a dirt bike . stiff rides , hard seats.
Good vid Dave.i was hoping you was just messing with the haters when you said you wasn’t going to do anymore vids.cheers and beers 👍
He said no more crazy stunts. He said he will still make videos when he has something interesting to show us.
yeah ! you tell em!
Dave I need your help. I’m helping my friend fix his 1978 xl250s his motor piston broke in a million pieces and he bought a used 1982 xl250r engine to replace it. The problem is it’s 12v instead of 6v. The guy he bought it from is trying to tell us to take the 6v components off and put on the 82 engine. We can’t get the magneto off. We would rather not take the new engine apart yet and would like to change the bike to 12v instead. What all needs done to do this?
New bulbs-headlights taillights turn signals instrument clusters
New battery -is there. 12v one that fits in the small battery compartment or do we have to get a battery frame from a 82?
And a new rectifier/ regulator from an 82?
Anything else?? I think it’s easier for us to do electrical work than engine work. You are prob the expert owning several of the same bikes and the 82+ model as well. Please give us your expert guidance
just need regulator , bulbs and battery. the 12v battery is bigger, horn too.
Thank you Dave
What bulbs do I get. Stumped on that one. Should I get bulbs from an 82?
@@mikecampbell3835 i bought my led conversion bulbs on ebay.
Had a 79 250xr still beat myself up over selling it
Hey you got two, can I come up and ride one??? I wonder if interpol will let me cross the border🤣
I longed for one of these then I was about 12, they had been around for a few years by then. That 23" wheel was a thing to gawp at. But the TS 185 was faster, lighter and cheaper so I went for the Suzuki. Still envied the thumper sound track of the XL 250. ITO today's equivalent bikes, Honda's CRF 300 is just uninspiring and somehow not a real scrambler although it looks like one, the Kawa KLX300 is a better option imho.
i have one too
Do you apply your own antirust on your vans and bikes?
not on the bikes. i do a bit on my vans.
@@davidbrock4506 cool, so do I, what do you use?
Is that the one Rick swamped in the creek and got water all in the crankcase, then didn't tell you about it?
yup.
I just got one in a sorry state I am in the process of rebuilding
I have a Honda XL 80 in the garage.
I've still got our family's xl75 minibike. Nice bike. Will never part with it. Bought it new in '77 I think.
@@yoyo762 My XL80 is light enough to put in the boat and pack my 200 lb @ss up logging roads right to the snow line in mountains in July!
Did you know there's a compression release engineered into the bike for easier kick starting? BTW, my 1980 XL250s has identical tank stickers to your 1978. Did you keep the tailights for both bikes?
i knew that. 1980 should be a darker red tank with a black and white stripe that goes around the tank in in a reverse c shape.i have a 1980 xl 100 also.
What a cool bike how long have you had it and do you still ride it 😃
Hey Dave. You're kind of the go-to all around electrical/mechanical genius on YT, so i got a question. What would happen if you sped up on a carb bike like this xl, drop it down a gear or 2 and rev it full throttle, cut the ignition. Would that hydrolock the engine? (Not suggestin you do it on this bike. Just seein' if you had done something like that before)
you cannot hydrolock any motor without adding a lot fluid.
@@davidbrock4506 Thanks man. So no chance of hydrolocking even when pumping the carb pump and pulling on the cholke on a winding down engine with no spark?
@@ChuddleBuggy impossible.
@@davidbrock4506 thank you sir!
Any idea what gas mileage these things typically get?
60 to a 100 miles per canadian gallon
These were amazing and this kind of was the ushering end of modern motorcycle technology. On the Honda XL or XR/L versions not much is changed. My personal favorite is an 84 XL 350. It’s still small enough and light enough but has all day wheelie power and I’ve always lived around hills in the 250s aren’t quite enough to get a big guy up and down the hills easily, the 350 is mission just a little more go never mind and helps out on the hills and the freeways, especially if you’re two up or fat. Lol. I drove an 85 XL 600 for a while and loved it but they give me a handful and the 250s and 350s are just very easy to ride you can just jump on it and go there’s not a lot of thinking about it and you don’t have to be too careful, with the 600 if you’re not paying attention years ago it was you can lose control of it pretty quickly. I think the real beginning of it was the 74 and my favorite model the 75 XL 350s. They weren’t quite as much of a dirtbike they sat a little lower but they’re the easiest thing on the planet to drive, it’s kind of a scrambler and in its day it was the hot Enduro bike and praise by all the magazines. It didn’t have much of the newer technology but that was the first time I saw these four valve engines that are still pretty much used, 2023 XR 650 L has pretty much the same engine they were the first motorcycle first, these things have been great bikes for 45 years and you can pay Nine or ten Grand hour for the newer updated CRF versions but they’re not the same. They’re “modern“ and have a bunch of bells and whistles and extra stuff to break but they’re just not built as good. I doubt 40 years from now there’s gonna be a lot of CRF 300 rallies around, But I bet there will be a ton of these 250s and the old 80s excels out they are still chugging along. 83,000‘s a lot I’ve seen an XL 600 with 106,000 miles on it and the guy took care of it and it was still in good shape. They do need maintenance they’re not completely bulletproof but they need very little maintenance as long as you keep your valves adjusted change your oil and air filter these things will go forever. You can usually bore out and upside your piston twice so with rebuilds these things could go 300,000 miles no problem. I love them. My ideal dream bike is a 1984 Honda XL 350 my second bike is gonna be at 75 XL 350 which would be a little easier stretchable version to ride but you can have a fat guy riding his fat friend drive on back and the thing just keeps going no problem I hit pretty good mileage and these old Hondas were built different, quality materials quality metal and they just go forever. Unfortunately everybody knows that so they’ve gotten really expensive now but I always jump on Facebook marketplace or craigslist and start looking around the neighborhood to see if anybody’s got any of these to unload. And not just the Hondas, the XT Yamaha‘s and even some of the Suzuki DR models. A DR 350 SE in the late 90s is a great bike there a couple problems that can break in the engine but you can fix them with a drop of Loctite and hammering the head of a pin to make it mushroom out a little so it doesn’t fall out and they do pretty well but the Hondas are A bit tougher, I just like the SE because it’s an electric start and easy to have Kik and electric start. Lol. That’s one of my dream project some days to add an electric start option to a 1984 XL 350😂
Hello David
The only problem is that you can't buy parts for it if it breaks because nobody makes anything for the old bikes anymore unfortunately. I have a 1991 Suzuki RM250 and I can't find shit for it. I need a new crankshaft and I don't even know where to look anymore.
one bike i bought came boxes and boxes of parts for bikes the same. i can also find any parts on ebay used.
@@davidbrock4506 I never find good stuff like that but I still try lol. In your old garbage picking videos I couldn't believe some of the cool things you got for free, not to mention cars. Well that's not how it is here in Maine anyway. Everyone wants top money for old rusted out shit here eh..
@@davidbrock4506 And its really great to hear from you man! I'm glad you still have the cheviac with barbie and her daughter on the hood lol that car was always my favourite one that you had. I actually went out and bought a squarebody Chevrolet caprice classic for $600 because I liked yours so much. And I immediately welded dual straighpipes on it with downturns in the back so it would echo off the road. It was a 1990 and it had a tbi 305 and 2004r automatic transmission. And when the transmission output bushing went bad, I pulled it out and put in a turbo 350 3 speed. A lot like what you did to your white dodge ram 318 truck. But the point is that you taught me how to do that stuff without even knowing and that means a lot to me. I always wanted to go to your farm and meet you back in the day when you were having people over.
Must be Canadian? 🤔
Seat srtap is in the wrong place should be on the shocker tops
When is your birthday buddy
the 25Th
@@davidbrock4506 September 25th
Do you still have the redneck roller coaster and redneck rollercoaster Astro van?
He still has the Astro van redneck roller coaster
I have a 250xls 1980
Hoe Lee Chit!!! youre back in action buddy!!! sweet!! i use to watch your videos years and years ago!!!