View Full Version : Restoring 1972 Honda XL 250
Blue90LXSupercharged
05-08-2006, 12:13 AM
I am getting my dads old bike that has been sitting in storage for the past 15 years or so. It is complete, just needs cleaning up. He used to race motocross way backin the day on this bike Lol. He was going to give it away but I told him I wanted it. Hell, I learned how to ride this bike before I could a bicycle! Anyway, is there anybody that is familiar with this bike that can shoot me a few pointers on what I should to get it running? He did nothing as far long term storing plans. Just stopped ridding it and put it away.. gas in tank and all. same oil too.
Thanks
Doug
the spindoctor
05-08-2006, 01:08 AM
dude, i just picked up my old '74 xl100 from my dads house last week. been sitting about 10 years and i just started messing with it today.
i'd start with the basics:
-clean out gas tank, carb, fuel lines and petcock.
-check points for corrosion and adjustment
-new spark plug
-change oil and clean filter screen
-new battery (its 6v, so don't put a 12v charger on it!)
-check for corrosion on all battery, rectifier, and coil connections
i have the manual for it if you need some info on it. parts are cheap for these bikes, but kind of hard to come by.
http://www.denniskirk.com actually has some parts for it, and i got some points, and forks seals from http://vmopro.com/ for cheap. there are a few companies on ebay that sell rebuild kits for the carbs, improved rectifiers, and other stuff. just need to look around for it. there are a lot of phillips head screws that get stripped out really easy, but they sell most of them at home depot. i don't know what size tires you've got, but the front on mine seems to be a bitch to find. apparently 19" tires aren't that common. :confused:
FastFord19
05-08-2006, 09:44 AM
about 5 years ago I owned two 72xl 250s. One was complete and ran great. the other was just a parts bike. I rode it around on the streets up to about 80mph and i even took it to red river one time :p
ram57ta
05-08-2006, 05:23 PM
DAMN thats an old Honda trail bike. Years and years ago I bought a 75 XL250 at a garage sale for 25 bucks with no title....but it had been sitting outside for years and years. I never got it running :( and eventually scrapped it out. Some day I will probably end up with a good running street legal 4 stroke enduro.
Blue90LXSupercharged
05-08-2006, 09:35 PM
Thanks for the replies guys.
yes it is an old bike. I am almost 40 now. I was 5 when my dad was racing this bike. I am hoping to get it running and looking good to ride with my brother. He has our grandfathers cherry Yamaha 350?? Not sure of the year. Maybe late 70s'. When he bought it from our grandmother after our g/f died it only had about 500miles on it.
thanks
Doug
the spindoctor
05-09-2006, 04:58 AM
http://www.xlintperformance.com/index.htm lots of good info
http://www.batescycle.com/ local junkyard (garland)
the spindoctor
05-21-2006, 11:18 PM
a pic of my XL100. after doing the stuff above, it started on the 2nd kick, but its running really rich. i've got a carb rebuild kit on the way, along with new points, fork seals, fuel shutoff, and i need to weld a new muffler on it. i'll probably strip it and paint the frame, then put some new more modern fenders on it. should make a good pit bike, or something to go goofing around on in the country.
http://www.sportbikespeed.com/pics/xl100.jpg
mikeb
05-21-2006, 11:48 PM
a pic of my XL100. after doing the stuff above, it started on the 2nd kick, but its running really rich. i've got a carb rebuild kit on the way, along with new points, fork seals, fuel shutoff, and i need to weld a new muffler on it. i'll probably strip it and paint the frame, then put some new more modern fenders on it. should make a good pit bike, or something to go goofing around on in the country.
http://www.sportbikespeed.com/pics/xl100.jpg
Man that bike brings back some memories of my youth lol....... When that thing was new I was about 10 years old, was motorcycle crazy, and had all of the honda posters from the bike mags hanging on my bedroom walls. Back when cycle magazine actually did articles on dirt bikes :eek: Buddy of mine had a SL 100 that looked just like that as I recall, except it was painted red.
You need an impact driver to properly remove those phillips screws. Anything else will just round them out. And even with an impact driver you'll still run across the occasional screw that just won't come out.
<--wrenched at a yamaha dealer as a young man
vBulletin® v3.8.1, Copyright ©2000-2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.