spoke with my wallet ( is this how its done...?? ) anyway.....really old new bike

dirtnapper
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dirtnapper
Edited Date/Time 5/25/2016 8:19am
Tongue

OK OK some of you may laugh, but this bike, a 1984 XR350R has been on my wish list all my adult life. I knew a guy who had one when I was about 12 and I thought that thing was just about the best bike there was. I have always loved Hondas orange, blue and yellow colors on these years of bikes - to me, that is Honda.

I have keeping an eye on the area Buy n Sells for a few month now and this one popped up yesterday and its now mine today!

It needs a little work ( front brake caliper, new cables, new levers ) but the thing has good compression, doesn't smoke a bit, no leaks, nothing dirty - its actually one of the cleanest 32 year old bikes I have seen. All original plastic and seat, but new bars and new tires. It has a monsterous growl and just feels good!

I'm a happy guy right now, finally have the bike of my childhood dreams WinkLaughing

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Cygnus
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Cygnus 5/13/2016 7:07pm
5/13/2016 7:07pm Edited Date/Time 5/13/2016 7:07pm
Nice find. I bought an 83 500 basket case back in 93-4 for 100$. Put it all back together and gave it to my father in law for his place in Mexico. Think he still has it. They are great trail bikes.
kzizok
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kzizok 5/13/2016 7:19pm
5/13/2016 7:19pm
Your last sentence is what it is all about!
ledger
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ledger 5/13/2016 10:29pm
5/13/2016 10:29pm
Good on you, always cool to bring the past back to the present, totally agree on the colors, specially when the sun shines just right and she glows, (seems mushy :laughSmile Anyway, congrats on a great look'n bike, take good care of her.

The Shop

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Jimmy_Sloan
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Jimmy_Sloan 5/13/2016 10:56pm
5/13/2016 10:56pm Edited Date/Time 5/13/2016 10:56pm
Damn, that's a clean bike! Nice one, enjoy. The bike I want to get and restore is an '88 YZ125.
Sidecar
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Sidecar 5/13/2016 11:23pm
5/13/2016 11:23pm
My wife has an XR 250, she wanted a crf 150 but rode an xr and it's perfect for her, my son is 13 and growing rapidly, too big for his 85cc and not ready for a 250f yet so I picked up another xr 250 2 days ago.
C-Rock
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C-Rock 5/14/2016 1:35am
5/14/2016 1:35am
These were great bikes back in the day... Nice find!
Have fun!
chump6784
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chump6784 5/14/2016 3:31am
5/14/2016 3:31am
The term speaking with your wallet was originally termed by those saying that those who wish 2 strokes would return should "speak with their wallets" and buy brand new two strokes rather than rebuild old ones so that the mfg's would see the demand for two strokes. So technically speaking you didn't speak with your wallet but congratulations on buying a bike on your wish list
Rdubs19
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Rdubs19 5/14/2016 4:41am
5/14/2016 4:41am
The engine on that thing is going to outlive your great great great grandchildren
TailSoHard
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TailSoHard 5/14/2016 6:24am
5/14/2016 6:24am
My Dad bought a year-old 1986 XR250 back in the day and raced enduros with it for years. That thing is amazing, he still has it! The first time he took the top end apart was in 2006, and everything was absolutely perfect inside still.

I know it sounds cliche, but they damn sure don't make them like that anymore...
endurox
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endurox 5/14/2016 7:09am
5/14/2016 7:09am
Had an 83 350 back in the day. Thing ran hot until I sent the carbs to Al Baker and he installed a pumper kit on the carbs. Also made an airscoop to keep temps down. Like the sound that rvhs valve train made. Stock clutch springs acted like traction control on super tacky dirt. Enjoy your 350.
Cygnus
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Cygnus 5/14/2016 7:19am
5/14/2016 7:19am Edited Date/Time 5/14/2016 7:20am
I forgot to add I've always been decent at wheelies but that 500 was a wheelie machine. Could ride one while shifting and go for a mile or more.
Trav138
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Trav138 5/14/2016 8:15am
5/14/2016 8:15am
Bike will last another 32 years I'm sure
Looks good, enjoy!
newmann
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newmann 5/14/2016 9:38am
5/14/2016 9:38am
Nice find! There was a guy here in Texas who used to have one and came to ride with our vintage group. I think most people chuckled at the thought of it in the Ultima classes until he went out and beat everyone's asses on it. The guy could ride really good. Good times!
bents
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bents 5/14/2016 12:24pm
5/14/2016 12:24pm
Great find. Enjoy. Looks to be mint.
motogeezer
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motogeezer 5/14/2016 12:33pm
5/14/2016 12:33pm
Good find!

A buddy of mine picked one of those up a few years back.

Quite the bomb-proof machine.

I hate to say it, but his was also missing the front caliper, and he had a hell of a time finding one.

I hope you don't have as much trouble as he did.


nascarnate326 5/14/2016 6:59pm
5/14/2016 6:59pm
I had an 84 XL350...loved that bike!!! It was heavy but it never left me stranded.
dirtnapper
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dirtnapper 5/16/2016 7:16am
5/16/2016 7:16am
chump6784 wrote:
The term speaking with your wallet was originally termed by those saying that those who wish 2 strokes would return should "speak with their wallets" and...
The term speaking with your wallet was originally termed by those saying that those who wish 2 strokes would return should "speak with their wallets" and buy brand new two strokes rather than rebuild old ones so that the mfg's would see the demand for two strokes. So technically speaking you didn't speak with your wallet but congratulations on buying a bike on your wish list
Yeah I'm quite aware of what the whole term means....hence the "am I doing this right?" Wink

Just having some fun.

Pit Row

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dirtnapper
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dirtnapper 5/16/2016 7:18am
5/16/2016 7:18am
motogeezer wrote:
Good find! A buddy of mine picked one of those up a few years back. Quite the bomb-proof machine. I hate to say it, but his...
Good find!

A buddy of mine picked one of those up a few years back.

Quite the bomb-proof machine.

I hate to say it, but his was also missing the front caliper, and he had a hell of a time finding one.

I hope you don't have as much trouble as he did.


I've already sourced one out from a company in Edmonton who deals in old bike parts! I actually have a pretty good resource list of dealers in the Province who can get parts for the old machines, the guy I bought it from could not have been any more friendly and helpful!
Krazyk2774
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Krazyk2774 5/16/2016 9:07am
5/16/2016 9:07am
I have the same bike sitting in my shed waiting for a resto . I bought it for my brother back in about 98 , it had dropped a valve, so we fixed it up and he rode it for a couple years until he got a new WR426. I don't know which one was harder to start hot, but I never seen a more evil kick back on a bike than that old XR . It would dam near break your leg when it did it. I wouldn't even look at her without riding boots on ! lol
dirtnapper
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dirtnapper 5/24/2016 8:56pm
5/24/2016 8:56pm
Ride update:

I took this beast for a chew on some trails north of town - I was very surprised at the power this thing makes, wow! For being a 32 year old bike it still packs a good punch!

I can't wait to fix er up just a bit, I think I'm really going to love having this bike around. Smile
APLMAN99
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APLMAN99 5/25/2016 7:56am
5/25/2016 7:56am
I had real issues with the dual carb model, but when tuned correctly I really loved riding trails with mine. Had some difficulty learning the starting drill on it too, but it was my first bigger four stroke at the time.
1911
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1911 5/25/2016 8:06am
5/25/2016 8:06am
Great bike, looks fun!
Frodad78
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Frodad78 5/25/2016 8:19am
5/25/2016 8:19am Edited Date/Time 5/25/2016 8:20am
We had 2 of those run through our family, they both had the same problem with blowing out the base gasket. I guess those suckers make alot of compression. They low center of gravity on them make it a blast on the tight trails.

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