An old friend comes home for X-mas!

[OnAnySunday]

After what seemed like an eternity, the local "vintage bike master" found an '82 xr500 head.
Just got it put together, and had her out for a spin.
(didnt matter to me that it's only 27 degrees out, i was all over town with her)
It's so good of a feeling to have an old friend back.
(obsolete or not)

She runs even better than before with the XR head!
(i actually got teary eyed when i heard her start up again!)
Richard Elsesser, if your reading this, many thanks again and God bless!
He's a great mechanic and loves to keep old iron running.
:ride:

 

[TRexRacing]

Cool.Old bikes are fun too.

 

[2strokerfun]

That is one cool old bike!

 

[jackflack44]

Sweet. :)

 

[zrxrider]

Nice! I had a '79? XR500 5-6 years ago. It was the duel shock model. Man, what a beast that was.

 

[OnAnySunday]

Just a f.y.i. to vintage Xr guys.

The '82 top ends were unique.
The shape of the valve cover where it meets the head is different than a '79 to '81.
The '82 has a sqaure corner the earlier ones had a rounded edge.
They would interchange exept for that.

BUT '82 XL & XR will interchange.
The only difference is the XR has a reedvalve head (like a 2 stroke).
And it apparently makes a difference in low speed tourque.
It wheelies like it never did before!
Top end seems no different.

PS: If anyone needs a '79-'81 head, ive got a nice one for sale! :)

 

[boardwine62]

Old friends are never obsolete my friend and are worth shedding a tear. When I ride my Hodaka I am more at home than on any other bike I own despite grossly overloading it with 46 years of overeating!

 

[schmanman]

wow! that was when four strokes were built to last, without valve adjustments every two rides! :nener:

 

[OnAnySunday]

Old friends are never obsolete my friend and are worth shedding a tear.

Yea, it's kinda funny how we sometimes get attached to old rusty machines.
I often think of my old 125, and how i regret selling it.
I thought the 500 was done for good, and suddenly we found the old xr head.
Just had it out last night in fact. Got a new battery and new front tube (flat tire) and took her out on the highway.
She pulls 85 mph pretty easily now, but i dont want to push it too much further just yet.
Just glad to have the old slab of iron back!

speaking of that old xl125..........

always had a "thing" for Honda XL's! :)