29th Nov 2007, 11:02

Get plenty of training into your right leg - starting can be a problem, but a great tip is to remove the resistor from the plug cap and replace with a piece of bolt. A two minute job and gives a much better spark, and makes starting a lot easier!

26th Dec 2007, 16:20

I have an 1983 Honda XL600R that was given to me. It had carb. problems so I pulled the carbs. to rebuild them. Now that I am putting the bike back together, I forgot how the throttle cables were ran. Does any one know where I can find a parts breakdown on-line, or a service manual to purchase? Let me know at my email anarchyn00dlez@gmail.com.

Thank you very much for your time.

29th Feb 2008, 14:35

I take it the cables are still on the bike?

If so, carefully inspect the length of the cables. The longer one goes on the rearmost throttle.

6th Dec 2008, 20:14

I own a 1987 model and enjoy riding it all year round. But people keep telling me that the 86 model was the last model to come overseas to be sold at dealerships. They say the 87 XL600 is strictly a Japan bike unless you order it from a dealership in Japan. Do you know if this is true?

19th Jan 2009, 19:31

I have a 1986 Honda XL600R and it's a blast to ride. I also have a YZ 125, but I still feel the 600 is a better ride.

4th Feb 2009, 10:40

I work with the US Army in Iraq.

I need transportation around the base. I bought a 1985 XL600R sight unseen and had it delivered to my home. My wife dis-mantled it and put it in 11 boxes and sent it to me here via US mail.

It had 37,000 miles and the engine had previously been worked on and mis-assembled. The kickstart idler gear had been installed backwards and it had chewed up the back of the clutch basket. The cam chain tensioner had been mis-assembled and had shoved aside the rubber camchain tensioner ramp, so the tensioner was sawing directly on the back of the timing chain and was ruined.

After correctly assembling the idler gear and fabricating a manual timing chain tensioner, it runs great and even though the piston is showing a TON of wear, there is so little compression that I do not have to use a compression release to kick it over.

It runs fine and I have put 4500 miles on it just doing my job here. If a new thumper lasts this long (24 years) it would be a good deal.

20th Apr 2009, 03:03

I had a 86 model XL 600R for 3 years and found it unbreakable. I put 55,000 km`s per year on it. I rode it mostly on the freeway sitting on a constant 120 km/h. Top speed achieved was 180 km/h. I also rode it from Sydney to Melbourne... once. It saw plenty of off road riding as well and although it weighed a hefty 180 kg`s, the great torque made it feel more like 120. if I could find another one in good condition, I would buy it instantly.

14th May 2009, 10:28

I have a 87 XL600R. I love my baby.

Busy spending some on it right now, new piston, con-rod and bearings. Will be good for another 22 years. Just can't beat em.

27th May 2009, 13:56

Hi just in the process of buying an 86 XL 600. Are parts still easily available for these bikes? Thank you.

15th Jun 2009, 15:05

I have had my 83 for about a year now and love it. I bought mine for $200 and wasn't running, newish carbs and air filter box, piston and rings and head worked on, and it runs perfect. One kick, starts hot or cold, and crazy torque and power for a 600. Get parts from cyclepartswarehouse.com as they are cheapest, and you will love this bike.

Only negative is the suspension, they bottom hard if you like to get air, but that can be fixed with and XR600 shock (older models with remote reservoir) and some 83-89 CR500 forks. This bike, no matter the year, is worth whatever you pay for it, the new 650's are a joke. I had a new (later 2000's) XL650R try to race me the other day, and he must have been annoyed, as he got completely left behind by a stock 83 XL600.

They won't be around forever, get one while you can.

17th Sep 2009, 22:55

I bought a used 86 XL 600R in 1988 and still have it today. I love it! The only thing I wish I could change about it is, it's very difficult to start if I haven't started it in awhile. It rides great on and off road. Still looks great!!! Very well built!!! Will NEVER sell it!!!

20th Sep 2009, 05:19

I have an XL 600r Paris Dakar. It's very good bike and easy to maintain, but I need a fuel tank. The one I have is corroded. In Zanzibar we don't get the parts, please help.

22nd Oct 2009, 15:44

I have a 87 XL that I bought, but I'm having a problem with my electrical system. I can't get a spark. Does anyone know what it could be?

4th Nov 2009, 08:05

Check your voltage on your stator, sometimes a problem. I live in Ontario.

24th Sep 2010, 05:31

I just bought a 1986 600XL with 4000 original miles on it... man this ol' fella is hard to start! I may have to sell it due to my damaged (jet ski dislocation injury) right knee. Man, I like this bike, but it's killin' my knee to kick it... I'm 55 years young.

26th Sep 2010, 15:37

^

Are you making SURE that you are just passed TDC,

and that your hand is NOT AT ALL moving the throttle?

26th Dec 2010, 13:47

I have a 86 XL600R, and need to know the starting sequence. It's kicked back on me 3 times now, and the last time it did, it tore my tennis shoe in half, leaving a blood blister on the arch of my foot. What stroke is the auto-comp release supposed to engage, so I can start to pump-up the next charge? Please help, this isn't fun anymore. The bike has less than 7k miles, and I want to sell it as soon as I finish restoring it.

18th Aug 2011, 09:16

I read the comments of all riders of XL600R. I have 2 XL600s. One R and one LM with electric starter. Great bikes.. 25 years without opening it to fix the engines.. unbelievable..

https://www.facebook.com/pages/HONDA-XL600LMRMR/184881341565955

Join the XL600 on Facebook for any help or parts you need.

8th Nov 2011, 11:07

Not sure if this is too late to help, but having had an 83 XL600R for three months, my genius of a mechanic showed me the way. From cold or hot.; Stick her on the stand. Pull the decompressor in and kick the bike over 4-5 times with the throttle full open. (Don't bother with the choke as that seems to do precisely that, and choke her).

Kick her gently to find TDC, and then just kick her gently just past TDC, or by pulling the decompressor in, you can just ease her gently past TDC.

Stand up and give her a long kick right through. My worst is four goes, but usually 1st or 2nd go does it. Definitely never touch the throttle - which takes a lot of getting used to. Holding front brake hard down helps with that. When she was taken in for an MOT, my mechanic went back to get her, only to find that they had spent 90 minutes trying and failing to get her going. He rather smugly got her started first go. Egg on face...

Cheers, Joel 11/11/11.