The Honda XL80s is part of Honda’s dual-purpose family. A family so big that it traces it roots all the way to the early 70s and late 60s. Although the XL name was first used in 1974 as the successor of the SL series, the XL name is mostly known as the road legal version of its XR predecessor. Even though we could be talking all day about Honda’s endless motorcycle line ups, let me take you through a very special XL to me. One of the first motorcycles I ever had the chance to wrench on and also the personal love project of this blog’s co-founder.
I am saying love project for a reason. This is the exact state of the motorcycle when it was found. From its original owner! After having a tough life as a motorcycle that was used daily around the field’s and also used to cover large distances from the village to the city, the XL’s rear hub gave up. The owner then decided to give the motorcycle an overhaul but after taking it apart he lost interest in it. Therefore, it stayed in this very condition for almost 20 years!
But this didn’t stop the new owner from restoring this classic dual-purpose motorcycle to its former glory. But as any of you that tried to restore a classic motorcycle to its original state you would know that getting replacement parts it’s like looking for a needle in a hay stack.
So, while looking for a replacement rear wheel, the motorcycle was progressing with the removal of all the rust from the frame, swingarm and gas tank. It was then given a new coat of Monza Red and black the original colour’s that it left the factory in. After that it came the pain staking procedure of restoring all the chrome bits to their former shine.
As for the technical side of things the bullet proof Honda engine lived up to its name! After giving the carburettor a good clean up and sorting the missing wiring it fired right up and was working like a dream. Even more good news arrived when a replacement wheel was found, and the little Honda was being driven after 20 years of collecting dust. Even though it run well the clutch discs needed to get replaced. So, after tackling all the major areas it only makes sense to give the engine a rebuild. Then it came time to reupholster the seat and add the original graphics. Got to let people know what you are riding!
Just like that a full year had passed and the little 5 speed pocket rocket got turned around from a bunch of parts laying around to the prefect city runner. Needless to say, that I learned a lot working on this machine and got even more interested in the vintage world. There is just something different riding a machine that was built in a different era. Maybe if it wasn’t for this motorcycle I wouldn’t be writing this today. In the video section of our page you can see a small clip that we made a long time ago showing the time lapse of the build, feel free to check it out.
Words Odysseas Sofokleous.
Owner: Markos Haili. co-founder of Cyprus on wheels.
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