Very good review. All the info at the beginning and then the ride. I much prefer this style to someone waffling on throughout. Always liked the xbr but never had one
I had an XBR500 around 1990. Very nice bike, I remember mine had a problem with the engine at idle revving far too much, no matter what. Unfortunately it then was stolen (parked by my house), and I did not ride a motorcycle for about 6 years after that (being a student). (Now I have a brand new V Strom 650A, after a Varadero 1000, VFR750, CBR1000 and an XT500.) Now and then I see an XBR500, last week at a motorshop nearby. The wheels have really really very distinctive look. I dont know of another bike with Comstar wheels with holes in it.
So THAT's this so-called "Eng Land" we've been hearing so much about! Lots of grass and trees and bricks! And roads apparently inverted left-to-right; that bit confuses me. :) Thanks for the ride!
Hi Simon Catching up here , downsized to a CB500f here (modern) and kinda like your review After owning bikes for 30yr or so I'm now more a fan of bumbling along Did a few tours of Scotland over the past couple of years average speed around 50mph Took me a long time to learn if you go hell fisted you tire out quickly Fantastic video of your ride Stay safe Best regards Shaun
Love the paint. These short stroke engines love to rev. Keep it in 4th (5th is more of an overdrive) around 4.5k and go to 7k. The XL600R barrel and piston (PD03) goes straight on to get you 589cc for not much outlay 😊
I love the XBR - they have way more charm than most modern retros in many ways - my Dad got back into bikes after a 40+ year lay off from riding by jumping on mine aged 65, and is still riding it at 72. I can verify that they will crack the ton - top speed is about 105-110 if you're flat to the tank with your knees and elbows tucked, depending on the wind - it feels a hell of a lot faster on one of these though, 70 feels like doing the ton on a modern bike 😄 Mine is a later model with spoked wheels, those models have XBR500J on the V5.
I have come to realise that the modern bikes are great but they seem to lack the charm of the older stuff. This xbr would be a bike in my collection I could continue riding into old age too. Not so sure on my Hayabusa!
What camera were you using to make the video? and were you using a microphone inside the helmet to cut down wind noise (wind noise always an issue when doing bike videos!) I’d like to do the same for my CX500...
Simon, enjoyed your video. Be sure to download more experience with the XBR. I've just acquired a tidy original example. Will be out on 1st June for my first ride. I did give it a short test ride when buying it and was instantly impressed. Quiet a peppy motor, adequate brakes, new standard exhaust system, battery, clean oil, 12 months MOT. Your video showed what to expect from rpm=mph (up to WHAT speed?)
Last month I finished mine after 3 years. The top end was completely smashed, as wel as. The cylinder wall, missing large chunks of nikasil. Timing chain snapped, valves bend, broken head... I've welded the head, straightened and grinded the valves on my lathe. Handlapped the valves in the head after manual grinding... Had a compression of 8,9:1 without oil pumping (workbench) (is that OK?) Got my drivers license yesterday!! Today finally a legal drive, was lots of fun! Indeed not fast. Bit does exactly what you ask of it and completely predictable! What jets do you have in the carb? (Netherlands so reasanoble comparable) Have fun with your nimble small smile maker!
@@SoddingaboutSi Engine is fully rebuild, motorcycle completely resprayed, new tires, chain brakes and all. It's satin silver now, not flashy but classy 😋
Still having fun with it, rode it last week on one of the first nice days of the year. Doesn't run perfect though. I need a slightly bigger idle jet... Can't find them anywhere! So I will order one micro drills and make it slightly larger. As a tip from a mechanic I added a M4 washer under my needly to rich it out on idle, this works, but it has a dip at 4500 rpm now, goes through it, but not as smooth as possible. I think of drilling the idle jet up to 0,70mm. The problem was that when I closed the throttle in neutral the revs didn't drop well, to lean mixture. Had about 1500km on it last year, all with a big smile! It does highways. But doesn't like it.
Nice machine simon, not sure about the dodgy bloke riding it Ha ha :-D. joke of cause :-D. I like the old style of machines, and i suppose they are becoming rare because manufacturers are just making plastic racing bikes. Plastic is Shi.. lol. Yes i know i live in the past.
@@SoddingaboutSi very good review simon, i found out a lot more about this bike through your video than i was able to pick up elsewyhere, actually though i was referring to seat comfort and handlebar/peg vibes, mainly the seat, i don't have many issues with low bars unless they are very low which these arn't.
💪, I had the 1986 / Comstar / darkblue in my youth.
I❤ the look over the pure instruments, no need for more...
These bikes like to be ridden, not dawdled around, they're actually quite fun to ride, i ride the wheels off mine literally.
at long last, the motor cycle vid, it's been a long time coming ty
Very good review. All the info at the beginning and then the ride. I much prefer this style to someone waffling on throughout. Always liked the xbr but never had one
Nice ride through sunny Sussexshire Simon! Super road positioning BTW :)
Very nice, Simon. Thank you for a pleasant afternoon ride through the English countryside! Regards, David.
I had an XBR500 around 1990. Very nice bike, I remember mine had a problem with the engine at idle revving far too much, no matter what. Unfortunately it then was stolen (parked by my house), and I did not ride a motorcycle for about 6 years after that (being a student). (Now I have a brand new V Strom 650A, after a Varadero 1000, VFR750, CBR1000 and an XT500.) Now and then I see an XBR500, last week at a motorshop nearby. The wheels have really really very distinctive look. I dont know of another bike with Comstar wheels with holes in it.
Great presentation of the xbr500, thanks for taking us for the ride.
Had one back in the day. Was a great bike to ride around on generally. Not very fast, but bags of character and surprisingly agile handling.
So THAT's this so-called "Eng Land" we've been hearing so much about! Lots of grass and trees and bricks! And roads apparently inverted left-to-right; that bit confuses me. :)
Thanks for the ride!
Get yer motor runnin'. Nice ride out.
Way cool thanks for the nice ride great video. Regards Chris
I had a xbr500 in 94 it was the best bike ive ever had and I've had a st4 dukti now i want a other xbr
Lovely to meet you on Sunday, Simon. Motorbikes aren't my thing, but that's a nicely shot video.
Next time we meet at the Retrotech meet, I will bring a helmet! Great to meet you Sunday, hope you bought some good stuff?
@@SoddingaboutSi Just a couple of items: A more-or-less untouched Ferranti 145 radio and a broken step attenuator. Attenuator now fixed.
Hi Simon,
I like the colors of your xbr. Do you have more photos of your bike?
Hi Simon
Catching up here , downsized to a CB500f here (modern) and kinda like your review
After owning bikes for 30yr or so I'm now more a fan of bumbling along
Did a few tours of Scotland over the past couple of years average speed around 50mph
Took me a long time to learn if you go hell fisted you tire out quickly
Fantastic video of your ride
Stay safe Best regards Shaun
Do you still have this lovely bike, would love to see more of it
Love the paint. These short stroke engines love to rev. Keep it in 4th (5th is more of an overdrive) around 4.5k and go to 7k. The XL600R barrel and piston (PD03) goes straight on to get you 589cc for not much outlay 😊
I love the XBR - they have way more charm than most modern retros in many ways - my Dad got back into bikes after a 40+ year lay off from riding by jumping on mine aged 65, and is still riding it at 72.
I can verify that they will crack the ton - top speed is about 105-110 if you're flat to the tank with your knees and elbows tucked, depending on the wind - it feels a hell of a lot faster on one of these though, 70 feels like doing the ton on a modern bike 😄
Mine is a later model with spoked wheels, those models have XBR500J on the V5.
I have come to realise that the modern bikes are great but they seem to lack the charm of the older stuff. This xbr would be a bike in my collection I could continue riding into old age too. Not so sure on my Hayabusa!
Thanks for the very interesting and informative video, especially the things to watch out for with the engine…Guy
Great Wee Bike Very Smooth For a Day Out in the Sun Simon Regards mike
Nice ride, Simon.
What camera were you using to make the video? and were you using a microphone inside the helmet to cut down wind noise (wind noise always an issue when doing bike videos!) I’d like to do the same for my CX500...
The camera was a gopro hero 8. I over dubbed the voice.
Simon, enjoyed your video. Be sure to download more experience with the XBR.
I've just acquired a tidy original example. Will be out on 1st June for my first ride. I did give it a short test ride when buying it and was instantly impressed. Quiet a peppy motor, adequate brakes, new standard exhaust system, battery, clean oil, 12 months MOT. Your video showed what to expect from rpm=mph (up to WHAT speed?)
On standard gearing (that is rather over geared) 80Mph indicated is around 5500 RPM .
ruclips.net/video/Wfg8_vj3pV4/видео.html
@@SoddingaboutSi Yes, thank you, saw that on your video (private road no doubt).
@@doronron7323 I'm sure it was!
Last month I finished mine after 3 years.
The top end was completely smashed, as wel as. The cylinder wall, missing large chunks of nikasil.
Timing chain snapped, valves bend, broken head...
I've welded the head, straightened and grinded the valves on my lathe.
Handlapped the valves in the head after manual grinding...
Had a compression of 8,9:1 without oil pumping (workbench) (is that OK?)
Got my drivers license yesterday!!
Today finally a legal drive, was lots of fun!
Indeed not fast. Bit does exactly what you ask of it and completely predictable!
What jets do you have in the carb? (Netherlands so reasanoble comparable)
Have fun with your nimble small smile maker!
Good job. Fully restored engine then?
@@SoddingaboutSi
Engine is fully rebuild, motorcycle completely resprayed, new tires, chain brakes and all.
It's satin silver now, not flashy but classy 😋
Still having fun with it, rode it last week on one of the first nice days of the year.
Doesn't run perfect though.
I need a slightly bigger idle jet...
Can't find them anywhere!
So I will order one micro drills and make it slightly larger.
As a tip from a mechanic I added a M4 washer under my needly to rich it out on idle, this works, but it has a dip at 4500 rpm now, goes through it, but not as smooth as possible.
I think of drilling the idle jet up to 0,70mm.
The problem was that when I closed the throttle in neutral the revs didn't drop well, to lean mixture.
Had about 1500km on it last year, all with a big smile!
It does highways. But doesn't like it.
Nice machine simon, not sure about the dodgy bloke riding it Ha ha :-D. joke of cause :-D.
I like the old style of machines, and i suppose they are becoming rare because manufacturers are just making plastic racing bikes.
Plastic is Shi.. lol.
Yes i know i live in the past.
can you say whether it is comfortable please
Not so much with the ace bars. This has higher bars making it very confortable.
@@SoddingaboutSi very good review simon, i found out a lot more about this bike through your video than i was able to pick up elsewyhere, actually though i was referring to seat comfort and handlebar/peg vibes, mainly the seat, i don't have many issues with low bars unless they are very low which these arn't.
@@iandouglas451 The bars don't vibrate at all badly, as they have weights on the end. Seat is very comfortable.