@@akhil3506 depends on the state..some states have a permit system with inexpensive dmv paperwork and testing, some states require the MSF course administered by an academy with certified instructors for high prices..the latter is usually lobbied thru local government for corporations to create monopolies/oligarchies, like Florida
@@cskalle1213 $100 in 1985 was a pretty good price. I paid $125 for an early 70s TL 125 around then and did similar, rode that thing all over for two summers. On the road, on the trail, down the train tracks, cops never gave me and my buddy on his Elsinore a second glance.
Rumor has it that while Dan wasn't filming, Craig merged a carburetor with a flux capacitor, creating a motorcycle capable of traveling through time but destroyed it because he knew how dangerous such a machine could be.
*I know plenty of youtubers that have very little mechanical experience and their channels grow.. This channel has no choice but to go straight to the top!* 🤘
Thanks for the memories, I learnt to ride on my dads XL125 in the early 80’s on our farm in New Zealand. Eight motorbikes later I have the joy of following my son around on his bike and helping him rebuild bikes in the shed. He’s an apprentice mechanic and I couldn’t be a more proud dad. Great channel, thanks.
Bikes and Beards channel can be entertaining at times but I like The Bearded Mechanic channel a bit more, because it is educational as well. Thanks for your varied content Craig.
When I was 9 my dad got me this same bike. Rode that sucker into the ground and she never quit. My father taught me how to rebuild a carb at 11 on the same bike. Watching you fix the carb brought back so many memories. I just recently bought a 1983 xl200r with 2k miles because it reminded me so much of this bike. Just can't go wrong with oldschool
I like how positive this channel is. Always positive. If something goes wrong, there’s “oh well, we’ll fix it somehow.” No cursing, no slamming doors, no whining. Great stuff and riveting to watch. I’ve learned a tonne so far.
Tell me about it. Me and my brothers beat the crap out of ours ('76 XL75), put 30,000 miles on it over ten or so years and almost all of those miles were trail riding. Of course it had no blinkers or tail light those broke off probably the first year or two. But it kept running and started on the first or second kick clear to the day we sold it. All we ever did was change the oil.
Craig I wish I had RUclips when I was a kid. My first bike was a Honda Trail ct70. My 2nd bike I bought in 92 I was 11yrs old was a xl 80 exactly like you've got here. I loved it! My parents and neighbors hated it. It was really bulletproof because I put it through its ultimate paces and never had to do anything except occasionally change a plug. It started my love affair with motorcycles. I've restored many over the yrs in my garages or in my parking lot when I lived in an apartment. What great memories. I'm so glad I came across this video now it's time to dig up some old pictures. 👍
Craig! Thanks for the trip back in time! I had a 1981 XL125S! What an amazing bike. My bike had none of the street legal stuff but I switched it over to full off road trail bike and she would sip gas and provide miles of smiles! So much fun! Thanks for sparking such great memories! Great motorcycle!
Between Craig’s awesome attitude and immense knowledge (and humor!!), and Dan’s awesome video and editing skills (and humor!) this channel is just right!
I owned a SL -175 dual sport bike years ago, best little Bike that I have ever owned, I had it for about 5 years, not one problem with it in that time--Honda has always made great Bikes.
I had an XL250 for a while,that was a great bike then traded up to an XL500s,now that had a ton of torque behind it,such a great bike but a bit on the heavy side so you had to really muscle it around on the trail.
Hey Craig, Aussie Paul here. These were marketed in Australia much earlier from the mid 70's. I had the off road version as my first bike in 1978, a Honda XR75. I went through a least a dozen as a teenager buying up the old silver painted ones for around $150 and respraying them red like your later model and selling them on for a profit after getting a few months mayhem in with each one. My first road bike was a blue version of yours sold as an XL70. Basically a road going XR75. Loved it. Look forward to your posts each week, keep it up matey.
Hello from the UK, That is an awesome little XL! My dad had the XL185 he is always telling stories from when he was a boy (a fair few years ago) he has always said he wish he never sold it! If I remember he sold it for a honda VT250 but didn't have it long as he decided to put cheap oil in it! As we all know, oil is very important for motorcycles! Anyway I'm loving the channel please keep the videos coming as we all love and enjoy them! Thank you 👍
I was fortunate enough to spend the summers of my 11 - 13 years of life running around my aunt's and uncle's farm on a '74 Yamaha Enduro 80. This Honda brought back a TON of memories!
The XL250 was a nice ride with a 23'' front wheel. Friend had one. Wheeling that thing was a piece of cake especially when you stood on the bar behind the seat.
Another great video Craig. I'm not a brand loyalist but I simply like the old dirt bikes! In fact eons ago I had a 1971-73 Yamaha 175 MX I rode off road that was not street legal and I've always wished I could find one like it that was street legal. But at 70 years old I'll just stick to my 1992 Sportster 883. 😊
1982 XL80S was my first dirt bike. I loved that little bike! I thoroughly abused it, and it always ran. I would love to get another one. You just brought back some good memories! Thanks Craig!
My first bike was a 70s Honda 90. I found it in my grandpa's barn and my step dad helped me rebuild it. I rode that thing all over our ranch for years and it put the mechanics bug into me. I went to an automotive school after high school and have collected a large quantity of motorcycles and cars. Love your videos!
Love this! My first bike was a 1979 XL75. My dad bought it for me brand new when I was 10. Looking back, he was nuts to do it but I caught the bug after riding a cousin's Trail 70 when I was 8 and begged and pleaded for the next 2 yrs. I rode the wheels off that thing. It gave me 5 years of trouble-free fun until I traded up to a 125. I think I busted the turn signals off the first week. But I wasn't exactly a "legal" rider anyways. So many good memories! Thanks Craig!
My first bike had the heart of an '80 XL80. My dad bought some frames and engines o a farm and we built it with a '77 XR75 frame and the XL80's engine...which was actually a downrade from the XR75 having only a 4 speed gearbox. Brings back lots of memories from 32 years ago.
I'm really glad you are breathing new life back in to these old bikes as they make well over £1000 in the UK. .AG1 powdered spinach....Popeye would be proud 😄
I had the beat down version of that bike in the mid 80s. That thing ran and ran flawlessly for me. It gave me so many smiles that you can see the evidences of it on my face to this day.
Hi Craig, for getting the carb back in the boot, a little trick I found is using some silicone spray on the boot itself. It makes life soooooooo much unbelievably easier. No more pain putting airboxes back in!
Great tip. Also, if youre taking the carb in and out frequently, for jetting, testing etc....leaving the clamps loose and bringing the boot to the air cleaner with it helps a lot. Such great bikes. Stay gold.
Craig, XRs and XLs were made concurrently in the mid 70s. My neighbor Randy rode a '75 XR 75, a fairly serious little MXer, while I had a '76 XL 70, a very mild, tiny little road bike, barely even an enduro. My Dad had a 76 XL 350, a proper enduro.
I've been wanting a small street legal bike like this to ride around town, it's beautiful but I want one from 82... Even if it's just a roller w/ no engine I'd be interested because I can do an electric conversion and make it a lot faster. Just have to find one close to me in PA and I'd be happy.... 😁❤️
Why in the world would you destroy a beautiful old 2-stroke for an EV (unless there is no engine, but even still) - I personally hate EV's and can't stand them! EV's are much worse for the environment than their ICE counterparts and this whole "going green" agenda is complete bull-crap!
I owned the 1980 XL 500 SZ for many years. These Hondas are strong and reliable bikes and never broke down on me. I installed a Supertrapp exhaust giving these motors more power and an awesome and extremely aggressive sound. It was a real head-turner. I still feel sad that I sold it in the late 1990s. Should have kept it. Funny to see the little baby version running. Thanks for the video and the beautiful memories... 😘 Keep it up!
Awesome man. That is the exact bike I learned to ride on as a kid. I remember my Dad brought it home, put it in first and removed the shifter. That must have been probably '89. Really brought back some memories. Love it.
I had one of these when I was 14. I loved it. My older brother had a YZ250. When he was trying to start the YZ 250, I'd wait for the engine to try and start then fail and go start my XL 80 in 2 or 3 kicks and it was warmed up nice when his was just starting to idle. OH man, the sound when he fired it up took me back.
Whenever i buy a used bike I go over all the rubbers with AMOUR ALL. It's amazing to bringing life back . I have been doing this for over 30 years. Happy New years to all of you there and online watching.
Thats super awesome! Im working on restoring an old Suzuki FA50 right now, this is my first restoration project ever, I bought the bike last year in July and have down random things here and there but im finally buckling down and pouring all my time so i can get it on the road
Reminds me of being 8 years old at my dads on Christmas morning and him giving my little brother a 91 xr100r and my yz85 he completely restored ... that little bike changed my life and i still have it
Love your show! I appreciate that you actually show the details of what you are doing. Hey, I met Sean the other day down here in TN at a Christmas party (in Pulaski). I invited him and you to come over sometime. We have over 300 acres with miles of trails, and some of the best backroads with amazing views. I have several bikes and love to ride!
Oh my God I grew up on that bike. It brings back so many memories. We had a 1980 and a 1981 model of that exact bike. It was the first bike I ever had an accident on back in 1985 :-) I’ve been riding ever since and currently have a 2023 Yamaha MT 10.
Love these videos mate, am in the UK and always loved watching you and Beards and Bikes. Yours are great, as a gas heating engineer, watching you strip down engine, and explain things, it makes a lot of sense due to me understanding combustion from being a boiler engineer. Makes me fall in love with tinkering with old bikes and the satisfaction you can get from having something work!! Keep them up mate, and please keep on doing the videos!
I'm enjoying these videos so much! I want more. These are inspiring me to take on my own project. My stepdad had me riding a little when I was in 8th grade. That was quite a while back. Last year we resurrected a $500 bike I found. Now, I'm tackling a Honda FT500. Keep up the good work, both of you!
Had a 1980 XL 500. What a great bike. YOu could ride it on the road to your favorite off road site and then thrash it for a while then ride home. What a beast. That big single jug pulled it like a tractor. Had it in water 3 ft deep and chugged my way out. Thanks for bringing back some good memories, if only on a smaller scale.
I got a 1979 XL 100 S for Christmas in 1992. I was 11 I ran that bike WFO. For over 10 years without a hiccup. Could possibly be the best bike ever made and yes it had a metal tank.
In 1981 my dad bought me the previous iteration of this bike, the XL75. It was just as fun and just as basic as this one. Every spring I had to clean the carburetor because it would shellac and gum up my fuel lines. I was a happy 12 year old.
My first bike in 1972 80cc Gemini ( Honda clone) 359.00 OTD. I'm 66 now and have 3 Honda's in my garage, Helix, Reflex, and Shadow. I'm in SW Florida and ride everyday. 😎
Before even watching this video, I'm going to say of course you can, it's a Honda. I've only ever had a couple of Honda's, but they have always been abosolutely reliable and trouble free. My CBR600 I bought second hand with 120,000Km on it, used it as a commuter and that sucker saw redline every day, totally bulletproof.
Anybody who knows anything about bikes should now that Hondas don’t go wrong and as long as you service them will go on for ever, that’s why they are never on your channel there is doubt they will start and go almost every time (well after 15-20 kicks anyway). Great work guys loving the channel.
I have my grandfather's 1974 XL70 w/metal tank, too, that he rode to work most days as a railroad engineer. It has a little over 3000 miles and runs pretty great.
Man another great video!!! You are very talented man, you make everything look so easy. Speaking of Hondas, I recently acquired a 2017 Honda CRF 110 with a blown engine. Super clean bike so I decided to swap the blown 110cc for one of my fully built 212cc mini bike engines. Turned out super cool. It’s in my RUclips channel. Thanks for everything you do! You’re an inspiration to myself and others.
My first bike was a 1977 XL75, built from parts found at a motorcycle wrecking yard, after that I moved up to an absolutely unkillable 1981 XL125S. XL was the dual sport name, and XR was their four stroke off road stuff before CRF and the transition to XR-L names for dual sports. My friends had newer, and bigger displacement Yamahas and Suzukis, but always respected my little red mule because it would start first kick every time.
First bike my dad got me was an 79 XL75 and that thing was a blast. Ripping trails as a 12 year old I thought I had it made. Then five or six years later I got a late 90’s XR 100 and between those two bikes the fun was endless.
Reminds me of working on my Dad's (he sold it to me, but I still call it that) Honda Trail 70 back in 2015 or so. It had an air leak somewhere, and I did a complete teardown and rebuild of the carb. It didn't help. I never found the problem.... and in 2019, I had to leave it behind when I lost my house. Wish I still had it to tinker with!!
I had a honda xr 75 in 1976 my First motorbike my parents bought it brand new. I was so excited i couldn't sleep. I remember we were going to buy an italjet at first but the dealer said the honda was far better being a four stroke.❤
I just discovered your channel and I’m absolutely loving it. You excitement your enthusiasm your corpse and little comments are awesome and you’re my new favourite RUclips channel to waste my life staring at a phone.
When i repair a line trimmer and i find the design is Choke ON in down position and OFF in UP position, i modify it to be the opposite as explained here, vibration will tend to move lever downwards and especial motorbikes where you jump them!!
My first bike 80cc Gemini honda clone, 359.00 out the door. Money i saved delivering dry cleaning on Park avenue NYC circa 1973. Been on bikes ever since. Have 2x 250cc and a 750cc in the garage today, all Honda.😎
I would have thought cleaning a tank with light rust would be easy as you could use distilled white vinegar for 24hrs just give a regular shake and then add some small nuts bolts screws inside and shake.. after 10-20mins take out wash thoroughly hey presto!..clean or am I wrong... Vine always work for me on rust... : )
school boy scramblers is what we called those back in the day I think every one of us had an 80 cc dirtbike had some great summers ripping about the feilds on my 80 I had a yammaha it was old prob 77/78 twinshock model and a 100 cc honda witch replaced it kool content it brought back many fettling memories I didn't really know what I was doing back then but seemed to get it done and kept it running .
People should be less judgey. Old Honda's aren't cheap, I just want to watch your content on your process, ways, and presentation. I come here for the exact way you present.
I got my motorcycle license on a 1982 Honda XL100S back in 1993 or 94 at age 17 or 18. That was after I bought it for $125 and spent another $125 in parts and a bunch of time making it drivable. I sold it a couple years later for $300, thus making a $50 profit. I miss that bike; lots of fun.
Hi Craig and Dan, I remember when I was a Kid I wanted a Honda SL 70 so bad it was unreal. I loved those Hondas. I never got it, but after I got out of the Military I got a Honda XR 500. I Loved that Bike. My Cousin had a Elsinore 250 and we Rode everywhere we could find a Trail. That was a lot of fun. That little XL 75 Looks like it’s almost brand New. I still love the looks of those Old Honda Enduros. Someone Kid is going to be very happy to get that. It should last Him or Her a long Time, and great Memories also.
My first bike was a brand new XR 75, it was strictly dirt, wasn't a dual, it was the most fun you could have, fast, durable, and it's why I still ride today. I got mine in the early to nid 70s, so I don't think the XR's came out in the 80s. My bad, I think you might have said that the XLs came out in the 80s, but I could of swore my dad had a XL 250 in the 70s, and it was dual sport, all I know Hondas are great.
I owned an '82 XL80 when I was in junior high school. I saved up paper route money for a year to buy it. My brother and I rode it all around Lucas Valley.
What an amazing little bike. A buddy had one in the early 80s, and I was always so awed over how cool he was, LOL. And now we're both adults and own so many toys, our boy selves would be embarrassed at us, LOL
I had that bike and the xr80 as well. Rode them like I stole them as mean hooligan country boy. Every day rain or shine. When I was a teen and moved onto a 79 XS Eleven Special and a 250 2 stroke dirt bike those bikes were still firing right up like new. When we sold them I was related to the one with the xr. It was still running in 92 with minimal maintenance etc
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Craig I passed for my motorcycle exam! It was pouring and windy but I got it! Edit part. Thank you everyone for believing in me in the last video!
What's the motorcycle exam in the US like?
Congrats amigo..ride safe👍
That is awesome!
@@akhil3506 It's not bad at all, basic stuff really. My wife just completed hers as well.
@@akhil3506 depends on the state..some states have a permit system with inexpensive dmv paperwork and testing, some states require the MSF course administered by an academy with certified instructors for high prices..the latter is usually lobbied thru local government for corporations to create monopolies/oligarchies, like Florida
The 1980 XL80S was the first motorcycle I bought, I paid $100 for it and didn't tell my parents. I rode that thing all over the place. Good memories.
thats why some people wish they where in the 80s :) 100$
The first instance of ask for forgiveness instead of permission. Good job
@@cskalle1213 I bought a '79 XL75 recently for $200. same bike, just one year older.
@@cskalle1213 $100 in 1985 was a pretty good price. I paid $125 for an early 70s TL 125 around then and did similar, rode that thing all over for two summers. On the road, on the trail, down the train tracks, cops never gave me and my buddy on his Elsinore a second glance.
My first was a 1972 SL70...same thing, rode it all over the place.
There was a Suzuki DS100 under my Christmas tree in 1980. I was 13 and rode that thing everywhere. It wasn't brand new but it was my world back then.
Can only imagine mate dreams coming true situation regardless the bikes condition what a buzz that would've been 👊
Rumor has it that while Dan wasn't filming, Craig merged a carburetor with a flux capacitor, creating a motorcycle capable of traveling through time but destroyed it because he knew how dangerous such a machine could be.
Amazing
Dude. No one is supposed to know about that !!
There was a teenager who said this exactly that was there on the scene: " So you made a time machine......out of a HONDA?!!!" Exact words. True story.
@@ChewieBabyTW Looks like we have the same source.
Yooooooo my boy has sponsors! So proud of how you hit the ground running, man. Your passion fuels(pun intended) us all.
Thank you. At least some people understand how things work
Nice to see you getting more sponsors, the humble yet hard work is paying off brother
I appreciate it!
*I know plenty of youtubers that have very little mechanical experience and their channels grow.. This channel has no choice but to go straight to the top!* 🤘
Thanks for the memories, I learnt to ride on my dads XL125 in the early 80’s on our farm in New Zealand. Eight motorbikes later I have the joy of following my son around on his bike and helping him rebuild bikes in the shed. He’s an apprentice mechanic and I couldn’t be a more proud dad. Great channel, thanks.
Awesome bikes 🇬🇧🙏
Bikes and Beards channel can be entertaining at times but I like The Bearded Mechanic channel a bit more, because it is educational as well. Thanks for your varied content Craig.
less corny and more info is always nice
@@amatureskater15 and less virtue signaling Bible thumping lies of "I was just thinking about this random passage about shellfish the other day"
Bikes and dwarfs ain’t what it used to be.
If you need to know how to clean carbs for the 20th time this is the channel for you
And Craig doesn't spend 10k, or 30k, or 100k just to create content.
When I was 9 my dad got me this same bike. Rode that sucker into the ground and she never quit. My father taught me how to rebuild a carb at 11 on the same bike. Watching you fix the carb brought back so many memories. I just recently bought a 1983 xl200r with 2k miles because it reminded me so much of this bike. Just can't go wrong with oldschool
I like how positive this channel is. Always positive. If something goes wrong, there’s “oh well, we’ll fix it somehow.” No cursing, no slamming doors, no whining. Great stuff and riveting to watch. I’ve learned a tonne so far.
The abuse and neglect those bikes would suffer and still run is legendary.
Tell me about it. Me and my brothers beat the crap out of ours ('76 XL75), put 30,000 miles on it over ten or so years and almost all of those miles were trail riding. Of course it had no blinkers or tail light those broke off probably the first year or two. But it kept running and started on the first or second kick clear to the day we sold it. All we ever did was change the oil.
the anser is in only one word - Honda ..says it all
The fact this one somehow avoided that abuse and neglect for four decades is kinda legendary, too.
back then, they weren't "throw-away" bikes..... they were "repair-and-pass-down" bikes. They were MADE to last!!!
Man this looks brand new , it’s been a well looked after / never been abused bike .
I just bought two of these this past summer. A '79 XR and an '81 XL. Both have metal gas tanks, XR has plastic rear fender.
Awesome little bikes
Craig I wish I had RUclips when I was a kid. My first bike was a Honda Trail ct70. My 2nd bike I bought in 92 I was 11yrs old was a xl 80 exactly like you've got here. I loved it! My parents and neighbors hated it. It was really bulletproof because I put it through its ultimate paces and never had to do anything except occasionally change a plug. It started my love affair with motorcycles. I've restored many over the yrs in my garages or in my parking lot when I lived in an apartment. What great memories. I'm so glad I came across this video now it's time to dig up some old pictures. 👍
Craig! Thanks for the trip back in time! I had a 1981 XL125S! What an amazing bike. My bike had none of the street legal stuff but I switched it over to full off road trail bike and she would sip gas and provide miles of smiles! So much fun!
Thanks for sparking such great memories!
Great motorcycle!
Between Craig’s awesome attitude and immense knowledge (and humor!!), and Dan’s awesome video and editing skills (and humor!) this channel is just right!
Best bike ever. Had an XR75 then XR80 years later. It was the go to newbie bike and potty run bike while camping in the desert. Great memories.
Epic as ever - LOVING how Dan has unwittingly enrolled himself on an apprenticeship 😂😂
I owned a SL -175 dual sport bike years ago, best little Bike that I have ever owned, I had it for about 5 years, not one problem with it in that time--Honda has always made great Bikes.
If you even only worked on Wish bikes you were still my favorite motorcycle channel
I had a '70's XL125K and it was far more reliable than any of my friends bikes.
I had an XL250 for a while,that was a great bike then traded up to an XL500s,now that had a ton of torque behind it,such a great bike but a bit on the heavy side so you had to really muscle it around on the trail.
Hey Craig, Aussie Paul here. These were marketed in Australia much earlier from the mid 70's. I had the off road version as my first bike in 1978, a Honda XR75. I went through a least a dozen as a teenager buying up the old silver painted ones for around $150 and respraying them red like your later model and selling them on for a profit after getting a few months mayhem in with each one. My first road bike was a blue version of yours sold as an XL70. Basically a road going XR75. Loved it. Look forward to your posts each week, keep it up matey.
Hello from the UK, That is an awesome little XL! My dad had the XL185 he is always telling stories from when he was a boy (a fair few years ago) he has always said he wish he never sold it! If I remember he sold it for a honda VT250 but didn't have it long as he decided to put cheap oil in it! As we all know, oil is very important for motorcycles! Anyway I'm loving the channel please keep the videos coming as we all love and enjoy them! Thank you 👍
I was fortunate enough to spend the summers of my 11 - 13 years of life running around my aunt's and uncle's farm on a '74 Yamaha Enduro 80. This Honda brought back a TON of memories!
Great video mate, I love the old Honda bikes. Looking forward to many more great videos mate. Watching from
Australia 🇦🇺
Queenslander here. Love the Hondas as well. Daily one but have a Kawasaki for the weekend.
The XL250 was a nice ride with a 23'' front wheel. Friend had one. Wheeling that thing was a piece of cake especially when you stood on the bar behind the seat.
Another great video Craig. I'm not a brand loyalist but I simply like the old dirt bikes! In fact eons ago I had a 1971-73 Yamaha 175 MX I rode off road that was not street legal and I've always wished I could find one like it that was street legal. But at 70 years old I'll just stick to my 1992 Sportster 883. 😊
Right on love Sportsters
My first bike I bought from the dealership was an XL 125S in 83. Loved that bike and had great times on it. Thanks for bringing back memories!!
Another winner, fellas! You're both really talented. Keep em coming!
1982 XL80S was my first dirt bike. I loved that little bike! I thoroughly abused it, and it always ran. I would love to get another one. You just brought back some good memories! Thanks Craig!
My first street legal bike, at 16, was an 82 XL250R! XL and XR existed side by side at that time with XRs geared lower and not street legal.
My first bike was a 70s Honda 90. I found it in my grandpa's barn and my step dad helped me rebuild it. I rode that thing all over our ranch for years and it put the mechanics bug into me. I went to an automotive school after high school and have collected a large quantity of motorcycles and cars. Love your videos!
It’s so eager to go that it fires up on the first kick. Incredible Honda, indeed you should do more of the brand…so much fun and gratification
Love this! My first bike was a 1979 XL75. My dad bought it for me brand new when I was 10. Looking back, he was nuts to do it but I caught the bug after riding a cousin's Trail 70 when I was 8 and begged and pleaded for the next 2 yrs. I rode the wheels off that thing. It gave me 5 years of trouble-free fun until I traded up to a 125. I think I busted the turn signals off the first week. But I wasn't exactly a "legal" rider anyways. So many good memories! Thanks Craig!
Craig doesn’t feature enough Honda’s because they never need fixing lol
100%
I guess you never worked service in a Honda dealer.
Possibly the best comment ever
My first bike had the heart of an '80 XL80. My dad bought some frames and engines o a farm and we built it with a '77 XR75 frame and the XL80's engine...which was actually a downrade from the XR75 having only a 4 speed gearbox.
Brings back lots of memories from 32 years ago.
I'm really glad you are breathing new life back in to these old bikes as they make well over £1000 in the UK. .AG1 powdered spinach....Popeye would be proud 😄
I had the beat down version of that bike in the mid 80s. That thing ran and ran flawlessly for me. It gave me so many smiles that you can see the evidences of it on my face to this day.
Hey what's the goop you put in the tank to remove the rust and where does one get it?
Evaporust? Amazon
But vinegar works too
Evaporust definitely works better than vinegar. Most hardware stores seem to have it. For sure harbor freight does
My first motorcycle was a honda SL70. I was 12 years old. I learned to work and modify it. Great learning tool in the 70's.
Hi Craig, for getting the carb back in the boot, a little trick I found is using some silicone spray on the boot itself. It makes life soooooooo much unbelievably easier. No more pain putting airboxes back in!
Great tip. Also, if youre taking the carb in and out frequently, for jetting, testing etc....leaving the clamps loose and bringing the boot to the air cleaner with it helps a lot. Such great bikes.
Stay gold.
Craig, XRs and XLs were made concurrently in the mid 70s. My neighbor Randy rode a '75 XR 75, a fairly serious little MXer, while I had a '76 XL 70, a very mild, tiny little road bike, barely even an enduro. My Dad had a 76 XL 350, a proper enduro.
I've been wanting a small street legal bike like this to ride around town, it's beautiful but I want one from 82... Even if it's just a roller w/ no engine I'd be interested because I can do an electric conversion and make it a lot faster. Just have to find one close to me in PA and I'd be happy.... 😁❤️
Why in the world would you destroy a beautiful old 2-stroke for an EV (unless there is no engine, but even still) - I personally hate EV's and can't stand them! EV's are much worse for the environment than their ICE counterparts and this whole "going green" agenda is complete bull-crap!
I owned the 1980 XL 500 SZ for many years. These Hondas are strong and reliable bikes and never broke down on me. I installed a Supertrapp exhaust giving these motors more power and an awesome and extremely aggressive sound. It was a real head-turner. I still feel sad that I sold it in the late 1990s. Should have kept it.
Funny to see the little baby version running. Thanks for the video and the beautiful memories... 😘
Keep it up!
Awesome man. That is the exact bike I learned to ride on as a kid. I remember my Dad brought it home, put it in first and removed the shifter. That must have been probably '89. Really brought back some memories. Love it.
I had one of these when I was 14. I loved it. My older brother had a YZ250. When he was trying to start the YZ 250, I'd wait for the engine to try and start then fail and go start my XL 80 in 2 or 3 kicks and it was warmed up nice when his was just starting to idle. OH man, the sound when he fired it up took me back.
Whenever i buy a used bike I go over all the rubbers with AMOUR ALL. It's amazing to bringing life back . I have been doing this for over 30 years. Happy New years to all of you there and online watching.
Thats super awesome! Im working on restoring an old Suzuki FA50 right now, this is my first restoration project ever, I bought the bike last year in July and have down random things here and there but im finally buckling down and pouring all my time so i can get it on the road
My 1980 XL 75 and 1980 XL250S both had metal tanks.
Reminds me of being 8 years old at my dads on Christmas morning and him giving my little brother a 91 xr100r and my yz85 he completely restored ... that little bike changed my life and i still have it
Love your show! I appreciate that you actually show the details of what you are doing. Hey, I met Sean the other day down here in TN at a Christmas party (in Pulaski). I invited him and you to come over sometime. We have over 300 acres with miles of trails, and some of the best backroads with amazing views. I have several bikes and love to ride!
I grew up on a 77 xr75. That motor sounded exactly like it. Brought back some memories.
Oh my God I grew up on that bike. It brings back so many memories. We had a 1980 and a 1981 model of that exact bike. It was the first bike I ever had an accident on back in 1985 :-) I’ve been riding ever since and currently have a 2023 Yamaha MT 10.
I think this is probably my favorite video yet. I had a 1992 Xr80 back in the day and I loved that thing.. this took me back. Nice job Craig!!!!
Thank you for bringing a great little bike back to life. Someone is going to make some happy memories on it.
Love these videos mate, am in the UK and always loved watching you and Beards and Bikes. Yours are great, as a gas heating engineer, watching you strip down engine, and explain things, it makes a lot of sense due to me understanding combustion from being a boiler engineer. Makes me fall in love with tinkering with old bikes and the satisfaction you can get from having something work!! Keep them up mate, and please keep on doing the videos!
I'm enjoying these videos so much! I want more. These are inspiring me to take on my own project. My stepdad had me riding a little when I was in 8th grade. That was quite a while back. Last year we resurrected a $500 bike I found. Now, I'm tackling a Honda FT500. Keep up the good work, both of you!
XL100S was my first bike 1983 (in the UK), thank you for the memories & love the channel...
Had a 1980 XL 500. What a great bike. YOu could ride it on the road to your favorite off road site and then thrash it for a while then ride home. What a beast. That big single jug pulled it like a tractor. Had it in water 3 ft deep and chugged my way out. Thanks for bringing back some good memories, if only on a smaller scale.
I got a 1979 XL 100 S for Christmas in 1992. I was 11 I ran that bike WFO. For over 10 years without a hiccup. Could possibly be the best bike ever made and yes it had a metal tank.
All your videos make me smile Craig, and I usually learn something too. Keep up the good work. Looking forward to the next one.
My first street bike was a 1980 XL80S. I was 7, it had no front brake, and i lived that thing.
In 1981 my dad bought me the previous iteration of this bike, the XL75. It was just as fun and just as basic as this one. Every spring I had to clean the carburetor because it would shellac and gum up my fuel lines. I was a happy 12 year old.
Love that bike... I´ve riden bikes since I was 7 and my 3th motorcycle was a Honda XL 80, great memories and a lot of fun. Thanks a lot!!!
My first bike in 1972 80cc Gemini ( Honda clone) 359.00 OTD. I'm 66 now and have 3 Honda's in my garage, Helix, Reflex, and Shadow. I'm in SW Florida and ride everyday. 😎
Weird how a sound can take you back 30 years in an instant. That bike sounds exactly like the Honda 80 3-wheeler I had as a kid. Good memories.
Before even watching this video, I'm going to say of course you can, it's a Honda. I've only ever had a couple of Honda's, but they have always been abosolutely reliable and trouble free. My CBR600 I bought second hand with 120,000Km on it, used it as a commuter and that sucker saw redline every day, totally bulletproof.
Anybody who knows anything about bikes should now that Hondas don’t go wrong and as long as you service them will go on for ever, that’s why they are never on your channel there is doubt they will start and go almost every time (well after 15-20 kicks anyway). Great work guys loving the channel.
I have my grandfather's 1974 XL70 w/metal tank, too, that he rode to work most days as a railroad engineer. It has a little over 3000 miles and runs pretty great.
Nice work! I actually had a Yamaha version of that type bike in 78-79 at 10 years old. Mine was GT80. Great content.
Man another great video!!! You are very talented man, you make everything look so easy. Speaking of Hondas, I recently acquired a 2017 Honda CRF 110 with a blown engine. Super clean bike so I decided to swap the blown 110cc for one of my fully built 212cc mini bike engines. Turned out super cool. It’s in my RUclips channel. Thanks for everything you do! You’re an inspiration to myself and others.
My first bike was a 1977 XL75, built from parts found at a motorcycle wrecking yard, after that I moved up to an absolutely unkillable 1981 XL125S. XL was the dual sport name, and XR was their four stroke off road stuff before CRF and the transition to XR-L names for dual sports. My friends had newer, and bigger displacement Yamahas and Suzukis, but always respected my little red mule because it would start first kick every time.
First bike my dad got me was an 79 XL75 and that thing was a blast. Ripping trails as a 12 year old I thought I had it made. Then five or six years later I got a late 90’s XR 100 and between those two bikes the fun was endless.
In 76 i got my first bike the Honda XL175, I was 12. What an awesome line that XL series and boy did i learn.
Reminds me of working on my Dad's (he sold it to me, but I still call it that) Honda Trail 70 back in 2015 or so. It had an air leak somewhere, and I did a complete teardown and rebuild of the carb. It didn't help. I never found the problem.... and in 2019, I had to leave it behind when I lost my house. Wish I still had it to tinker with!!
My wife has an '81 honda 80 that we keep at my family farm in SW Wisconsin. Revive it every summer when we go back. Fresh gas and a few kicks!
I had a honda xr 75 in 1976 my First motorbike my parents bought it brand new. I was so excited i couldn't sleep. I remember we were going to buy an italjet at first but the dealer said the honda was far better being a four stroke.❤
I just discovered your channel and I’m absolutely loving it. You excitement your enthusiasm your corpse and little comments are awesome and you’re my new favourite RUclips channel to waste my life staring at a phone.
When i repair a line trimmer and i find the design is Choke ON in down position and OFF in UP position, i modify it to be the opposite as explained here, vibration will tend to move lever downwards and especial motorbikes where you jump them!!
My first bike 80cc Gemini honda clone, 359.00 out the door. Money i saved delivering dry cleaning on Park avenue NYC circa 1973. Been on bikes ever since. Have 2x 250cc and a 750cc in the garage today, all Honda.😎
I would have thought cleaning a tank with light rust would be easy as you could use distilled white vinegar for 24hrs just give a regular shake and then add some small nuts bolts screws inside and shake.. after 10-20mins take out wash thoroughly hey presto!..clean or am I wrong... Vine always work for me on rust... : )
I like how dan went from a cameraman to a shop buddy who helps around and keeps shop morale up
Fantastic Criag and Dan! I would have loved this under my tree in 1985.
school boy scramblers is what we called those back in the day I think every one of us had an 80 cc dirtbike had some great summers ripping about the feilds on my 80 I had a yammaha it was old prob 77/78 twinshock model and a 100 cc honda witch replaced it kool content it brought back many fettling memories I didn't really know what I was doing back then but seemed to get it done and kept it running .
I bought an Honda XR 70 or something like that in about 74. It was a blast to storm around a local area that had lots of trails and tracks to race on.
People should be less judgey. Old Honda's aren't cheap, I just want to watch your content on your process, ways, and presentation. I come here for the exact way you present.
I got my motorcycle license on a 1982 Honda XL100S back in 1993 or 94 at age 17 or 18. That was after I bought it for $125 and spent another $125 in parts and a bunch of time making it drivable. I sold it a couple years later for $300, thus making a $50 profit. I miss that bike; lots of fun.
Had an Xl 100s in 84, great bike just don’t mess with it. Keep the oil fresh and it will run forever.
Hi Craig and Dan, I remember when I was a Kid I wanted a Honda SL 70 so bad it was unreal. I loved those Hondas. I never got it, but after I got out of the Military I got a Honda XR 500. I Loved that Bike. My Cousin had a Elsinore 250 and we Rode everywhere we could find a Trail. That was a lot of fun. That little XL 75 Looks like it’s almost brand New. I still love the looks of those Old Honda Enduros. Someone Kid is going to be very happy to get that. It should last Him or Her a long Time, and great Memories also.
My sister has a 50cc Indian minibike from childhood that has been sitting for 30 years that would be great for this channel.
My first bike was a brand new XR 75, it was strictly dirt, wasn't a dual, it was the most fun you could have, fast, durable, and it's why I still ride today.
I got mine in the early to nid 70s, so I don't think the XR's came out in the 80s. My bad, I think you might have said that the XLs came out in the 80s, but I could of swore my dad had a XL 250 in the 70s, and it was dual sport, all I know Hondas are great.
I have the xl75 and finally got it street legal here in mn. It's my cabin cruiser and will top out at about 42 mph. Love it.
I owned an '82 XL80 when I was in junior high school. I saved up paper route money for a year to buy it. My brother and I rode it all around Lucas Valley.
I have my father's 1979 XL 500 one owner and she's clean I'm doing and adventure! Build on it
These old Honda's are tanks Craig
Dan’s editing and sound bits for this video were stellar!
Even the seat is in good shape! That is a sweet Honda!
What an amazing little bike. A buddy had one in the early 80s, and I was always so awed over how cool he was, LOL. And now we're both adults and own so many toys, our boy selves would be embarrassed at us, LOL
My very first bike was a new 1964 Honda C200 90cc Dream and those little bikes are what made Honda what they are today.
I have a 1980 xl 500. Only 2000 miles on it and still starts on the first kick every time. I love the 80s hondas
2:58 - what's a yumeen system, precious? 😛
Love all your videos, can't get enough of them. Both you and Dan are great and a lot of fun
I had that bike and the xr80 as well. Rode them like I stole them as mean hooligan country boy. Every day rain or shine. When I was a teen and moved onto a 79 XS Eleven Special and a 250 2 stroke dirt bike those bikes were still firing right up like new. When we sold them I was related to the one with the xr. It was still running in 92 with minimal maintenance etc