1982 Honda XL500R Paris Dakar review. The classic bikes that won Dakar. Part 3 of 6

[@MrMarkusmonkey]

Never too old to party, pulling wheelies across a field Harry!

[@nickegan3988]

Loving this series. More bike stuff please Harry!

[@marwood1969]

Absolutely. Loving it too.

[@taavikrass3492]

Harry already did.

[@bigun447]

You made me have tears in my eyes. I had one of the first XL-350 bikes. Age will not let me ride again.

[@michaelandersson6088]

[@BikeThrottleOfficial]

Loving this little series

[@gdritchie]

These bike vids from Harry are really tempting me to get back into off-road/enduro bikes

[@TheAslakVind]

Unfortunaely yes, also lusting for a GasGas MX bike. OT I know!

[@simonbeer5259]

Me to 😂

[@stepheneldridge6998]

Another excellent video of my favourite genre of bikes...Cheers, Steve

[@jo05dk]

I enjoy looking back at these bikes, and seeing them being driven way faster than i would dare. I was 12 years old when this bike won Paris Dakar, and mostly into cars. ..but the offroaders that came from that insane race captured my imagination and won my heart. They still get my juices flowing, the off roaders from that time, Paris Dakar or not. A couple of years back i sometimes saw a guy riding a battered 1983 Yamaha XT600Z Tenere 34L around here, and it still got me.

[@MagicAyrtonforever]

Splendid! I've got a 2020 Honda Africa twin adventure sports in black (Manual gearbox) and while it's not like the 500 I did own an Xr400r back in 2005. Honda bikes are great fun!

[@aussiebloke609]

The twin pipes on a single cylinder engine was a Honda thing at that time - my old CB250RS had the same. The idea was that with 2 exhaust valves, you could gain more top end power using separate, straight ports out of the head, then letting them merge together somewhere along the exhaust pipe.

[@nockianlifter661]

I was thinking the same thing about my old 250RS. Great fun little bike. Bought mine for about £150 with a dent in the tank.

[@leslieaustin151]

Its probably also easier to cool the hottest part of the engine if you split the gas-flow into two with finning between the ports. Les

[@FaustoTheBoozehound]

@@leslieaustin151 It's this more than the power. Heat removal is critical on an air cooled engine and cracked exhaust valve seats or head cracks at the port are common. Two pipes gives more surface area and, as you said, more space for fins.

[@taxus750]

@@nockianlifter661 I bought a spare 250RS (it'd been in a crash) but instead of pulling bits off it I repaired it - the best despatch bike I ever owned (ex-Delta rider).

[@taxus750]

@aussiebloke, IIRC the 250RS donk was a tweaked version of the XL250.

[@oyleyhands1332]

Anothger great reminder of one of my bikes of the past..I ordered an XL500 as soon as I heard they were adding the single shock Pro-Link suspension, great wee bike and was probably my first (legal) on road and taxed trail style bike, never looked back after that. Sadly, some scrotes stole it and I did track it down and made myself a grappling hook, tied myself to a tree and down a steep river bank and after a few hours...found it and got it to the side of the river but could not get it passed the bank overhang...the insurers left it there ! Great bike whilst I had it, picked it up from the dealers and rode it off road with fresh stitches in my stomach following an operation....doctor at hospital went mad when I turned up for a follow up appointment on the bike....mind you, he had a ride around the nurses car park on it himself !!

[@HONDAVFRV4]

Harry just getting the wheel in the air at 80 clicks. I do like my Honda bikes. Had one since age 16 until now. Best bikes for reliability and getting the job done.

[@codyc3774]

Howdy from Texas. I have the 85 XL600R one kick start. Love that bike. Working on a 87 XT350 w 1300 miles on it.

[@canucklehead0]

I turned 18 in 1985, I had saved for over a year but was still short of the asking price of a XL600r so the Manager called a dealership in the city and brought out a XL350r which I bought. I had more fun on that little bike, trails, sandpits, open fields and when I was done it was street legal and able to do highway speeds. I loved that bike, but then as you do, you grow up and get married and pretty soon you've missed a season and gone and picked up a Honda Gold Wing. I was 32 when I sold it, I can still remember the smile on the guys face when the deal was done. I think I may have cried a little that night.

[@hvalour1]

Xls and xrs are fantastic bikes...a better 2 wheeled offroad adventure companion you will never find. Cheers for sharing harry!

[@michaelxr2460]

I have the newer, little brother to this XL500, a 2000 XR400R. I’ve had it since new. I’ve owned and ridden extensively at least a dozen other bikes in this time frame and none of them do so many different things as well as my 400. I was able to get it street licensed right after I bought it with an add on kit. For the 90/10 dirt/street riding I do, it’s by far the best. I’ve had it out on motocross track and it is fairly capable, it will climb the nastiest hills like a billy goat. It’s super comfortable to ride all day long. It is extremely low maintenance. 23 years later it is still a very good, capable bike.

[@mohammedzaman8977]

Really living your best life riding bikes on your own land . Honda xl are wicked little bikes

[@peterwardle572]

You are so lucky to have your own ground to ride on, great series, if I had that space I might ride again, but management will not allow it on the road, divorce and all that, and at 73 I just want a quiet life, you lucky bugger.

[@Farlig69]

Sod that, tell her to sling her hook, life is short, you are at the tail end, you don't get another chance. She loves you for who you are or fuck right off...

[@marineboy6033]

Unfortunately I snapped my neck which rules me out of bike riding now - so I love these videos where you really feel you’re on board.....great videos....

[@EleanorPeterson]

Hi, Marine Boy! Personal question, so none of my business, but may I ask if your neck injury was bike related? I'm not after any more details (just nosy!) - a Y/N response would be fine. 🙂 Best wishes.

[@marineboy6033]

@@EleanorPeterson - not a bike accident!

[@marineboy6033]

@Do One - thanks...

[@TheAslakVind]

Yamaha or Honda, please lend Harry a modern Dakar winning bike so he can get the comparison! Love that you still pull wheelies, love the series Harry!

[@marcoluoma3770]

I love that you emphasize the reliability. Too many bikes nowadays are great performers, but will strand you out in the boonies.

[@phils2180]

Beautiful. Benchmark Honda reliability with ride-ability. I had an '02 XR650R, a much later development of the XL, which was a bit of an animal but still problem free nonetheless. A fuel tap, a choke and a kick start, thumbs up for simplicity! I once read somewhere that the twin pipe header was something to do with the pentroof cyl head design. The Pro-Link suspension certainly moved the handling game on. 👍

[@GallicGarlic]

Hello Harry You touch very fond memories of these 80s Enduro / Rallye-raid bikes and the Paris-Dakar! Count me as one of your French fans! Keep up the good work! Thanks for that!

[@candycabngfl]

Grew up riding dirt bikes [ 1983 YZ490 20+ years. Still love it ] but always liked the Dakar bikes. Great collection !

[@peterdoe2617]

Again: a pleasure to watch, Harry! A joke of old: a friend of mine once owned a XL 600R. His dad suggested this: "Son, for better acceleration and less weight: just detach the front wheel. You're only riding on the rear wheel, anyways!" Greetings from the far north of Germany!

[@Rondo2ooo]

My dream as an early teen was always an XL 250 with Pro-Link rear suspension. Their soft sound remains unforgotton.

[@18echosf]

Great review! Back in the mid to late 70s, I was a Class A enduro rider on the east coast of the US. Two-stroke bikes were kind of ruling, but I loved 4-stroke bikes because of the engine braking. I raced in the lightweight class on a Honda XL125 with some very tricked out parts for the time..........inverted S&W shocks, Martek ignition, different springs in the front forks for better control. The bike didn’t have a lot of power, but it was very easy to maneuver thru the trees and could be thrown around a bit. I had my share of 1-3 place wins and loved those bikes so much I stayed with Honda when I started road racing, using Honda CB400s with Pops Yoshimura’s 466cc kit, Martek electronic ignition, Kaz Yoshima hand-bent exhaust, and some tricked out front & rear suspension mods, including inverted S&W shocks. I also competed in ISDT qualifiers, but never did well. However, those were the days! Thanks for bringing back some wonderful memories! I love this series of videos! PS: I’m now just and old guy who loves Porsche and been driving and tracking them for 40+ years! Stay well and safe, sir!

[@keithelcoate2177]

Harry , you are a hero !

[@ruaraidhmcdonald-walker9524]

I used to love Harry's old black UFO best in the old EVO days but these Dakars are ace!! Working in a Yam dealer in Edinburgh as a student at the end of the 80s, I loved the XT600E and XTZ750 when it was lauched. What a blast! Along with the TDR250, even I (Mr Ham fisted!) could wheelie those!! All this off roadery is making me miss my old CR500 now!! Love it! More bike vids please Harry!

[@roosthrower]

You do alrite on that bike Harry, no fear, Starts easy enough. Those brakes are not like the new ones. Loving the commentating you certainly know your history on these bikes.

[@alanwayte432]

Six dislikes , what’s to dislike, its life affirming, and highly enjoyable

[@joshuarosen6242]

I swear that some people deliberately watch videos that are about things they know they are not interested in solely for the purposes of finding something to dislike.

[@Soapy555]

He's a hooligan in chavs clothing, what's the worst that can happen?

[@HedgeCCL]

@@joshuarosen6242 Couldn’t agree more. HM seems to have an idyllic life(style). Good on him. I love all his output, just ace. Only read EVO cos of him, so I guess you could say I’m a fan 😀

[@nickturner2813]

"What's to dislike"? People like you complaining about other people's opinions as though yours are the only ones that matter, for a start. Have a thumbs-down for being a pompous sycophant.

[@nickturner2813]

@@joshuarosen6242 I swear that some people deliberately read the comments (knowing that some others may not like the video) solely for the purpose of finding someone to have an unjustified go at.

[@borntwisted]

The XL 500 R was the first bike I ever owned (hired bikes for my tests), this brought back so many memories! Thank you for sharing your love of automobiles with us :)

[@joneldridge5513]

I love the sound of these big singles, Harry! More than enough power, to have a laugh and enjoy yourself!

[@colliedogjoy]

Brilliant Harry - Many thanks. Grew up with all these - had a DT50 when I was a kid and wanted an XT so bad.. Now a born again biker, had a 1950's Enfield Trials and then a Tiger 900 which was a beast so would love an XL.. Fascinating to learn about the developments. Happy farming.

[@groberts1780]

Have this bike's much smaller brother in the garage: a 1982 XL100 with just over 1K miles on the odometer. A goal for summer is to get it out and running again. Love small displacement Honda bikes from this era. Thanks for the inspiration, Harry!

[@garypatersonschannel]

This focus on bikes has been amazing, I'm glad your collection is so vast as I don't want it to end! Its also an excellent escape for myself as I was about to do my motorcycle tests in March last year and still haven't been able to do it due to Covid... stuck on the 125 until things open up properly here.

[@gadgetman_nz4092]

Brings back memories. I had the XL250RC as my first bike. Same frame and smaller engine.

[@ingeebeltoft]

Hi man. I got my XL 500 R for 40 years now and i love it. Fun to ride and always start easily. Not for sale 😂

[@MrClean-ms4nx]

Had about a '80 XL 500 and there was little lever you had to pull to open the exhaust valve to kick start. Fun Bike - this brings back some good memories.

[@disekjoumoer]

God, that brings back memories. That was my first real bike after my tiny Honda MB-50. Loved it to bits. Drove it in what was then West Berlin and it was a giant hoot and incredibly easy in traffic. Robust as all hell, too. They really don't make bike like these anymore.

[@jeremythomas6980]

What a good bike Honda should make a modern version cheers Harry

[@mantarayal]

These bike vids are wicked Harry. I wish they still made these Hondas!! The engine sounds so sweet. And it looks killer. Cheers from NZ

[@martinfisker7438]

Its crazy how much happened to dakar bikes over the years. The first tree bikes in the series were simple dual purpose bikes, the rest im tempted to call adventure bikes... And modern bikes are enduro bikes with a fancy bash plate and a navigation tower

[@stamford70]

Sat with a smile watching most of that Harry. Really enjoying your bike collection in much more detail than we've had in the past. 😊👍

[@richardmayes8797]

I love how every single one of these bike videos, the thumbnail is either Harry with the front wheel up, or else completely airborne. "Fully sick" I think the young kids would say...?

[@rv9990]

Full send! Hahahahaha

[@darbo23]

My XL500R was a brilliant bike, engine reliability was blighted by right hand main bearing cage spot welds rusting out due to condensation sitting canted over on side stand, loose cage got caught in bottom cam chain / sprocket and valves hit piston... sold broken bike to a friend and he made the discovery!

[@freddy7700]

Harry, I understand the joy and the passion you got with the XL 500R. I had a XL 500S for about 35 years. I sholdn't have sold it... Big mistake... The only thing that was to critisize was the drum frontbrake... You had to brake even before you started... :-) Btw, I enjoy your vids.

[@shadowred1980]

Enjoying the bike series. Thank you.

[@maxtarpage]

Great video. I have been a Dakar fan for a long time. I bought my 1982 XL500R new and have been riding it every year since, here in Colorado and Utah. You are very brave riding like that on grass. My other bike is a 1997 XR600R. Keep having fun and putting out awesome videos.

[@paulcrombach7262]

Love this serie about the dakar bikes and love this one in particular. I have 2 1982 Honda FT500s that have the same engine, nice little thumpers

[@niklaswejedal463]

Very interesting to follow the evolution of the Dakar bikes! Looking forward to the next one!

[@cecilwilson5442]

That is awesome viewing,, from England's oldest bud ekins and the great escape from Northern Ireland, loving the videos on the Dakar bikes,, ☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️😍😍

[@5ebra1]

You gave that Honda a good workout. Great review again. Please keep doing these bike reviews they are fantastic.

[@adrianadrian1887]

Thanks again from Dublin, Ireland. Kind regards, Adrian.

[@jonoedwards4195]

Harry's Crusty Demons of Grass! Great show, never forget Your first Pro link, King of the Track.

[@SuperDickiedavies]

He's actually quite a gentlemanly hoon.

[@colinhoughton3516]

Thank you for these bike videos Harry. Informative and enjoyable. Paris-Dakar, what a phenomenon!

[@theimaginarygarage]

Loving these Dakar tribute reviews Harry! Keep them going. It’ll be the definitive guide.

[@twotubefamily9323]

Thank you Harry , wonderful bikes .

[@o0Bananaphone0o]

As a KTM 950 Adventure S owner I really have to tell you to get your hands on one of these classic beauties! They are really starting to get pretty rare (at least here in Germany). And boy, do I love mine...

[@tolga1cool]

I have been commenting under every video that his collection is seriously missing one of these! Hope he gets one soon. It's the best bike ever! Love mine (990 though) But yes, I have noticed too. This year the prices really have risen... 1-2000€ more then last year...

[@jimaagenes8445]

You have a beautiful farm! Fun place to ride!

[@twoeyedbob]

An absolutely Brilliant series Harry This being my favourite bike so far by a country mile 👏👏👍😁

[@davidperry2492]

Lovely bike, bomb proof engineering these. More bike stuff please Harry. Great fun.

[@villiamo3861]

Super vid, and the following is *not* a criticism, more a note for those of us a bit interested in the fast developing tech of the era - Harry makes a point about the improved suspension of the early eighties with Honda's Pro-Link; and though I'm sure he doesn't mean to lead you into believing Honda was the first with that kind of set-up, you could nevertheless come away thinking that quite easily. In fact, there had been bikes going back decades before with single shocks, but the real mainstream development of them for dirt bikes was in the early seventies by Yamaha with their monocross system, first used in competition motocross, developed in a few years such that though they gave the four stroke XT the twin-shock set-up in the late seventies, you could already buy contemporaneously the two-stroke DT250MX - for the street - with that MX denoting the single spring etc at the back!

[@HedgeCCL]

Absolutely loving this mini-series about HM’s Paris-Dakar bikes. I feel there might well be a purchase or two ensuing from it.

[@OzTwanger]

Loving this series on the Paris Dakar bikes. Good effort on the wheelies too

[@garyhargreaves5630]

In the last shot of the original Paris Dakar bike during the sum up, it looks like the lower fork sliders have a greater amount of slider beneath the spindle lug, this suggests the factory bike had even more front suspension travel. I take the point that it had a more sophisticated chassis than the XT Yam though. I’m loving this mini series on the P-D collection Harry. Thanks very much for the time and trouble you’ve gone to. They all look a blast to ride on your well used ‘test facility’ 😉

[@robertmatthews8302]

Lovely bike. Got the non Paris Dakar version of 1982 under restoration. Looking forward to finishing it. Thanks for your video.

[@acatnamedqueenb7047]

Just got one, has a leak in the crankcase but can’t wait to ride it. Great video- a real nice overview thank you

[@shubr66]

So pleased to find this today 👍

[@johnfurnival4133]

Enjoying these bike films Harry

[@JaisiKarniWaisiBharniMynameHSD]

Sir I am watching your channel from long time hatch off to you for maintaining so many old and iconic bike , regarding this bike Honda 500 xl it was and is still a wonderful adv bike but now Hero had launched Xpulse 200 cc off roading adv which is most affordable ADV in the world

[@twarken5078]

Really enjoyable videos, Harry - thanks for taking the time to create them.

[@tevie54]

Excellent video, I have a '79 XL500 twin shock but after seeing this video I think I'll start saving for an XL500R Paris Dakar replica.

[@Porkycheun]

The wheelie king is back! 😋

[@ดารินเบททิก]

Great Performance Harry! You do it greatly. 😊

[@reinmansmith]

Absolutely loving this series of videos on the bikes 👍 More more more please!!

[@williecosgrove]

I have an 1984 honda xl 500 here in EIRE , engine fully rebuilt an frame and all body parts clean, driving lovely , new tiers and brakes, all electrics working . open to offers

[@briankay4713]

Watching all the bike vids tonight with a beer .. Super informed as always ... And wow Harry you can ride them bikes too ..👍👍👍

[@modelcitizen1977]

It must be lovely to have your own 100 acre woods to bomb around in. That looks like the best way to spend my retirement years.

[@ufx808]

I love this mini series, Harry. Ex biker from yesteryear, my first was the ubiquitous FS1E or fizzy. Owned quite a few since then, on 4 wheels now.

[@Bladebars]

Harry’s a legend

[@voidcomm14]

here on the indian lands of south america we still have some trail bikes being sold for about 4k dollars with exactly the same technology of this xr500... and to be true is not bad at all, can't compare with ktm's and these other motocross super developed machines but still super fun to ride too.

[@ดารินเบททิก]

Great Job Harry. Lots of fun to watch how you drive this Machine. ( i had the same on in the 1980th. Was great fun to ride it. Thanks for share this Clip.😄

[@jameseast8510]

These bike videos are so good!

[@windinthewillows6248]

Keep it up Harry, thoroughly enjoying the bike series. Looking forward to the next one. 👍

[@GleepGlop2]

Whoah I'm impressed I assumed that was your son riding at first! Cool to see you can ride all those bikes in your collection!

[@dino2042]

Great video, Harry. These had the two into one exhausts for heat dissipation - Honda was having problems with heads cracking on the earlier XL models that only had a single exhaust coming from the engine. It would only really happen when people would push the engine hard before letting them warm up, though.

[@spurgear4]

I have an 1980 XL 500, love that bike.

[@themittonmethod1243]

Harry, the dual headpipe has to do with the 4-valve head.. Honda's RFVCC (Radial Four Valve Combustion Chamber) - which they also used on the XR250. The valve geometry and angle to the centerline of the cylinder bore meant that in order to maintain structural integrity and proper cooling meant that the ports could not be siamesed to a single downpipe. Cheers! Scott from Canada.

[@masonknives92]

I had an XL600R Beautiful little bike. Wish I had kept it!!

[@splodge57]

Wish I had a back garden like that to ride my bike around. Look forward to hear which one is your favourite over that loop.

[@allseeingeye1]

Harry auditioning for The Great Escape

[@Ta_nuz]

yep! just right👍

[@torqueover]

Wonderful stuff Harry. I had the 125 and 250 versions brand new back in the day. Both were ace, i never made it to the xl500 as i was seduced by the kawasaki klr600 on looks so went there instead. Thumpers really are ace. I now fancy another single :) ride safe.

[@SuperLaplander]

Thank you Harry! Lovely bike, thank you for sharing.

[@glord49]

Love the series. Thx Harry

[@SnakeyUk08]

Cheers Harry Lampkin another quality no BS video :)

[@andysparks1973]

Use mine in the Goldfields in Oz , so good on the rough stuff and keeps going on and on .

[@alanwright9112]

Very enjoyable watch

[@Aoi_Fans]

Me: Hums the KickStart theme tune during the into.

[@ruaraidhmcdonald-walker9524]

This! Exactly this!

[@ANDYMCNET]

Doomp doomp doomp da da da da da da doomp. =)

[@nickhill3362]

What another great bike in your collection Harry keep them bike vids coming 👌👍😁

[@hugobaert7737]

love this series! thank you

[@markroberts5565]

I had a Red 82 Y reg XL125R which was a baby version of the 500, I always fancied a 500 or 600.