Honda XBR500 Oil Change

Quick Video of my first oil change on my XBR500 using 10w-40 oil and HF112 oil filter

[@lathejack]

I bought a new XBR500 back in 1989, they were £2,400 on the road back then, and i part exchanged my beautiful Honda CB250RS for it. The XBR had a fabulous engine with all the weak areas of Honda's earlier four valve single cylinder engines cured, such as the XL250s/XL500s and CB250RS. The original factory tool kit for the XBR included a metal spout that fitted over the engine oil drain plug but left the plug exposed so it could be removed with the spout in place, this directed the draining oil away from the bike and into a container easily. I parted with my XBR over 30 years ago, but a few weeks ago I found that original oil drain spout somewhere in my workshop, it could be free to an XBR owner if I can find it again. I can remember only a few annoying faults with my new XBR, one was that the engine had no protective paint finish except for the side covers, so the Alluminium Alloy head, barrell and main crank cases would become a bit rough with corrosion when it was ridden all year round in crappy weather. The later SJ models with spoked wheels had a nice metallic grey paint finish all over the engine. If the seat rear cowl was removed it left the seat loose and slopping about at the back, and the rear mudguard was hopeless, allowing rain water to spray everywhere over the electrics and toolkit under the seat. Apart from that they are a great bike with a lovely smooth and torquey engine, mine would manage just over 80 MPG if it was ridden steadily without going over 60 MPH, which was about 4000 RPM in top gear. I eventually did a straight swap of my XBR for a nice standard 1980 electric start Triumph T140 750 Bonneville at Charlie Freemans motorcycle shop, that was my third and last Triumph Bonneville.......Ah, happy days. I have a few single cylinder BSA's now.

[@bradwalton7599]

I wouldn't be able to do a straight swap for a T140 these days

[@taladrotalisman9118]

Hi there, did you find the metal spout to drain the oil?

[@doctordapp]

@@taladrotalisman9118 easy to make! Use a 30mm 45° pvc drainage pipe like for your fosset. Glue 10cm of straight on it. Heat te tip of the angle so it softens. After cooling cut or drill it open so the ratchet fits.

[@doronron7323]

While I'm at it.....being such a lightweight with 44bhp on tap, the XBR will certainly put a 650/750 Triumph to shame. Performance figures compare favorably with an RD350 Yamaha, which for years ran circles around everything else. The XBR has a very wide powerband and incredibly smooth for a single and handles like nothing should.

[@philipcooper8297]

There is a oil screen behind the clutch cover.

[@Rapscallion2009]

The dry sump lubrication slightly (slightly) complicates this, doesn't it? I remember my XBR500 well - wonderful bike.

[@davidgardiner336]

When draining crankcase oil out my xbr I always do it with the bike on the side stand then lean the bike over some more...you'd be amazed how much more oil comes out ...always best to change oil once a year or every thousand miles to keep the top end nice and clean

[@bradwalton7599]

Thanks for the advice will try that next time

[@doronron7323]

Hi Brad. Like your 'real life' vids, this being the 3rd one I;m watching. Which manual are you using and can you recommend a dedicated XBR forum (NOT facebook).

[@bradwalton7599]

Hello, I am using a photocopy of a Honda published workshop manual that came with the bike part number 67mk400c I don't know of a forum facebook killed most forums which makes it harder to search for known issues

[@SoddingaboutSi]

Does the bike need to be on centre stand to check oil? My oil overflows on centre stand if you run it for 3 mins and undo the dipstick! Just bought the bike and think it's been overfilled?

[@bradwalton7599]

It needs to be on the centre stand it could be over filled do you have a workshop manual?

[@SoddingaboutSi]

@@bradwalton7599 Yes it was over filled. Thanks.

[@vladokynchev737]

Thanks man... 👍👍👍

[@bradwalton7599]

No problem 👍

[@taladrotalisman9118]

Wich oil do you suggest to use? Some people told me to use a simple mineral 20-50W, others told me to use the expensive Castrol.

[@bradwalton7599]

I used 10w-40 semi-synthetic oil motorcycle oil.

[@officialthehouse9639]

Hello, how much oil did you had to put in at the end ? I got the same problem, after changing the oil with the filter, I had to put 1.7 liters oil innit. But the oil is at the tip from the dip stick ... so not enough. Thank you and greetings from Germany.

[@bradwalton7599]

I can't remember the exact amount but it was more than 1.7 liters I would top it up to at least half way and run it at idle for a few minutes and then check it

[@officialthehouse9639]

@@bradwalton7599 Thanks !

[@doronron7323]

So you've had it for about a year, so how have you got on with it? I've just bought one on ebay....how rash is that?

[@bradwalton7599]

Last summer was great does lack power but fine for me. Mine is currently on SORN over the winter (tend to use the Bantam in the winter). Just waiting for a health issue to clear up. Should have it back on the road over in the next month or two.

[@doctordapp]

I have mine for 5 years, was completely trashed. Almost ready building it up, just in time, can almost do the test for a motorcycle license.

[@santifresnel2320]

for being a vintage honda, that side oil emptying system is such bad engineering.