Honda XR600 R - I Just Bought a LEGEND

I just bought the Legendary Honda XR600r. This is one of the most iconic big bore thumper bikes of the 1980s, and 1990s. Huge torque and more than ample horsepower made this one of the most iconic off-road trail bikes in history. In this video we will go over the bike and the list of things we're going to do as we begin a small series to bring this amazing piece of motorcycle history back to its former glory. Welcome to Project Time Garage
#honda #xr600r #bigbore #thumper
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Project Time Garage
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[@rickbridgewater7754]

I have had my 87 600 for 30 plus years and mostly still original. I really enjoyed your video. Love these old bikes. I have 5 XR's all together.

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Cool. That's quite a collection.

[@adamsquires1775]

I just picked up an 86 600r. As a long time owner, what’s your best advice for starting these beasts? I’m curious on your process for cold and hot starts. I can(usually) get it started cold but have yet to figure out the hot starts.

[@kitvexed8229]

the 1985 XR350R is the absolute BEST bike of that generation as it's a great compromise between small and large, it's the only year of the dry sump, the 1st year of the SINGLE carb, aluminum swingarm, and front DISC rotor.. it solved/upgraded all the issues of past XRs and has plenty of power without the weight of the 500/600. unfortunately, it's a one year only bike in the US (other countries got it for one more rear in 1986)

[@rodrigoserrano4908]

In reality, is a tremendous legend and what a legend my friend!!!

[@franciscolopez3229]

Man, for its age, the engine purrs like a kitten. Congratulations on your additional happiness with a bike you love.

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Thanks!

[@katoom-ju6vo]

What a beautiful bike!! I'm sure it'll bring you a lot a great times out there. I agree that bringing these older bikes back to stock form is the way to go. Years ago, I had a 1985 XR 350 and it was such a fun and comfortable bike to ride. It's probably the only bike that I have some regret selling. Have fun, enjoy and be safe!!

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

I've put a lot of time on it so far. I absolutely love it.

[@billbates5475]

I bought my XR 600R the first year it came out, back in May of 85 and I still have it.

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Dang, that's impressive.

[@derryjones1029]

They are bullet proof not like these new four strokes all the xr range if well maintained and not abused constantly they will go forever your bike is living proof of that👍🏻

[@jamesgocka346]

These things are the "Swiss army knife "of dirt bikes...I've always got room in my garage for one!

[@Itsjake908]

Wow all these years you held on, that’s Awesome!!!

[@user-zg9lv8ix3s]

Hey man , i love the title to your video. I didn't own one myself , personally but my brother was about 5 yrs older than me and a motorcycle guy and i was fortunate enough to learn how to ride on his 1986 XR 600R. It is one of the best memories of my adolescence and these bikes deserve every last bit of reverence they get !!

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

They are a fantastic bike. Not a MX racer by any means but as far as a dirt bike they're AWESOME.

[@vtman5656]

Currently doing a top to bottom supermoto rebuild on my 97 600r. These bikes are tractors but for whatever reason just never fail to make me smile. Long live the Big singles.

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Yeah, that torque makes me giddy.

[@przygodyhonodyxr6009]

😁 XR is the beast 💪

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

It is...

[@jeffhayes3089]

Enjoyed this. I just bought a 1985 600r 2 weeks ago. I bought a 1986 brand new in 86, I was 22 yrs old and loved it ran a lot of hare scrambles on it. It finally got my knee in 91 and wound up the bike thing for a long time. I had a brand new sick baby and a bunch of other stuff goin on too so i sold it. Im 59 now and fixin to kinda put this one back as it was like you are doin. Also the 86 had a digital enduro meter basically the same as what you are installing. Good job! Im gunna keep a watch on you

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Welcome aboard. Lots more coming on this.

[@LambvinskisGarage]

Man, this is pretty much exactly the bike that I'm looking for! I've ridden thumpers pretty much since I was 12, I'm 27 now, and I'd like to get another bike. The mid 80's XR/XL600R is just calling my name! Hopefully I can get one to ride this summer!

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

If you ever ride one, you'll be hooked. The low end torque is crazy good.

[@LambvinskisGarage]

@ProjectTimeGarage I ended up getting a 92 XR600R for a smoking deal because it needed some love, I rode it for about 20 minutes yesterday and I'm loving it so far!

[@1dayu2]

I had 2 and sold one. I need to revive the last one, been stting for some times. They are nice bikes hard to come by in that condition. Good presentation my friend

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Thank you!

[@Lonewolf23-26]

Love the sound of that bike! Also beautiful property man really goes along with everything you have going! Nice eye for detail and a pride in everything you own, it’s nice to see!

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Thanks 👍

[@ryanperry9472]

Just got to the end of your video. Those bike originally only came with a tail light, not a brake light. My guess is the previous owner added those capacitors/brake switch trying to have a functional brake light. Pretty sure this set up will not work. If you are running a brake light, that has to be on DC. The dual sport kit kept the original headlight/tail light that would run off AC because they were halogen. When you added the dual sport kit you had to do the stator upgrade. The provided brake light (LED), turn signals, and one tiny small bulb in the corner of the headlight would run off of DC, and they would all turn on when you turned the key on without the engine running. A lot of states required this to make them street legal. Then when you kick start the bike, your main headlight would turn on and your factory tail light.

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Thank you for this information! It's so helpful to hear from people who were involved with these bikes!!

[@ryanperry9472]

@@ProjectTimeGarage I even used to handle the tech support phone calls for them. Can't tell you how many self proclaimed "electrical engineers" I used to have to deal with LOL!

[@ryanperry9472]

@@ProjectTimeGarage Thought I would share some more info. I used to set up lighting on a lot of XR650's that would race in the Baja 1000. They would use the rewound dual output stator. They would run one output AC to run the stock headlight/taillight. The second output was run DC that they used for extra HID or LED lighting. They ran this set up so in case something went wrong with their DC lighting set up, they would still have the stock headlight as a back up.

[@michaelxr2460]

If you get your carbs tuned right then use the procedure, they aren’t too bad to start. Take the primary carb bowl off and make sure the enrichment jet is right. There’s a plug in the secondary carb and a jet in the primary and sometimes they’ll get swapped on accident and then your enrichment circuit (choke) doesn’t work. Fuel on, full enrichment (lever up), turn your idle speed screw knob (right side by secondary carb) clockwise a turn or two, kick through slow until on compression. If it has good compression you can basically stand on the kicker and it won’t go though. Pull your decompression lever and barely push the kickstarter an inch or so to get it on top dead center and past the compression. Release the decompression lever, let the kicker back to the top, then jump on it. Kick it as hard as you can. If it doesn’t fire, don’t even bother kicking it again. Pull the decomp lever in, hold down the kill switch, twist the throttle wide open, kick it through swiftly 10 times. That will clear out the cylinder. Then repeat the start procedure. Kick through to compression, inch it to top dead center, kicker back full top, kick as hard as you can. My jetting is spot on and this procedure works for me every time. Usually 1 to 2 start kicks. If it’s really cold out, then it can take more, 5 or 6 and it feels like the oil is so cold it’s super hard to kick it hard enough to spin fast.

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Good info, Thanks!

[@HarvestTVNetworkWithKevinHorn]

Great video. I purchased a 1991 xr600r about a year ago. Really like the simplicity and how it runs.

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Yep, me too!

[@user-wu6th7yu3o]

I have a 86 600 it had a digital speedometer they are a awesome bike I bought it new and still have it best trail bike ever made

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Yep, great bikes indeed.

[@keithcrampton1438]

I had one of those a long time ago and one thing it was good for was wheelies!

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

That's right.

[@derryjones1029]

Ive had a 250 and a 400 xr and i loved them so comfortable on long enduro days out especially the 400 with a good back tire it would rip me up and through anything ive never had ago on the 600 nice bike brother

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Thanks man!.

[@brandoncurry3443]

That’s a nice 521 in the background!!

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Thanks, I have a full video series on it - Check it out!!

[@ryanperry9472]

It has been awhile since I have worked on one of these. I used to work for a very popular company that made dual sport kits for dirt bikes. I am sure you can figure it out lol. I worked on a lot of XR650's and you could get the stator rewound for a dual output, roughly 125 watts each. That box you are looking at is your AC regulator. That handles the headlight/tail light and they only turn on when you start the bike. If you have a second output, you can turn that into a DC output with a regulator/rectifier and a battery set up. I think those two extra white wires coming from your stator are your second output. I set up a lot of these with one output for AC and one output for DC on the XR650's. It was the best move you could do. Just cant remember if you could get a dual output stator for the 600's. If you do in fact have a dual output aftermarket stator on that bike, that gives you a lot of options available! if you have any questions just hit me up. Might have to shake some cobwebs loose in my brain, but I think I can help.

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Thanks for this information!!

[@ryanperry9472]

@@ProjectTimeGarage Test those two spare white wires from your stator to see if they are making voltage. I have a strong feeling that you have a second output on that stator and those are the wires for it. If they are, hooking them up to a DC regulator/rectifier with a battery attached is pretty simple. The DC Reg/Recs we used had 2 yellow wires, a black, and a red. Yellow hooked up to the stator output leads, black/red hooked up to the battery and the dual sport kit. Battery was hooked up in line with the kit.

[@braiden2773]

I picked up an xl600 doin a frame off and My dad’s first bike was an Elsinore haha

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Those Elsinores are fetching some good money these days.

[@airadaimagery692]

Nice bike. Elsinore MR50 was where it all began for me as well. I was 9 years old, and it was the perfect bike for that age. The good ole days! I just bought some pod lights for my 300 dual sport that are 7-24 volt, and they are really tiny, and super bright.

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Very few of us had teh pleasure of owning an MR50 back in the day. Good stuff....

[@jpabloronda3717]

I have a 1986 and I'm in love 😂😂 Greetings bro🤙🤙🤙

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Thanks!!

[@derryjones1029]

Xrs are amazing machines armchair comfortable to ride and go all day anywhere

[@travishaynes1180]

I fuckin love the XR 600R , MY OLDER BROTHER HAD ONE AND I FELT LIKE ENTERING THE BAJA EVERY TIME I HOTWIRED AND ROAD IT WO HIS KNOWLEDGE/PERMISSION 😊

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Yeah, they're cool old bikes.

[@user-st5bi3bf9z]

I got XL 600 R thrr Are GREAT BIKES

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

They sure are.

[@Volkswear]

I’m heading out to pick up a 1987 600R tomorrow morning. It’s been in storage for 25+ years. JC.

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Awesome bikes. Absolute torque monster.

[@michaelxr2460]

2 years ago I bought an 87 from original owner. It had been in storage since 1997. Very similar story. The 87 is called the “Patriot Missile” because of its color scheme and 100+ mph top speed.

[@Volkswear]

I love the Red/White/Blue on the 87. Going to be a long winter waiting to ride this thing. JC.

[@clementteekaram2995]

My next bike on the list love the springieness they possess. I got a xl600

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Yeah, they're a good ride

[@lukewalters4716]

Look at the rocky mountain atv/mc lighting kit. Ive used the kit on 3 xr600r builds to make street legal. Works great. The battery it comrs with is small and i use velcro and it sits inside the airbox. Ive git a 85,86 and 97 xr600r currently. Done those lighting kits on bikes with 12v battery systems or like the xr A/C stators. Also fyi anything plastic on the early XRs is getting hard to find in usable condition.

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Good tip! Yeah, I've found some decent plastic, but it's crazy expensive, especially that front headlight plastic. I saw some that were over $700.

[@NoBidgetBikes-NBB]

Epic bike!

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Thanks!

[@gedgetips]

I just finished restoring my 1983 XL600R that I purchased new. These bikes come with turn signals and battery with brake light. I don't know if the strator would be different from that of an XR600. My rear brake drum is nearly worn out so have been thinking of converting to a rear disk brake from an XR650L. the brakes on these bikes can be somewhat marginal when doing much riding on the street with a passenger. I am on my third front disc in 35,000 miles. I did a lot of street riding with a passenger and combined we were about 272 lbs which is about the limit of this bike when including luggage to bring it to about 300 lbs total. I have had decent success with Shinko 700 tires for dirt/street and these are good for about 112 MPH. I use a 41 tooth rear sprocket with 15 front, but got a 13 front for use on trails and when on dirt roads in the mountains.

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

I had an XL350R myself for a while, great bikes. I'm glad you brought up the sprockets. How are your RPMs no the road, say 60'ish?

[@gedgetips]

Bit delayed here: Standard sprockets speed at 60 MPH with my XL600R is 4260 RPM. My current speed at 4000 RPM is 61.6MPH and at 4260 it is 65.6 MPH. Currently using 15/39 sprockets. Don't know what the XR600 uses as it may have a larger rear sprocket for the rear. Original for me is 15/43. I used to use a 41 tooth rear but tried out the 39 tooth and it provides a smoother ride and about 56 MPG on the highway with a load, but without a passenger these days. I plan to use a 14 tooth front sprocket if I would travel with a passenger, but do not anticipate any longer trips with a passenger these days. The 13 tooth front I may use for dirt roads and trails. I do carry a fair amount of luggage and have saddle bags and a trunk-like box on the back and even when loaded down with camping gear my current gearing works well. Yet, haven't tried higher altitudes when loaded down yet, like over 8,000 feet elevation, but so long as it is paved road it should be OK with my current higher gearing as would probably just not be able to use 5th as often. Top speed now is a theoretical 109 MPH at 7100 RPM with top speed at max power (6000 RPM) is 92.7 MPH which is realistic I think -- at least without being loaded up. Cruising at 75 MPH is easy enough but haven't gone over 85 MPH so far with it when loaded down. 65MPH is about the most comfortable freeway speed when I can get away with it, but most of the time I need to keep it at 70-75 MPH just to stay with the flow in California and Nevada.

[@userwalker]

XR600R The best Bike ever!!

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Yeah, they are good bikes for sure.

[@torevenheim9607]

Have exactly the same bike, but need some ignition work to start and run right, a weakness on this old bikes 😅

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Yeah, I've seen it a few times myself.

[@zachariahprince1512]

i just got one ofe these from my uncle or atleast froom the same family of this bike and its my first bike so ig gg

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Awesome, good luck with your project!

[@TheMoparGarage]

My buddy had a 1987 XR600 for a little while growing up. It looked almost identical. That thing was a tank! Brutal to get started though. I think he paid $400 for it. Different times!

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Different times for sure!! I gave nearly 5 times that! Oh to be in the 90s again....

[@TheMoparGarage]

@@ProjectTimeGarage it’s wild! So much of the fun is out of buying and selling stuff with these prices.

[@Itsjake908]

I would love one of these but they’re just too hard to find etc…I’m going to go for the xr650l

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

It took me about 4 years to actually find one.

[@djizzah]

Asans bild the best bikes and cars unfortunately they stopped selling these here in Australia decades ago

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Yeah, all those old Japanese bikes were tough.

[@user-eu4xp3io2z]

Hey what's the 2 silver bolts with crush washers that's on the side of the valve cover

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

I believe you're talking about the large hex bolts. Those come out in order to remove (slide out) the rod that the rocker arms ride on.

[@ducatipaso1386]

@ProjectTimeGarage XR 500 style tail light + Acerbis headlight indicates a Baja Designs lighting harness with NiCad pack inside air box. Battery pack provides 12vDC to drive turn sig relay. OEM HONDA XRs came two ways: North America - Always ON 35 watt headlight and single 194 bulb taillight running on 12vAC direct off stator coil (regulator optional). Other markets Australia, Asia, Africa, etc got a dual output light coil, 35/35 watt headlight bulb, dual 194 bulb taillight, round turn signals & horn off a 12vDÇ regulator/rectifier & capacitor assembly behind headlight, NO BATTERY. Baja designs kits can be wired to work with different light-battery-stator combinations. OEM cut corners on the street lighting it's subject to headlight dimming & flicker on brake/turn/horn application. OEM or aftermarket the XR street lighting is pretty pathetic it's just a means to a plate. Have fun on The Great Pumpkin they probably wil outlive us.

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Dude, thanks for that info!! That's good stuff right there.

[@erikeberstein6460]

What state are u in??? Beautiful

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Tennessee

[@alexanderfederowicz]

A little TLC and some chewing gum remover at that baby's going to fly... Just be careful until you're used to the fact that you're easily reaching 90 miles per hour on a trail and you could hardly feel the bumps... Those bikes can be deceptive, and you really don't have a sense of how fast they get up to very high speeds... You've had Suzuki RM's so you know the situation... You look like a pretty strong guy so you should be able to hang on quite well 😂

[@alexanderfederowicz]

Why not use a nickel metal hydride battery. Those were invented for the EV1 ! They hold a charge a long time, and they don't burst into flames because of material failure like the lithium battery Bombs do 😅

[@alexanderfederowicz]

I've got to say you're doing a beautiful job on restoring that old lovely girl ! She is good to fly along trails for you as long as you ask her to 👍🚀🍻

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Thanks for the comments and thanks so much for watching. More to come on this bike over the fall/winter.

[@patrickkelly9721]

"The passenger side of the bike"?

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Lolz you're the only one who caught that.

[@Mrtweet81]

Thats one weird looking caliper, almost looked more like a brake disk...

[@EvendimataE]

that bike looks tall...is it good for a person who is 5'8"

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

Yeah, it's pretty tall. I'm about 5'10" and it's a bit tall, but still comforable for me.

[@quirinm.]

I am 6ft and it’s the perfect size for me, it’s definitely a bit more to handle size wise than a crf450

[@torevenheim9607]

Xr600 has no battery, you won't need it 😅

[@ProjectTimeGarage]

I'll likely need a battery to run the flasher circuit for the turn signals. The DC voltage the rectifier puts out dips WAY below what the flasher can handle at idle - which is when you need blinkers most of the time.

[@ducatipaso1386]

@@ProjectTimeGarageXR 500 tail light + Acerbis headlight indicates a Baja Designs lighting wire harness + coil with NiCad pack inside air box. OEM HONDA XRs came two ways: North America got single filament headlight bulb w/ 194 bulb taillight running on 12vAC direct off lighting coil. Other markets Australia, Asia, Africa, etc had dual output coil, 35/35 watt headlight, dual 194 bulb taillight, round turn signals & horn with a capacitor hanging off 12vDÇ regulator/rectifier behind headlight. NO battery. OEM cut corners on the street lighting it's subject to headlight dimming & flicker on brake/turn/horn application. OEM or aftermarket the street lighting is pretty pathetic it was just a means to get a plate. Have fun with the Great pumpkin. A Supertrapp is a must for thumper club membership :-)