New Project 1974 Honda XL250 motorcycle restoration part 1

This is my newest project, a 1728 mile 50 year old Honda XL250 motorcycle. The XL250's have great resale value, so I hope to make a few dollars on this project.
I ordered all the parts I can obviously see it needs.... I'm sure I missed a few parts and will order them as needed. So far all the parts ordered are genuine Honda parts, still in the Honda packaging.
I hope to get it road legal in the next couple weeks. I am waiting on a 74 Michigan cycle plate to register to the bike. That is all done through the mail, so it might take 10 days or so to get all the paperwork back from Lansing to make it road legal.
By the way, the thumbnail is a 74, XL250 that sold at auction for $7200 this past winter.
Stayed tuned, or better yet subscribe for more videos on this XL250.
If you liked my video, hit the thumbs up icon, and thank you for watching my video.

[@rogercamp6071]

Nice Honda Howard, I know you'll do a great job bringing it back

[@majorpayne5289]

👍There ya go. Good find. Looks fun!

[@micksterboone4517]

Makes me appreciate the 2k mi. '76 XL 350 in my basement.

[@OldCarAlley]

Thats awesome! My 76 XL175 has a ton of miles on it..... It's been road legal since new. I have ridden it every summer since it was new.

[@Scooterdude01]

Nice 👍

[@DCR52]

Great video!!

[@bobflicks6104]

Oh yeah, cats are always peeing on bike chains in my neighborhood too 😂

[@OldCarAlley]

LOL

[@scottrasmussen8258]

Glad to see you have found a project. Will be looking for your following videos on this project, really enjoy them!

[@OldCarAlley]

The next video on the bike maybe a week or so away, as I am waiting on parts. They should start arriving in the next couple of days.

[@hughmackellar7941]

I'm jealous!!!

[@garywilson12]

nice bike howard

[@wesleypulkka7447]

Howard, you've won the Golden Horseshoe Award with this find! In England I learned a chain revival technique that would save that chain. My version is to melt a quantity of petroleum based wax and blend in a half pint of Marcel Mystery oil to soak the chain at low heat, after about 20 minutes turn off the heat and remove the chain. The process deep lubes and protects the chain! Wipe off excess and reinstall. Oh and you might buy a lottery ricket before the Mojo wears off! Congrats!

[@OldCarAlley]

I use to heat grease into a liquid, toss the chain in and let it cool and harden.... New o-ring chains are not that expensive and that will help keep the wheel clean. I did ick up a few lottery tickets the other day.....

[@arthurmccarron4379]

Lucky find. Good. For you. I’m. Not. A motorcycle. Guy. But. My. Sons. Are. Bike. Sounds. Great. Thanks ❤❤❤❤

[@liljoeii6091]

THANK YOU FOR THE VIDEO

[@guyfuller1369]

Fun project, Howard. That bike is worthy of your magic touch.

[@805ROADKING]

Good stuff Bud!! Ya can't beat the old Hondas eh!!☻

[@OldCarAlley]

I think the Honda XL's were some of the best bikes Honda ever made. They sure have good resale value anyway. My friend Dave has one, a 78 XL250.... He loves it. He has a bunch of bikes, including big Harley road bikes. He rides his XL250 the most!

[@nickbruni8041]

Sweet👌🏼⛽️

[@rloewen11]

Nice project! Looks like you're going to have a lot of fun with this one!

[@OldCarAlley]

Its actually in better shape than I thought, now that I am working on it a bit.

[@jamespn]

If you can get it to look like your 175 Honda, that’ll be great. Nice project for the winter, maybe ride it some before the snow falls.

[@OldCarAlley]

I'm hoping to make it as nice. I do want to ride it a bit this summer.....

[@Martin48964]

A great project for you. I'm sure when your finish it will look better than new!

[@OldCarAlley]

I hope so, as I would like to get top dollar for it when finished. I was thinking of riding through the summer, then restore it during the winter.... The issue is, things I need to do, to make it road worthy, like rebuilding the front forks, requires a fair amount of disassembly..... so I might as well just restore it now...... maybe.....

[@Martin48964]

You know once you start to disassemble it you'll probably start the restoration. I don't like to start something knowing that I'll have to take it apart again to finish a project. It's going to make someone a nice bike one day!

[@OldCarAlley]

@@Martin48964 Yep, I think you're correct. It's not like I don't have something fun to drive or ride. I hope to get my XL175 back from my brothers this next week, so I can ride it. I use it often to visit friends during the summer. He is up north opening the cottage up.

[@brianhdueck3372]

I was wondering what project would come your way next. I hadn’t guessed the bike but man what a find! Good on you and I look forward to the series.

[@OldCarAlley]

@@brianhdueck3372 Im happy with it. It's in better shape than it looked after a good cleaning. By the way, I have restored boats and farm tractors too, so don't be surprised with anything I might tackle.

[@flyermarkbig465]

Looks like a fun project. The inside of the tank will be a little bit of a challenge but not one that cannot be over come.

[@OldCarAlley]

I'll get it cleaned out......

[@dietersmythe9649]

Fill with Evaporust!

[@edcucchiarella7994]

Nice buy and project!

[@davidverburgt4337]

Another cool video! Looks like a fun project!

[@OldCarAlley]

After cleaning it up, it looks like it will be an easy resto. Parts started arriving, so hoping to start working on it a bit next week.

[@barrydennis106]

Wow, nice find, I had the silver 72 xl 250, excellent project, looking forward, I am interested in it when your finished, Im in Sarnia, but I believe we could get it across with the right paperwork, please keep me in mind

[@OldCarAlley]

Will do..... Keep an eye on my videos, as I often state when I am ready to sell one of my restoration projects.

[@cliffhaupt5413]

That’s a Honda for ya.

[@jamespn]

Where do you source the grips and levers for the brakes and clutch, etc.

[@OldCarAlley]

Some parts are from eBay, some are from Honda motorcycle dealers. Most of the parts I ordered are in the factory Honda packaging. A lot of the parts are still readily available, and not horribly expensive.

[@geyser3445]

How much was it?

[@OldCarAlley]

For now, I'm keeping that to myself, the seller and the Secretary of State to pay the taxes when transferring the title.

[@geyser3445]

@@OldCarAlley Why would the seller care?

[@OldCarAlley]

@@geyser3445 He asked me to keep the selling price to myself when I told him I will make videos on the bike.

[@patrickcaudill2939]

Wouldn’t put an o-ring chain on this bike Simply too much rotating mass. Just get a rag and soak it with W-D 40 Otherwise, 1heck of a find!

[@OldCarAlley]

I use o-ring chains on all my bikes, it saves a mess.