Boy Racered XBR

[PieShop]

Hi all, bought a 10yr non runner as a project. Just got it cleaned up.
Seems to be some non standard parts on it, wonder if you can tell me what they are?
PieShop

[Ian]

Hello PieShop and welcome to the forum. You will find there are lots with valuable knowledge to help you out with your project. I'm not an "XBR" person but I can see a few non standard bits. The obvious being exhaust, foot pegs, air filter, oil cooler, oil tank. I'm sure one of the genre clan will be along soon to give you more info.
Cheers Ian 👍

[mthee]

I can add swingarm and shocks to your list 👍 Have a look at your cylinder to see what cc is stamped on it. If  you're lucky, you might have one off a 600!

[Moto63]

Yes welcome aboard pieshop. From the photo you posted I can see: exhaust system, original footrest hangers that have been cut down along with different pegs, oil cooler, what looks like a pretty rare metmachex ally swinging arm and indicators. As Matt says you may have a hybrid 600. Keep us posted and best of luck with it👍
Cheers, Michael

[Itsme]

Hi Pieshop

Welcome. Nothing to add about mods as I think they've all been covered. If they have all been done well then that should be a real hoot to ride. I had a standard '84 XBR and loved it, it is now firmly on the list of bikes I should have hung on to.

I don't know what your past experience of singles is like, I used to find the XBR needed more revs than I would have expected from a 500cc single to get the best out of it, but was light and agile, had acceptable brakes and sufficient power to keep me happy. Enjoy the fun ahead of you.

Spartacus

[Moto63]

Yes welcome aboard pieshop. From the photo you posted I can see: exhaust system, original footrest hangers that have been cut down along with different pegs, oil cooler, what looks like a pretty rare metmachex ally swinging arm and indicators. As Matt says you may have a hybrid 600. Keep us posted and best of luck with it👍
Cheers, Michael

Ahh.... just spotted the non standard oil tank pieshop. Possibly as the standard one wouldn’t fit because of the non standard swinging arm. 🤷
Cheers, Michael

[PieShop]

Thanks guys, all really useful & interesting!
Wondering how much oil this needs now with the Oil cooler, also, there has been a new box fabricated to fit in front of the tail light to house the battery?
This alloy box is broken, so I need another solution, unless I could run a magneto instead?
Very interested to hear about the swing arm , its got a piece of rubber screwed to the top of it and the chain seems to flop onto it, sure this is not right! see pic.
Cylinder head on R/S has 498cc on it, so no 600cc conversion I'm afraid..unless its been bored out?
Planning to change the oil, drop some fresh fuel in, connect battery and see if she fires up, fingers crossed!
Please let me know what you think.
PieShop

[Moto63]

Certainly sounds like an interesting project you have there Mr pieshop. The rubber thingymi bob on the swinging arm is off the original swinging arm looking at the pic. 👍
Cheers, Michael

[Itsme]

I agree with Michael. It looks like a Honda rubber protector (ooo errr missus) that just stops the arm being worn by the chain. Probably been drilled for a self-tapper.

I don't know about a magneto, but Electrex World do a lot of different types of ignition device, maybe they would be worth a phone call. Failing that you could try Rex's Speed Shop who also does ignition stuff.

Good luck it looks like a great project.

Spartacus

[richardeblack]

Hello, interesting looking bike.
Surprisingly all the brackets seem to be on the frame and the frame is nice and clean.  Certainly something I am not doing on the old one I plan to cafe racer.  I see the footrest hangers have been moved back on plates, presumably to set them further back to clear a longer tank I assume it has.  The voltage regulator unit is mounted in a peculiar place, presumably to avoid the air filter but retain the original wiring harness.
Did it come with a tank and seat?  I think it might be difficult to fit standard ones as it stands although as the brackets are all there it would be easy to modify it for that.
I have wondered about replacing the battery on one of mine with a capacitor like I did with my old Bonnie way back.  I can't remember the size of capacitor I used but it worked a treat.  Obviously no lights without the engine running and no starter motor but such an easy kick starter I wasn't worried.
I have just noticed that the inlet rocker inspection covers look to either not be there or flat ones.  Got me interested in that if they are flat.
I quite like the exhaust downpipes.
Good luck with it.
Cheers,
Richard.

[mthee]

I think the flat appearance of the inlet inspection covers is just a trick of the light and if you look closely and zoom in, you'll see the hex. Plus the reg/rect looks to be in the same position as mine, albeit the mounting plate might have been chopped/replaced 😁👍

[Mutt]

Afternoon PieShop.
I've just seen this thread and realised that I'd seen your bike a few weeks ago on eBay. I was intrigued by the fitted oil cooler but as the panels were on the rear oil tank wasn't visible. I have seen another XBR with a very similar swing arm that used the standard oil tank with the battery box in the normal place (the standard oil tank rear is bolted/supported by the battery box) so that may be why its replaced; it also looks smaller so it could be that the combined capacities of the front and rear equates to the standard capacity?
The exhaust down pipes look similar to the Motad 2:1 style grafted to the muffler pipe.
 

[richardeblack]

I think the flat appearance of the inlet inspection covers is just a trick of the light and if you look closely and zoom in, you'll see the hex. Plus the reg/rect looks to be in the same position as mine, albeit the mounting plate might have been chopped/replaced 😁👍

You are of course absolutely right on both counts.  I was a bit thrown by the deflector for the air filter inlet and associated bits not being there due to the air filter fitted.
Cheers,
Richard.