Early XBR

[guest987]

My new steed is an early XBR.

Its an Aug '85 with frame no ending in 0116. From the CMSL website, the frame nos for the UK bikes started at 0027, so it seems very early.

Any thoughts chaps.....?

Rob

[guest7]

I hadn't realised that it was that early, the bike came to me free of charge via a post on the old (and much missed) Thumper Page forum, it had broken its engine and the whole bike was free to whoever claimed it first. I set off to Southend in the car with a borrowed trailer and SimonM and I picked it up from the very pleasant owner.

The bike had been converted to run using a bloody huge Bing carb from a BMW twin, but I never got to fit a running engine to it and so can't report how it ran.

The engine came from a bike also bought in Essex by my brother. His partner Liz ran it for a while until he finished building her lovely Blue XBR, at which point the second bike came to me.

The exhausts that I gave you came from my very first (brand new) XBR, bought in 1987.

Good luck with the old banger.

GC

[guest987]

Mot passed today, no drama.

First ride suggests willing engine, went very well to and from the mot emporium. Tyres are another thing. Clearly teflon coated for longevity. Found myself humming 'Bolero', with images of Torvill and Dean as I drifted around various bendy bits. Will order some tacky alternatives.

Some minor tweaks required here and there but to be expected after assembly.

First impressions are favourable. Not bad for a box of bits

Rob

[SteveC#222]

My new steed is an early XBR.

Its an Aug '85 with frame no ending in 0116. From the CMSL website, the frame nos for the UK bikes started at 0027, so it seems very early.

Any thoughts chaps.....?

Rob

XBR's started in April '85 with PC15-5000027 so 0116 for August sounds about right. So it will be a very early SF with ( originally) 2 part exhausts. The later SG - from March '86 apparently had some minor engine/ gearbox mods - not sure what but I'll never heard anything suggesting the earlier models were a problem.  Must be one of the earliest survivors still on the road!

Shout if you need a CD of the workshop/parts manual Rob.

[guest987]

Thanks Steve, but I have a workshop manual.

For now it has original exhausts but they are a bit ropey. I remember these when they were new. I was in Bevans the main Honda dealer in Cardiff as a store man in '85. I'm looking to run this as a second bike and do some bits and bobs to the bonnie in the winter. I would like to keep this as standard as I can.

Rob.

[guest564]

XBR's started in April '85 with PC15-5000027 so 0116 for August sounds about right. So it will be a very early SF with ( originally) 2 part exhausts. The later SG - from March '86 apparently had some minor engine/ gearbox mods - not sure what but I'll never heard anything suggesting the earlier models were a problem.  Must be one of the earliest survivors still on the road!

Only engine mod that I recall was a change in the crankshaft counterbalance anti-backlash gear arrangement. IIRC the early models had two rubbers and two springs, that was changed to four rubbers. My XBR was registered Jan 86 I think and I believe that my spare engine is even older.
I did have a problem with my HRC cam that had stupid timing in one engine but was perfect in the other, the microfiche didn't show any changes in the part numbers for the rocker arms but something wasn't the same.

[guest7]

C'mon Rob, get a piccy up 

GC

[guest987]

I've always struggled to do this, but will have a go.

Rob.

[Steffan]

Someone pass him the photographic viagra

S

[guest987]

Not going to happen, may as well be talking astro physics here.

Gc can you stick one of the photos I emailed to you on?

Rob

[002]

Someone pass him the photographic

S

Pin Hole Camera !

Rob....ask your 7 year old to do it for you.

Jethro

[guest7]

Here it is in all its glory:



To be fair to Rob, the bits looked nowhere near as good when I handed them over, he's done a great job of painting and polishing.

GC

[guest987]

Thanks Gc. Still can't do the picture thing.

Not much painting really, just cleaning and reassembly. This has to be one of the most satisfying rebuilds I've done. Always wanted one. I'm really enjoying getting to know it. Dragon, here we come.

Rob.

[guest564]

Mine was registered 12 November 1985 and the frame number ends 433, engine number ends 1446.