New To Thumper Club - Honda XBR500

[guest2051]

Hi guys,

I was referred to this forum by a Youtube user and since i have a thumper i thought i would join up.


I have a 1985 Honda XBR500 which is a Twin Port and has a dry sump. I saved it along with a 1980 Suzuki GS550/4 from a massively overgrown garden, i was basically a jungle.

The plan is to cafe it.

Here are some pics of how it looked when dragged out of hibernation and the last pic is of how it stood after a quick clean up.















And here's a video of it running after being sat for 15 years.

[manxie]

Welcome Mark  Excellent job rescuing the bikes, a great find, and getting the XBR running. There are great fella`s on here who`ll I`m sure help you out with any technical questions you may have .... they`ve helped me out for sure! Good luck with it, they`re great bikes!!!! Steve.

[SteveC#222]

Welcome to the Thumperclub! It was me who recommended you have a look.

Considering how long it was standing it sounds pretty good! A bit of work to do on the rolling chassis but you have all the bits there and most spares are easy to get hold of and reletively cheap. Loads of experience and advice to be had here for free!!

[Moto63]

Welcome along Mark, cool little vid of the "start up after 15years" best of luck with the bikes...yes some pretty knowledgable chaps on here.....most of them with a decent sense of humour too .....cheers, Michael

[guest2051]

Thanks for the warm welcome and thank you Steve for the referral, much appreciated.

This project will move a long quite quickly, completion being roughly 5-6 weeks away.


Its 100% complete and original from what i can tell, although i wont be using the tank, seat or plastics. The tank has sprung a pin hole leak and is fairly rusty inside. the seat cover has also perished due to weathering and the silencers are rotted through. Im not a huge fan of the xbr500 factory looks, its the fuel tank, i don't think it suits the bike at all. With the right tank and tail, they make fantastic looking cafe's.

Edit: I forgot to mention the mileage, she's only clocked up 13,000 miles!

[SteveC#222]

Check out the 'projects' section for lots of ideas.

http://www.thumperclub.com/smf/index.php?topic=6435.0 for example.

You may find buyers for some some of your spare bits through the sales section. Don't throw the rear seat cover away, they are hard to find and worth a bit!

[xbally]

Welcome and good luck with the resto project.XBR's are great bikes-well worth preserving.Although i found the vid of the bike interesting-i just love the extremely cute pooch who seems completely unfazed by the engine bursting back in to life.What's the dog's name btw?

[manxie]

Check out the 'projects' section for lots of ideas.

http://www.thumperclub.com/smf/index.php?topic=6435.0 for example.

You may find buyers for some some of your spare bits through the sales section. Don't throw the rear seat cover away, they are hard to find and worth a bit!

Hi Steve, the link you`ve provided .... I remember seeing that bike for sale a while back? Does anyone know of its whereabouts these days...is it still going strong? Lovely looking machine, a credit to it`s builder 

[themoudie]

Welcome XBR_Mark!   

Aye Steve (Manxie), if you or Mark need to contact the customiser of the XBR, website address still appears to be: Caferacerseats

Good luck Mark, with the shrubbery special.

My regards, Bill

[timbo]

Yes, welcome to the madhouse, I mean forum. Not so much a barn find, as a hedge find 
Keep us all posted on your progress, and best of luck. Loads of stuff on here, if you've time for a trawl through it all 

[mthee]

A bit spooky that I had a quick look for new XBR videos on YouTube, spotted yours and posted it just before you. Didn't mean to steal your thunder! Already looking a lot better after your clean up. Look forward to your posts in the project section 😀

[JOOLZ]

Welcome to the group, you have done a nice job getting that XBR running and looking tidy again

[guest2051]

Welcome to the group, you have done a nice job getting that XBR running and looking tidy again

Thank you and it didnt really take a lot to kick her into life. i checked to make sure the carb was clean and clear inside and after made sure was oil flow to the top end by kicking it over a good few times. I didn't start her dry as thats a fast way to destroy an engine thats been sat a good length of time.

Yes, welcome to the madhouse, I mean forum. Not so much a barn find, as a hedge find 
Keep us all posted on your progress, and best of luck. Loads of stuff on here, if you've time for a trawl through it all 

Thanks. i had a good look through the forum and there's a wealth of info here

Welcome XBR_Mark!   

Aye Steve (Manxie), if you or Mark need to contact the customiser of the XBR, website address still appears to be: Caferacerseats

Good luck Mark, with the shrubbery special.

My regards, Bill

Thanks for the link.

''shrubbery special'' - I like that hahaha XBR500SS!

A bit spooky that I had a quick look for new XBR videos on YouTube, spotted yours and posted it just before you. Didn't mean to steal your thunder! Already looking a lot better after your clean up. Look forward to your posts in the project section 😀

No worries, no harm done but yes, it was pretty spooky!

[SteveC#222]

If you need a copy of the workshop manual/parts catalogue/ loads of other XBR related articles PM me your address and I'll send you a copy on CD.

[Moto63]

Thanks for the warm welcome and thank you Steve for the referral, much appreciated.

This project will move a long quite quickly, completion being roughly 5-6 weeks away.


 Im not a huge fan of the xbr500 factory looks, its the fuel tank, i don't think it suits the bike at all. With the right tank and tail, they make fantastic looking cafe's.

Morning Mark, the cafe racer I built  ...had the original tank still in place with just a minor bit of cosmetic work with the angle grinder and I mean minor. I then formed a cafe racer hump to suit and fit in with the tank....the end result (IMVHO ) looked pretty good. Some pics on here somewhere of it, although I'm not to sure which thread they're under......anyway which ever route you take best of luck and keep Us posted...cheers.Michael