Unusual XL600L

[essjay]

Claimed as being a 1986 XL600L. First one I've seen with a front fairing.

 

[richie]

Claimed as being a 1986 XL600L. First one I've seen with a front fairing.

The French made fairings for lots of trail bikes, it looks very nice IMHO

 

[essjay]

The French made fairings for lots of trail bikes, it looks very nice IMHO

€1500 nice though?

 

[richie]

€1500 nice though?

not really, you can a lot of bike for that money

 

[essjay]

not really, you can a lot of bike for that money

It's nice alright. Might be an ok run about if I shift the 84' Tenere I have. Still €1500 for an 1986 bike is a fair wedge

 

[flytoolow]

...Strange timing...

I wasn't actually looking for an XL600LM ( see my other posts regarding looking for an Airhead)...But Ive come across this :

http://www.commerce-moto.ch/detail/detail.cfm?id=19235&form_kundennr=9578&auswahl=8

I've always liked the XL600 LMFs so Im off to take a look ( Its about 800 quid and 30K miles)...

I appreciate that I may need to do some wrenching - but Id prefer to have 800 quid sitting in boxes rather than a few grand for an Airhead IYSWIM

Has anyone got any advice on these machines ? Longevity , things to watch out for etc etc...

 

[Brewers Whoop]

Has anyone got any advice on these machines ? Longevity , things to watch out for etc etc...

They are simple and robust. A little prone to top end problems due to poor oil supply to the cam (check engine oil level and condition, and with the engine running very slightly loosen the upper banjo connection on the oil supply pipe to the head at which point copious oil should immediately appear), and some crack the head between the valves (watch out for sparkplug inexplicably loosening, and also check compression).

They have also often had the carb jetting played around with, not always for the better. Easily resolved though.

But with care and maintenance, very reliable and capable of running up large mileage.

 

[Blart]

I believe that's a pukka Honda fairing, I've seen a few others that match, possibly a factory option. There's lots that can be potentially wrong with these bikes and some critical spares, notably the camshaft and plastics, are impossible to obtain new other than NOS finds on eBay. If you find a goodun though they are a mild mannered but brilliant and fun bike to own.

 

[Blart]

But with care and maintenance, very reliable and capable of running up large mileage.

As Brewer's points out, the oil level is critical. Knackered oil or oil starvation will lunch the head quicktime. Any noise from the toped other than the cam chain, avoid.

 

[Kenny]

Gold anodised wheels rot from the inside out.....very rare and very expensive to replace. Exhausts also rot away.

Getting to be an old bike these days !

 

[Grim Rider]

Claimed as being a 1986 XL600L. First one I've seen with a front fairing.

I worked for Honda in 1986 and owned both models of the XL 600 they sold - the XL600R in red only without a fairing, and the XL600LM which was as seen in photo, and had fairing, much larger tank and twin headlights (most of European imports I have seen since have single headlight). Would be surprised if still has original exhaust as these rotted badly, also as others have said the gold rims on the LMs did not last well. Engines last pretty well up to about 30k if kept in original low state of tune, but oil level is critical and cam wear common if has been run low at any time.