My Motorcycle

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MrFirebird
@MrFirebird
14 Years10,000+ Posts

Comments: 13 · Posts: 10188 · Topics: 699
It's a 1975 Honda XL250

Engine
Four stroke Air cooled Single
250cc

Tires
Front: 3.00 x 21"
Rear: 4.00 x 18"


Just wanted a practical little putt-putt about town, back roads and trails utility bike.
Didn't really want a boulevard cruiser, crotch rocket, sport-tourer, road king, or the so-called "adventure" bike.
All nice bikes, but.... I was feelin' a bit eccentric and I like to tinker. (sometimes with my own patience and sanity, lol)

It gets about 70 mpg.
The closest modern equivalent is the Honda CRF250L "Dual Sport"

Back in the day, (1970s), these bikes were known as "Enduro"s, so named after the Enduro type of racing
and because they were both street legal and off-road capable. "Dual-Sport" is a modern term for a bike
that is similar to this. These days, the new bikes, of this type, only have one rear shock and spring,
commonly known as a "mono-shock" which has the substantial advantage of increased rear suspension travel,
complimenting the substantially increased front suspension travel. Also, the monoshock is pretty much old technology
on most Japanese and European street bikes. - Both styles are tried and true.
The advantage of the older dual rear shocked suspension design is in the way of increased weight capacity potential
and simplicity of design. It should be noted that most stereotypical Indians, Triumphs and Harleys and some
Honda Yamaha and Suzuki cruiser clones also use dual rear shock type suspensions. They are a heavier bike.
So for this bike, with it's shorter suspension travel, you just take it a bit slower in the dirt, than you would with a new bike.

Heavy bikes don't do well in the dirt.
The off-road-only full size dirt bikes, weigh, in the lower 200lb range, enduro/dual sports are high 200lb -low 300lb

Another issue is seat height many riders don't feel comfortable on the tall dirt bikes, but would like to ride
into the woods, you see. The Honda XR650L is such an example, Honda comes out with their CRF250L which
is shorter, but it's still not accessible to everyone who rides or those who are interested in riding in the dirt.

My bike offers a compromise that I was looking for, to compensate for what is currently missing on the
showroom new floor.
I think the ultimate expression would be highly modified XR650L that is lowered to more accessible altitudes
yet still tall enough for the fireroads and woodsy trails, and economical on gas, maintenance, and overhauls
and be able to fly down the interstate.
It would look similar to my bike.
Profile picture of MrFirebird
MrFirebird
@MrFirebird
14 Years10,000+ Posts

Comments: 13 · Posts: 10188 · Topics: 699
Posted by MoonArtist
Sweet! Looks in good shape for its age, too. Have fun and you better wear a helmet 😄
Wearing a helmet is NOT going to save this man. The nut on his shoulders cannot be cracked, pulverized, sliced, chopped, diced and ground.


Have you ever wondered why the Americans and Japanese don't get along?
Here is a Japanese explanation of wiring color.

http://www.xl250k3.com/library/wiringcolor.pdf

HEIGHT!! (you have to grunt it like a sumo samurai when you say it)


It's pretty much all there. Got a nasty ding on the right side of the tank.
The seat upholstery, though not perfect is quite remarkably in good shape for it's age.
Overall, the bike IS an decent shape for it's age but could be better.
At the present time, the old 6 volt battery is dead and needs replacement.
It may need a top end overhaul (as a perfectionist, I'd say it would need it).
It had seen an overhaul before, someone had epoxied the snot out of the cylinder barrel.
I think he probably had stripped the threads on one of the cyl. bolts and the excess ran down
the cyl. between the air-fins.

Because it is Obsolete in Honda's mind, parts have to be tracked down. You can't just find them
in every barn, let alone, on every street corner.

Once I get it up and goin' (not sure when), I'm not sure whether I'll keep it or sell it.
I REALLY like this bike for it "utilitarian" qualities. On road/off road. Saddle bag it and you
got a decent bike that's good on gas and go virtually anywhere (less big interstate).

For interstate riding, (keeping up with traffic)
I'd say a 500cc, 650cc, at minimum, 750cc and up to 1100cc are between perfect and
almost overkill.
In which case, I'd be thinkin either a Honda CB750, Triumph Bonneville or some variation of it, or an Indian.

otherwise this bike and an old Jeep CJ5 would suit my interests.
















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MrFirebird
@MrFirebird
14 Years10,000+ Posts

Comments: 13 · Posts: 10188 · Topics: 699
The Triumph Bonneville would be a sweet ride. Make no mistake about that.



CB250 (twin cyl.) -


CB500 Four (four cyl) -

CB750 Four (four cyl.) -




However, given a choice of vehicles:


Old 40s/50s/60s Dodge Powerwagon 4x4 truck (retrofitted with Cummins Turbo Diesel)
1967,'68,'69 and '70 Chevrolet C-20 (w/292 I6, 350, 396 or 454 V8)
1967 Dodge D200 (318 or 383 V8)
Dodge D200

1942-45 Willys MB Army Jeep
1969 or older Willys or Kaiser Jeep CJ5 (nothing newer than 75 without retro-modifications - new jeeps are "ok" but expensive and loaded with unnecessary toys)

58 Chevrolet Apache (1/2 ton, 3/4 ton 1 ton, 1.5 ton etc)

For cars:

Early 30s Cadillac, Packard and Duesenberg
1953 Cadillac Coupe DeVille
1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille
1972 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertable
Bar none, these Cadillacs were the dream machine to drive long distance.

1932-34 Ford 3 window or 5 window coupe (hot rod)
58 Chevrolet Corvette
63 Chevrolet Corvette
69 Chevrolet Corvette



65-66 and 68-69 Chevy El Camino w/396 V8

(Local commute and regional driving)
62 Corvair 500 coupe w/stock 85 hp engine
63 Corvair 700 coupe w/140hp engine
65-66 Corvair Monza 140
65-66 Corvair w/v8 mid engine kit

(Local commute (stay away from the mountains) )
50s 60s vintage VW bug
50s 60s vintage VW Van

Corvairs and bugs were BOTH great on gas.

Another sport car would be the Porsche 500 spyder (James Dean), and Porsche 911.

For a "family car"
1955-57 Chevrolet Bel-Air Sport Coupe, Nomad, then... 4 door sedans

64-67 Ford Mustang were good

The AC Cobra was really hot.
Jaguar XKEs were really nice, luxo-sports cars.

There's really no end to them.

Would never own an BMW Issetta, Edsel, or Pinto, if I could help it.
BMW's late 60s early 70s coupes used in the rally circuits might be interesting.
Love the vintage Mini-Coopers. You could rebuild those engines in your lap.
Another would be those Fiat 500s. Both very tiny cars, competitionwise,
the mini has the edge though.
Another mini-car of the late 60s early 70s would be the Honda N360.
It had a 360cc twin. just 110ccs larger than my bike. A great little local commuter.
not so sure it would be the choice for the interstate, today.

But the winner, for all around ecno-box cars would likely be the VW bug -
I like the earlier split-rear window, but then I like the later 1600 engines.
Corvairs are more powerful but the bugs are more popular.
It's always a compromise.
Also like the Jag XKEs, and MGs
The early Porsches are real nice, too.

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MrFirebird
@MrFirebird
14 Years10,000+ Posts

Comments: 13 · Posts: 10188 · Topics: 699
Posted by Imarollin
I had a four stroke dirt bike that looked similar. Fun on the sand trails, I freed horses once. Couldn't stop in time and ran through horse fencing and freed them all (all while not decapitating my own head)

I love bikes.
Good for you!
I was riding a bike one time down this canyon dirt road and came up to a T intersection. Off to my right I saw two girls ridin' horses at quick gallop. I locked up my rear and the
bike stopped right in front of them. I got stampeded by one of them and earned a compound fracture on my leg! Still have the scar to prove it! 🙂
Didn't hurt the horse, but I sure flew like Superman.
LOL, the equestrian world should be quite proud of me!! 😄
Profile picture of MoonArtist
MoonArtist
@MoonArtist
12 Years10,000+ Posts

Comments: 22 · Posts: 11927 · Topics: 87
Posted by MrFirebird
Posted by MoonArtist
Sweet! Looks in good shape for its age, too. Have fun and you better wear a helmet 😄
Wearing a helmet is NOT going to save this man. The nut on his shoulders cannot be cracked, pulverized, sliced, chopped, diced and ground.


Have you ever wondered why the Americans and Japanese don't get along?
Here is a Japanese explanation of wiring color.

http://www.xl250k3.com/library/wiringcolor.pdf

HEIGHT!! (you have to grunt it like a sumo samurai when you say it)


It's pretty much all there. Got a nasty ding on the right side of the tank.
The seat upholstery, though not perfect is quite remarkably in good shape for it's age.
Overall, the bike IS an decent shape for it's age but could be better.
At the present time, the old 6 volt battery is dead and needs replacement.
It may need a top end overhaul (as a perfectionist, I'd say it would need it).
It had seen an overhaul before, someone had epoxied the snot out of the cylinder barrel.
I think he probably had stripped the threads on one of the cyl. bolts and the excess ran down
the cyl. between the air-fins.

Because it is Obsolete in Honda's mind, parts have to be tracked down. You can't just find them
in every barn, let alone, on every street corner.

Once I get it up and goin' (not sure when), I'm not sure whether I'll keep it or sell it.
I REALLY like this bike for it "utilitarian" qualities. On road/off road. Saddle bag it and you
got a decent bike that's good on gas and go virtually anywhere (less big interstate).

For interstate riding, (keeping up with traffic)
I'd say a 500cc, 650cc, at minimum, 750cc and up to 1100cc are between perfect and
almost overkill.
In which case, I'd be thinkin either a Honda CB750, Triumph Bonneville or some variation of it, or an Indian.

otherwise this bike and an old Jeep CJ5 would suit my interests.
















click to expand

FINE, risk your fool head.....maybe, just maybe some of us would actually MISS you if you smashed your head in. 🙂

I didn't have any problem understanding the Honda wiring. Does that mean I don't get along with Americans?

Can't wait for it to be running and you having some fun on it. I vote for playing with it until you're wanting a bigger bike, then sell it and upgrade. Honda has the easiest to get parts, but Indian gets my vote. 😄
Profile picture of MrFirebird
MrFirebird
@MrFirebird
14 Years10,000+ Posts

Comments: 13 · Posts: 10188 · Topics: 699
Posted by MoonArtist
Posted by MrFirebird
Posted by MoonArtist
Sweet! Looks in good shape for its age, too. Have fun and you better wear a helmet 😄
Wearing a helmet is NOT going to save this man. The nut on his shoulders cannot be cracked, pulverized, sliced, chopped, diced and ground.


Have you ever wondered why the Americans and Japanese don't get along?
Here is a Japanese explanation of wiring color.

http://www.xl250k3.com/library/wiringcolor.pdf

HEIGHT!! (you have to grunt it like a sumo samurai when you say it)


It's pretty much all there. Got a nasty ding on the right side of the tank.
The seat upholstery, though not perfect is quite remarkably in good shape for it's age.
Overall, the bike IS an decent shape for it's age but could be better.
At the present time, the old 6 volt battery is dead and needs replacement.
It may need a top end overhaul (as a perfectionist, I'd say it would need it).
It had seen an overhaul before, someone had epoxied the snot out of the cylinder barrel.
I think he probably had stripped the threads on one of the cyl. bolts and the excess ran down
the cyl. between the air-fins.

Because it is Obsolete in Honda's mind, parts have to be tracked down. You can't just find them
in every barn, let alone, on every street corner.

Once I get it up and goin' (not sure when), I'm not sure whether I'll keep it or sell it.
I REALLY like this bike for it "utilitarian" qualities. On road/off road. Saddle bag it and you
got a decent bike that's good on gas and go virtually anywhere (less big interstate).

For interstate riding, (keeping up with traffic)
I'd say a 500cc, 650cc, at minimum, 750cc and up to 1100cc are between perfect and
almost overkill.
In which case, I'd be thinkin either a Honda CB750, Triumph Bonneville or some variation of it, or an Indian.

otherwise this bike and an old Jeep CJ5 would suit my interests.















FINE, risk your fool head.....maybe, just maybe some of us would actually MISS you if you smashed your head in. 🙂

I didn't have any problem understanding the Honda wiring. Does that mean I don't get along with Americans?

Can't wait for it to be running and you having some fun on it. I vote for playing with it until you're wanting a bigger bike, then sell it and upgrade. Honda has the easiest to get parts, but Indian gets my vote. 😄
click to expand

I don't know. There's tons of cool bikes out
Profile picture of MrFirebird
MrFirebird
@MrFirebird
14 Years10,000+ Posts

Comments: 13 · Posts: 10188 · Topics: 699
Oh well, what I was saying is that there are tons of bikes out there. I think an 70s vintage CB750 Four would be a nice choice that can keep up
with modern interstate speeds. But as mentioned earlier (I think) I'm really more practical minded and discriminating when it comes to
vehicle choices. - I shared some cars I like, but really, I think a pickup truck and a utility purpose motorcycle would be the way to go. I've got both.
Profile picture of MoonArtist
MoonArtist
@MoonArtist
12 Years10,000+ Posts

Comments: 22 · Posts: 11927 · Topics: 87
Posted by Reincarnation
Posted by MrFirebird
Posted by Reincarnation
MA and Firebird would make a good couple.
Hardly.


Don't sell yourself short, Bird.

You still got it.
click to expand

He's too conservative (and christian) and I'm too liberal (and very much not christian). We'd probably kill each other over politics while he throws bibles at me just because I pointed out some ancient history about the origins of religion or something, and then I'd be forced to sic the snow leopard on him, although it's a toss up on whether or not I'd have control of it or if it just did the attacking anyway, but either way it would be quite the rodeo.
Profile picture of MrFirebird
MrFirebird
@MrFirebird
14 Years10,000+ Posts

Comments: 13 · Posts: 10188 · Topics: 699
Posted by MoonArtist
Posted by Reincarnation
MA and Firebird would make a good couple.
He doesn't like me. I'm not saggy enough and I'm too much of a CA hippy liberal artist weirdo who annoys him with weirdo questions. 😛
click to expand

Yes, Rein, she kept asking me about shapeshifting.

She's not the only one who's chased me around, here. Plenty do.
The problem with Cancer women is that they tend to be tooooo clingy for my tastes.
The problem with MrFirebird is he is a free man, set in his ways and quite the elusive, reclusive enigma, in real life.
Not much conversation and seriously, that's a problem for most all women.




Profile picture of MoonArtist
MoonArtist
@MoonArtist
12 Years10,000+ Posts

Comments: 22 · Posts: 11927 · Topics: 87
Posted by MrFirebird
Posted by MoonArtist
Posted by Reincarnation
MA and Firebird would make a good couple.
He doesn't like me. I'm not saggy enough and I'm too much of a CA hippy liberal artist weirdo who annoys him with weirdo questions. 😛
Yes, Rein, she kept asking me about shapeshifting.

She's not the only one who's chased me around, here. Plenty do.
The problem with Cancer women is that they tend to be tooooo clingy for my tastes.
The problem with MrFirebird is he is a free man, set in his ways and quite the elusive, reclusive enigma, in real life.
Not much conversation and seriously, that's a problem for most all women.




click to expand

I did NOT chase you! We were having loads of conversations about motorcycles and stuffs. I thought you'd have some great wealth of knowledge or interesting tidbits about shapeshifting, so be flattered I asked you, it's a rare thing. We were very disappointed that you didn't. How boring.



And crabs don't cling, we sidestep. So there.
Profile picture of MrFirebird
MrFirebird
@MrFirebird
14 Years10,000+ Posts

Comments: 13 · Posts: 10188 · Topics: 699
Posted by MoonArtist
Posted by MrFirebird
Posted by MoonArtist
Posted by Reincarnation
MA and Firebird would make a good couple.
He doesn't like me. I'm not saggy enough and I'm too much of a CA hippy liberal artist weirdo who annoys him with weirdo questions. 😛
Yes, Rein, she kept asking me about shapeshifting.

She's not the only one who's chased me around, here. Plenty do.
The problem with Cancer women is that they tend to be tooooo clingy for my tastes.
The problem with MrFirebird is he is a free man, set in his ways and quite the elusive, reclusive enigma, in real life.
Not much conversation and seriously, that's a problem for most all women.



I did NOT chase you! We were having loads of conversations about motorcycles and stuffs. I thought you'd have some great wealth of knowledge or interesting tidbits about shapeshifting, so be flattered I asked you, it's a rare thing. We were very disappointed that you didn't. How boring.



And crabs don't cling, we sidestep. So there.
click to expand

Careful about getting too much starch in your corset.
Profile picture of MoonArtist
MoonArtist
@MoonArtist
12 Years10,000+ Posts

Comments: 22 · Posts: 11927 · Topics: 87
Posted by MrFirebird
Posted by MoonArtist
Posted by MrFirebird
Posted by MoonArtist
Posted by Reincarnation
MA and Firebird would make a good couple.
He doesn't like me. I'm not saggy enough and I'm too much of a CA hippy liberal artist weirdo who annoys him with weirdo questions. 😛
Yes, Rein, she kept asking me about shapeshifting.

She's not the only one who's chased me around, here. Plenty do.
The problem with Cancer women is that they tend to be tooooo clingy for my tastes.
The problem with MrFirebird is he is a free man, set in his ways and quite the elusive, reclusive enigma, in real life.
Not much conversation and seriously, that's a problem for most all women.



I did NOT chase you! We were having loads of conversations about motorcycles and stuffs. I thought you'd have some great wealth of knowledge or interesting tidbits about shapeshifting, so be flattered I asked you, it's a rare thing. We were very disappointed that you didn't. How boring.



And crabs don't cling, we sidestep. So there.
Careful about getting too much starch in your corset.
click to expand

Yeah, wouldn't want it to pop and accidentally put your eye out with one of the hooks.
Profile picture of MrFirebird
MrFirebird
@MrFirebird
14 Years10,000+ Posts

Comments: 13 · Posts: 10188 · Topics: 699
Posted by Reincarnation
Posted by MrFirebird
Posted by MoonArtist
Posted by Reincarnation
MA and Firebird would make a good couple.
He doesn't like me. I'm not saggy enough and I'm too much of a CA hippy liberal artist weirdo who annoys him with weirdo questions. 😛
Yes, Rein, she kept asking me about shapeshifting.

She's not the only one who's chased me around, here. Plenty do.
The problem with Cancer women is that they tend to be tooooo clingy for my tastes.
The problem with MrFirebird is he is a free man, set in his ways and quite the elusive, reclusive enigma, in real life.
Not much conversation and seriously, that's a problem for most all women.



Don't get cocky, Bird.

You would be lucky to have a nice Crabette take care of you.
click to expand

I don't need your permission.
Profile picture of MrFirebird
MrFirebird
@MrFirebird
14 Years10,000+ Posts

Comments: 13 · Posts: 10188 · Topics: 699
Posted by MoonArtist
Posted by MrFirebird
Posted by MoonArtist
Here you go....you can try this while waiting for the motorcycle to run. It has 2 wheels and will get you back into the swing of things.



Double check the leathers and helmet (you know, that I mentioned earlier so you don't become dead.....mostly). So, you're wanting a crotch rocket now?
click to expand

Back in 1969, the CB750 would come to be known as the first "super-bike", ironically.

Actually, I am looking for a tune. I can't remember if it was at the IOMTT or it was the Red Bull Erzberg Rodeo.

This isn't it. - I think it was instrumental.


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