Xl600pd

**Bernard** · #1 30 Jun 2006

I am considering buying an XL600PD 1986. Any one got opinions etc. to help me decide yea or nay?

**BCK_973** · #2 30 Jun 2006

I mean its not a very common bike,the engine is good.Suspension for todays standarts is ........you know.
Spare parts.......not so easy.Its a nice bike.I love the tank form.And the colors.
Where do you wonna ride with it?
I have a XR 650 L this is a more updated version of 600.
KH

check this site http://www.xlv.ch/index.html

here you find maybe your answer

**JonStobbs** · #3 1 Jul 2006

Hi bernard,
I assume you're on about an XL600LM? I've got one along with a very similar XL600RM,both bought on Ebay for very little and then rebuilt.Both have since been 100% reliable,very economical(the LM has a 490 mile range in loaded-to-the-hilt travel trim at mainland European cruising speeds(90kph)....and thats before i touch reserve) which is far better than anything i've ever had before.I'm 6'3" tall and with a set of Renthal desert bars fitted is the most comfortable bike for long days i've ever had,and the seat is well capable of this too! Not fast at all,but if you fit an aftermarket clear screen and keep off the motorways it'll plod along just fine at 75-odd all day long.Bear in mind as it's a big single it will start to use oil a bit if you keep it at any higher revs for long(not a fault just something that all big thumpers do).Spares are VERY easy to get hold of...David Silver spares is your man here www.davidsilverspares.co.uk and just about everything is still available for it.I've never had to wait more than a few days for bits.Ebay also comes up trumps for handy spares sometimes especially if someone has dropped theirs and breaks up the residue! As has been mentioned the handling isn't to modern standards but then it's a 20-odd year old bike.Basically it does what it was intended to do and is surprisingly capable off road(i've got some pics of mine in some VERY remote places!) though the standard gearing is a tad high for very serious stuff/deep mud.Electrical gubbins are pretty bullet-proof,lights are reasonable for the speed it does and brakes are like the suspension....20 year old!
Mods to mine are basically change fork oil for SAE10,EBC pads(FA69) and cross-drilled standard disc,Scottoiler fitted,Twin-air filter(foam washable jobbie).And that's it! If you do get it and want any info or need any specific photocopies of the tech manual i have the real Honda item and will be happy to give you these.Just PM me.
Jon.

**Mike Stone** · #4 1 Jul 2006

Back in '86 I bought a new XL600R, which I put about 14,000 miles on, a combination of on and off road. I am not familiar with the XL600PD, but I am guessing it is similar mechanically to my XL600R with Paris Dakar bodywork.

The XL600R was an excellent, very versatile dual sport bike. However, it had one problem: temperamental starting. Everything from the valve adjustment to the compression release had to be adjusted perfectly for it to start. The worst thing was if it stalled before completely warming up, good luck ever finding the choke setting to get it started again. Since I have minimal patience for bikes that are temperamental starters, I would not buy it unless I had the opportunity to start it and ride it a short distance several times, and felt confident about the bike's starting nature.

**JonStobbs** · #5 1 Jul 2006

Never had any starting problems with either of mine...good old electric foot!Mine only needs choke on very cold days in the winter which is something i've discovered to be the case on nearly all the big singles i've owned,they just don't seem to need choke normally.Maybe that was your problem Mike,that it was over choking the bike?