Anybody have a 85 honda xr350r?

[geaux]

Unless it falls through I will pick up one for 400 this week. Suppose to be in decent shape except the front brake master cylinder is missing.  A new one is like 50 bucks. I have done some research and the bike seems to have a good reputation with flaws it can run hot and supposedly some folks fubar 3rd gear. Kind of temperamental cold start too. Kid says that and sometimes gets it going by rolling it in high gear and popping the clutch. I looked at a 86 klr250 that wouldn't start and wouldn't shift the guy was asking 800 for.  Sounds like a good winter project and introduction to motorcycle maintenance 101 for me.

 

[gammer]

Dual Sports are fun bikes to tinker with. They are usually single cylinders (nice thumper sound), which means single carb too.
XR's have a good rep. So enjoy fixing it up and have fun riding it.

[geaux]

I am bummed because I let it get away from me. The jeep I use to pull a trailer is in the shop so I couldn't get out there fast enough. On the bright side I still have that money I can either save (ha, I crack me up) or put toward other stuff on my wish list.

[gammer]

I'd like to get an aggressive dual sport one day. My brother has a Husky TE610 (single cyl) that I think is pretty cool...
I guess what I'm after is a dirt bike that is barely street legal.

[tomb raider]

That bike needs a skid plate, WTH.....

[LOKi]

I'm with you gammer. Small displacement dirt bike that happens to have lights and a plate. I think here in Louisiana you can still get a dirt bike plated if you install all the necessary legal stuff. Lights, horn, DOT tires (at least to get inspected for registration). So I just need to find a little 150 - 250 two stroke or a 350cc four stroke. Don't even want a starter on it. Save the weight of that starter and battery.

[gammer]

That bike needs a skid plate, WTH.....

That is the same model of Husky my bro owns. Hard to believe its street legal. And with a single cyl 610cc engine, it has tonnes of torque.

[creaky]

geaux...........I had two '85 XR350s in the remote past, I rode one of them for 5 years, they are a ton of fun. You are right about the 3rd gear, they can be a problem.  didn't have any problems with mine, but I have repaired 2 350s and 1 600 that 3rd gear had failed in. If you need any help with sorting yours out, (if you buy it), let me know.

[geaux]

I just tonight paid 700 for a 90 suzuki dr350s, 15K miles. All the road stuff works, plastic not in bad shape, runs and idles good once going but kick starting it is a bear.  Guy swore it started easy but I guess bikes are like kids that act up when the time to perform arrives because I thought he would never get it turn over. It has a decompression gizmo and there is a definite stand on one foot, hum dixie sequence to master.

Per the kick start if it is easy enough to do I am like Loki and not seeing the complexity and weight justification for electric start.       

[hockeyhawk]

I had a 93 DR 350 and the kick start was a pain. You really have to get your routine down with that compression release. Good luck, other than that it was a great bike.