Me too! I think a lot of it has to do with the bikes we saw as kids. For me it was bikes like this and Kawasaki green. There was a kid in the neighborhood when I was like 10 that had a neon green dirt bike and I remember being impressed and a little scared of it back then…made the adrenaline go which probably explains the obsession at 43 years old lol
Thanks for hangin in there with me! I wish I could have more on here but they are tough to come by for decent prices! I will have a riding video soon with this bike on my trails once I get a few things sorted.
I had that and the earlier 185 that me and my high school buddies rode all over our local mountains, such great times riding the then mostly unused hiking trails that now days you would be arrested for. Bullet proof as it comes, one guy had to leave his submerged in the Santa Ynez river for a week waiting for the high water to subside after getting washed off it trying to cross during heavy rain, the usual dewatering everything and it was back in action again. Our local dealer, Honda of Santa Barbara(RIP Honda Al) would submit the paper work so that DMV would issue license plates for them without any modifications. 👍
Man, that must have been prime time riding out there in those years. And to have plates issued that easily is unheard of today. I wish I could have ridden back in the 70s and 80s. I didn’t start until ‘93-‘94. I missed out on the golden era it sounds. That’s pretty amazing that it was good after being under water that long!
That heat gun trick is pretty cool. I don't know because I haven't done it, but a guy I know wet sands old plastics to bring the plastic back. I've heard good reviews on that too.
A lot better than it first looked. Rear sprocket teeth looked okay from a distance but as you're doing the bearings anyway you'll get a really good look at it. I loved that custom scalloped rear fender😂
Thanks, yeah I figure when I rip the rear wheel off I’ll degrease all the drive train parts and looks at it closer. She’s definitely been looped out a couple times!
Just like a Honda starts right up,,,lol i had a xr-200 r with a speedo , i bought a used speedo ,original was missing, broke used one while installing , cable went down too front hub for speed ,sensor, ,, my bike never started back up when it was hot , did not keep bike long enough to find issue,, great video, bike was too heavy in the sugar sand down here in Florida, used to ride CROOM , off road area in central Florida ,, looking forward to other videos as you restore bike ,,ride safe
Thanks! Sounds like maybe the valve was a bit too tight to not want to start again after being hot. Ever since I had my 87 XR200R, I’ve wanted another with the long travel suspension. Great little bikes when used in the right kind of terrain.
Nice work! Im getting caught up on your videos i sold my 79 bronco a while back and bought a 03 mach 1 mustang so thats been consuming a fair bit of my free time lol. Keep up the great content
I had the exact same bike. Almost trade yup my xr400r for the 200. I always liked the 6 speed and weight. My nephew actually rode with the engineer that designed the xr200r once. The only problem I ever had with the 200 was the timing chain jumping and bending the valves.
That’s awesome Brian! I hope he was on an XR200 too lol. The last XR200 I had was a 2002 model last year (videos on this channel too) that I acquired with a bent valve from the chain jumping a couple teeth too. Got that one running great before I sold it. Probably going to keep this one for a while.
Think we had 3 or 4 200’s and 2 250’s and 1 350 and maybe 2 400’s. There were 6 of us that rode together. Finally one of us died. Car vs motorcycle. Think my brother still has 2 parts 200’s in his basement.
SealSavers makes long boots for the old conventional forks like that. Might be a good way to go instead of the OEM style. I think a blue set would look pretty trick on that bike!
You got a great deal there, looking forward to your PE250 video. I think your Honda needs new foot pegs tho. Japanese OEM pegs are miserable at the best of times.
Sounds like a cam chain adjustment or replacement and adjusting valves would help her out. If you’re not aware, you can adjust cam chain tension while the bike is at idle on the old 200s. Self adjusting, just remove the 10mm bolt & loosen the 14mm bolt right above the tensioner (has rubber cover on top). Be happy to clarify that if you’re not sure what I’m meaning :).
Thanks Zach, I’ll give it a try. I think the video picks up acoustics differently as it’s sounds quieter in person for sure. It wasn’t until I was editing that I noticed how loud it sounded. Wouldn’t hurt to try though! I appreciate it.
I dont know if anyone else has said, but take great care with mouse nest dust ..... it can carry some nasty stuff that can result in infection/disease and in a worst case ........ l cant remember the medical name, so google - mask and gloves for that job ☠
Orange with a blue seat, the dirt bike that I never owned but when you say, "dirt bike" this is what my mind goes to.
Me too! I think a lot of it has to do with the bikes we saw as kids. For me it was bikes like this and Kawasaki green. There was a kid in the neighborhood when I was like 10 that had a neon green dirt bike and I remember being impressed and a little scared of it back then…made the adrenaline go which probably explains the obsession at 43 years old lol
I had a 1981 xr200R . I was 14 yrs old. fantastic bike
I miss my 87 that I had from ‘96-‘99. This one may fill that void. It was such a good tight woods bike.
Back in 1984 I bought a lightly used 1983 as a teenager, loved that bike.
Clicked the video because I like old dirt bikes. Subscribed when I saw the Jagr growth chart poster. 😁
That’s great! I had that poster as a kid in the mid 90s. Jagr was (and still is) my hockey idol! Are you from Pgh too?
@@Garage2Trail Yep.... fellow yinzer! Go Pens!
@@ItsProbablyFine go pens!!
Good to see another XR on your channel. The XR400R is what first brought me to your channel.
Thanks for hangin in there with me! I wish I could have more on here but they are tough to come by for decent prices! I will have a riding video soon with this bike on my trails once I get a few things sorted.
@@Garage2Trail Ain't that the truth. I enjoy all of your content. Keep up the good work. 👍👍👍
@d.brayman3165 thanks again!
I consider it a minor miracle the float bowl screw didn't strip
Great bike. I remember they got great reviews when they came out. As you say, great woods bike
I had that and the earlier 185 that me and my high school buddies rode all over our local mountains, such great times riding the then mostly unused hiking trails that now days you would be arrested for. Bullet proof as it comes, one guy had to leave his submerged in the Santa Ynez river for a week waiting for the high water to subside after getting washed off it trying to cross during heavy rain, the usual dewatering everything and it was back in action again. Our local dealer, Honda of Santa Barbara(RIP Honda Al) would submit the paper work so that DMV would issue license plates for them without any modifications. 👍
Man, that must have been prime time riding out there in those years. And to have plates issued that easily is unheard of today. I wish I could have ridden back in the 70s and 80s. I didn’t start until ‘93-‘94. I missed out on the golden era it sounds. That’s pretty amazing that it was good after being under water that long!
Was expecting a mouse nest for sure in the air filter box . great video always nice to hear them fire up
Thanks! It’s the first start that always feels the best.
That heat gun trick is pretty cool. I don't know because I haven't done it, but a guy I know wet sands old plastics to bring the plastic back. I've heard good reviews on that too.
Thanks Chuck, yeah I could probably get more out of it with the wet sand method with the heat gun!
Living tha gd dream brother.
A lot better than it first looked. Rear sprocket teeth looked okay from a distance but as you're doing the bearings anyway you'll get a really good look at it. I loved that custom scalloped rear fender😂
Thanks, yeah I figure when I rip the rear wheel off I’ll degrease all the drive train parts and looks at it closer. She’s definitely been looped out a couple times!
Don’t forget to fix that missing spoke on the rear wheel while you have the tire off the rim. Thanks for another great video!
Thank you and good eye!
I had one the same year! Love your videos!
Thank you! I like that these years came with the 18” rear wheel and long travel suspension.
This is the bike I finally learn to wheelie on thru the gears to top speed. I miss those days. I bet that's what happened to that rear fender lol
Maybe this is your old bike! 😝
@@Garage2Trail could be lol
Very nice bike
Thank you!
Just like a Honda starts right up,,,lol i had a xr-200 r with a speedo , i bought a used speedo ,original was missing, broke used one while installing , cable went down too front hub for speed ,sensor, ,, my bike never started back up when it was hot , did not keep bike long enough to find issue,, great video, bike was too heavy in the sugar sand down here in Florida, used to ride CROOM , off road area in central Florida ,, looking forward to other videos as you restore bike ,,ride safe
Thanks! Sounds like maybe the valve was a bit too tight to not want to start again after being hot. Ever since I had my 87 XR200R, I’ve wanted another with the long travel suspension. Great little bikes when used in the right kind of terrain.
Nice work! Im getting caught up on your videos i sold my 79 bronco a while back and bought a 03 mach 1 mustang so thats been consuming a fair bit of my free time lol. Keep up the great content
Thanks Josh! Nice pick on the Mach 1! I’m a hardcore Mopar guy but always had a thing for Mustangs too. Especially the Mach 1s.
Good show this one worked out nice we know that don't always happen lol but it's nice to see happen when it does good video nice work
Thank you! Def nice to have an easy one from time to time…the tough ones keep things interesting though.
Fievel never rests! Looks like you hit the Easy button with this one.
😆 that’s right! This one was too easy…I’m waiting for the cam chain to jump or it to drop a valve lol
cool
I learnt (alone) mechanic on XT250 yamaha (and Solex...).
I'd like to rebuild a trail, just for please... and sound*feeling
I had the exact same bike. Almost trade yup my xr400r for the 200. I always liked the 6 speed and weight. My nephew actually rode with the engineer that designed the xr200r once. The only problem I ever had with the 200 was the timing chain jumping and bending the valves.
That’s awesome Brian! I hope he was on an XR200 too lol. The last XR200 I had was a 2002 model last year (videos on this channel too) that I acquired with a bent valve from the chain jumping a couple teeth too. Got that one running great before I sold it. Probably going to keep this one for a while.
Think we had 3 or 4 200’s and 2 250’s and 1 350 and maybe 2 400’s. There were 6 of us that rode together. Finally one of us died. Car vs motorcycle. Think my brother still has 2 parts 200’s in his basement.
SealSavers makes long boots for the old conventional forks like that. Might be a good way to go instead of the OEM style. I think a blue set would look pretty trick on that bike!
That’s not a bad idea! I haven’t purchased fork boots yet. That blue would look pretty cool as an accent to the blue seat balancing off the colors.
The headlight for that year always looked upside down to me
Me too! Definitely odd looking
You got a great deal there, looking forward to your PE250 video. I think your Honda needs new foot pegs tho. Japanese OEM pegs are miserable at the best of times.
Thanks! Yeah I don’t see many of those PEs pop up and the fact the XR200 was with it was a no brainer. I agree, the foot pegs are way too small!
Sounds like a cam chain adjustment or replacement and adjusting valves would help her out. If you’re not aware, you can adjust cam chain tension while the bike is at idle on the old 200s. Self adjusting, just remove the 10mm bolt & loosen the 14mm bolt right above the tensioner (has rubber cover on top). Be happy to clarify that if you’re not sure what I’m meaning :).
Thanks Zach, I’ll give it a try. I think the video picks up acoustics differently as it’s sounds quieter in person for sure. It wasn’t until I was editing that I noticed how loud it sounded. Wouldn’t hurt to try though! I appreciate it.
I still have my 83 XL 200 which I think may be 90+ % the same
Nice, are you the original owner?
@@Garage2Trail yep I'm very interested in your video; I'm thinking of making it into one of those modified XR/XLs for the 200 class popular now
Are you going to put the front forks back like they’re supposed to be?
Yup I’m planning on it. The only thing I can see that having them dropped down low would be it’s turning ability but with less travel
I dont know if anyone else has said, but take great care with mouse nest dust ..... it can carry some nasty stuff that can result in infection/disease and in a worst case ........ l cant remember the medical name, so google - mask and gloves for that job ☠
Good point! I wouldn’t have stuck my hand in that without gloves but I’ll definitely keep it in mind for the next one! Thank you!