83/84 XR 500

[evo550]

Any way of telling the difference between these two?
Seat cover and plastics have been replaced from original.
Where they a good solid bike?
Thanks in advance.
BT

[smed]

The 500R swingarm decal on the 83 is black,84 is red & white.

Eng # 83     PE03E-50*****

Eng# 84      PE03E-51*****

 

[cyclegod]

Where they a good solid bike?

NO, all the twin carb XR's had the same problem, they all suffered form cracks between the valve seats and the plug hole when they got hot. Additionally the engines had too little oil which compounded things. best to steer clear of a known lemon.

[Tim754]

Where they a good solid bike?  Rolling frame OK but not so the engine top end Know of one that has a later engine grafted in ,was and still is a reliable fun bike.

[mudguard]

I had a RE 84 model from 1986 to 1991 and thought it was a great reliable bike. Only had to put one piton kit in it, and fix the ignition (cdi ) during that time, couldnt fault it mechanically. The weak part is the frame just above the left side footpeg. Had it welded once then broke again, and welded a gusset to fix it properly. Have found others with the same repairs to the frame.

[evo550]

The weak part is the frame just above the left side footpeg. Had it welded once then broke again, and welded a gusset to fix it properly. Have found others with the same repairs to the frame.

That would answer my question about this one's frame work above foot peg.
I wasn't aware that the 500 suffered from the same head problems as the smaller xr's, I did a google search on it and couldn't get a single hit, ton's of 250 ones though.
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/malaga/motorcycles/1984-honda-xr-500-r-for-sale-perth/1011098981
Did these xr's have a vin plate similar to the Cr's or was the vin stamped into the frame?

[smed]

The VIN #  should be stamped into the frame in the usual place but it also should have a compliance plate with the same number,the frame was originally red & so were all the plastics

[Harro813]

The XR500RD and RE were good strong bikes and were reasonably quick. They had a dry sump and decent oil capacity and were not prone to head problems at all. This was the domain of the RFVC XR200 & 250 which could suffer head problems due to their small sump and slightly dodgy metallurgy in some components. The biggest issue I had racing my XR500RE in the 80's was not reliability but the short wheelbase and weight that would catch me out quite nicely in whooped out sections of track. Often I'd be left thinking WTF happened as I picked myself out of the dirt in the middle of a special test...

These days one of these may give you a headache in areas such as availability of carby parts, weak stators and cracked frames.