HONDA XR350 Lovers

[Mick D]

Hi, I am after knowledge and impressions about these 83/84 models.

I absolutely love the way my XR500RE cracks hard from idle and lays power to the ground through to screaming its titties off.
But we checked the spec sheets out and the 500 is 25kgs heavier than an XR35o
I rode a 350 recently in some rough stuff, and it instantly felt like a trials bike in comparison to the 500.
So that's where I am heading, I think.
I really liked the transmission and clutch in the 350 too,
But I wouldn't mind a lot more power, does anyone know how to sort these 350s
Grateful for any knowledge  

[Paul552]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/HONDA-XR350-MELBOURNE-/251545630995?pt=AU_Motorcycles&hash=item3a9149b913&_uhb=1

Buy this one!! Looks ok for the price

[80-85 husky]

note to xr 350 buyers....each model of those early 350's are basically different.
parts are difficult to get and you cant use an re for a parts bike for an rf etc
mate has been trying to put one together for a while and there is hair loss happening

[Davey Crocket]

What 80/85 Husky says, parts for engines are vitualy non existant and expensive.....took 7 months of searching to globe to get enough parts together to rebuild a motor, in the end had to buy another bike to finish it [was for a customer who got given the best part of 2 bikes.....thought he had a bargain]....motor job cost 3K alone....they seem to be popular at the moment and some of them pulling good money.

[Slakewell]

The RG was IMO one of the best bikes Honda ever built and I still dont understand why they stoped making them back in the day. The 83/84 500 were more or less an XL engine so many parts can be found. I cant remember many 350's getting around back the day only one local had one the drum brake model. 25 KG is alot of wieght so a 350 sounds like a good idea for a project. Best of luck with it.

[80-85 husky]

no doubt Honda was on a winner with the 350 but in the 80's bigger was best

The 350 was as slakewell says, a great enduro bike, good power lighter weight and just what every nob who thought they needed a 500 actually should have had.. the pendulum took some swinging but it finally arrived in the 90's with a heap of 300- 400 cc 4 bangers.

I believe the L and P plate system effectively killed them as punters restricted to a 250 for a few years all jumped straight to the 500 (we were all big men remember....) Only smart Honda riders went 350....

you only have too look at the popularity of the kato 300 2- to see the world realises how much power it actually doesn't need now.

I thought the xr 400 was a major disappointment as i expected an xr 250 with punch but I reckon it felt like an xr 600 with less go... still a great bike at the time and easy on the masses c/w the big 600.

[Slakewell]

I raced out and purchased an XR 400 when they just hit the floors. What a pile of poo that bike was. Really just a soft trail bike. I stright away fitted stiffer springs to mine only for it to throw me on the ground repeatitly, it took some pain before I relaised the frame flexed so badly that it caused the bike to crash. I have raced a well sorted XR 350 fitted with Ohlins shock and CR forks and that was great little bike far better than the 400.

[Mick D]

Ok, wise words, just sort of knowledge and info I am after, 80-85 husky and Slakewell, thank you.
As Slackwell says, sorted, they can be a good race bike. I am primarily looking for a fun Vinduro mount, that most suits me.
But to be able to do both would be a bonus.

A pitty they didn't go dry sump/oil in the frame until 85.
Matcho tells me the 83/84 had a real oil boiling over-heat problem.
An external oil cooler or two is the first obvious improvement to hunt for there.

[Mick D]

OK, I may have stuffed up on the weight difference thing. A second web check has exposed a lot of discrepancies and contradictions.

I will physically weigh both at the weekend.

I know what the bum dyno is saying though

[Slakewell]

There some nice one's on the net. If you could find a good core bike running and a stuffed CR and jion the two together maybe fit a 78 CR tank and fit the later model XR 250 oil cooler. Be a cool project. But thats only how I would do it. That's the great thing about VMX each man has his vision. 

[80-85 husky]

mate had the 84 and it got hot but he never had a problem (that I can remember) but he did keep fresh oil up to it. cos they didn't need to flogged like a bad dog (like the 250) they didn't seem to suffer as badly... just supply issues now, they are a 1 off to a degree....much nicer to ride than the comparable 500's (they would turn on request!) and much more bottom end punch that the 250... the perfect motor

[ghostrider]

 Had an XR350RF brand new back in the day , everyone else had 500s & 600s ,and its true the little 350 was a good handling package. However I found that in order to stick with the bigger bikes i needed to work thru the gears a lot harder and in time I seemed to be plagued with gearbox/clutch issues .

[SUZUKI311]

I have a mates 350RG motor here for a top end rebuild/tidy up- my god parts are almost impossible to get. Anyone have a lead on a cam for one, new/ good secondhand will be fine.

[YUMASTEPSIDE]

.......not to rain on your parade, but nearly every XR350 I've seen or known of , has put the rod out through the front engine mount.Ballards had a rod kit for them...........sorry, just a warning   :'(

                           Roger

[FourstrokeForever]

The early XR350's did have oil problems at the head and cam area....alot of them got flogged out way too early for my liking so I never did go out and buy one. I did have an 86 XR350 back in the day and it was a great bike with no issues at all. Now I have another one in the shed waiting for a resto. It is a runner but the last knob who had it welded on a gear lever  The one for sale on ebay at the moment looks like a great buy to me....If only I had the spondoolies....