1981 Honda reviews

I bought this bike in Sept. 2000. I had not ridden a motorcycle for over 20 yrs. Enrolled in a motorcycle safety course, which was excellent. I highly recommend taking a course like this before you start riding. This motorcycle had been stored for 10 yrs. 2,209 miles on the odometer, would not run, front brakes stuck, and fork seals leaking. Rebuilt carbs, master cyl., wheel cyl., front fork seals, new chain ( found a crack in the original), changed oil and filter, (mobil 1 full synthetic motor oil), flushed and sealed gas tank, and adjusted the valves. Installed a 15 inch high windshield. I ride this bike to work every day( 35 miles round trip). Yesterday I rode 140 miles through lassen park. I have made numerous day trips this summer in the mountains of over 100 miles per trip. I have put over 5,000 miles on this bike and so far the only problem is in the winter when temperatures are 28 degrees or less, carbs freeze up and throttle will not work. I am going to install wind deflectors in front of carbs before next winters commute. I have used fuel additives with very little improvement. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Fuel usage is 58 miles per gallon in the winter and 60 to 65 miles per gallon in the summer. I love this bike but riding double is not one of its attributes. My wife wants to ride with me so I am looking for a clean used Kawasaki Concourse, Honda ST 1100, or even a 1985 to 1987 Gold Wing. Feel free to contact me and talk motorcycles! Solo Czer Show less

Ok, So, It can't handle the corkscrew at Laguna Seca full out. But it does anything I need in a bike. Quick, Not fast. Comfortable. Trunk storage. Water-cooled. Shaft drive. Air shock and forks. Well balanced. Of course I wish it were the 650 or better yet a Pacific Coast. But for an earlier small tourer for trips and commutes I don't think it can be beat. Show less

I bought one of these in 92. It had only 6,000 on the clock. Paid $625.00 for it from a guy that had more kids than money. I sold it last year to a new rider for $1,000 even. The old bike was as reliable as a stone. Never a problem out of it. Get that motor up to 6,000 rpm and it would wail. It wasn't the most comfortale bike but good enough for a long day or weekend. What it did do well was crank up every time, run like stink on high test gas, never broke and more than paid for itself when I sold it. You know? I should have kept it and chopped it. I haven't seen that bike since I sold it. It had 75,000 on the clock. I bet its still out there wailing. Show less

don't get one. Very poor handing bike, 23-inch front wheel limits available rubber. Much to heavy for power output, soft cam lobe finish leads to expensive repairs. Buy a TT or XR Show less

Not alot of horsepower but great on the interstate. Show less

Bought this bike new in 1985 for $1200, as one of the many dealer leftovers, and put 9600 miles on it before I sold it. Bike always started easily and I really got a kick out of being the only one in town with an automatic transmission. This would be a great beginners bike, especially for someone who is generally intimidated by things mechanical or with clutch-and-foot shift coordination. Bike is not fast and not powerful. With a windscreen will cruise 60-65 mph. Short range, 70-90 miles on a full tank; depends on how fast you ride. Only maintenance done was oil and filter changes at 600 miles then every 2500 miles. Not a good choice for long rides or touring, but 40-50 mile putts down little country roads are great. You will not out run anyone or out accelerate anyone other than a bicycle rider, but the bike is dependable fun transportation. Kind of wish I still had mine to run back and forth to the store and work on. One of those "You meet the nicest people on a Honda" bikes. Very low key. Show less

It is a great 1st bike, handles easy and still has a nice look. It also has enough get-up-and-go to get where you need to go. Show less

The bike is small, may not be well suited for all riders, but the bike is perfect for anyone who wants daily transpiration. The bike also is easy to work on. Show less

LETS START BY SAYING THIS IS NOT A HARLEY OR A HARLEY KNOCK-OFF, BUT GOES BACK TO THE DAYS WHEN A BIKE HAD MORE TO DO THAN JUST LOOK GOOD. REMEMBER THE FIRST WORD IN MOTORCYCLE IS MOTOR AND THIS IS PROBABLY ITS STRONGEST SUIT. NOT VERY TORQUEY BELOW 3000 RPMS BUT HOLD ON WHEN THIS 4-VALVE PER CYLINDER MILL STARTS TO WIND UP. THE RUSH STARTS AT 5 GRAND AND DOESN'T TAPER OFF UNTIL you're ABOVE 9500 RPMS. THE CARBURETION IS SPOT ON, ONCE THE MOTOR IS WARM (TYPICAL HONDA COLD BLOODEDNESS). THE MOTOR IS VERY SMOOTH VIBRATION-WISE UNTIL YOU GET INTO THE STRATOSPHERE OF THE TACH ABOVE 9 GRAND,AND LET'S BE HONEST HOW OFTEN OR FOR HOW LONG DO ANY OF US HIT THOSE PEAKS ON ANY GIVEN DAY. AROUND TOWN THE MOTOR IS VERY TRACTABLE WITH NO FLAT SPOTS, AND LIKEWISE THE TRANSMISSION IS EQUALLY SMOOTH. LOW SPEED HANDLING AT PARKING LOT SPEEDS IS FINE WITH JUST A TOUCH OF BIAS TOWARD HIGH-CENTEREDNESS. UP TO SPEED ON THE OPEN ROAD IS WHERE THIS BIKE SHINES, ON LONG FAST SWEEPERS IT HOLDS A STEADY LINE. ONLY WHEN THE ROAD GETS VERY TWISTY DOES THE BIKE COME UP SHORT IN THE HANDLING DEPARTMENT DUE MOSTLY IN PART TO ITS RELATIVELY LONG WHEELBASE. BRAKES ARE VERY FADE-PROOF WITH THE REAR DRUM BEING THE FIRST TO GO UNDER HEAVY ABUSE. THE COMBINATION DUAL DISC FRONT AND REAR DRUM IS VERY LINEAR WITH GOOD LEVER FEEL. ERGONOMICS ARE GOOD WITH A VERY BALANCED SEAT PEG HANDLEBAR RELATIONSHIP. THE STOCK SEAT LOOKS UP TO THE TASK BUT FALLS SHORT FOR THE DRIVER AFTER AN HOUR IN THE SADDLE WITH TOO SOFT PADDING AND THE STEPPED SEAT WONT LET 6 FOOTERS STRETCH OUT. HOW DO YOU SPELL RELIABLE? LET ME GIVE YOU A CLUE IT HAS 5 LETTERS 1ST LETTER H_____. OVERALL A GOOD LOOKING MACHINE AT BARGAIN (USED) PRICES WITH TYPICAL HONDA FIT AND FINISH AND RELIABILITY AND LETS NOT FORGET THE MOTOR. Show less

I just sold my XL today. It was a fun & reliable bike. I replaced the suspension front & back with Progressive. Handled much better but was still tough to handle. Was a good workout. With enduro tires it was real tough in the mud. Also, not much of a jumper & not too good over humpty dumps (but how many bikes that size are?). Great hill climber (typical thumper). Great wheelies. Nice top speed (80-85 mph). I didn't have many problems keeping up with other newer & lighter dirt bikes over medium terrain. Ran on the hot side. Could ride for days with the aftermarket Clark gas tank. All in all a fun bike. Show less