So I have a 1985 xl350 that has been in storage for 15 years and never even had the gas drained out of it, i know its abuse! So i pull the bike out of storage the other day and would like to start riding it again. I planned on having my honda shop do a full once over on the bike as i thought it was going to be in bad shape. I thought i would drain all the gas out of the tank and the carbs to help them out at the shop and then i thought what the hell lets put some new gas in this old girl and see if something happens........the damn thing started on the third kick without a word of a lie!!!!!! I drove it around the block a few times and everything seems fine. So my question is other than changing the oil of course what should i do next? Should i still take it in to the shop or just get on and ride? I dont want to head into the hills and break down.
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XL 350 in storage for 15 years, need advice
- Thread starter todd7mm
- Start date
TW_rider
Member
After sitting in storage for 15 years, I suspect that the very least you would want to do is pull the carb and clean it. Gas has a tendency to turn to varnish and Ethanol does awful things to carb innards.
The tank will need to be inspected and possibly replaced...Check the airbox for nests...valves will need to be adjusted...Fork oil should be changed....Chain will probably need replacing....cables will need inspecting/replacing...ditto for the brakes...
In other words, I wouldn't just "get on and ride" unless you don't want to keep it much longer...
I realize that Honda's are pretty much indestructible, but you have the makings of a classic so why not give it some TLC until the aforementioned concerns are addressed?
You'll be glad you did.
The tank will need to be inspected and possibly replaced...Check the airbox for nests...valves will need to be adjusted...Fork oil should be changed....Chain will probably need replacing....cables will need inspecting/replacing...ditto for the brakes...
In other words, I wouldn't just "get on and ride" unless you don't want to keep it much longer...
I realize that Honda's are pretty much indestructible, but you have the makings of a classic so why not give it some TLC until the aforementioned concerns are addressed?
You'll be glad you did.
kenf
New member
The last sticker on the plate on my CB-1 said 2008, so it was sitting, sadly collecting dust in the garage for the last 6 years. I think I fired it up once about 3 years ago just to see if it would start, otherwise it hasn't moved. Last week I put a new battery in it, topped off the tank with some 94 octane with some fuel system cleaner in it, and after a few cranks it fired right up. Briefly puked a bunch of gas all over the engine (probably dried out float bowl gasket, which sealed right back up on its own once it saw some gas), then settled down and purred like a kitten. I've put a couple hundred km on it since then, and it seems to be running like it was never parked. Today I wound it out for the first time, and it revved like a champ, right up to the 14k rev limiter in the first 4 gears (ran out of road after that, not much room to wind out a bike on the morning commute). This is with around 50k on the odometer, some of it on the track, and no major maintenance since I bought it new in '91.
Honda truly does build bulletproof bikes, it seems
KF
PS -- I agree with the tires comment. It was a lot looser in the back end than I recall, I would imagine the rubber has hardened up pretty good and could use freshening up. Otherwise, seems good to ride!
Honda truly does build bulletproof bikes, it seems
KF
PS -- I agree with the tires comment. It was a lot looser in the back end than I recall, I would imagine the rubber has hardened up pretty good and could use freshening up. Otherwise, seems good to ride!
Thanks for the replies, i would like to keep this bike for a long time to come so i think i will start on some of the work noted above. The bike is in fantastic shape and only has 6000km on it so its worth putting some money into it. The airbox is good and no nests, the cables are smooth still so time to change the fork oil and maybe pull the carbs apart and do a good cleaning.