Honda XBR 500

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Honda
Xbr BJ88.JPG
Honda XBR 500 (year of construction 1988)
Honda XBR 500 / S
Manufacturer Honda
Production period 1985 to 1988
class motorcycle
design type Naked bike
Motor data
air-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke, 4 valves, OHC with radially arranged valves (RFVC), constant pressure carburetor
Displacement  (cm³) 498
Power  (kW / PS ) 44 hp / 7000 / min
(27 hp / 6000 / min)
Torque  ( N m ) 45.5 Nm / 6000 / min
(37.0 Nm / 3000 / min)
transmission 5 courses
drive Chain
Brakes Single disc brake with double piston caliper at the front Ø 280 mm, drum brake at the rear Ø 140 mm
Seat height (cm) 78.5
Empty weight  (kg) 177

The XBR 500 (PC 15) is a Japanese motorcycle released by Honda in 1985 in response to the Yamaha SR 500 . It is driven by a single cylinder engine with four valves and a displacement of 499 cm³. The engine output of the four-stroke engine is 44 HP when unthrottled  .

history

From 1985 to 1987, a version throttled to 27 hp was offered, the camshaft, jets and pinion were changed. From 1988, the power reduction was achieved with an intake manifold with reduced passage. The motorcycle has both an electric starter and a kick starter .

The XBR had done without the classic spoked wheels until the end of 1986 and instead used so-called ComStar light alloy composite wheels, which make the use of tubeless tires possible. From 1987 onwards, the XBR was optionally manufactured - exclusively in the last year of manufacture, 1988 - with spoked wheels with which the single-seater Honda Clubman GB 500 TT manufactured in 1985 for the Japanese and New Zealand market was already equipped (recognizable, among other things, by its burgundy paintwork and main stand) and later the 1989 GB 500 Clubman variant manufactured up to 1990 for the USA and Japan .

In accordance with the design concept, which placed the motorcycle in the tradition of the British street single-cylinder, the XBR was equipped with a removable seat hump - now a sought-after spare part. This made it possible to operate with one or two seats.

The XBR was consistently available from 1985 to 1988 in black, and in 1985 also in the color variants light red and light blue metallic. In 1986 then in dark blue and furthermore in light red metallic, 1986 to 1988 in Bordeaux red metallic and 1988 in silver. With the year of construction 1988 the production was stopped due to low demand on the German market as well as tightening of the noise and exhaust gas regulations in Germany (on January 1st, 1989).

Because of the temporarily weak demand at the time, XBRs of all manufacturing years and variants from 1985 to 1988 were often only approved for the first time in 1990 or in individual cases afterwards. A reliable identification of the year of manufacture, which is essential for the procurement of spare parts and the type of dethrottling, is therefore usually only possible without detailed knowledge using the first six digits (digits / letters) of the chassis number. An allocation based on typical engine details is not always applicable due to possible engine changes after engine damage in the last 16 to 21 years.

Models

List of all manufacturing years (not necessarily the year of first registration), first digits of the 11-digit chassis number (example: PC156000321) and PS variants of the XBR500 upon delivery:

Model (Model) Frame ID Motor ID (originally power) Rim version Delivery countries Color variant
1985 (F model) PC1550 PC15E-50 (44 hp engine) Comstar E, ED, G, SD, SW PB-150, NH-1, R-124
1985 (F model) PC1560 PC15E-60 (27 hp engine) Comstar 2G PB-150, NH-1, R-124
1986 (G model) PC1551 PC15E-51 (44 hp engine) Comstar E, ED, G, U PB-155, NH-1, R-124, R-104
1986 (G model) PC1561 PC15E-61 (27 hp engine) Comstar 2G PB-155, NH-1, R-124, R-104
1987 (H model) PC1552 PC15E-52 (44 hp engine) Comstar E, G PB-155, NH-1, R-124, R-104
1987 (H model) PC1562 PC15E-62 (27 hp engine) Comstar 2G PB-155, NH-1, R-124, R-104
1987 (H model) PC1570 PC15E-52 (44 hp engine) Spoked wheels E, G PB-155, NH-1, R-124, R-104
1987 (H model) PC1580 PC15E-62 (27 hp engine) Spoked wheels 2G PB-155, NH-1, R-124, R-104
1988 (J model) PC1571 PC15E-53 (44 hp engine) Spoked wheels E, G, N NH-1, NH-132, R-104
1988 (J model) PC1581 PC15E-63 (27 hp engine) Spoked wheels 2G NH-1, NH-132, R-104
  • Color codes: PB-150 MU = Rhine blue metallic (light blue); NH-1 = Honda black; R-124 CU = candy alamoana red (light red); PB-155 PA = pearl navy blue (dark blue), R-104 CU = candymuse red (burgundy); NH-132 M = Max silver metallic
  • Country codes: G = Germany 44 HP; 2G = Germany throttled version; E = England; ED = Europe direct sales; SD = Sweden; SW = Switzerland; U = Australia (according to a prospectus delivered without a Kickstarter); N = Norway

(Source: Honda Microfiche for Parts)

For the 11-digit model code or Vehicle Identify Number, see also VIN

Similar to the chassis numbers, the engines have engine numbers with identification E (= engine), which in original engines are roughly in the range of the chassis number (usually approx. 10 to 100 numbers deviation, rarely matching numbers).

According to Honda Germany, a total of 8006 XBR 500 units were officially sold in Germany between 1985 and 1990.

The very stable and reliable engine for a single cylinder of this displacement class and manufacturing periods (see Yamaha SR 500 ; Yamaha SRX 600 ) was used to develop the drives of later models such as the Honda NX 650 Dominator , SLR 650 , FMX 650 (2005 to 2007) and XR650L (1993-2019) used. The successful basic engine design used for the first time in the Honda XL 600 and Honda XR 600 was retained from 1983 to 2019.

Long-term experiences

The engine of the XBR 500 showed significant design weaknesses from a low oil fill quantity (1.7 liters when changing the oil with filter change; only approx. 350 ml between min. And max.) In connection with a complex and relatively imprecise measurability of the actual oil level. A lack of oil resulted in bearing damage in the cylinder head and camshaft area, probably one of the most common serious types of technical damage to the XBR. Often there are cracks between the spark plug hole and exhaust valves as a result of predominantly urban use (overheating; occurs mainly between years of construction 1985 to 1987). The years 1985 and 1986 tend to have defective starter freewheels and stress cracks in the rear manifold area of ​​the exhaust systems (only assembled systems). Otherwise, the XBR500 is very reliable with sufficient and, above all, qualified maintenance.

Web links

Commons : Honda XBR  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files