Honda's Hit Single

Honda's Hit Single

- Matt Brennan And Jennifer Willingham

Honda’s XL500S: a legend which is still(seemingly) undiscovered to many. It could be argued that the XL was either a logical descendant from Honda’s successful range of Elsinore off-road models, or – perhaps – just a knee-jerk reaction to Yamaha’s superb XT500. Bit of a long knee-jerk though, taking a full four years for the XL500S to finally make it to showrooms.

History shows that the XL500S was perhaps a little more complicated than the XT, using a four-valve head rather than a simpler two-valves per pot layout. It had a 498cc OHC single-cylinder motor, breathing through a single carb and out through a 2-into-1 and with power being laid down through a five-speed transmission. The simple 100mph speedo told you all you needed to know, while the running gear included a 23in front wheel and an 18in rear hoop. In comparison tests the Honda fared well against the now-legendary XT, even if successive models of the Honda only lasted until 1984 (the XT was still going in 1989).

For launch in 1979 the XL500S was a beauty in the original 1979 launch colour of Tahitian Red, with black, red and yellow tank stripes. All levers and the kick-starter were silver on this initial model, but these would change to black for 1980.