96 xr 100/ knowledge

[maddoggy]

i just picked up a nice 96 xr 100 for my son to ride. i don't have any experience with this perticular model. anyone offer up their knowledge of things i need to know about these. common problems, stuff to look out for?       thanks, Maddoggy

[don46]

the things are practically bulletproof, change oil, clean the air filter and ride, oh the brakes suck, drum on both ends (I think). Hionda has a tendancy to jet the pilot lean causing a bog on the bottom, richen it up and you'll be golden if the previous owner didn't do this already.

[maddoggy]

hey thanks don. yah, it does bog a little on the bottom. then again it was hauling my 220+ lb. butt around the yard. it seems to have quite a bit of gear lash when i push it back and forth. is that normal for this bike? and yes it does have drums front and back.

[Friar-Tuck]

 Hey Madd,
   How does the bike run?  
    Thr old XR line takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'...
 I would go through and make sure all the swingarm and linkage bearings are greased along with the steering stem.  Drain and re-fill the forks with either 5wt or atf.    Check the valves for adjustment and ride!
   The jetting is usually lean from the factory to meet emissions.  
  There are lots of oem & aftermarket parts avail.  I'm not sure how these prices stack up but here is a list of stuff available.
   http://www.twobros.com/Perf_Products/XR100_Perf/XR100.htm

http://www.xrsonly.com/content/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=70&category_id=156&page=shop.browse&limitstart=0&limit=50

[snoopjonnyjon]

I had a 1985 XL100 as my first bike when I was 9 or 10. Basically the same bike as an XR, but had even worse dual shock rear suspension. I put 17,000kms on the bike (~10,000 miles) in the first two summers. Being an XL it had an odometer.  We had bought an old farm with an old 500 gallon diesel tank on it. At least 20+ year old fuel. Still didn't foul plugs. As a kid I would put a quart of that old diesel into the XL every fill so that it would smoke like a 2-stroke. I broke the rear shocks, sheared the swingarm pivot... but otherwise had no failures. It was just the victim of a hard riding fat kid. The bike is on it's second spark plug in its life now, and on it's second chain. I've never had the carb off to clean it. The sprockets are still original. These bikes really are as tough as they say. No power, but can be ridden at full throttle for hours on end, and never blow up.

That's it in the background.

[Motorrad]

I ride my 85 xl100 to work every day.  WOT the entire time.  Change oil when it starts looking dirty and repeat.