Have you seen this? Great looking bike. I would prefer a 250 myself.
powaypowersports.com/products/2025-honda-xr650l

Here in Japan bikes over 250cc have a compulsory vehicule inspection and more tax etc etc. 125's and 250's are heavy enough for me at my age and with my current handicap! I've been removing oxidation from so many little nuts, bolts and washers. I was trying to prove a friend of mine wrong who kept saying you cant buy cheap dirt bikes any more and this came up not far from me at all, but 'missed' that there was no paperwork, doh!

Working on getting a frame and title to put the parts back on to.

It was supposed to be a super budget woods bike. So far I have invested in a couple small tins of paint, torch gas and will need a kickshaft oil seal, plug, an oil filter, air filter, set of engine mounts (they are made of the lightest aluminium I have ever seen outside of kitchen foil!) it really needs spokes but I will get by for now and it will need tires too

It's funky being a single with twin carbs and twin exhaust ports!

Just need to get all the parts back together somehow !

What's it like being stopped in the street? Do people ask for your autograph? My claim to frame!!

Jumping ahead here. The snow is finally gone and the sun shines! Managed to get running up to 70kph and in 3 or 4 gear.
Box is really sweet, crazy smooth. I find the air box boots pull back and cause air leaks, it looks like from scratches on the tank that the PO was constantly using a driver to tighten the boots. I have to dial up the idle screw to start and then turn it down to run. The bike surges and doesnt feel like the fuel system is stable. Pulling the carbs on this bike is a whole lot of fun, it's milimetric getting them out and requires some patience too

The bike has power I love how it pulls. I made a chain slider on the top and chain slipper on the bottom. I made the filter from 2 cuts of filter foam and stuck them together. The clutch cable is damaged but works, the clutch lever assembly is cracked but holds up. Lights don't work anywhere and I havent sourced the problem yet.

Trying to close up all the air leaks and find if there are other carb fueling issues.

My leg and butt are getting a very good work out from all the kicking.

This bike is getting expensive for a low down back garden restoration, I had to purchase a frame and papers, filter foam, a plug, oil seal and I may also need four o rings for the carb sharing pipes! But I do have a feeling this 250 could be a whole lot of fun!

This poor little Honda is looking rather rough, but hopefully good enough for woods and green lane touring. I have finally found the neutral light, the first and only light so far! It's hard work.

Have heavy missfire, which is probably carbs (maybe bad coil?), so I will put new o ring in the carbs

Tacho cable is broken in 2 pieces and I had to drill the bolt out, my goodness it did not want to leave!

installed a lovely new kickshaft oil seal and now there are no leaks - how easy was that!

Puttin' stuff back

Check out those headers they are nearly toast, but not quite !