Best 750cc Motorcycle

My Favorite Motorcycle: The Honda XL-500

In my opinion, the best motorcycle I ever owned was my 1982 Honda XL-500S. Simply put, it was one fun machine to own. It had the best of both worlds: ample power and size to ride on the paved roadways, as well as good capabilities off road.

I had owned a 750cc road-only motorcycle just prior to the XL, and that was a good bike, but I always felt something was missing. It was like having a car, with two less wheels. Sure you had the wind in your face, no chassis surrounding you feel of a motorcycle, but it was designed to be operated on paved roads only. Where I grew up, there were plenty of places you could enjoy a motorcycle on trails. I traded that 750 in on the XL-500, and I quickly found what I was missing. Now not only was I able to enjoy the experience of a motorcycle on the road, I did not have to stop riding just because the road ended.

The Honda XL was quite capable of doing just about anything off road; hill climbing, trail riding, jumping, water crossing; that Honda was able to do it all. Sure a pure motocross type of bike was more adept and agile off road, but I did not have to mix oil and gasoline and I was able to ride to the trail. So while my friends were busy loading their off road only motorcycles on a truck or trailer and driving them to the trail, I was enjoying the ride there as much as the trail itself.

The XL-500 was able to carry a passenger without any problems, and the motorcycle provided me great gas mileage. The fuel tank held just over two and a half gallons, and I only had to re-fuel it about twice a week, and I rode that bike quite a bit. It was also very dependable, in fact it never failed to start or get me where I wanted to go, and back again.

Sure dual-purpose bikes are always a bit of a compromise; they are not as fast on the street as a dedicated road bike, and they are not as agile in the dirt as a pure dirt bike. But without a doubt, that Honda XL was fun to ride, no matter what terrain I found myself on.