In 1985, Cycle World called Honda’s XL350R the best dual-purpose bike of the year, noting that riding most dualies ‘is a lot like going shopping with your grandmother: It’s all right as long as no one see you…while the owner of an XL350R might not have the fastest, most expensive, or most prestigious bike on his block, there’s a good chance that his machine is more fun than anything else in his entire neighborhood.’
I’d always heard the joke with respect to mopeds, like in this scene from Archer:
Back to the Honda: the 340cc engine put out 27 horsepower, good for a top speed of 83 miles per hour. Cycle World wasn’t the only magazine that loved this bike – Cycle called it one of the top 10 of 1985, saying it “may be the best-balanced dual-purpose bike ever.” This example (VIN: JH2NDO304EM000113) has 4,890 miles and is claimed to be like new thanks to a Rip Van Winkle-inspired 20 year nap in storage.
Find this XL350R for sale here on Craigslist for $2,500 in Inverness, Florida.
This bike-uriousity brought to you by Rob B!