XL 250 S

1980 Honda XL 250 S Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

Built around Honda's enduro - offroad motorcycle platform, the 1980 Honda XL 250 S pairs a 248 cc (15.1 cu in) air-cooled single cylinder, four-stroke architecture with road-focused gearing. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 17 HP (12.4 kW) at 7,000 rpm while maximum torque reaches 19.6 Nm (14.5 lb-ft) at 4,500 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 5-speed gearbox and chain final drive. With a specific output of 68.5 HP per liter and a 2,500 rpm working window between peak torque (4,500 rpm) and peak power (7,000 rpm), the engine character is indicating a tractable, stress-free state of tune focused on everyday usability and broad torque delivery.

On the scales, the XL 250 S measures 132 kg (291 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.13 HP/kg (7.76 kg per horsepower). Rider ergonomics and chassis geometry center around a 848 mm (33.4 in) seat height — resulting in a taller command-style riding posture suited to medium-to-tall inseams, combined with a 1,389 mm (54.7 in) wheelbase engineered for quick, flickable steering geometry. The 9.5-liter (2.5 US gal) fuel tank supports practical everyday commuting and weekend road stints, while factory top speed is listed at 111 km/h (69 mph).

Within MotoLibrary's Honda archive, this model family spans 5 indexed model years from 1978 to 1982, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.