XR 500

1980 Honda XR 500 Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

Built around Honda's enduro - offroad motorcycle platform, the 1980 Honda XR 500 relies on a 498 cc (30.4 cu in) air-cooled single cylinder, four-stroke powerplant. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 36 HP (26.3 kW) at 6,500 rpm while maximum torque reaches 41.5 Nm (30.6 lb-ft) at 5,500 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 5-speed gearbox and chain final drive. With a specific output of 72.3 HP per liter and a 1,000 rpm working window between peak torque (5,500 rpm) and peak power (6,500 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 XR 500 measures 135 kg (298 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.27 HP/kg (3.75 kg per horsepower). Rider ergonomics and chassis geometry center around a 880 mm (34.6 in) seat height — reflecting a long-travel chassis stance that favors ground clearance and off-pavement control, combined with a 1,400 mm (55.1 in) wheelbase engineered for quick, flickable steering geometry. The 10-liter (2.6 US gal) fuel tank paired with a rated consumption of 6 L/100 km provides an estimated theoretical range of roughly 167 km (104 miles) between fill-ups, while factory top speed is listed at 140 km/h (87 mph).

Within MotoLibrary's Honda archive, this model family spans 2 indexed model years from 1980 to 1983, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.