• The first Honda XL was a 250-cc model, built in 1972 -- a highly utilitarian, nearly indestructible on- and off-road bike. Not a motocross bike, it was far sportier than most enduros. It's often thought the XL was adapted from the XR, but the XL design was the basis of Honda's venerated XR line -- a purely off-road machine. The more versatile XLs were made in 11 different displacements with the first being built in 1974. The durable engines remained largely unchanged through their 18 years of production.
  
  

The 1984 XL Platform

• The hugely successful XL line was almost exclusively single cylinder small- and mid-bore overhead cam four strokes. There were occasional variations that included twin cylinders and twin carburetors, but the basis of the XL was the reliable, single-cylinder four stroke.
  
  

The 1984 XL 350

• The '84 model displaced 340-cubic centimeters. The single-cylinder, four-valve engine was air cooled and transferred power from the six-speed transmission by chain. Its 9.5:1 compression ratio gave it a reliable 27 horsepower at 7,500 rpm, delivering a top speed of 82 miles per hour. The 2.9-gallon gas tank was often replaced by one of the many large-capacity, after-market "desert tanks." The '84 XL had an excellent, single-front disc brake and an adequate expanding drum rear brake. The package rolled on a thin, 3-inch wide, 21-inch front tire and a squaty 4.6-inch wide rear tire that had a 17-inch diameter.
  
  

XL Evolution

• The biggest change to the XL series over its production life was not to the motor but the suspension. While the first XLs looked like ranch-bikes -- and were often used for just such a purpose -- the suspension didn't have a lot of travel. Honda's XL began having more and more success as riders in everything from observed trials, flat track racing and the ultimate endurance test, the Baja 1,000, discovered the durable XL engine. Competition led the XL to a taller, more race-like suspension that could handle jumps and soak up bumps at speed. In 1984, the XL350 was a serious competition enduro.
  
  

A Unique Feature

• While the XL model came to look "standard" in just about every way, it had one unusual feature: two exhaust headers in a single-cylinder motor. The '84 had this feature, often leading people to believe it was a two-cylinder machine, instead of a single; the twin exhaust ports and four-valve layout were utilized to help the XL breathe better, making more horsepower.