About the Honda XL500
XL500S and XL500R carburetor, engine and chassis parts—organized around the differences that affect your repair.
Honda’s XL500 brought a four-valve, overhead-cam single to the dual-purpose class. The original XL500S paired its engine with twin rear shocks and a distinctive 23-inch front wheel. The XL500R moved to Pro-Link rear suspension and a 21-inch front wheel. Those changes matter when identifying a bike whose forks, wheels or bodywork have been replaced.
XL500S versus XL500R: carb kits, fork seals and brakes
The parts below cover XL500S 1979–1981 and XL500R 1982 applications. Both appear on the engine gasket set, but the carb kits and fork seals are different. The S uses the featured 35 mm oil seals; the R uses 37 mm seals. Brake shoes also depend on the wheel and year, so a single XL500 parts order can need several separate checks.
Know your XL500 before choosing partsXL500 model and repair differences
Use the S/R chassis and service differences below to narrow a repair-parts search.
XL500S
1979–1981 service examples
The twin-shock S has its own carb kit and 35 mm fork-seal application. Its front and rear brake-shoe listings do not all cover the same years.
Parts checkpoint: Keep the S suffix and brake position in the comparison.
XL500R
1982 service examples
The Pro-Link R uses a different featured carb kit and a 37 mm fork-seal application. A shared engine gasket listing does not establish shared suspension parts.
Parts checkpoint: Match the R model before choosing chassis parts.
Modified motorcycles
Identify what is installed
An engine, fork or wheel swap can leave the frame and component applications different. Record the replacement assembly’s markings and dimensions.
Parts checkpoint: Choose service parts for the assembly being repaired.
Identify your motorcycle before orderingXL500 identification checklist
Record the model year, full factory code and installed components. Use the matching factory documentation to check frame and engine numbers.
Model and market
Read the complete frame identification and model-year information. Keep the selling market with your notes, especially on an imported XL500.
Engine and carburetor
Record the engine number separately and photograph the carburetor markings. Check the listed S or R application before selecting a rebuild kit.
Forks and brakes
Note the fork-tube size and the brake wheel position. The featured S and R oil seals have different dimensions; the rear-shoe listing does not establish front fitment.
Contact PartsNMore with the model year, complete model code and clear photographs of the relevant markings and component.