Honda XLV750R
Encyclopedia
The Honda XLV750R is a dual-sport
motorcycle
manufactured from 1983 to 1986 by Honda
Motor Company, Japan. A first prototype of the motorcycle was introduced to the public at the Paris motor show ("Salon de la Moto") in October 1982. The XLV was initially intended for the European market only (with the exception of the UK), but from 1985 on, it was also sold in Australia. In the first production run in 1983, 400 "Limited Edition"-models were produced for the Japanese home market. The "Limited Edition"-models can be identified by a golden metal badge attached to the right side of the auxiliary frame (below the seat) and are otherwise identical to the standard model.
Honda had intended the XLV to be a tourer with limited off-road capabilities. It is therefore hard to understand why Honda presented the motorbike to the press on a motocross track (on the island of Ibiza, Spain, in the spring of 1983). In the early 1980s, most dual-sport motorcycles had only one cylinder and weighed about 120 to 150 kilos - compared to them, the XLV with its 220 kilos (fully fueled) seemed to be unfit for sporty off-road driving.
The XLV750R (Honda type designation: RD01) was Honda's first dual-sport motorcycle with two cylinders. It has an air-/oil-cooled V-twin
engine with hydraulic valve tappets and a shaft drive. Those two construction features make the XLV a very low maintenance motorcycle. Other technical highlights at the time of introduction were the dry sump
lubrication system (with the main frame acting as an oil tank), the three valves per cylinder (two inlet valves / one exhaust valve), the two spark plugs per cylinder and the crankshaft
with off-set pins.
The distinctive air scoops mounted below the fuel tank on either side of the motorbike provide additional cooling for the rear cylinder. They were only installed after tests of prototype models revealed thermal problems of the engine.
Initially the XLV was offered in the aggressive colours of the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC)
, namely blue, white, and red, with a red engine, red fork rods and red hubs. This model bears the additional designation "D".
In 1985, a revised version of the XLV750R was introduced, bearing the additional designation "F". The XLV750R(F)-models were improved in some details (tamer cams
resulting in 6hp less power, improved automatic cam chain tensioners, improved carburetor setup, among other minor modifications) and had a black engine and golden rims with black hubs. These motorcycles were painted in the colour combinations black/blue metallic, black/red metallic and black/silver grey and were mainly marketed in Italy, France, and Australia. Honda never officially offered them in Germany, probably because the demand was very low due to the mainly negative press the XLV had received there (see for example and ).
In 1986, the production of the XLV750R (RD01) was discontinued. Honda never again produced a dual-sport motorcycle with a shaft drive. Officially, the RD-genealogy was continued with the solely chain driven models NX650 Dominator
(RD02 and RD 08), XRV650/750 Africa Twin
(RD03, RD04, RD07), XR650L (RD06), SLR650/FX650 Vigor (RD09), XL650V/XL700V Transalp
(RD10, RD11, RD13) and FMX650 (RD12). The type designation "RD05" was not assigned.
Due to its (in Honda proportions) low production numbers of approximately no more than 10,000 units worldwide ("D"- and "F"-models combined), the XLV750R is quite seldom seen - and in many countries, especially outside of Europe and Australia, it is an extremely rare bird.
Dual-sport
A dual-sport, colloquially known as "dualie" or an "on-off road bike" is a type of street-legal motorcycle that is designed for both on and off-road use. The terms All-road and Dual-purpose are also used...
motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
manufactured from 1983 to 1986 by Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
Motor Company, Japan. A first prototype of the motorcycle was introduced to the public at the Paris motor show ("Salon de la Moto") in October 1982. The XLV was initially intended for the European market only (with the exception of the UK), but from 1985 on, it was also sold in Australia. In the first production run in 1983, 400 "Limited Edition"-models were produced for the Japanese home market. The "Limited Edition"-models can be identified by a golden metal badge attached to the right side of the auxiliary frame (below the seat) and are otherwise identical to the standard model.
Honda had intended the XLV to be a tourer with limited off-road capabilities. It is therefore hard to understand why Honda presented the motorbike to the press on a motocross track (on the island of Ibiza, Spain, in the spring of 1983). In the early 1980s, most dual-sport motorcycles had only one cylinder and weighed about 120 to 150 kilos - compared to them, the XLV with its 220 kilos (fully fueled) seemed to be unfit for sporty off-road driving.
The XLV750R (Honda type designation: RD01) was Honda's first dual-sport motorcycle with two cylinders. It has an air-/oil-cooled V-twin
V-twin
A V-twin engine is a two-cylinder internal combustion engine where the cylinders are arranged in a V configuration.- Crankshaft configuration :Most V-twin engines have a single crankpin, which is shared by both connecting rods...
engine with hydraulic valve tappets and a shaft drive. Those two construction features make the XLV a very low maintenance motorcycle. Other technical highlights at the time of introduction were the dry sump
Dry sump
A dry sump is a lubricating motor oil management method for four-stroke and large two-stroke piston internal combustion engines that uses external pumps and a secondary external reservoir for oil, as compared to a conventional wet sump system....
lubrication system (with the main frame acting as an oil tank), the three valves per cylinder (two inlet valves / one exhaust valve), the two spark plugs per cylinder and the crankshaft
Crankshaft
The crankshaft, sometimes casually abbreviated to crank, is the part of an engine which translates reciprocating linear piston motion into rotation...
with off-set pins.
The distinctive air scoops mounted below the fuel tank on either side of the motorbike provide additional cooling for the rear cylinder. They were only installed after tests of prototype models revealed thermal problems of the engine.
Initially the XLV was offered in the aggressive colours of the Honda Racing Corporation (HRC)
Honda Racing Corporation
Honda Racing Corporation is a division of the Honda Motor Company formed in 1982. The company combines participation in motorcycle races throughout the world with the development of high potential racing machines. Its racing activities are an important source for the creation of leading edge...
, namely blue, white, and red, with a red engine, red fork rods and red hubs. This model bears the additional designation "D".
Cam
A cam is a rotating or sliding piece in a mechanical linkage used especially in transforming rotary motion into linear motion or vice-versa. It is often a part of a rotating wheel or shaft that strikes a lever at one or more points on its circular path...
resulting in 6hp less power, improved automatic cam chain tensioners, improved carburetor setup, among other minor modifications) and had a black engine and golden rims with black hubs. These motorcycles were painted in the colour combinations black/blue metallic, black/red metallic and black/silver grey and were mainly marketed in Italy, France, and Australia. Honda never officially offered them in Germany, probably because the demand was very low due to the mainly negative press the XLV had received there (see for example and ).
In 1986, the production of the XLV750R (RD01) was discontinued. Honda never again produced a dual-sport motorcycle with a shaft drive. Officially, the RD-genealogy was continued with the solely chain driven models NX650 Dominator
Honda NX650 Dominator
The Honda NX650 Dominator is a dual-sport motorcycle of the Japanese manufacturer Honda. It was manufactured from 1988 to 2000. The main difference between model years are the graphics and details in the fairing....
(RD02 and RD 08), XRV650/750 Africa Twin
Honda XRV750
The Honda XRV750, also known as the Africa Twin, is a 742 cc dual-sport motorcycle manufactured by Honda. The motorcycle was based on the NXR-750 which won the Paris-Dakar rally four times in the late eighties....
(RD03, RD04, RD07), XR650L (RD06), SLR650/FX650 Vigor (RD09), XL650V/XL700V Transalp
Honda Transalp
The Honda Transalp is the name given to the XL600V, XL650V, and XL700V series of dual-sport motorcycles manufactured in Japan by Honda since 1987. The Transalp bikes all feature a liquid-cooled, four-stroke 52° V-twin engine.- History :...
(RD10, RD11, RD13) and FMX650 (RD12). The type designation "RD05" was not assigned.
Due to its (in Honda proportions) low production numbers of approximately no more than 10,000 units worldwide ("D"- and "F"-models combined), the XLV750R is quite seldom seen - and in many countries, especially outside of Europe and Australia, it is an extremely rare bird.