Excel Black and Tahitian Red is an interesting color combo for this on/off bike. It’s like a 14-horsepower red-winged blackbird, but with a little more bite than chirp. This low-mile 1978 Honda XL175 is listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Chilton, Wisconsin, and they’re asking $3,000 or best offer. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Lothar… of the Hill People for the tip!
We’ve seen a couple of 175s recently, and I like the size. A 250 is nice, and a 125 will work, but a 175 gives a good chunk of the power of a 250 but weighs about the same as a 125, so it’s almost the best of all worlds. Anything above a 250 is too big for me for an off-road bike, but I know a lot of you need around 12,500 horsepower to get your kicks… and that’s ok. It’s a big world. Speaking of big, the gas tank isn’t super big, holding just under two gallons.
This example looks great, and initially I thought, dang, $3,000 for a 175?! Then I remembered how much I paid for my Rokon with a fraction of the power, and a Honda CB200 wasn’t much less than this, and this XL175 may be a much more useful bike for a casual rider like me. I don’t go on road trips, and I don’t really spend too much time off-road either. Wait, what have I been doing with my life?! From 1973 through 1978, the XL175 evolved, and it’s easy to spot a last-year model like this one: they have black hubs.
This bike looks like it’s in outstanding condition, and having traveled just 2,753 miles over the last 48 years, that’s only around 57 miles a year! It’s unfortunate that Honda removed the tachometer after the 1975 model year. I don’t have a clue why they would do that. Honda also fitted a magneto ignition so more serious riders could take out the battery and have at it. They also changed the exhaust routing a bit, and I really like how it goes through the frame here.
The engine is Honda’s 173-cc four-stroke OHC single with 14 or 15 horsepower, 11 lb-ft of torque, and kick start only. There is no electric start on these bikes. Power passes through a 5-speed manual to the rear wheel via a chain as expected, and the seller says it has new tires and starts on the first kick. Not surprising. I love this one, and if the taxman/woman hadn’t handed out a legendary beatdown two days ago, I’d be all over it. Let’s hear those on/off motorcycle stories!
I had a brand-new 1976 leftover in 1977 all Blue. Cost $700 at the time. Sorry I sold it in the mid 80s.
SG we have the perfect starter bike. Don’t allow lack of electric start to deter anyone interested. A breeze to kick over these 175s, and you’ll feel more like a biker right off the bat 👍 Also great ride for older enthusiasts who are interested in some local sight-seeing and getting to the fishing holes. 🎣
Another nice find as usual Lothar, wonder what’s in your collection 🤔
There was a guy using a “cherry sweet” one like this in the pits at a local version of AMA Vintage dirt track awhile back.
His young teenage son was heard to say “dad-look at this guys bike! He put the motor in backwards!”, pointing at the Bultaco Pursang as the rider folded the starter lever off the left side and kicked it forward..