around the perimeter of the State of West Virginia , riding everything from single track to interstates . Preparation ? I put air in the tires . That may sound a bit careless , but the fact is that the bike didn ’ t need anything . How did it perform ? Great ! Aside from being a bit short on top end out on the highway , as I didn ’ t want to wring out the old engine too hard , it did everything I asked of it , quite well . Nice , comfy saddle , decent range , and totally reliable . Total maintenance throughout the entire trip consisted of pulling the headlight out one morning and threading the nut back onto the alignment adjuster screw , which had vibrated apart . Only drawback was the lighting , or the lack thereof . Six-volt electrical systems don ’ t cut it , period . Forget the turn signals . They didn ’ t work all that great when the bikes were new . Headlight ? Lights up the front fender , but that ’ s about it . All that and , save for aftermarket shocks , stone stock original .
So there you have it . True , I personally did not modify and / or race an original XL in competition , but I ’ ve ridden mine pretty hard off-road , and it came through every time . In fact , there ’ s a video floating around on YouTube , showing a certain mad dash up a mountain , via dirt two-track , which actually looks pretty impressive . This then is yet another example of how well these old bikes , despite their inherent
shortcomings , did , and still can , perform . So don ’ t write ‘ em off . They work , they ’ re fun , and in the end , how can you beat that ?
“ And there you go . Irrespective of the Champion frame , many stock components retained . Speaks volumes about the XL ’ s basic solid engineering . – PHOTO COURTESY OF CYCLE MAGAZINE
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