Das XL500 Forum

the bike we have is an 82 XL500
but its seems to me difficult to start for me but not the girlfreind
but i was wondering if it has eletronic ignition or points?
as the battery seems not to be holding a good charge to me hence the poor starting maybe or it could be me

Hy Del,
it has a magneto...the battery is there for the turnsignals and the horn.
Change the fuel if it´s old, drain the carb. Also, adjust the auto decompression and check the ignition cable. Sometimes, the ends on the spark plug side and on the coil are badly corroded. It´s only screwed in. And also take a look at the spark plug connector. The xl shakes those to death in a frequent order.

Cheers,
die Oma

ok thanks for that as i thought it might be volt loss due to a weak battey but it has a mag like the old bikes