Motorcycle Repair: Question, honda xl500r, ray raymond

Question
Hi, I'm restoring a 1982 Honda XL500R and have been having good luck with it using original parts I had right up to starting it. I have iginition but don't seem to be getting spark to the plug, any suggestions?
Thanks, Ray

Answer
Raymond, is the battery charged?  It may require a charged battery to get power to the coils. I'm not sure anymore if that model had a magneto or relied on the battery.  If it has a magneto, you need to see if you are getting voltage out of the coil down by the flywheel.  That coil supplies power to the coils and the CDI unit grounds the coils.  So it either the high tension coils, the CDI unit or the magneto coil (if it's not battery powered).

Regards
Rich