Upgrade to enjoy this feature!
Vital MX fantasy is free to play, but paid users have great benefits. Paid member benefits:
- View and download rider stats
- Pick trends
- Create a private league
- And more!
Only $10 for all 2024 SX, MX, and SMX series (regularly $30).
Now i'm building 86 250 engine to my 87 race bike because it's a winner from corner to corner against the 87.
Today I will buy a 88 VW Caddy to care my bikes on between the tracks.
Do you have photos of the 86 CR500's? Is that price £3000GBP ?
The Shop
Are you still going to Farleigh Castle?
I have the Gates Part# if you need it
Mine was just as Bad on my 87 CR500
And I am referring to an 86-87 CR500
This^^ I used a 87 motor in my RM500AF. The updated case is a no brainer, I went to Napa and bought a hose that made the right turns to clear the lowboy exhaust, perfect. I still have the old case, you can have it, it's on it's way out. I rode the 87 chassis quite a bit, and back in the day, I had the 85 model. Big difference. The 85 lit the tire up all the time. The 87, not so much. The ergos are a lot better on the 87.I would consider the class, if you are racing, that you want to ride. Vintage bike racing, these things need to be thought through. The main issue I found with all the 85, 86, 87, 88 CR500's were the rear shock. I bought a new shock piston & ring, seal head, etc. I still did not have enough damping. And they fade. Back in the day, I bought a WP shock, wow, what a difference. If you are any kind of fast, you will want a different shock. $$$. If you are not riding in a pre 89 class, I go for the newer bike, as you have more to work with, chassis wise. Or you can use any of the engines, and build your own 500AF. Mine turned out great. 2 good mods on any CR5 is a PWK 39 carb and a flywheel weight, I use a 13 oz. Just enough to help reduce stalling. Happy hunting!
Love the forks, but the conditions didn't really let me stress them. Most of our vintage events are on tamed-down tracks anyway, so it shouldn't matter. The later model XL 650 used a reincarnated version of these same forks with .44 fork springs, you could probably pick up some used springs for next to nothing if you wanted to stiffen them from stock.
The layout didn't bother me at all. In fact, I think the 87 side panels actually bulge out more than the 86. It turns great too!
As others have said, the 86 drum and 87 disc may put you into another classification depending on your sanctioning body for races. Here in Washington with PNW VMX, it lets me stay in Revo 1 with older bikes.
I bought mine with a seized piston, and after boring it out the bike was hard to start, kept backfiring and was just inconsistent in starting. Reeds good, carb good, gas good, spark good. Then I took a close look at the ignition timing. It was off by just a tiny bit, I reset it to line up exactly and seems to start fine now as long as you follow the basic drills when cold.
Somebody must have replaced my water pump cover, it isn't corroded. And the water outlet seems to be directing the hose into the pipe, for now I have it insulated but will need to look at a better fix longterm.
Plastic is still available, for the most part. Numberplates and side panels through DC VMX. Not as pretty as stock, but I'm actually racing the bike so it's not a big deal. Shrouds/fenders/replica seat cover readily available.
Hoping to keep this bike for a long, long time!! Obviously the sentimental and historical value of the 86 is off the charts.... Bailey's last year, 1-2 in the 500 championships for Honda, first year of production rule in AMA, most dominant MXdN performance ever with the Dream Team...tough to top all of that! I would have probably jumped on an 87 in the same price/condition, but for sentimental reasons I think I'd prefer the 86. Bailey has pretty much been my hero since I was 14...and at 43 he still is!
First ride video, yes, I was just putting in the mud....
Pit Row
Post a reply to: '86 vs '87 CR500 ??