'86 vs '87 CR500 ??

jtracing6
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Dundalk IE
7/25/2012 1:50pm
Get a 1987, then there will be more parts available for me to find for my 1986! hahaha
mosslander
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7/25/2012 4:45pm Edited Date/Time 7/25/2012 5:02pm
jtracing6 wrote:
Get a 1987, then there will be more parts available for me to find for my 1986! hahaha
Well Keith there is two mint 86 500 CRs for sale here for 3000£ each if you want and I know one of them if you intrested.
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.
jtracing6
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7/25/2012 11:42pm
Mikael, do you want a NOS Mugen cylinder, 2 x pistons and rings and HRC head for your 86?
Do you have photos of the 86 CR500's? Is that price £3000GBP ?

The Shop

mosslander
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7/26/2012 5:16pm
the other one is problably sold but I will ask him tomorrow and yes £3000 GBP
mosslander
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7/27/2012 5:04pm
mosslander wrote:
jtracing6 wrote:
Mikael, that's very nice but too expensive for me. I will keep building the one I have.
Are you still going to Farleigh Castle?
I will go to London on Monday with my family and after 3 days we go to B-ham for 5 days so Farleigh Castle have to wait til next year I guess .
Jon_Marshall
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Frazier Park, CA US
8/29/2012 5:18pm
Wow cool. I got a 86Cr500 and the water pump is rotted that badly, I can find the original case second hand, on eBay anywhere.. But...
Wow cool.
I got a 86Cr500 and the water pump is rotted that badly, I can find the original case second hand, on eBay anywhere..
But looks like you might of solved my problem, which cover would you recommend?
Cheers
A 2000-2001 will bolt right on and the only thing you need to do is buy a Gates Hose for it
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
Jon_Marshall
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Frazier Park, CA US
8/29/2012 5:22pm
I prefer the 87 CR500, I've had Both and I think the 87 is the best ever 500 that Honda Made, I also have a 94 CR500 and the 87 just feels better. My 86 500 was Very fast but the motor was Pipey compared to the 87
5/19/2015 3:14pm
bultokid wrote:
ok anyone have any input on these. Looking to pick-up a CR500 to join the '79 CR250 and '83 CR480 in the garage. Have been going...
ok anyone have any input on these. Looking to pick-up a CR500 to join the '79 CR250 and '83 CR480 in the garage. Have been going back and forth between a '86, '87 and '94. Will be using it for mx only probably riding it once-twice a month. Know should probably go with the later model but man those DB era CR's just have this mystical spell on me. Thanks ride safe, forgot to add only race the evo/vintage stuff these days int. level at a oh so svelte 6'2" 230lbs these days...Dominoes ???
I got a 1986 cr500 needs uh crank Wht all models may fit
5/19/2015 3:16pm
I got an 1986 cr500 but needs uh new crank wondering wht all models dat uh work
MaxPower
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5/19/2015 4:30pm
I got an 1986 cr500 but needs uh new crank wondering wht all models dat uh work
I'm trying to translate by the context clues here. Does "uh" = "a" and does "dat" = "will" I have "wht" figured .
Bimotofab
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Big Bear City, CA US
10/3/2016 1:38pm
Wow cool. I got a 86Cr500 and the water pump is rotted that badly, I can find the original case second hand, on eBay anywhere.. But...
Wow cool.
I got a 86Cr500 and the water pump is rotted that badly, I can find the original case second hand, on eBay anywhere..
But looks like you might of solved my problem, which cover would you recommend?
Cheers
A 2000-2001 will bolt right on and the only thing you need to do is buy a Gates Hose for it I have the Gates Part#...
A 2000-2001 will bolt right on and the only thing you need to do is buy a Gates Hose for it
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
What's the part number!
Cancerman
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In Hell, FL US
10/3/2016 11:48pm
Halfast816 wrote:
The 87 is a little easier to move around on. The tank isn't so bulbous. If you want to immitate Baileys last race bike the 86...
The 87 is a little easier to move around on. The tank isn't so bulbous. If you want to immitate Baileys last race bike the 86 500 then the 87 production would be the closest starting point with the rear disk. The nod on rear suspension would go to the 86 as it holds more oil volume with the remote resevior as oppsed to the sideways (tear gas looking cannister thing) piggyback shock the used for 87-88.


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!

mark_swart
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Chapin, SC US
10/4/2016 4:34pm
I picked up an 86 a few weeks ago and had my first ride on it last weekend. I'll be racing it this weekend. After one ride I'm in love! I had a 90 last year, it had a flywheel weight and I actually prefer the feel without the weight as it makes the bike feel more maneuverable. I also have a RMZ 450, and I swear out there in the mud on an unfamiliar track I think I felt as comfortable as I did on the newer bike that I've had for two years.

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....
Cancerman
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In Hell, FL US
10/5/2016 10:52pm
Mark, Bailey was riding the 87 model with usd forks in late 86. When my CR5 was in the 87 chassis, I had put on 96 model usd 46mm forks with the stronger front brake components. You can never have too strong brakes on a CR5. I looked at the YZ450F shock at the time, the end pieces were different. I'm sure with enough $ someone could make it work, though.

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