Who here had the pleasure of riding a 500 two-stroke?

Red141
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Red141 11/16/2013 8:01am
11/16/2013 8:01am
I wouldn't call it pleasure. Fear is the word I would use. LOL
justme
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justme 11/16/2013 8:39am
11/16/2013 8:39am
Bought and raced the first year the waterpumper hit the floor before they decided to detune the power delivery. As soon as I came to terms how to tame the beast, One gear higher than one would think and become one with the clutch, it was a dream to ride and race not to mention it no longer wore me out. At first till I figured it out it was like going from one near crash to the next near crash. The only bike, at the time, to give it fits was the kx500.
bigborefan
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bigborefan 11/16/2013 9:36am
11/16/2013 9:36am
I had a truck load of KX500s over the years. Rode them exclusively from 91 thru 2006. Then I bought a KTM 300 and never looked back. I loved those bikes. They were cheap to buy, cheap to maintain, they had decent resell value. I have no complaints about owning or riding them.
OW38B
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OW38B 11/16/2013 9:43am
11/16/2013 9:43am
Open Bikes I have raced:

1979 Suzuki RM400

1981 Yamaha YZ465

1983 Honda CR480

1986 Honda CR500

1988 Honda CR500

1974 Suzuki TM400 Cyclone (currently in the garage)

The Shop

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Tumblin
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Tumblin 11/16/2013 10:04am
11/16/2013 10:04am
Tumblin wrote:
490 Maico, 480 Honda....wussed out after those and picked up some additional speed dropping down to 250's. But yes, my buddy had that 86, piped it...
490 Maico, 480 Honda....wussed out after those and picked up some additional speed dropping down to 250's. But yes, my buddy had that 86, piped it and cleaned up the ports.
Every bit a missile...I'd say more of a wrestled than guided model though.
Well if we are talking open class smokers, then let me back up to being 15 and coming off a Super Rat...
73cz400
75cz400
76cz400
77yz400
81maico490
83cr500
....and yes I learned throttle control. But I also tried to race a 125 in the middle of that, but it took me several top ends before I became competitive on that pea shooter.
CR500Rider
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CR500Rider 11/16/2013 11:08am
11/16/2013 11:08am
I never stopped.
RbR
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RbR 11/16/2013 11:57am
11/16/2013 11:57am
The word 'pleasure' never entered my mind when riding 500s. My only thoughts were 'hang on for your fucking life', or something along those lines. In four stroke terms I would guess riding a 500TS equates to riding a 900FS. And so many complain about 450s being too powerful. 500TS are fun from the gate to the first turn, then not so much.
Moto Mofo
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Moto Mofo 11/16/2013 12:14pm
11/16/2013 12:14pm
500s were a little before my time, and when I was younger I didn't understand why anyone would want one. But now that I'm older, don't race regularly and just want to have fun, I own one and love it.
Tarz483
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Tarz483 11/16/2013 12:21pm
11/16/2013 12:21pm
I got to see Bradshaw Race this at millville .. the milleville whoops where way deeper and more knarly back then
I loved watching the pros go threw them (on any bike )
nytsmaC
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nytsmaC 11/16/2013 12:27pm
11/16/2013 12:27pm
Moto Mofo wrote:
500s were a little before my time, and when I was younger I didn't understand why anyone would want one. But now that I'm older, don't...
500s were a little before my time, and when I was younger I didn't understand why anyone would want one. But now that I'm older, don't race regularly and just want to have fun, I own one and love it.
Gorgeous bike! I love the OG"s better than the AF conversions.
kevingent55
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kevingent55 11/16/2013 12:28pm
11/16/2013 12:28pm
I'm still riding two of them



bigborefan
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bigborefan 11/16/2013 12:31pm
11/16/2013 12:31pm
That's my boy KG. Rocking the big ol KX five-o
Spartacus
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Spartacus 11/16/2013 1:22pm
11/16/2013 1:22pm
OW38B wrote:
Open Bikes I have raced: 1979 Suzuki RM400 1981 Yamaha YZ465 1983 Honda CR480 1986 Honda CR500 1988 Honda CR500 1974 Suzuki TM400 Cyclone (currently in...
Open Bikes I have raced:

1979 Suzuki RM400

1981 Yamaha YZ465

1983 Honda CR480

1986 Honda CR500

1988 Honda CR500

1974 Suzuki TM400 Cyclone (currently in the garage)
1974 Suzuki TM400 Cyclone (currently in the garage)

Gods speed my son…….
Ramrod
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Ramrod 11/16/2013 2:49pm
11/16/2013 2:49pm
Moto Mofo wrote:
500s were a little before my time, and when I was younger I didn't understand why anyone would want one. But now that I'm older, don't...
500s were a little before my time, and when I was younger I didn't understand why anyone would want one. But now that I'm older, don't race regularly and just want to have fun, I own one and love it.
That's a sweet bike and in mint condition. Good work!

500's teach you the meaning of the word respect.
Tim507
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Tim507 11/16/2013 3:01pm
11/16/2013 3:01pm
I have some serious track and trail time on Big Bore 2 Strokes. They teach one all about throttle control and the judicious use of pure unadulterated power.
CR250Rider
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CR250Rider 11/16/2013 6:20pm
11/16/2013 6:20pm
85' 86' 89' 93'
Still great at sand dunes, but they're all motor. ALL MOTOR
500 Mike
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500 Mike 11/16/2013 6:24pm
11/16/2013 6:24pm
I've had the pleasure of owning and racing the following over the years....

'83 490 Maico - Sand Spider
'86 500 M-Star
'98 500 CR500R Honda

There is nothing like the power one of these bikes put out. Pure pleasure!!
edgo897
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edgo897 11/16/2013 7:00pm
11/16/2013 7:00pm


Owned and raced 1977 and 78 YZ400s. Currently ride, just about weekly, a 1982 RM465. The RM is very mellow and easy to ride.

Pit Row

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FreshTopEnd
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FreshTopEnd 11/16/2013 8:26pm
11/16/2013 8:26pm
JPT wrote:
Does a '73 SC500 count?
Double points if you seized it.
GIwasB4
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GIwasB4 11/16/2013 9:00pm
11/16/2013 9:00pm
I used to, now I just dust it off.
Underground
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Underground 11/16/2013 9:05pm
11/16/2013 9:05pm
I teamed up with a guy in a pony express on his brand new 92 model CR500 when I was young and only weighed 65Kg and raced an 89 CR125 at the time. 20 minute laps. Had to slide my hands off the end of the grips to change over every lap cause they wouldn't uncurl. It was tight and I never saw past 3rd gear. Flipped it once coming out of a rut when I thought I was straight enough to open it up, just stepped off the back and let it go. What a beast!

Had another guy at the track ask me to ride his Husky WR400 twin shocker when I was bout 12, 40kg and still just riding a YZ60. He held me up while I kicked it over and then let me go as I let the clutch out. Can't remember how I stopped as my feet where nowhere near the ground. Like taking a boy to the hore house for the first time. All I remember was POWER every where. And head shake.
Underground
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Underground 11/16/2013 9:07pm
11/16/2013 9:07pm
kevingent55 wrote:
I'm still riding two of them [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/11/16/36636/s1200_seminole.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/11/16/36637/s1200_KG2004sm.jpg[/img]
I'm still riding two of them



good to see your still sticking to your roots
andymoto
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andymoto 11/16/2013 9:15pm
11/16/2013 9:15pm
Had 2; a '83 RM500 and a '89 KX500.
jock
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jock 11/17/2013 1:45am
11/17/2013 1:45am
Had the pleasure of racing a few, CR500's, KX500's, a YZ490 and a KTM495.
Have 450F now, and it's nothing compared to a 500 smoker.
lumpy790
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lumpy790 11/17/2013 6:53am
11/17/2013 6:53am
In 1980 I was racing 125B and the shop I worked at gave me a 414 Montessa open class bike to race as a 2nd class.



1984 raced a CR500 Honda and qualified in my 1st Pro attempt at Red Bud in the Open class against Bailey and Glover. They lapped me 3 times and I finished in the mid 20's
TerryK
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TerryK 11/17/2013 6:54am
11/17/2013 6:54am
Ive owned a few and loved them all. This was my most recent ride. Tongue

TerryK
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TerryK 11/17/2013 6:55am
11/17/2013 6:55am
JPT wrote:
Does a '73 SC500 count?
Hell yeah it does!
jtomasik
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jtomasik 11/17/2013 7:01am
11/17/2013 7:01am Edited Date/Time 11/17/2013 7:12am
Had a RM465 (hated it), CR480 (great for its time...at least my year was), and an '86 500. Now have an '05 500AF. Raced all. Old ones (except for the Suzi) in the dez only. They were a blast. Raced the 500AF on MX tracks. Only got to ride it once in the dez (Utah). Was fuggin' amazing.

Hey, I'm trying to get my mits on a spark arrestor for my 500AF. Been trying to get through to Service Honda's parts guys, but have been unsuccessful. Trying to figure out what works on my bike. It's the 250F frame. I have a Pro Circuit pipe. The silencer only has a PC decal on it that says it's a 304 series. Anyone know if the exhaust is similar to the 250R '04-'07 years for that AF, even though the frame is the 250F frame?
Ramrod
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Ramrod 11/17/2013 7:21am
11/17/2013 7:21am
Those Service Honda or Kawi's look pretty cool but answer me this? Did they just buy up lots of stock of "new" old motors? They don't make any 500's anymore correct?
jtomasik
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jtomasik 11/17/2013 7:44am
11/17/2013 7:44am
Ramrod wrote:
Those Service Honda or Kawi's look pretty cool but answer me this? Did they just buy up lots of stock of "new" old motors? They don't...
Those Service Honda or Kawi's look pretty cool but answer me this? Did they just buy up lots of stock of "new" old motors? They don't make any 500's anymore correct?
My understanding is that they purchase brand new parts and assembled the engine themselves. My engine's tag ID has "Build From Scratch" on it.

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