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

lumpy790
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11/21/2013 8:19pm Edited Date/Time 11/21/2013 8:21pm
maicocd wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/11/19/36855/s1200_scan0001.jpg[/img] I rode a KX-500 in 1990. Just a beast of a bike and tons of fun to ride. I sold it as a pile of...


I rode a KX-500 in 1990.
Just a beast of a bike and tons of fun to ride.

I sold it as a pile of parts a few years later, but its one bike that I wish I would have kept and still had in my stable today...

A friend located a mint 1989 a couple years ago nearby. It probably had a total of maybe 5 hours on it.
Unfortunately-- my buddy got to it before I could!!
Aquasco?

Thats an 89 correct? That bike had rteally good right side up forks.
11/21/2013 9:01pm
Not yet.

Just bought this last weekend and have not gotten a chance to ride it, besides around the block. Hopefully I can take it some place over Thanksgiving. Should be fun.

1998 Cr250 with a 1997 Cr500 engine

The Shop

davistld01
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11/22/2013 9:57am Edited Date/Time 11/22/2013 9:58am
About Suzuki TM400 Cyclone, newmann wrote: "Comments on the earlier ones were that they made 40 horsepower and they made it all over a 100 rpm spread. Also they handled like someone left the swingarm bolt out.' Laughing

Had to steal this from an earlier newmann post! Thanks, man...I needed an out-loud laugh today! Smile

And...that's an accurate statement!
FreshTopEnd
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11/22/2013 10:21am Edited Date/Time 11/22/2013 10:23am
It wasn't just the powerband on the TM400's, but the rubberband frame and swingarm to match. Had a buddy who bought a 72 new and thrashed it in no time, including breaking the frame at the swingarm area. The bike really was a disaster, perhaps exceeded only by the SC500.

He moved on to a 72. CZ 400, which was about as much a bulletproof tank as any bike ever built, and won a lot of races.
davistld01
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11/22/2013 10:28am
Here it is, in all it's awesomeness...

maicocd
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11/22/2013 12:30pm
lumpy790 wrote:
Aquasco?

Thats an 89 correct? That bike had rteally good right side up forks.
Hi Lumpy-

That picture was actually taken at Sleepy Hollow.

And yes-that was an '89 500... I agree the forks were nice on those '89's.
Of course it also helped that the KX-500 seat was like having a sofa cushion underneath you compared to the plank boards on modern bikes!! LOL!!
lumpy790
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11/22/2013 3:04pm
lumpy790 wrote:
Aquasco?

Thats an 89 correct? That bike had rteally good right side up forks.
maicocd wrote:
Hi Lumpy- That picture was actually taken at Sleepy Hollow. And yes-that was an '89 500... I agree the forks were nice on those '89's. Of...
Hi Lumpy-

That picture was actually taken at Sleepy Hollow.

And yes-that was an '89 500... I agree the forks were nice on those '89's.
Of course it also helped that the KX-500 seat was like having a sofa cushion underneath you compared to the plank boards on modern bikes!! LOL!!
I see it now.... thats the step up in the back ground abd your about to hit the dog leg double
ebers
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western, NY US
11/23/2013 7:32am
Oh did I ever have the pleasure... I rode flat track and tt stuff on 50's until I was 8, then I never really had a bike for most if the years after that until my pops picked up a kx500 at the end of '04 and said I'd be fine on it. I raced my first ever hare scramble that spring in '05 and raced that bike for a couple years in the tight woods of New York/Pennsylvania. I gave up on the 500 after I wrapped up the Open B class championship in our local WNYOA series in 2007. Moving to the A class, I finally was realizing I needed to update my equipment!

The kx500 was a tractor, I felt invincible on that thing. It was a bear to start, usually I'd be the last to leave the line, but it was as trusty of a bike as you could ask for. Looking back, I have no idea what my dad was thinking when he thought that'd be a good bike for me to start racing on. Nor do I have any idea how the hell I did fairly decent on that thing in the tight woods around here!

Tiki
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Fantasy
11/23/2013 8:33am
Pleasure? I wouldn't ever call riding a 500 two stroke a pleasure. Vibration Monster yes. I rode many in my years.


You guys get high on your own supply. Y'all need to cut back.
geedavid
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Lenexa, KS US
11/23/2013 8:43am
I had a 78 CR250 Elsinore then all 500s. I took 20 years off dirt bikes and when I came to my senses it had to be an open bike. This is a 94CR but has been modded up significantly. Love this bike!!!!

Spartacus
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11/23/2013 9:08am
Tiki wrote:
Pleasure? I wouldn't ever call riding a 500 two stroke a pleasure. Vibration Monster yes. I rode many in my years. You guys get high on...
Pleasure? I wouldn't ever call riding a 500 two stroke a pleasure. Vibration Monster yes. I rode many in my years.


You guys get high on your own supply. Y'all need to cut back.
Real men don't whine about vibration.
TerryK
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11/23/2013 4:01pm Edited Date/Time 11/23/2013 4:02pm
Tiki wrote:
Pleasure? I wouldn't ever call riding a 500 two stroke a pleasure. Vibration Monster yes. I rode many in my years. You guys get high on...
Pleasure? I wouldn't ever call riding a 500 two stroke a pleasure. Vibration Monster yes. I rode many in my years.


You guys get high on your own supply. Y'all need to cut back.
If you have a well balanced engine and everything tight and lined up on the chassis the difference is huge in vibration. Minor issue if the bike is right.
JM485
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11/23/2013 6:37pm
peelout wrote:
the 500 i rode was alcohol, it ran like complete shit. i only made it halfway up the 1000' hill because it just wouldn't carry momentum...
the 500 i rode was alcohol, it ran like complete shit. i only made it halfway up the 1000' hill because it just wouldn't carry momentum or run.

here's the GSXR i rode at both the Widowmaker and the Big Nasty (i made it about 50' from the top of the Widowmaker)





Damn peel out, you're a lucky man! I might make the journey to race that hill next summer, and hopefully return with a little money to.

I just spent today riding my Cr500. My fingers are killing me and my arms are dead, but I was smiling ear to ear all day! It's amazing the hills these bikes can climb,use a little clutch control and they will climb things you wouldn't believe. Huge flywheel weights also help.
drmarkr
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11/28/2013 2:25pm
Come to the Phx SX Ride Day.....I'll have this there with me. You can take a few laps on it. If you can handle it...!

scrubz
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11/29/2013 10:57pm
When I was 16, right after I got my drivers license, There were no cell phones around then! I was riding with another guy on a 92 KX500, I had a 93 KX125, he crashed in a set of sand whoops in a remote area and broke a collarbone, I stopped to help him as he was leading me, I was a pretty small guy then at about 120 lbs. The bike when he started it, scared the crap out of me with the sound. It was the first time I ever rode next to a 500 also. This was shortly after I just got off a CR80, I still know the guy personally to the day, but I dropped my bike to help him. He asked me to pick up his bike and get it back to his truck, of course I said no problem! Starting the bike was a pretty big task! I didn't have enough weight, didn't know how to time the start. The guy was yelling at me trying to say how to start it without getting hurt, I got it started and rode it back to the truck area. Ran back to help him then went back to get my 125 eventually. That was the most powerful machine I've ever rode in my life! I have not rode any 500s since then, I've had all kind of bikes since then. 2or4 strokes, I've had almost every brand up to 450cc except for any ktms. IMO, it would be fun to ride one again, I've ridden a crf, kxf, and a rmz 450, every Brand 125, every brand 250, Honda, Kawi, and yami 250fs, it would be fun to ride a 500 again to compare to a 450...... IMO
Suns_PSD
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11/30/2013 12:59pm Edited Date/Time 11/30/2013 12:59pm
I love riding 500s as they are a blast. especially on a big sand track w/ lots of hills.

I've also ridden well dialed home built Aluminum framed 500s, even better.

But, my 314cc KTM isn't that far behind a 500 power wise, even a modified one. And the end result is just a better bike all around.

The best one I ever rode was about 2 years ago I rode a heavily modified AF500 w/ A Kit suspension, and many smart mods. It was a pussycat and hooked up pretty similar to the fastest hard hitting 450Fs.

Still, it's very special riding a 500 2 stroke if you are a horsepower junkie like I am.
Foghorn
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11/30/2013 8:49pm
Raced an 84 CR500 back in the day then trail and track rode an 89 for quite a few years. Have a new Service Honda 500 AF now. I just love these bikes. You get used to the power. Great for trails, hills, dunes and the shit eating grin factor.
12/2/2013 6:35am
nathan4765 wrote:
Not yet. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/11/21/37030/s1200_photo_1.jpg[/img] Just bought this last weekend and have not gotten a chance to ride it, besides around the block. Hopefully I can take it...
Not yet.

Just bought this last weekend and have not gotten a chance to ride it, besides around the block. Hopefully I can take it some place over Thanksgiving. Should be fun.

1998 Cr250 with a 1997 Cr500 engine


Now i can say I have ridden one.
hellion
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12/2/2013 7:44am


It wasn't quite a 500, but this ATK406 was a fun bike to ride. It had great suspension and handling, and with some motor work and a pipe and silencer it was pretty fast. Not fast enough here though, Unadilla 91' 500 national, where I was near the back of the pack after every start.
moore433
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12/2/2013 8:06am
ddog558 wrote:
Yup...spent about 8 years on one....1987-1995.. Loved every second of it! [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2013/11/18/36787/s1200_1990.jpg[/img]
Yup...spent about 8 years on one....1987-1995..

Loved every second of it!

The first time I met this young man, he has about 100 lbs 14 years old riding a kx 500 and smoking everyone!!! He could ride the crap out of the big bikes!!
robkinuk
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12/2/2013 9:00am
1979 KTM 420cc



1978 Maico 440cc






1981 Maico 490cc

Jack mehoff
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12/2/2013 9:36am


here is my old beast
Piston Slap
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Stillwater, OK US
12/2/2013 8:20pm
No pleasure in my experience....I rode my buddies 1985 Honda CR500 at a race in Little Rock Arkansas after smoking the ignition on my 1986 CR 125........This was in 1988.

No problem right?...WRONG! That bike rode me all over that track, I would haul butt down the straights, overshoot the corners, fall over, and wear my arse out trying to kickstart it...get going, repeat........

I'd like to try it again tho.....Woohoo

Peace,
PS
Cancerman
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12/2/2013 8:40pm
I just finished restoring an 87 CR500. Brings back the memories. It vibrates less than my 98 CR250 did. And, well, yes, I also still ride a 125 as well. My 500 still out runs my CRF450 as well. And yes, a four stroke is easier to ride. But the fun factor, well................Woohoo
FI2T
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12/21/2013 5:15pm
My 96 KAW
img][/img]
New, seat tires, rebuilt brakes, just finished a plastic swap 09 kx450 front fender and a 00kx250 rear fender! I have a little under 800.00 into it. Love this green monster!
[IMG]http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w299/bigraja/Mobile%20Uploads/1387672814_zps1fb57bbf.jpg" class="img-fluid" />[/img]
jmb227
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Yukon, OK US
12/21/2013 5:46pm
Mine definitely wasnt a pleasure. I was 13 years old and racing 80's and 105's. We had a track in our neighborhood and literally everyone who was 7-20 years old rode there was always between 10-20 people out riding everyday. 2 of my neighbors went out and bought 500's one bought a KX500 and the other got a Husky 500. In all their sheer intelligence they thought that since i was faster then anyone out there regardless of bike size I should take one of them for a spin. They started the KX for me and i climbed up on it made it about 50 ft and jumped off. I will never forget that power. Im sure today it wouldnt be near as insane but at that age i felt like I was trying to hold on to the space shuttle at launch.
Literally 20 minutes after that happened we all lined up to race and when they dropped the rock (awesome starting gate lol) My neighbor on the Husky 500 dumped the clutch and that bike literally did half a backflip right on the gate he was straight on his back with the bike on top of him. He walked it home and never rode it again lmao. Now that im older I would love to ride one of the service honda bikes but with the money Im spending on my kid riding now im going to have to hit the lottery or make him quit riding to ever own one and since neither of those will ever happen I wont be that lucky.

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