Have you ever started a cold 84 CR500?

Sadly no.  Just gutted that ginormous exhaust.  Sounds like a johnny popper tractor...hence the moniker, "plowboy".

Loretta Lynn’s 1984 Open A. I just turned 16 and weighed 137 lbs and had a time getting it started before my first two motos. I nearly missed my first moto because of it. 

Fuckin' stud.

The 450 & 480 turned like a “Too Fast 125”.

Love these threads, sooner or later I'll be talking about what it was like to do the decomps on YZ400f's like y'all talk about these bikes. 

Gotta love History...

Not a CR, not air cooled, not a 1984.   Everyone has a horror story about a 500, but mine is just the sweetest peach.
I have a horror story about a 125 getting away from me, but that's for a different day.

Here's my 1990 KX500, this evening, after sitting for a few weeks following the Two Stroke Dream Race at Washougal.
 

If you liked that one , check out the does anyone speak jive scene. Classic movie. 

Those things turned, even when you’re trying to go straight! I’ve never felt headshake like those big Hondas, that’s exactly why I rode green 500s.

I always thought Honda 500s were the inspiration for steering stabilizers.. 

Working at Honda dealer in 1985 a woman who rode dirt bikes came in and said if she can start the 85 CR500. She’d buy it.  She started it and she bought it. Came with her boots and just drilled the start.  

Can you adapt an auto compression release in those heads like they have water coolers 500's?

I used to have a '86 KX500 and and told all my friends that if they could start it, they could ride it.  Only 1 did.

got any pics? the '88 color and graphics were always my favorite XR. I got an '02 200 i was thinking of going retro '88 on it

I have my friends CR500 which I offered to do a mild restore on. His dad supposedly found the bike in the Aussie outback, probably in the late 80s or 90s. Amongst a number of issues, the engine is really hard to start. My strongest kick can barely get enough drive to get it to fire, but not start. Then again, my leg isn't very heavy. The only way I was ever able to start it was roll starting down a hill.

It has sat for a while though; the clutch seems like it needs replacing (doesn't disengage well), and the head seems to have a decompression valve meant for a chainsaw or some lower compression engine (therefore is useless).

The bottom of the frame rails have worn through too, so there is a fare bit of work. When I have ridden it, it is by far the craziest bike.

Yes. 

I did one a fair few years ago for a fellow. 

Placed on the RH side, just  (barely) forward of where the KS lever sits. The fins already were shorter / shaped to accommodate the KS Lever foot section, so I had a bit less of the fins to machine away. And it was only a very small section of fin to machine down. It sure as hell did not make it run hotter. 

So the Decomp was coming out horizontally, just like how most of them are oriented on the Water Cooled Heads. Then I drilled and tapped the head to take an adaptor I made for the little V Twin type Pull Out Auto decomp.  Fiddly to do, but done. 

In that position, it was an easy / reflex  action to "Pull Out The Button"  as you reached for the KS lever. 

I've seen them placed elsewhere, too. Top of the head as is 'traditional', and at the rear above the reed block. As I wrote, where I put it, was a very easy and logical place to get to it. 

I was 15, racing a 1985 CR125. Had never even rode a 250.

At a track practice day a regular offered me a ride on his 1984 CR500 if I could start it. The first kick came back and caught my pants....ripped them wide open. But I DID start it on the second try. And my eyeballs almost knocked the goggle lenses out the first time I opened the throttle down a straight. O^O

Proper feeding with the clutch and 3rd gear starts on all 500’s and 450’s

One of my favorite bikes ever to ride and my worst ever starting. Tried all the tricks, base gaskets, jets, needles nothing seemed to help. Had to get pulled behind a truck sometimes to get it started the first time! Sure was fun once it started!

A buddy of mine and I both had 83 Cr480’s. When the 500 came out he had to have one. Front disk brake and right side kick starter, it looked like great upgrades. After his first ride he was wishing he still had the 480. I kept my 480 for another year. 

I have done it and can confirm it is not fun. 

Not sure what the big deal is.  I raced a '93 CR500 for several seasons. I would lean it over, bring it to TDC and it would start before the kick starter would be halfway down.  And I weigh about 165 lbs!  I've seen big guys try to kick them like 125's and put marks in the kick starter from their footpeg.  I just never understood that.

Maybe the older models were more beastly. I don't know.

Nice! I swear and will forever this bike was the gnarliest 500 ever stock. And the sound it made from the fins ringing.

I have an 83 480 and have started friend's 84 500s. Same method for both. 

Fuel on, choke on. With the throttle open a little, cycle the kick lever through it's stroke slowly without actually kicking it.

Bring the lever up to top dead center, then with no throttle, kick by bringing your body weight down on the lever rather just a knee joint kick. If it doesn't fire, repeat the process of finding top dead center and try again. Don't just kick from any point in the piston stroke. If you think it's hard, try starting a 70s CCM or BSA B50 with no decomp. 

Lol...nothing digital.  It doesn't really have much stock stuff left on it.  Huge desert tank, vented fender, etc.  She needs a lot of tlc.  Been thinking about making it street legal so I can blast some trails when I go camping.

Set top dead, started first kick, no problem 

Reminds me of my uncle's CR480. He had it for about 12 years and I wasn't old enough to ride when he traded it. I'll see if he still got some photos of it when I help him install the shocks and suspension from 4Wheelonline onto his Wrangler TJ this week.