Upgrade to enjoy this feature!
Vital MX fantasy is free to play, but Premium users receive great benefits. Premium benefits include:
- View and download rider stats
- Pick trends
- Create a private league
- And more!
Only $10 for all 2026 SX, MX, and SMX series.
It's all good if people want to build one !!.. its a cool bike and i like to see as many as possible out there.!!!
awesome!
That said i get "internet" grief about *pricing* often. lol
Now certainly i understand you don't need all new parts, and can make a used bike for less !!
So using a used or rebuilt engine ,or chassis ..should naturally be less.
I could do that as well?
Its just my general choice not to.If i built pools ,or TVs, I'd build new ones ,not used ones.
but nothing would be wrong with a used one.
Likewise, I build new motorcycles,
some people prefer to buy a brand new bike, to have that confidence in it,and the continued product support of a long established dealer. and to know its good resale value as well..
So when putting out comparisons of overpriced , to some used or refurbished bike , lets be real? and keep it fair.....
Anyone building one from the ground up from all brand new parts,, new engine , pipes made specifically for the model..
is going to be in for a shock.
Find one example of anyone selling a new converted bike into a 500,, , post a link, i'll conceed I'm over priced.
fair enough?
when the KTM530 is 8 or 9 k,,
then of course a customized, open class bike ,made by a dealership ordering in all new OEM parts..made to the customers order, is naturally going to be bit more. The bikes price simply reflects the cost to build one ,new.
The costs of every CR500 engine part to assemble a new engine , (more than some bikes)
the cost of the new CRF, the cost of the machined parts ,the carb ,the pipe, the electrics, the labor, etc
I do this far more from a passion for it ...Itake it quite seriously and try to provide
riders with another new model and option , at the lowest price possible for me to reasonably do so.
Customers truly interested in a specialty bike understand that..
Takes nothing at all away from someone wanting to do all the work themselves with used parts,, or from someone wanting to buy a good used bike, but it should cost less, right?
A used CRF250R , a year, or several model years older, (regardles its condition or being refurbished)
costs less in my area , than a new 2011 CRF250R..
I accept that as pretty normal..
my guess is that's generally true most everywhere.
not as nice as the one's on my bike though (: (not my welding). maybe read the quote a little more carefully.
The Shop
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Actually Australia is one if the bigger markets for us, i send bikes there basically weekly.,
we have 2 distributors importing our bikes to Australia
listed on our webpage
http://www.servicehonda.com/contact
In Australia
Eastern Australia
Jeffrey Motorcycle Centre
1029 Burwood Highway
Ferntree Gully, Victoria, 3156
Ph: 03 9758 7322, Fx 03 9752 2540, Mobile 0418 145 406
Email: mailto: geoff@jeffreyhonda.com.au
www.jeffreyhonda.com.au
Western Australia
Prestige Honda
36 McCoy st
Melville
WA 6154
PH: (08) 9317 5777
FAX: (08) 9317 4600
Email: motorcycles@prestige-honda.com.au
Web: www.prestige-honda.com.au
The most famous Aussie with one is ,, *Maddo* who has went 354 feet on our 500AF's ,and set world distance records several time's.
Great bikes!
FWIW-
Most total distance records over the last few years where all set on Service Honda 500AF (or Service Kawasaki KX500AF)
Trigger Gum(CR500AF)
Ryan Capes,(KX500AF)
Robbie Maddison.(CR500AF)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140513620880&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_2957wt_1160
There are lots of bike choices,thats a good thing. !
and there are real economic drivers that effect thier various pricing. be that KTM Suzuki Honda Gas Gas etc.
You basically called me out for having my products overpriced in your opinion.
Fair enough.
I think its reasonable i can in return ask you to show some sound basis for your opinion,
by showing anyone doing it for less as you implied,
Personal feelings on what something *should cost* ,are not relevent to what it costs to produce them..and the resulting retail value.
You can't supply any link, because no one can produce them new, for a lower price.I know this with all confidence sense i know what it costs to majke them fior the last decade.
I do hope more companies make new (or used) ones, I want to see them come back,!!!
I appluad KTM for thier efforts ,in offering a variety of bikes,
ultimately them doing so probably drives the cost of each model up somewhat..
(instead of makijng more of fewer models)
but its great to have more choices!
I have no intention of beginning a company myself by stealing your work
linking a 2003 frame listing rolling chasis with no friggin title. thats apples to apples????
yea yea I know I am friends with aj, and SH so my opinion don't count.
What i find amuseing is that it's supposed to be a bad thing that a bike builder like AJ takes the time to explain himself, then get chastised for it.
people wonder why it's really hard to get people, companies, dealers, promoters, etc....... to post on post boards and to be accessible. geee. is it really a wonder?
thats the real friggin joke.
http://blog.spidertrax.com/2009/01/
Most likely the frames are a 6061-t6 grade alum. 7000 series is more difficult to weld
http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-us/support/process-and-theory/Pages/a…
Pit Row
Found a youtube video of one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GhpCrN1iMU
AJ: how about a KTM 250SXF chassis with a KTM 380SX engine??
For me those home builds bikes are a nightmare. We know shit about the welding and if they will hold together while the AJ bikes have been proven over and over, and his reputation depends on that.
I wouldn't touch a home build one with a ten feet pole...
Can someone post some pics with the 2010 frame? I picture one with a CR250 2001 engine... Yeah!
I didn't say anyone could produce them new for a lower price.
that is because I know for a fact they can't ..
so *overpriced* seems an odd statement to make ,and to try and defend like you are here ?
Personal feelings almost always go into the buying process (unless it is solely an investment) and as a consumer we want the best deal. Is yours the best deal? Maybe, maybe not. It depends on what the consumer is willing to pay.
Soooooo what does it cost to make them?
Personal feelings?
Sure they factor into any individuals buying process! but not because the item of choice isn't priced at a fair value.
I can't afford a new (or used) Cessna, doesn't mean it is *overpriced*
it means its beyond my personal budget for an entertainment item.
Cessna is selling at a fair price related to what it costs to produce them,
as far as what the consumer is willing to pay..
if the market dint bear it, then they simply couldn't make them, they could not lower the price.
I have no trouble selling all that i can manufactuer, .granted that's a faily low number in the big picture of things ,
and that's quite ok with me . i enjoy doing it.
is you bike the best deal? yes
For a dirt bike rider who is looking for a new model, 500cc 2 stroke ,off road motorcycle , absolutely it is the best deal?
and more readily available in units, and parts, and long term customer support than any other.
In fact it is far better value and deal than if he attempted to make a new bike of this type, on his own, as the cost would be much higher.
If someone was to build a new CRF450R.it will cost far more than buying one from your dealer.
This is basic economics
How much do they cost to build?
How much does a CRF250R cost to build?
Our margin is certainly much smaller on a 500AF than Honda's is on a CRF250R..
or any other manufactuer.
If you are that interested, how about you do some really simple math?go find the best price you can on a new CRF250R
(5 or 6 K) then get the best price on all the CR500 engine parts ,electrics and carb,(5 or 6K)
and then ad in another 1.5 K for additional parts needed to convert the bike,
finally add in labour to tear down ,modify, and reassemble it. (don't even worry about overhead yet)
Perhaps the main reason i try to address this, is the so midsguided misconsception.
The bike leaves here losing money....they initially cost far more to produce than, thier retail price.
So , eventually selling the 250R engine , down the road, recoups some,
and that amount varies,but it lets us keep making them!!
I enjoy doing it. or i wouldn't do it.
Again economics 101
If there was the big money in it, that some think, then naturally other companies would be jumping on it !
Yet in over a decade no one has, most likely because ,when anyone looked into it,they saw it just wasn't truly profitable.
Drsweden - lol patience..patience.
other questions-
The frames are pre and post treated.When some Honda employee ,goes against company policy , and outlines their exact process and temps used online, i'll do the same? I kind of like my job ,and would like to keep it ..
i also certainly respect my companies policy on this ,as it is exactly like any other manufactuers... fair enough?
To the member posted about clear anodization of the stock OEM frames..you are very misinformed.
Having worked on thousands of them over the last 14 years,,
I can tell you plainly the Honda or Kawasaki etc, aluminum frames are not clear anodized in any way ,shape ,or form.
The OEM frames are mixture of 6000 series casted and billet pieces., and 7000 series extruded.
(in the case of Honda a unique 7000 series)
We do lab test them, for the material types and for frame strenght.
The swing arms are clear anodized. but not the frames.
Mot0619-the new 2011 models will be in the new chassis.
Post a reply to: 500AF For Sale