Posts
60
Joined
11/13/2010
Location
GB
Edited Date/Time
12/22/2020 8:26pm
So this season I've been following my friend Neville Bradshaw as he races a national MX1 championship here in the UK on his 22-year-old Honda CR500 and producing a documentary series telling his story.
I've just released the final episode so check it out if you want to see an old CR500 and a veteran racer take it to the young guns and their modern machines! ( link below )
Nev says in the video that he thinks the CR500 is probably the only bike that could still be competitive at this level for an entire season 20+ years after it was first produced. (He's racing a '98 CR here). What do you guys think, are there any other old bikes that could still be competitive today?
CR500 vs 450's - Finale
I've just released the final episode so check it out if you want to see an old CR500 and a veteran racer take it to the young guns and their modern machines! ( link below )
Nev says in the video that he thinks the CR500 is probably the only bike that could still be competitive at this level for an entire season 20+ years after it was first produced. (He's racing a '98 CR here). What do you guys think, are there any other old bikes that could still be competitive today?
CR500 vs 450's - Finale
No 20 year old bike is competitive in a top-level series unless there is an absolute badass riding it though. All other things equal, your friend will be faster on the 450 and for that reason I would hesitate to call either the CR or YZ competitive in the sense you are using it.
Heck... if any company were to re-release a bone stock bike from the 70s, 80s, or 90s - there would be smoke coming off the pen as I cut that check...
I think any of the last-gen 250 2-strokes is a far better machine than the CR500 from a handling and suspension standpoint, but you are giving up a lot of power vs. 450s. A big-bore or bored/stroked 250 would be competitive if it were allowed.
Assuming the displacement parity in the link above (450F vs. 500T,) I think a 250 2-stroke would be more than competitive in the 250F class.
The Shop
Regardless, 90% rider and no displacement(4-stk.vs 2stk.) rules, a 20 year-old bike is more than competitive. 250 or 500.
Videos have been cool to watch.
Better ergos, suspension and brakes in my opinion. Either motor can basically be ridden in 3rd gear 90% of the time so that's a toss up to me.
If I were buying one for pure desert riding/racing I'd probably get a KX due to the parts and knowledge out there, but if I was buying one for more "all around" riding I'd probably try to get a CR.
I've spent quite a bit of time on the 1998-2000 CR500 and that bike is a blast but going off memory I don't think it feels as modern as the YZ.
I’ve had both I want to add.
Todd dehoop talks about his vintage bikes being competitive at local level on the whiskey throttle show
Mx has. And always will be more about the rider than the bike
This series is a 'national' level series as in riders from all over the country come to race it and the tracks are all over the place, but yes it is a step below our official British championship. This AMCA series is supposed to be for 'amateurs' or non full time racers. But much of the talent in this MX1 class could be capable of racing our professional series here in England. I think the best comparison i could make is that this series would be the Candadian nats if our British champs were the AMA nats, if you see what i mean.
Thanks again for watching dude
but the CR500 is a much better handling and braking motocross machine despite suspension not as good as the KX500.
however, these days no person (including Neville) races stock suspension on these old war horses. so is the KX "so much better" ...in my humble opinion...no
although, starts would likely be better on the 500 if you could ride one well,
Pit Row
I'm a KX guy myself. I could never come to terms with the Honda's handling. They scared me.
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