Long live open bikes!

Racerx930
Profile picture for user Racerx930
Posts
767
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Stillwater, OK US
Racerx930
Edited Date/Time 4/21/2014 8:01pm
The last few months things really haven't gone my way, but it got me to start riding again! Here's a photo of last weekends Open expert class with me on the CR480 and my buddy Guy Cooper on the right on the RM500.


Then today lined up on the ole KX500

Pure 2 stroke bliss!



|
Markee
Profile picture for user Markee
Posts
3544
Joined
4/15/2013
Location
Suffolk, VA US
Fantasy
1890th
Markee 4/21/2014 11:30am
4/21/2014 11:30am
That 500 is killer!
vanillaice782 4/21/2014 11:33am
4/21/2014 11:33am
How does that 500 compare to a modern 450? I would love to get one from the 80's but am a little scared for obvious reasons.
Nostradamus
Profile picture for user Nostradamus
Posts
18
Joined
4/18/2014
Location
Irvington, VA US
Nostradamus 4/21/2014 11:39am
4/21/2014 11:39am
vanillaice782 wrote:
How does that 500 compare to a modern 450? I would love to get one from the 80's but am a little scared for obvious reasons.
If the 500 is built, about how a YZ125 compares to a TT-R 125. I'm exaggerating a little bit, but not very much.

But then again, put the YZ125 and TT-r 125 on a pitbike track in a barn and which one wins? It's about the same for motocross, too.

The Shop

See All »
Big Lenny
Profile picture for user Big Lenny
Posts
14387
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Compton, CA US
Big Lenny 4/21/2014 11:43am
4/21/2014 11:43am
vanillaice782 wrote:
How does that 500 compare to a modern 450? I would love to get one from the 80's but am a little scared for obvious reasons.
Almost as easy to ride if you short shift it and use the torque to pull you along...
RMT
Profile picture for user RMT
Posts
1234
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Lake Forest, CA US
RMT 4/21/2014 11:44am
4/21/2014 11:44am
I was wondering the same, how does that 480 ride and what has been done to it. I'm sure the brakes are the biggest difference, but how about suspension and power delivery on that beast
jtomasik
Profile picture for user jtomasik
Posts
12898
Joined
8/17/2006
Location
Golden, CO US
jtomasik 4/21/2014 11:47am
4/21/2014 11:47am
RMT wrote:
I was wondering the same, how does that 480 ride and what has been done to it. I'm sure the brakes are the biggest difference, but...
I was wondering the same, how does that 480 ride and what has been done to it. I'm sure the brakes are the biggest difference, but how about suspension and power delivery on that beast
Drain the oil out of your forks and shock on the 450, cut the front brake line, and that'll get ya halfway there what it's like to ride those things.
burn1986
Profile picture for user burn1986
Posts
9768
Joined
4/16/2010
Location
bossier city, LA US
Fantasy
3303rd
burn1986 4/21/2014 11:58am
4/21/2014 11:58am
That KX looks nice, almost brand new. That had to be a blast!
mark_swart
Profile picture for user mark_swart
Posts
2407
Joined
11/2/2011
Location
Chapin, SC US
mark_swart 4/21/2014 3:22pm
4/21/2014 3:22pm
jtomasik wrote:
Drain the oil out of your forks and shock on the 450, cut the front brake line, and that'll get ya halfway there what it's like...
Drain the oil out of your forks and shock on the 450, cut the front brake line, and that'll get ya halfway there what it's like to ride those things.
That has to be quote of the day, too funny!
Highsider
Profile picture for user Highsider
Posts
7680
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Way Toasty, IA US
Highsider 4/21/2014 3:31pm
4/21/2014 3:31pm
jtomasik wrote:
Drain the oil out of your forks and shock on the 450, cut the front brake line, and that'll get ya halfway there what it's like...
Drain the oil out of your forks and shock on the 450, cut the front brake line, and that'll get ya halfway there what it's like to ride those things.
mark_swart wrote:
That has to be quote of the day, too funny!
I can verify he knows what he is talking about.Wink
hellion
Profile picture for user hellion
Posts
1035
Joined
12/19/2009
Location
Westfield, MA US
hellion 4/21/2014 3:37pm
4/21/2014 3:37pm
I can't wait to finish restoring my 83 RM500 even more now!!
wildbill
Profile picture for user wildbill
Posts
4358
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Christmas Valley, OR US
wildbill 4/21/2014 4:22pm
4/21/2014 4:22pm
Looks like nothing but pure fun. (and an occasional blast of adrenaline) Wink



Danny Magoo Chandler at Washougal 1983. Works Honda CR-500 fully lit.
Tim507
Profile picture for user Tim507
Posts
3144
Joined
6/8/2010
Location
Oregon City, OR US
Tim507 4/21/2014 4:41pm
4/21/2014 4:41pm
My 500 is about ready to rip!! I'm 62 and cannot wait to ride this bikeWoohoo
Short shift this monster for sure!!!! Notice where the rear axel isWhistling





Foghorn
Profile picture for user Foghorn
Posts
927
Joined
1/26/2013
Location
CA
Foghorn 4/21/2014 5:05pm
4/21/2014 5:05pm
I believe it was Cycle World at the time that suggested that the two stroke open bikes were for the dark, horsepower hungry side of a rider when describing my brand new 84 CR. Something about shoulder separating was also in the article. Big bore two strokes are a hell of a lot of fun.
vanillaice782 4/21/2014 5:20pm
4/21/2014 5:20pm
vanillaice782 wrote:
How does that 500 compare to a modern 450? I would love to get one from the 80's but am a little scared for obvious reasons.
Big Lenny wrote:
Almost as easy to ride if you short shift it and use the torque to pull you along...
That would have to be the plan. I found a 87 CR 500 for $1500 that looks decent enough. I would probably shit myself if I whiskey throttled it though!
Juss
Profile picture for user Juss
Posts
1102
Joined
4/14/2011
Location
Bakersfield, CA US
Juss 4/21/2014 5:33pm
4/21/2014 5:33pm
I read once that during the 96 MXON there was a huge down hill quad. McGrath,Lampson & Emig were the only ones(I think) doing it. Emig said Everts looked at it and was like screw this & tried t get it taken out. He said Lampson had to ride the 125 wide open to make it & McGrath pretty much also. He said he hit it on the KX500 and way over jumped it, so he started letting off the throttle, of that big beast just b4 he launched! lol. Anyone ever see the pic of them jumping that thing?
vanillaice782 4/21/2014 5:46pm
4/21/2014 5:46pm
Juss wrote:
I read once that during the 96 MXON there was a huge down hill quad. McGrath,Lampson & Emig were the only ones(I think) doing it. Emig...
I read once that during the 96 MXON there was a huge down hill quad. McGrath,Lampson & Emig were the only ones(I think) doing it. Emig said Everts looked at it and was like screw this & tried t get it taken out. He said Lampson had to ride the 125 wide open to make it & McGrath pretty much also. He said he hit it on the KX500 and way over jumped it, so he started letting off the throttle, of that big beast just b4 he launched! lol. Anyone ever see the pic of them jumping that thing?
Here she is.

Pit Row

See All »
JW381
Profile picture for user JW381
Posts
10642
Joined
7/21/2009
Location
Harrisburg, OR US
JW381 4/21/2014 5:51pm
4/21/2014 5:51pm
Juss wrote:
I read once that during the 96 MXON there was a huge down hill quad. McGrath,Lampson & Emig were the only ones(I think) doing it. Emig...
I read once that during the 96 MXON there was a huge down hill quad. McGrath,Lampson & Emig were the only ones(I think) doing it. Emig said Everts looked at it and was like screw this & tried t get it taken out. He said Lampson had to ride the 125 wide open to make it & McGrath pretty much also. He said he hit it on the KX500 and way over jumped it, so he started letting off the throttle, of that big beast just b4 he launched! lol. Anyone ever see the pic of them jumping that thing?
vanillaice782 wrote:
Here she is. [img]https://rx.iscdn.net/2011/09/15130_1996-4_424.jpg[/img]
Here she is.

Such a massive huck for what is essentially a late 80's open 2-stroke (factory equipped, of course).

Terrafirma 3 | '96 Des Nations from FoxHeadInc on Vimeo.

Juss
Profile picture for user Juss
Posts
1102
Joined
4/14/2011
Location
Bakersfield, CA US
Juss 4/21/2014 5:51pm
4/21/2014 5:51pm
Juss wrote:
I read once that during the 96 MXON there was a huge down hill quad. McGrath,Lampson & Emig were the only ones(I think) doing it. Emig...
I read once that during the 96 MXON there was a huge down hill quad. McGrath,Lampson & Emig were the only ones(I think) doing it. Emig said Everts looked at it and was like screw this & tried t get it taken out. He said Lampson had to ride the 125 wide open to make it & McGrath pretty much also. He said he hit it on the KX500 and way over jumped it, so he started letting off the throttle, of that big beast just b4 he launched! lol. Anyone ever see the pic of them jumping that thing?
vanillaice782 wrote:
Here she is. [img]https://rx.iscdn.net/2011/09/15130_1996-4_424.jpg[/img]
Here she is.

Lord that's high! I think he's got JS7 Daytona jump beat lol
mx_563
Profile picture for user mx_563
Posts
2063
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
CA US
mx_563 4/21/2014 8:01pm
4/21/2014 8:01pm
An old 500 project bike is very tempting but it seems most modern local tracks aren't really designed with 500 2-strokes in mind. Where would I ride one? Farleigh Castle and Nunspeet are about 6000 miles away!

I think these guys in Holland have the right idea though. Just chillaxing and riding big bore 2-strokes....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYaQ5SQTtVI

Post a reply to: Long live open bikes!