wr 500 for motocross

rmpilot
Profile picture for user rmpilot
Posts
776
Joined
4/8/2010
Location
Tomah, WI US
rmpilot
Edited Date/Time 1/27/2012 7:59am
do you guys have any opinions on whether or not a wr 500 would be decent to race motocross on?
|
ATKpilot99
Profile picture for user ATKpilot99
Posts
10189
Joined
4/13/2010
Location
Lake Geneva, WI US
ATKpilot99 11/16/2010 6:17pm
11/16/2010 6:17pm
One of these ? Damon Bradshaw raced one in the 500 nationals.

newmann
Profile picture for user newmann
Posts
24443
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
US
newmann 11/16/2010 6:23pm
11/16/2010 6:23pm
You just missed the bargain of the century on Ebay a couple weeks ago.

Back in 91 or so MXA did a MX race prep on a WR500 with a YZ250 Tank and shroud conversion.
rmpilot
Profile picture for user rmpilot
Posts
776
Joined
4/8/2010
Location
Tomah, WI US
rmpilot 11/16/2010 6:27pm
11/16/2010 6:27pm
if its the same one i read the article on that would have been sweet to have

The Shop

See All »
Digger437
Profile picture for user Digger437
Posts
1394
Joined
9/4/2006
Location
Wisconsin Rapids, WI US
Digger437 11/16/2010 6:31pm
11/16/2010 6:31pm
Tyler, I think it would be a handlful for you. Although the WR would be smoother than the YZ490, suspension wise you would suffer compared to today's stuff. You would like the power though.
TerryK
Profile picture for user TerryK
Posts
9899
Joined
8/17/2006
Location
CA
TerryK 11/16/2010 7:13pm
11/16/2010 7:13pm
Cool bike, but not even close to being competitive, and lets not even talk about the vibration and pinging coming from that motor! Tongue
WORCSRacer
Profile picture for user WORCSRacer
Posts
2295
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Clovis, CA US
WORCSRacer 11/16/2010 8:13pm
11/16/2010 8:13pm
TerryK wrote:
Cool bike, but not even close to being competitive, and lets not even talk about the vibration and pinging coming from that motor! Tongue
Competitive for what? A fairground MX? Racing against teenage intermediates?

You're absolutely correct however, for what most of the two stroke crowd (30+ vet riders) want to do that bike is not going to be holding anyone back. Go for it.
ATKpilot99
Profile picture for user ATKpilot99
Posts
10189
Joined
4/13/2010
Location
Lake Geneva, WI US
ATKpilot99 11/16/2010 8:27pm
11/16/2010 8:27pm
newmann wrote:
I probably have the MXA, just have to dig it out. Here's the ebay gem from a few weeks back. Might want to save all the...
I probably have the MXA, just have to dig it out. Here's the ebay gem from a few weeks back. Might want to save all the pics and the text if you plan on building a project bike.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280581175…

Didn't Noleen make a 360 kit for the yz 250 around then ? I think I would much rather have one of those but it's probably tough to find.
GIwasB4
Profile picture for user GIwasB4
Posts
2585
Joined
7/24/2008
Location
Beverly Hills, CA US
GIwasB4 11/16/2010 8:54pm
11/16/2010 8:54pm
Actually, I think they're quite competitive.
The average "Joe" (no offense to Joe mean't) on here can't handle a 450 let alone ring out a 125 and ride it on the pipe.
You will do fine against the Johnny wanna-be's at Chicken Licks on a 490. (YZ500)
GarrettL
Profile picture for user GarrettL
Posts
95
Joined
10/8/2010
Location
Edmond, OK US
GarrettL 11/16/2010 9:11pm
11/16/2010 9:11pm
I had one for several years. It was so difficult to start and handled quite poorly. On top of that the motor vibrated violently. 8 minutes into the ride my hands started to fall asleep. Keep looking for something better IMO!!
Outsider
Profile picture for user Outsider
Posts
10632
Joined
1/29/2009
Location
Huntington Beach, CA US
Outsider 11/16/2010 9:21pm
11/16/2010 9:21pm
You'd ultimately go faster over a large stretch of terrain on an XR200. imo
mx_563
Profile picture for user mx_563
Posts
2102
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
CA US
mx_563 11/16/2010 9:22pm
11/16/2010 9:22pm Edited Date/Time 11/16/2010 9:24pm
Here's my honest opinion....no.



There aren't a lot of tracks left where a 500 can shine and this particular 500 was the worst of the bunch when it was new. Listen to Mathess' podcast with Bradshaw. The bike lost power and suspension performance during races. If I remember correctly, Damon asked that a steel rod be mounted in place of the shock....at least that way there'd be no fade and the performance would be predictable throughout the moto. And that was factory suspension he had on the bike, mind you.



If you're too big for a 125 or 250 and want a cheap racer, I say you look around for a CR500. The WR500 was a glorified YZ490 and those were never any good.
rmpilot
Profile picture for user rmpilot
Posts
776
Joined
4/8/2010
Location
Tomah, WI US
rmpilot 11/16/2010 10:35pm
11/16/2010 10:35pm
Digger437 wrote:
Tyler, I think it would be a handlful for you. Although the WR would be smoother than the YZ490, suspension wise you would suffer compared to...
Tyler, I think it would be a handlful for you. Although the WR would be smoother than the YZ490, suspension wise you would suffer compared to today's stuff. You would like the power though.
i know your right about the suspension but then again aybe a bike thats as bad as some people say wuld give me an excuse for my results lol
rmpilot
Profile picture for user rmpilot
Posts
776
Joined
4/8/2010
Location
Tomah, WI US
rmpilot 11/16/2010 10:37pm
11/16/2010 10:37pm Edited Date/Time 11/17/2010 6:51am
newmann wrote:
I probably have the MXA, just have to dig it out. Here's the ebay gem from a few weeks back. Might want to save all the...
I probably have the MXA, just have to dig it out. Here's the ebay gem from a few weeks back. Might want to save all the pics and the text if you plan on building a project bike.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280581175…

ATKpilot99 wrote:
Didn't Noleen make a 360 kit for the yz 250 around then ? I think I would much rather have one of those but it's probably...
Didn't Noleen make a 360 kit for the yz 250 around then ? I think I would much rather have one of those but it's probably tough to find.
i saw one a while ago on ebay and if i remember right the guy wanted at least 2 grand for it

Post a reply to: wr 500 for motocross