'86 vs '87 CR500 ??

bultokid
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Houston, TX US
11/11/2008 8:33pm Edited Date/Time 5/19/2015 4:30pm
ok anyone have any input on these. Looking to pick-up a CR500 to join the '79 CR250 and '83 CR480 in the garage. Have been going back and forth between a '86, '87 and '94. Will be using it for mx only probably riding it once-twice a month. Know should probably go with the later model but man those DB era CR's just have this mystical spell on me. Thanks ride safe, forgot to add only race the evo/vintage stuff these days int. level at a oh so svelte 6'2" 230lbs these days...Dominoes ???
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dr516
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Visalia, CA US
11/12/2008 8:05am
Do you know Willy Simons?
Larry
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Fayetteville, GA US
11/12/2008 8:12am
a 1985 model

pure brute power. The 86 and 87 were more refined, but you can add a flywheel weight to the 85 and pick up a 87 pipe and have pretty much the same motor.
Don't know about the rear shocks but the 85 is lacking in that area for sure.
prillernut
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Chapel Hill, NC US
11/12/2008 8:24am
Did both these have the non-magnesium clutch cover/water pump? I had an '85, which had the mag cover and the resultant corrosion issues - not recommended. You may already know, but Honda changed to a 2-piece clutch cover/water pump at some point (right offhand I don't remember what year) to address the corrosion problem -

If you haven't been yet , go here - can't register or logon 'til you're an owner, but there's lots of info -

cr500riders.com

The Shop

Potts
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Los Angeles, CA US
11/14/2008 5:46pm
bultokid wrote:
ok anyone have any input on these. Looking to pick-up a CR500 to join the '79 CR250 and '83 CR480 in the garage. Have been going...
ok anyone have any input on these. Looking to pick-up a CR500 to join the '79 CR250 and '83 CR480 in the garage. Have been going back and forth between a '86, '87 and '94. Will be using it for mx only probably riding it once-twice a month. Know should probably go with the later model but man those DB era CR's just have this mystical spell on me. Thanks ride safe, forgot to add only race the evo/vintage stuff these days int. level at a oh so svelte 6'2" 230lbs these days...Dominoes ???
in 1986 Honda went to the cartridge style fork. This fork is night and day batter than the 85' fork. The 86' and 87' have/had the best suspension but in 1989 Honda screwed the pouch and started their ten years reign of the worst suspension ever! I would go with the 87' or get a 94' and upgrade to the newer Showa forks.

goat breker
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San Diego, CA US
11/16/2008 8:06pm
the 87 felt more solid, but the 86 had great suspension. the 87 was a higher up the rpm range power band and depending on what type of riding u do on it will depend on which to get. if u do more open riding like desert get the 87, motocross the 86
CR500Rider
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San Antonio, TX US
11/18/2008 7:40am Edited Date/Time 4/16/2016 9:14pm
I ride an 87' CR500. The 86' is a short rod engine like the 85'. Those 2 years are considered the most brutal. The 87' had a disk on the rear, the 86' had drums. Both had magnesium water pumps so you'll be replacing that on either one. The good news is, you can pick up an aluminum one off an 01' CR500 and bolt it right on. You'll have to get a different water hose cause the outlet is angled different but it'll work. I don't think you can get a new crank for the 86' but if you go 87', you can buy it from Honda. 87'-01' are the same. Alot of things can be updated on both engines to the later CR500 "design", like the clutch, inner clutch cover, etc. You'll want to find an Ohlins shock whichever one you choose. The forks are very good. Also check out www.bannedcr500riders.com as well.
TerryK
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CA
11/27/2008 10:32am
I loved my 85' and I miss her dearly.
TerryK
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11/27/2008 8:28pm
Sorry I had trouble with posting the pic... [IMG]http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k42/jumpingjoe628/85%20CR%20500/85CR500003-1.jpg[/IMG]
Sorry I had trouble with posting the pic...

Looks good. How did you get the pipe gold colored?
ElkinHammer
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Marion, NC US
11/28/2008 6:52am
very nice!!I am working on an 83 cr 250 now... love the 80's hondas
DAYKIN17
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Calgary CA
11/28/2008 8:33pm
Both were just great, take your pick. Rear drum['86], or rear disc['87]. I rode 'em both and you can't go wrong.... even the '85 for that matter was deadly.
11/28/2008 8:35pm
Sorry I had trouble with posting the pic... [IMG]http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k42/jumpingjoe628/85%20CR%20500/85CR500003-1.jpg[/IMG]
Sorry I had trouble with posting the pic...

TerryK wrote:
Looks good. How did you get the pipe gold colored?
It was actually like that when I got it. It's a DG pipe and silencer. The header portion turned a gloss black after a few heat cycles.
motogeeze
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236
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Location
Orleans FR
12/2/2008 2:48am
Those DG pipes do that , theres a clear coat like finish on em when new that turns darker after the pipe gets hot..looks kinda cool I think...same thing happened with the one on my CR 480. Nice ride joe.
maicoman
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AZ US
12/2/2008 11:25am
I had the 86, never rode an 87. I believe if you race certain vintage classes, the disc on the 87 moves you to the EVO class? I know the 86 was a bitch to start.
TerryK
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CA
12/2/2008 2:30pm
maicoman wrote:
I had the 86, never rode an 87. I believe if you race certain vintage classes, the disc on the 87 moves you to the EVO...
I had the 86, never rode an 87. I believe if you race certain vintage classes, the disc on the 87 moves you to the EVO class? I know the 86 was a bitch to start.
Try the 85!!!! Once I got the hang of it she was a one kick wonder!
CR500Rider
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San Antonio, TX US
12/6/2008 8:13pm
maicoman wrote:
I had the 86, never rode an 87. I believe if you race certain vintage classes, the disc on the 87 moves you to the EVO...
I had the 86, never rode an 87. I believe if you race certain vintage classes, the disc on the 87 moves you to the EVO class? I know the 86 was a bitch to start.
Around here it's called the "disco" class. It goes up to 1990. Unfortunately not alot of interest in it so I just run the over 40 on mine.
5/10/2012 1:24am
CR500Rider wrote:
I ride an 87' CR500. The 86' is a short rod engine like the 85'. Those 2 years are considered the most brutal. The 87' had...
I ride an 87' CR500. The 86' is a short rod engine like the 85'. Those 2 years are considered the most brutal. The 87' had a disk on the rear, the 86' had drums. Both had magnesium water pumps so you'll be replacing that on either one. The good news is, you can pick up an aluminum one off an 01' CR500 and bolt it right on. You'll have to get a different water hose cause the outlet is angled different but it'll work. I don't think you can get a new crank for the 86' but if you go 87', you can buy it from Honda. 87'-01' are the same. Alot of things can be updated on both engines to the later CR500 "design", like the clutch, inner clutch cover, etc. You'll want to find an Ohlins shock whichever one you choose. The forks are very good. Also check out www.bannedcr500riders.com as well.
So your saying the 01 cr500 are aluminum and will bolt Ono the 86 cr500 just need a different hose set up? Smile
CR500Rider
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San Antonio, TX US
5/10/2012 7:11am
CR500Rider wrote:
I ride an 87' CR500. The 86' is a short rod engine like the 85'. Those 2 years are considered the most brutal. The 87' had...
I ride an 87' CR500. The 86' is a short rod engine like the 85'. Those 2 years are considered the most brutal. The 87' had a disk on the rear, the 86' had drums. Both had magnesium water pumps so you'll be replacing that on either one. The good news is, you can pick up an aluminum one off an 01' CR500 and bolt it right on. You'll have to get a different water hose cause the outlet is angled different but it'll work. I don't think you can get a new crank for the 86' but if you go 87', you can buy it from Honda. 87'-01' are the same. Alot of things can be updated on both engines to the later CR500 "design", like the clutch, inner clutch cover, etc. You'll want to find an Ohlins shock whichever one you choose. The forks are very good. Also check out www.bannedcr500riders.com as well.
So your saying the 01 cr500 are aluminum and will bolt Ono the 86 cr500 just need a different hose set up? Smile
Yes, although it will be a hair thicker. Why you ask? The later CR500s had an extra clutch plate. You could "upgrade" to the later clutch setup if you desired.
5/10/2012 10:49am
Wow cool.
I got a 86Cr500 and the water pump is rotted that badly, I can find the original case second hand, on eBay anywhere..
But looks like you might of solved my problem, which cover would you recommend?
Cheers
CR500Rider
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San Antonio, TX US
5/10/2012 11:11am
If you buy a used or new 86' magnesium cover it will eventually rot out. There is no stopping it. The water pump assembly should be the same but you were gonna rebuild the 26 year old unit anyway, right? Those covers aren't terribly expensive brand new so I'd just spring for the 01'. That's what I did for both of my 87' engines. You'll have to strip and paint the cover for it to match your cases. Honda went to that style pump cover in 89' when they went to the lowboy pipe. If you'll go to one of the CR500 sites and do a search for parts interchangeability, you'll see what year they quit using magnesium.
5/10/2012 11:32am
haha yeah cheers.
yeah im probably gonna do it.
i just moved here from australia and my uncle bought the bike last time he was in sweden, he lives is australia.
so he has handed it to me basicily, he told me last time he saw it it was running good, but then the case rotted out,
so i know it runs well, but better with a rebuild,
i dont spose it will hurt rebuilding it it will kick my arse anyway, so i can restore the motor and sell it and get something more to my size.
but cheers anyway, see how it goes, il let you know how it goes, Wink
cheers mate.
harley
MaxPower
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NJ US
5/14/2012 8:13pm
Sorry I had trouble with posting the pic... [IMG]http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k42/jumpingjoe628/85%20CR%20500/85CR500003-1.jpg[/IMG]
Sorry I had trouble with posting the pic...

TerryK wrote:
Looks good. How did you get the pipe gold colored?
It was actually like that when I got it. It's a DG pipe and silencer. The header portion turned a gloss black after a few heat...
It was actually like that when I got it. It's a DG pipe and silencer. The header portion turned a gloss black after a few heat cycles.
Joe,all your bikes are clean and you build each one clean and detailed. How is it you stick crooked numbers on the side plates? It would be trick if you ran a 250 or even 125 tank to replace the huge stocker. Do you still have the 79 250?. And this is Kevin if you didnt know
jtracing6
Posts
587
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11/26/2009
Location
Dundalk IE
5/15/2012 9:47am
maicoman wrote:
I had the 86, never rode an 87. I believe if you race certain vintage classes, the disc on the 87 moves you to the EVO...
I had the 86, never rode an 87. I believe if you race certain vintage classes, the disc on the 87 moves you to the EVO class? I know the 86 was a bitch to start.
CR500Rider wrote:
Around here it's called the "disco" class. It goes up to 1990. Unfortunately not alot of interest in it so I just run the over 40...
Around here it's called the "disco" class. It goes up to 1990. Unfortunately not alot of interest in it so I just run the over 40 on mine.
Haha, "disco class" I like that quote.
burn1986
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9740
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4/16/2010
Location
bossier city, LA US
Fantasy
3280th
5/18/2012 12:41pm
I had an 87 for awhile and it was pretty easy to ride. I actually like the tank/ seat on the '86, but the suspension was unmatched on the 87. Like these guys said, there was some significant changes on the 87, including rear disk and so forth.
5/19/2012 6:19am
The 87 is a little easier to move around on. The tank isn't so bulbous. If you want to immitate Baileys last race bike the 86 500 then the 87 production would be the closest starting point with the rear disk. The nod on rear suspension would go to the 86 as it holds more oil volume with the remote resevior as oppsed to the sideways (tear gas looking cannister thing) piggyback shock the used for 87-88.
mosslander
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Travad SE
7/24/2012 9:26am
wonder if anyone have tryed the 2010 Yamaha YZF 450 rearshock on the 87-88 500 CR

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