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Xr500r - King Of The Thumpers!!!!11
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Posted by: instinctual---------------------
Anybody else out there ridin' on the old beast? I've got an '84 XR500R- - - - lots of woods riding out in Colorado - - - been hitting the track lately though for some air time - - - still suprises me that the old bike still kicks the CR's ass on most sections - - -!!!!
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Posted by: Highbeam---------------------
It looks like you irked the moderator, but since you brought up the xr500r I have to chime in.
I too have an 84 xr500r. It does the job well and was the daddy of the 600 that won many races. The best part is that I should always be able to resell for the 600$ I paid.
Posted by: BigBore---------------------
Hah.....this post brought back some memories. The '84 XR500R was my first "real" bike. I traded an old ratted out '88 XR200 and $400 for the 500. Had a lot of fun on that bike, until it turned into a money pit. 
It was also the first bike I ever rode on a motocross track. Had a real nice 4th gear pinned pile-up on an long uphill. :scream:
Keep an eye out later tonight on my photo gallery, I'll post a picture of my '84.
Posted by: Rodzilla---------------------
Had an '82 XR5. She was fun and still runs (buddy has her now)
Only complaint was the drum brakes!
She'll still outrun my '00 XR400 by a long shot. That bike was heavy but had gobs of power!
Rod
Posted by: huntmaster---------------------
I re-entered dirt riding in the mid eighties on the same bike, and rode it until buying the upgraded 600R in '91. It was a great old bike, and worked suprisingly well. It was fun then too, as four stokes in the dirt weren't trendy then and it was always satifying to note the reaction of various 2-stroke riders who fully expected to leave you in the dust. Of couse, all the 4 stroke attributes that everyone has "discovered" now applied then too. The good news is now you don't have to be a big guy to enjoy a big bore thumper.
Doug
Posted by: bsmith---------------------
Thats what I had until she went TU on me
The thing was a workhorse.
Highbeam now has it for parts, I hope it's working out.
Posted by: Highbeam---------------------
Bsmith,
It worked out well. I used what I needed and then tore it down, it now fills 2 recycle bins and one shelf. The frame is destroyed so no worries about registration. The shock was the best part, much better riding without getting bucked out of the saddle. Thanks for helping out and I see you are enjoying a new machine, just what you wanted.
The XR500 has a disk brake and the rear drum will lock the wheel up. Except for the rear disk, I don't see any major improvements between the xr500 and the last xr600. It is great fun to be applying pressure to a new wr426 on the trail with my 19 year old, air cooled, XR.
Posted by: XRpredator---------------------
Had an '83 XR500. It'd go wherever I pointed it! It hit the "move list" as soon as I sat on an XR400, though! It feels like a tiddler compared to the ol' pig!
I don't miss it.
Posted by: scar tissue---------------------
Wow I'd forgottonabout mine until you brought it up. I won it in a poker game when I moved back to CA. It was the first XR I'd ever owned. I rode 2smoke 500's and 250's. before. The one I had was a beast and totally ratted out. But like a true Honda still ran.
Mine had an interesting trait: when starting, the kickstarter would stay down, then if it stalled imediately would slam back up smacking the case or your leg. It ended up craking the case and that was the end of it. 
It did lead me to my XR600, which I loved and now my KLX340. It started my converstion to the Dark side.
Posted by: BigBore---------------------
A picture of my '84 XR500 is up on the photo gallery now.
Posted by: IDkTm---------------------
I've road one once. I think it was an 84. I was pretty impressed. Lots of power, but it was a heavy pig. I'm sure it could be a way fun bike. Made me want to get back on a four stroke.
Posted by: OnAnySunday---------------------
I had one too (XL street legal version though) an '82.
Oh wait, i still have it! 
Still runs, still has a ton of torque, still leaks oil every once in a while.
Its a handfull out west, but back in the eastern woods she'd give the modern bikes fits!
Posted by: freydog---------------------
My brother in law had an XR500 with a front disk (1985?). It was bullet proof. I still remember that old dented up supertrapp muffler swinging back and forth, cause he was usually in front of me! He could reallly ride that thing....but I couldn't! It's hard to get off an easy starting snappy CR250 and jump on an XR5. That's when i realized what a good bike it must be and what a kick butt rider the bro in law is. Any spode can go fast on a CR250.
Posted by: HUSAFREEK---------------------
I still remember riding my dad's 79 XT500 starting when I was 13 or so. When I could finally start it and pick it up on my own. When I was 17 or 18 he sold it to my friend and I got to ride it some more. My friend traded it in on a 90 XR600. I think the XT was a better engine but the suspension on the XR was nice. Now I ride with a guy that has a 84 XR500 and I still think the XT was better. The XR's, the two I have ridden for any length of time, were softer down low and didn't seem as fast up top either.
Posted by: xr400xr50r---------------------
Wow! There's a blast from the past....I had an '80 model XL500 about 7 years ago...street legal. It was like mint condition....found it under a tarp in my neighbor's barn...bought it (and the Clymer manual) for $200. The bad thing was the rear suspension (dual shocks). They were as good as new but they stunk new.
I put gobs of miles on it (it too leaked a little oil) and eventually the silly thing would start popping out of gear....I sold the thing in almost the same condition I bought it in for $850 before it started costing me money.
The baddest thumper I ever owned was a vintage TT500 ('76 model). The kicker on that was a real beast...it went through 2 pair of boots(as I didn't know how to find TDC)....I could ride a wheelie for miles on that thing (very close to the ground though and suspension and exhaust stunk). With the bad suspension I through a chain on it several times and eventually and cracked the case...I gave it away (long before ebay was cool).
I currently ride a '97 XR400R stock except PRO TAPERs, SCOTTS steering dampner and a few other pretties.......set me back $2000 and an old shotgun(870 express pos) but with the suspension I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Keep on thumpin'
Posted by: zippy1---------------------
I too have a 82 XR500R. I have just replaced the piston with a Wiseco 10:1 forged, ported and polished the head and reed cage. Yes I said reed cage, the 82 had reeds as well as valves??? Cut the stock muffler back and removed internals, all new brgs and rebuilt the shock, forks yet to come. The darn thiing is a tractor. I would like to get a little more "snap" out of throttle responce, it is a little hard to lift the front tire without having to plan for it first, but maybe that is just the nature of the beast. I have just goten back into riding. The ast time I rode was when I was about 17, I'm 29 now. It's mostly hillclimbs and woods around where I live so it's pretty suited for that.
Anyone know if companies still make cams for them? I would like to change cam and see what I'll get.
Posted by: BigBore---------------------
zippy.......try www.xrsonly.com
Posted by: OnAnySunday---------------------
Zippy, where in Canada are you?
If it is a high altitude area that is probably why you are missing a bit of power.
My '82 500R is sorta weak in the high desert area of NewMexico, but low altitudes are a different story.
Went to "dirtweek" last year in Stillwater OK (much lower altitude), and the ol' beast flat out ripped!
Guess a little more oxygen can do wonderous things!
Posted by: zippy1---------------------
OAS, I am in Kamloops BC, The elv is about 1500-2000M(4500-6600ft) Maybe I need to jet down a little, the plug did seem a little carbon'd on the edge, but it's not completely broke in yet either.
Posted by: morbidsmurf---------------------
my dad jsut picked up a mint '84 xr500r so he can ride with me on my '00 xr250r. we paid 900 for it. Do you guys think we overpaid.
Posted by: noxxle---------------------
Im thinking about converting my 82 xr500 to a dual purpose bike. I ride about 50% off-road and 50% street. Most of the time im only on the street to get to trails, but often i have to ride 15 miles or more to get to some good trails. What would i need to configure this bike to be street legal and with a configuration geared 50/50? i was thinking either some kenda 270 tires, or Kings kt-966. Do you think i would need a quieter carb?
Posted by: Rich Rohrich---------------------
Baja Designs is a good place to start:
https://www.bajadesigns.com/NET/Sea...ategoryCode=143
Posted by: JuliusPleaser---------------------
I had an '83 or '84 for a little while. I got it from one of my clients for $600, and let my bikeless buddies use it.
One of them eventually bought it and named it "The General Lee".
I still have the owner's manual somewhere.
Posted by: SFO---------------------
the one year rfvc xr500 had the best rod ratio of all the rfvc bigbores.
IMHO
Posted by: noxxle---------------------
Rich, i think those kits are overkill. Plus i didnt see anything for the xr500. I dont want to sink 500 bucks into this old bike. I live in minnesota and i think to be street legal all you need is a headlight, brake light, rear mirror, proper tires, and something that "looks" like a horn. I can get some dual purpose tires for about 100 bucks. I am not sure on the carb requirements. does anyone know where i can find that information? What is the cheapest way i can silence this old thumper?
Posted by: john3_16---------------------
I remember the mid 80's XR's....Those were the best looking bikes Honda ever put out especially 85'....
Posted by: muddbutt---------------------
Im looking for info on getting my XR 500 on the street here in cali. ive got a speedo, headlight and tail light but thats it. is this possible or are these pipe dreams? 
Posted by: motometal---------------------
I'm a late poster, but what the hey...
when I was a kid, there was a neighborhood guy that rode what all us kids looked up to. He was fast, and helped us out alot, brought us to tracks, etc. His mount was an XR500. Since it was indeed a 500 we all assumed it had to have unimaginable power. Then the big day finally came when we got to take it for a test ride. Well, let's just say it was cool in it's own way but I had a suspicion my '82 RM125 would take it in a drag race, at least for a ways. I was surprised to barely even be able to lift the front wheel, especially if in a gear higher than 1st.
On the plus side, this was an early lesson for us in four stroke tractability. With a completely bald knobby (i'm talking you had to look close to see where the knobs used to be in the middle), he was able to walk right up hills, barely above idle, that we really struggled with on our peaky little two strokes, even with decent tires.
Posted by: j32---------------------
i don't know about the 500 , but i just rebuilt my brothers 83 xr350r
man i love that bike i wish they would have kept it instead of the 200 
o well later
Posted by: RaiderZero---------------------
i love this bike. but the oil supply hose that i need to replace got discontinued. Anyone know where i can find it?
Posted by: kmccune---------------------
I had an '83 600.... that was the nicest trial bike engine ever! Just as long as you didn't have to start it when it was hot... or pick it up too many times during the course of the day
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