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Cr500???

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Posted by: gwcrim---------------------

Just as I'm almost decided on a KDX200, I get this crazy idea......... what would a early '90s Honda CR500 be like as a woods & hill climb bike? I'm 41 yrs old, sit behind a desk all day, 180 lbs, w/a 33" inseam and haven't really ridden off road for 20 years. In my book, there's no such thing as too much power, but would this be insane?


Posted by: Papakeith---------------------

We wouldn't think it insane at all
There might be those that would argue with us on that point though.
I mean- argue with me. . . yeah, and me.
Don't forget about me.
But you don't count for this vote.
Alright, but I do don't I?
fine, you count too.
Nope nothing insane about it at all :silly:


Posted by: hoov165x---------------------

Great bike for dunes, hill climbing, desert. Very bad bike for tight woods. The bike will be riding you instead of you riding the bike!!!!! If you sit behind a desk all day and are not in good condition, then there are better choices. Also the CR's from the early '90's have really poor suspension, stock.
Mike


Posted by: KiwiBird---------------------

I ain't arguing with you Papa.

93 onwards CR500 has the semi wide trans. Suspension gets better each year.


Posted by: Papakeith---------------------

Maybe someday I'll get me one of them foo-foo 250's
Till then, it's woods, rocks, and hill climbs (attempts anyway)!
The 500 isn't for everyone. But, if you are even considering it. It shows that you have the right frame of mind already.
Set up properly, the 500 is a capable woods bike.


Posted by: tigerowner---------------------

I had a CR 500 with a Pro Circuit modified engine, exhaust and a flywheel weight. The bike was reliable and fun but you cannot use more than 1/4 throttle in the woods. This tends to slow you down a bit. I was much faster on a 200 in the woods. These bikes are better suited for hills and open areas such as desert racing. If you are mainly riding woods a 200-300cc bike may be a better choice if you want to ride as fast as your abilities will allow. If you do not mind being a little slower in the trees and like to fly in the open and reach the top of most any hill buy a 500. I really did like mine but I ride woods mainly and sold it off fairly quickly.


Posted by: gwcrim---------------------

Quote:
If you are mainly riding woods a 200-300cc bike may be a better choice if you want to ride as fast as your abilities will allow.


From what I've read, the CR500 is the same weight and seat height as a KDX200. So other than an ungodly powerband and 2" more wheel base, wouldn't they manuever the same?

Couldn't I gear it down to make it more rideable?

Is the CR500 a bear to kick start?


Posted by: OnAnySunday---------------------

[QUOTE]Originally posted by gwcrim:
" In my book, there's no such thing as too much power, but would this be insane? "

God bless you son!!! :thumb:
And nope nothing insane about having 50+ bhp under the gas tank.
Might not be as fast as the mini's in the woods, but it's sooooo much more FUN!!!

PS: yea, i used to restore/sell parts for bigblock ShelbyCobras. That's probably where it comes from........... :confused:


Posted by: hoov165x---------------------

Gearing it down would actually make the beast more unrideable. It makes each gear shorter and more abrupt. As far as the bike weights- that does not tell the whole story. Think of the motor as a gyroscope- more rotating mass and a larger mass circle (crank) create more gyroscopic action, resisting changes in direction. This is one of the factors that makes the machine feel heavier and less nimble than a smaller displacement machine with the same weight.


Posted by: pat567---------------------

ya go ahead and get the 500 I'll see ya in the emergency room


Posted by: gwcrim---------------------

:flame: Gee Pat, are you always so pessimistic? If I wanted a smart ass answer, I'd have asked my wife.:flame:


Posted by: KiwiBird---------------------

gwcrim - don't be listening to all the horror stories.

The CR is easy to start and can be made in to a decent woods bike. It CAN go as fast as most any bike through the woods BUT probably not as easily.

What it does do is produce big smiles when you can use the HP, 5th gear wheelies are possible, as are huge slides and monster roost.


Posted by: Papakeith---------------------

This is me and my woods bike.http://www.dirtrider.net/forums3/at...=&postid=455086
Like Kiwi said, The grin factor is where it's at! If you wanna win races it's probably (note I said probably, not definitely) not the right bike for you. If you want to have the ability to lift the front wheel at any time, if you want to odd ball stares from people when you tell them you ride a 500, if you want to roost your friends to no end at any speed, if you want to giggle-n-grin under your helmet when you twist the throttle, then the 500 is your ride.
Heck, you can always sell it if it doesn't work out, right?


Posted by: gwcrim---------------------

Well considering my two other toys are a 440 Six Pack Mopar and a 150 HP Sportster, the CR500 kinda fits my style. Besides, I trail ride with my 6 yr. old so speed in the woods isn't a priority. But we have some humungous strip mines with hillclimbs out the wazoo.....

I have a line on an '87 for $1000 and a '91 that needs work for $1000. Any thing in particular that I need to be looking out for?


Posted by: pat567---------------------

I know it was a smart a?? answer,sorry about that.it's just I've been dumped on my head a few to many times


Posted by: johntt---------------------

A cr500 would be fine for play riding for woods to hillclimbing. Your not trying to make a living with it,just having fun. Plus your riding experience helps.


Posted by: tigerowner---------------------

Quote:
Originally posted by gwcrim


From what I've read, the CR500 is the same weight and seat height as a KDX200. So other than an ungodly powerband and 2" more wheel base, wouldn't they maneuver the same?

Couldn't I gear it down to make it more rideable?

Is the CR500 a bear to kick start?


No they will not maneuver the same. Even if the weight and wheelbases were identical the 500 generates much more gyroscopic force because of the larger rotating mass. For example take the Gas Gas line of 2-strokes. The 200, 250, and 300 are all built using the same chassis. In all reports the 200 is much easier to corner than the larger bikes ( all Gas Gas models are excellent handling machines according to tests and owners).

I owned a 200 and a 500 and the difference is day and night in the tight stuff. A 200 will always be faster than a 500 in tight woods with equal riders and a 500 will always be better in acceleration and at hill climbs.

If anyone thinks I am wrong on these basic points you are fooling yourselves.

So which is a better bike? If you will be racing enduros a CR 500 is not the best choice. In desert racing an open class machine is a better choice. For recreational use both are good choices but each have their advantages.


Posted by: hoov165x---------------------

I see someone else passed lower level physics. Way to go Tigerowner!


Posted by: Hawaii-Rider---------------------

Here is a thought or two...
Im 42 years young...riding for at least 30+ of em...
just sold my 91 CR500...
Stock it was a montser...with my mods it was a fun monster
Moose re-valved my boingers front and rear and I set the springs for my weight...(stock legs are a 911 call waiting to be dialed!)
Steahly flywheel weight, with Barnet Steel clutch set (as much rotating mass as I could get.
IMS Tank, Sneaker SA in the rear, motor was stone stock.
Pulled routine maintenance on this bike and it was stone reliable, NEVER any issues.
Get used to the power, and it is ridable without much trouble in the woods. I raced the Flat river grand Prix on it and finished fairly high in my class.
with the mods, if it got snoooty and you were careful with the throttle, the displacement/torque will take you anywhere.....no issues.
If you have the hillclimbs, etc...you will love it....rear tire, front clawing for air, all the way up ANY hill you could ever want to climb.
Take out headlights of folks riding with you with ease :thumb: (not that I ever did that)
But if it gets tight....it will smoke you.
I have my Dale and before that my WR250f, I can ride light years faster now and not be 1/3 as tired as I would be on the CR. (but the grin factor of the 500 is soooooo true....OMG was that thing fun to pin the throttle with!!!)
I can tell you, lifting the front end with the throttle pinned in 5th flat out on a sand flat is hard if not impossible to match!....oh my!

Yes you can ride her in the woods and with some mods and some careful throttle work ride it just about ANYwhere you want....there are just bikes that if it is just woods/trails that will do it with less effort is all. If you know the 500 starting drill, first kick every time...even if she sat for a month + without riding her...easy starting.

I loved my CR...incredible machine....honda did good, sorry to see her go!

Good luck!

HR



Posted by: Hucker---------------------

I rode PapaK's 500 @ Paragon and it was a beast. 5th gear wheelies are simple, but I would never take it into the woods. I'd be dead in about 5 mins. Now thats just me, but PapaK ripped on his 500 in the woods, so I'm guessing its all rider....




Posted by: WoodsRider---------------------

Quote:
Originally posted by Papakeith
Maybe someday I'll get me one of them foo-foo 250's
Till then, it's woods, rocks, and hill climbs (attempts anyway)!

Yeah, but some of them foo-foo 200 and 250 bikes kicked your ass going up a hill at Catraland... oh there were a couple pumpkin 4-strokes in that mix too.

Seriously though, I have ridden 500s in the woods. The first time was also my very first race. It was the '88 Rimrock H/S outside of Yakima, WA. I did exactly two laps and nearly had a heart attack. I still remember how I could feel my heart beating in my chest when I was finished. I thought it was going to explode. Keep in mind the bike was a totally stock 3 week-old '88 CR500. Back then I was even in decent shape. Went to the gym 4-5 days a week, rode my mountain bike 100 miles a week about 50/50 on/off-road and rode a true foo-foo bike ('78 XL185) on the trails near my house.

I also rode a friends KX500 in the woods. The one thing I found is that in tight eastern woods you end up fighting the power of a 500 and that is what tires you out. I brought up Papa's little bobble because the hill in question is rather tricky. Shear horsepower won't get you up the hill it will only send you into the trees. Papa kept trying to use his CR500's horsepower to get up, but couldn't keep the bike between the trees. He'd end up chopping the throttle and losing forward momentum. Finally he made it on his fifth try when he slowed down and used the low-end torque to grunt his way up.

To me, a CR500 is a poor choice for a woods bike, but other people love them. The key to going fast in the woods is momentum, not horsepower. Momentum will get you over a lot of obstacles where as horsepower can just get you in trouble.


Posted by: Papakeith---------------------




Posted by: Birken Vogt---------------------

I ride mine in the woods and always have. I do notice its resistance to turning especially with the huge flywheel weight. However it is more nimble than my XR600


Posted by: beer_stud_76---------------------

i'm pretty big(250+ or -), pretty strong(work out 3x per week), and in pretty good shape (running, MTB), and pretty young (27) and i can wrestle that beast through slow single track without a lot of problems, but after about 3.5 hours on my XR600 i'm ready to call it a day.

i'd think a properly set up CR or KX 500 wouldn't be any worse, and maybe much better.


jeremiah


Posted by: Papakeith---------------------

ps, I was doing just fine on that hill until Shaw stopped in front of me. It was only then that I decided to "rest" my bike up in a tree.:confused:
The rest was just me picking the wrong line. I don't believe it had anything to do with my bike getting me in trouble. Mostly rider error.


Posted by: Dirtman233---------------------

right now i hav ea 2001 kx-250 and a 2001 kx-500 and they both rip. but i have heard about tragic stories on a cr-500 so i am taking it easy on my 500 right now.


Posted by: WoodsRider---------------------

Quote:
Originally posted by Papakeith
I was doing just fine on that hill until Shaw stopped in front of me... The rest was just me picking the wrong line. I don't believe it had anything to do with my bike getting me in trouble. Mostly rider error.

Heck both jib and DANIEL JOSEPH stopped in front of me and I made it up without stopping. Yeah... yeah, I know, home turf advantage and all.

I'd say it was 50/50 rider error/bike. Watching two of your failed attempts, you'd come around the corner WFO and instead of sticking to the inside line, inertia would carry you to the outside and the front tire would try to climb out of the rut. You'd chop the throttle to straighten the bike out, lose momentum and stall. Once you slowed down and maintained a steady low throttle you were able to hold the inside line and climb the hill. You were looking pretty spent at the top though.

They had a lot of technical hills like that at KPTR, except the rocks are bigger.



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