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Kevin_Duke · 08-12-2009, 11:48 AM

If money is no object....
Service Honda Home of the CR500AF 500AF 500AFX Junior-X - Honda Motorcycle Parts

SmokeU · 08-12-2009, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin_Duke

If money is no object....
Service Honda Home of the CR500AF 500AF 500AFX Junior-X - Honda Motorcycle Parts

Hell that CR500AF is pretty much street legal in South Dakota with only the headlight and taillight. Too bad I don't live there anymore.

mscuddy · 08-12-2009, 02:52 PM

Yeah, that's what someone did to my '87 CR500. Took the motor, and mounted it in an aluminum Honda CR250 frame, to make an AE copy. Funny, since '87 was the first year Honda put the 500 motor in the 250 frame as a production design change anyway.

Mine was ported, and had a lot more on top than the standard CR500. I never got beat by anything on top, geared up KX500's, KTM's, etc. Fastest motorcycle I ever owned, made me a better rider, with those cartrage 44 Showas (the most expensive front fork Honda ever put on a motorcycle). Was the best suspended Honda MX bike ever built, then in '88 they went to the upside-down Showa fork, and it was back to square one.

But what was so neat, you could ride it for years, and never worry about the bike breaking down. I would change the rings just out of embarasment every five years. But what was most amazing, in all the years I owned it (17, I bought it used from a hillclimber guy). I went through two pistons and about 5 ring jobs (and a couple hone jobs).
One crank seal on the primary side. A clutch. Hundreds of rear tires, 2 sets of sprockets and chains.

It never left me stranded, or even fouled a plug. An amazing motorcycle. It was like it had a soul. I got all choked up when I sold it.

12er · 08-13-2009, 09:13 AM

Wasnt the '88 cr500 the nastiest 500 produced? Kinda remember it hitting like a 250, then in '89 they neutered it back down to sane.

pplassm · 08-13-2009, 10:58 AM

Naah. That was the original '85. Compression was so high they had to machine decomp ports in post 86 bikes.

mscuddy · 08-13-2009, 11:20 AM

Yeah, and the '85 was a seizer if there ever was one. First year of the water cooled motor. If you look at the '84 motor, it had the castings in the right side case for the water pump. Both were like riding an exploding cigar.

pushrod · 08-13-2009, 12:07 PM

Once again, Matt - Great job!

Duken4evr · 08-14-2009, 11:40 AM

Great write up.

Ironically, the old two strokes are less work to maintain than the new bikes. The '01 CR250 in my garage gets a new piston and ring kit every other year. Even on such a slackadasical schedule it just keeps on running great. It just won't die.

Can't argue with the power output of the 4 strokes though. They hook up and they are fast. They also sound like your own personal big block as they bark along. Very primal. Gotta love it.

I don't do MX, but I do trail ride on gnarly 12,000 foot high stuff like this.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...009/Ride14.jpg

Barking up such a hill on a mid bore thumper is pure pleasure, even if it is a porky DRZ400. The big yellow pig goes everywhere, and then can hop on down to the corner store. Can't really do that on the CR250

mscuddy · 08-14-2009, 01:02 PM

Yeah, the four strokes surpassed the power of a 250 two stroke about 3-4 years ago, and they never looked back. They are the works-produciton MX machines for the new generation of Sunday MX Racer.

But, like a works bike, they require works maintenance, and the knowledge to do it, which most of the time puts them in the shop. When was the last time your 250 saw the shop? I'm guessing never, like my old CR500.

I'm putting together a expose' on how the AMA and the big Japanese factories killed the open class, and gave us this new ultra-expensive form of motocross. And it won't be pretty. Also, who really ownes the AMA? I'm guessing KK Insurance Co. LLC. Look it up for a surprise.

The_AirHawk · 08-14-2009, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duken4evr

I don't do MX, but I do trail ride on gnarly 12,000 foot high stuff like this.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...009/Ride14.jpg

Lookout for that Glacier! Global Warning! Climax Change!

08-12-2009, 02:52 PM	#23
mscuddy MODERATOR X Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Next to my still checkin the temp. Posts: 5,447	Yeah, that's what someone did to my '87 CR500. Took the motor, and mounted it in an aluminum Honda CR250 frame, to make an AE copy. Funny, since '87 was the first year Honda put the 500 motor in the 250 frame as a production design change anyway. Mine was ported, and had a lot more on top than the standard CR500. I never got beat by anything on top, geared up KX500's, KTM's, etc. Fastest motorcycle I ever owned, made me a better rider, with those cartrage 44 Showas (the most expensive front fork Honda ever put on a motorcycle). Was the best suspended Honda MX bike ever built, then in '88 they went to the upside-down Showa fork, and it was back to square one. But what was so neat, you could ride it for years, and never worry about the bike breaking down. I would change the rings just out of embarasment every five years. But what was most amazing, in all the years I owned it (17, I bought it used from a hillclimber guy). I went through two pistons and about 5 ring jobs (and a couple hone jobs). One crank seal on the primary side. A clutch. Hundreds of rear tires, 2 sets of sprockets and chains. It never left me stranded, or even fouled a plug. An amazing motorcycle. It was like it had a soul. I got all choked up when I sold it. __________________ A gun is a tool, Marian; no better or no worse than any other tool: an axe, a shovel or anything. A gun is as good or as bad as the man using it. Remember that.

08-13-2009, 10:58 AM	#25
pplassm Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 3,875	Naah. That was the original '85. Compression was so high they had to machine decomp ports in post 86 bikes. __________________ Mongo just pawn in game of life.

08-13-2009, 11:20 AM	#26
mscuddy MODERATOR X Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Next to my still checkin the temp. Posts: 5,447	Yeah, and the '85 was a seizer if there ever was one. First year of the water cooled motor. If you look at the '84 motor, it had the castings in the right side case for the water pump. Both were like riding an exploding cigar. __________________ A gun is a tool, Marian; no better or no worse than any other tool: an axe, a shovel or anything. A gun is as good or as bad as the man using it. Remember that.

08-13-2009, 12:07 PM	#27
pushrod Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Baja 'Bama Posts: 3,635	Once again, Matt - Great job! __________________ You would not understand, this is not how I am... I have become - Comfortably Numb.

08-14-2009, 01:02 PM	#29
mscuddy MODERATOR X Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Next to my still checkin the temp. Posts: 5,447	Yeah, the four strokes surpassed the power of a 250 two stroke about 3-4 years ago, and they never looked back. They are the works-produciton MX machines for the new generation of Sunday MX Racer. But, like a works bike, they require works maintenance, and the knowledge to do it, which most of the time puts them in the shop. When was the last time your 250 saw the shop? I'm guessing never, like my old CR500. I'm putting together a expose' on how the AMA and the big Japanese factories killed the open class, and gave us this new ultra-expensive form of motocross. And it won't be pretty. Also, who really ownes the AMA? I'm guessing KK Insurance Co. LLC. Look it up for a surprise. __________________ A gun is a tool, Marian; no better or no worse than any other tool: an axe, a shovel or anything. A gun is as good or as bad as the man using it. Remember that.

08-12-2009, 11:48 AM	#21
Kevin_Duke Motorcycle.com Staff Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 2,064	If money is no object.... Service Honda Home of the CR500AF 500AF 500AFX Junior-X - Honda Motorcycle Parts

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08-13-2009, 09:13 AM	#24
12er Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: SF Posts: 2,791	Wasnt the '88 cr500 the nastiest 500 produced? Kinda remember it hitting like a 250, then in '89 they neutered it back down to sane.

08-14-2009, 11:40 AM	#28
Duken4evr Founding Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 706	Great write up. Ironically, the old two strokes are less work to maintain than the new bikes. The '01 CR250 in my garage gets a new piston and ring kit every other year. Even on such a slackadasical schedule it just keeps on running great. It just won't die. Can't argue with the power output of the 4 strokes though. They hook up and they are fast. They also sound like your own personal big block as they bark along. Very primal. Gotta love it. I don't do MX, but I do trail ride on gnarly 12,000 foot high stuff like this. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...009/Ride14.jpg Barking up such a hill on a mid bore thumper is pure pleasure, even if it is a porky DRZ400. The big yellow pig goes everywhere, and then can hop on down to the corner store. Can't really do that on the CR250