Should everyone own a 500 at some point?

Tharkûn

Tharkûn

Freeway Moderator
I love my 300, it's a beast. I really want to ride a 500 just to see what it's like, after all the build up from everyone that rode them when they were new/common.

Browsing CL I see them for so relatively cheap it's so temping to just buy and try out. Then I started thinking about my baby boy (4 months old), and I had this flash vision of me and my friends sitting around in 20 years talking about this dirt bike from 40 years ago that was so wild it was indescribable, and my boy and his friends just rolling their eyes saying 'yeah right'. Therefore I feel it's my duty to buy one and keep it for 15 years and then throw him on it to keep the legend alive. Probably the most round about reason to buy a bike ever :laughing

Thoughts? :laughing
 
wsmc831

wsmc831

Well-known member
I rode and raced my 300 for a decade. I don't miss it. At all.

If you see one 'relatively cheap' buy it, I don't think I've seen one below 7.5k.
 
angelsndevils

angelsndevils

gas burning o-zone killer
CR's suck. They are shaped more like a 250 which makes them twitchy to ride. Better for MX but sucks for offroad. Get A KX500 For trail riding. There is a reason why they ruled baja for years and years. You can actually lug a kx like a 4 stroke when needed and the mega torque just keeps it going. Then when you want to hit hyperspace you just scoot up on the seat and nail it. The back tire starts spinning and doesnt stop till you have had enough. You will loop out a CR all the time in spots that a KX will just spin its way through. They have a much longer swing arm than the honda. Never got to ride the big KTM. First KX 500 was a 1987 when I was about 16 years old. After that I was hooked and upgraded to a 1990, then another '90 that was in better shape, then a '92, then a 2004.
 
KTMJACK

KTMJACK

Cheese cutter
I brought this back to life 1986 500mx
 

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Tharkûn

Tharkûn

Freeway Moderator
That's sweet! I just looked at bike-finds and saw an immaculate 2004 KX500 on eBay

Btw how would you compare your 300 to your 350?
 
lgyee4

lgyee4

Well-known member
It's funny, after 45 years of riding, I'm going backwards. I started on a 50cc two stroke when I was a kid and over the years rode bigger and bigger bikes. I had ridden a KX500 that was set up for desert racing. It nearly tore my leg off when I tried to start it one day. In the last 10 years, I've been going backwars and getting smaller and smaller bikes. I'd like to get that KX125 that has a 200 motor in it. Good luck with the 500. It doesn't last forever.
 
OldFatGuy

OldFatGuy

Fondling Member and 1%er
I've owned two CR500s and a 550MXC. I rode the shit out of the CRs for over 10 years and never got hurt on one, which is more than I can say for the smaller bikes I've owned. The 550 was another beast altogether. It was a bitch to start (left side kick starter) and just a little too much power, IMO. It wore me out way too fast. I sometimes regret getting rid of my last CR500, but it was getting old and it was time for something a little more modern.
 
angelsndevils

angelsndevils

gas burning o-zone killer
When I lived in the mountains we had an unbelievably long, steep, loose hillclimb. Only 3 bikes ever made it to the top. All 3 were KX 500's. I couldmake it 5 out of 10 try's. When I strayed to a husaberg 501 I never could made it again. My buddy on his cr 500 tried over and over for weeks and never made it. Got so frustrated. He was looping it out over and over. Was fun to watch. Xr650r couldn't touch it. 250's couldn't touch it.
 
Papi

Papi

Mmmmm...Faster
Pfft, CR500. All the cool kids ride the BRP. :ride
XR650R FTMFW. :thumbup

But, out of all the 500's, the KX500 is a BMFR. The baddest.
 
angelsndevils

angelsndevils

gas burning o-zone killer
Papi said:
Pfft, CR500. All the cool kids ride the BRP. :ride
XR650R FTMFW. :thumbup

But, out of all the 500's, the KX500 is a BMFR. The baddest.
Click to expand...

Hahaha, ya, I love my BRP for other reasons but there is nothing like the YAAAAAAAP of a big bore 2 stroke on the pipe!!(yes even a CR)
 
byke

byke

Well-known member
I don't know about owning one, but definitely in regards to riding one. Or, maybe own one just to remind yourself once in a while why you mostly ride the other bike/s in your garage. They may have about the same power as a new 450, but the delivery is terrifying.
 
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