DR500 Info

[Tahitian_Red]

Anyone here own or race a Suzuki DR500? How heavy are they?

HL's, C&J's and Cheney's are just out of reach right now, so I'm looking for a cheaper way to get into Old Thumper racing.

[TM BILL]

A mate races one with some sucsess  he only weighs about 70 kgs and throws it around like a 125 

[80-85 husky]

Bloke i know did one up for vmx as well and it wasnt a bad thing. he had upside down forks of a kato and big shox on the back, lightened it up as much as possible and tidied the motor.

[Marc.com]

A mate races one with some sucsess  he only weighs about 70 kgs and throws it around like a 125 

Yeah I think he was also a fairly handy enduro rider in his day  , DR500 is a bit bigger motor than the DR400 mill but makes cool race bike.

[Tahitian_Red]

Is the 500 version as reliable as the 400?

[Curly3]

I was riding one on Dirttrack/ Flattrack here in OZ until I broke my leg this time last year and it def held it's own pretty well.
The counter ballance shafts and kickstart shaft had been removed which lightened the load quite a bit, there
was a little more vibration at low revs but once the revs came up I certainly didn't notice it, 38mm Mikuni on methanol. Higher revs on our Dirttrack so not sure how it'd go on MX.
They're a pretty strong engine I think.

[80-85 husky]

Suzuki always over engineered their engines for 60,000km type reliability so i would expect you turn up some more hp without any issues with the bottom end and box etc ...No claims on the clutch though.....

MOBIL (My Old Brother In Law)has a doeruppera in his shed 500 i think (white tank)....  anyone interested, i will ask if he plans to flog it

[Curly3]

I may be John, where is it located? Steve

[DR500]

I have raced one for 5 yrs now and had no problems with it.I removed balance shafts and fitted different carby.
They are a bit heavy, but you get use it.
Cheap way of getting into vmx.

[DR500]

[cloggy]

 One got 3rd in the 1983 Dakar, smallest engine and only twinshock bike running up front. They were reported to have more low down power than Honda or Yamaha, worst thing was the suspension, but that's easily fixed.

[80-85 husky]

Its in Bendigo Steve. I'll see if he wants to flog it then get some pics for you

[James Lee]

What shocks are on bike 25? I would also like to build a DR500 for VMX. What would be the cheapest way to get some suspension under one?

[cloggy]

 I don't think the chassis is much different to the DR400. The swingarm is the same though some were ally, depending on market. That being so a  16.5" Ohlins from the Army rotax 4 strokes goes straight on. I put 38s up front on mine. Simplest is to get a set of early 38s and bore the yokes 2mm oversize. That's what Dirt Bike did on their project DR400.
Later 38s use a bigger spindle  and clamp set up. Either way you'll need heavier springs/air caps

[80-85 husky]

Hey Steve, the bike "might be 4 sale". there were 15 or so 8 y/o's at the function the other day so i didnt get a lot of sense out of Mobil so i will need to catch up and see him when he is less distracted.