So just how powerful are these CR500s ??

[mainline]

just buy it Barsby. Remember, you've ridden the mighty PE175 a few times with no drama's, whereas Hoony was too frightened to take it on at CD7

I'd prefer it though if you bought an 86 model though. Thanks.

[YZ250H]

I'll keep that in mind 

86 would be good, but 84 is pre 85

Cheers
Captain obvious

[Hoony]

yeah, i'm with Paul-Ski ( even if he is reving me up  that PE was way too much ride for me as he said ) just buy that 84' 500 you will love it and it will get you away from your beloved Piano's for awhile 

[Slakewell]

I don't remember the Honda's being any extra powerful, they were a bitch to start thou. The Ktm's were more arm stretchers. One bike I haven't seen for a while but left a huge impression on me were the Yamaha YZ 465 fitted with a Warren Willing 490 kit. 

[Nathan S]

I think Hoony is 100% spot on about the power delivery. I know of a certain tuner who modified a CR480 to make a big peak power figure (one of those "oh hell" numbers), but it was actually considerably easier than a stocker to ride because the power delivery was linear.

As a "career" 125 pilot, I reckon you'd have to be ignore a lot of very clear warning signs to seriously try to ride a 500 like a 125.

[vandy010]

As a "career" 125 pilot, I reckon you'd have to be ignore a lot of very clear warning signs to seriously try to ride a 500 like a 125.

back in '83' on a practice day at Jilliby park,
my regular ride was an 82 CR125 Honda and a mate gave me a ride on his
83 KX500.
i reved it  too hard and was very dissapointed thinking it should have more.
when i came back to the pits he told me i had it all wrong.
1~2 gears higher and use the midrange
the thing was totally different and scary fast.
it just had zero top end.

[Marc.com]

As a "career" 125 pilot, I reckon you'd have to be ignore a lot of very clear warning signs to seriously try to ride a 500 like a 125.

too true, not sure how you ride a well set up 500 as a 125 without it burying you.

Typically at lot of 500s were geared to the moon as owners tried to smooth power or keep them in the mid range. Plus jetting is a lot more critical on a 500, some of the bikes that feel flat on top could probably do with the jets sorting.

But riding a 500 with good linear power redefines how fast you can go. Just you have to have the fitness to keep up.

[xel93]

I used to race a CRE 500 - occassionally - and trail ride it.  It would leave a top rated rider on a CR450F for dead on the start line  and they wouldn't catch up until the second corner when I couldnt turn the thing or have the guts to hold the line.  And do up to 150kph on the Finke dirt roads (because i was too scared to open it up fully).  However they needed to be treated with respect - they do bite!  I have looped it when I was quite confidently gassing down a straight and I have highsided it on rocky hills and been on my back before I could blink. 
They are easy to ride slowly because they are torquey but be careful when you open them up.  Mine is ported similar to the Eric Gorr specs and is more rideable.  I also frequently used a trials tyre to have more controllable wheelspin.

They are fun - get one!

[EML]

just another point of view-but these became the 'weapon of choice' for sidecar cross in the late 80's and early 90's.
Consider that the engines of the day were 4stroke twins with about 50-80HP but they weighed 40kgs or more.
Bring on a 500 2stroker that has similar HP but weighs a shite load less and you have a winner. Then 'strech' that motor in all directions-longer stroke as well as bigger bore was not uncommon-and it became a monster.
There were plenty of Hondas but also a number of KX's and KTMs. Not too many YZs or RMs but a few Maicos, particularly in Europe. The Maico motor became the basis for the Zable which is now a brand of its own and winning the GPs. It has been known to be 700cc or even bigger and over 100HP isn't out of the question.
Luckily that it to tow two guys or the pilot would end up with very long arms.  

[Marc.com]

The Maico motor became the basis for the Zable which is now a brand of its own and winning the GPs. It has been known to be 700cc or even bigger and over 100HP isn't out of the question.

Still crazy after all these years the ATK ..... 700cc 68 hp ..... the ultimate one upmanship anyone here ever ridden one?

[EML]

Pretty sure that is the same motor/bike as the Maico 700 and I beleive that is the afforementioned Zable 700cc that drives the sidecar crossers.
Having swung on the ELM Jumbo 800cc twin that had 120HP and weighed 210Kg I can say that these go very well.
There arew a couple of Zabels in Sth Oz doing the modern sidecar champs, so get down there and jump on one-even as a passenger you will get the sensation. :'(

[zorroz]

I've owned an 85 and 01 model that was used for dune riding only and the 01 was disappointing compared to the 85 and took a few mods to get it going well.

[Lozza]

68HP.........120HP is that all..........................
He's a Aprilia 125 GP

[Marc.com]

68HP.........120HP is that all..........................
He's a Aprilia 125 GP

Yeah but last season of 125s and soon it will be replaced with fire breathing 250 4 stroke, errr actually bit slower 250 4 stroke.

[EML]

Check out the TSS 500cc twin based on an RZ350 built in sunny Cairns by the boys at The Twostroke Shop (TSS).
120HP @ 9750 and 65lbs of torque @ 7200.(That's one option)
Plonked into an Aprillia RS250 chassis and raced in the 500cc class(or on road!!) .