1989 CR500

[Mick22]

Wanted 1989 CR500, will consider any condition (except for the one in WA that the guy wants $14000 ) standard spotters fee for any leads that produce a purchase!!

PM any details

Cheers

Mick

[Mick22]

Got one!!!

thanks for the PM's fellas

[Damo]

Hey Mick,
Can you post a pick of it I am chasing one and know how rare they are in OZ.

Damo

[Gerard De Ruyter (Twistandshout)]

what, are they the ducks guts or something?

[Mick22]

The '89 model was the last 500 model that Honda put any development into, it was the first to get a low-boy pipe and USD forks. There is almost no difference from a 1989 model to the last bikes built in 1998 (yep, even the 2002 models were put together in '98).
They are sort after in OZ because Honda sold bugger all here in 1989 thanks to the recession & 500's starting to lose there relevence, but they are a great bike for Pre 90's and a lot of guys want them to build Leisky replicas.

So no there not really the Ducks Guts, in fact I remember when they came out that everyone bagged the suspension as the worst ever, There was a quote in one of the magazines along the lines of "the forks are only any good if you plan on jumping the snake river canyon or weigh 300 pounds" but it was all easily fixed with springs and valving

I just wanted one because I reckon they were the best looking 500 model made..... and I'm close to 300

[STW996]

Hey mick I agree I bought one 3 months ago in north QLD when I was up buying another bike, his mate was there and we got to taking about pre 85 bikes and he said he had a 85 500 turned out to be an 89 500 (very good colour red on this model) so I through it on the ute as well.

Have tracked down a lot of NOS parts from the states and a mint pair of radiators, will be adding to my collection of 10 Honda's I now have.

Not a good shot but this is it, included FMF pipe but has wrong seat.

Shane

[magoo]

Hey Damo, you must be hating this, all these blokes with '89 500s.

[Mick22]

Damo I sent you a PM about a possible lead

Here she is...

[squirtmoto]

Hey Damo guess what??  I have one too
These were greatly reduced in power down to 52 from 65 ish in previous years but torque was greatly increased a quick fix was to change the head over to a 85 or 86 hi-comp head and the power was back!! this was due too the introduction of ULP fuel.  The forks were POX they had a massive mid stroke "spike" in the dampening and the srings were for a pro-level AMA SX rider.  Honda did have difficulties selling the 250 RK's and still had around 50 sitting at Tullamarine when the 1990 model arrived so they guts em out for $5500 (RRP$6750).  Due too massive negative feed back on the forks Honda approached MUGEN to provide up-grade kits for both the 500 & 250's as an dealer up-grade and all buyers were notified. All you had to do is return the bike to your dealer and they would fit them FOC.  I had a set fitted to mine and the difference was astounding.  There would have been heaps of guys who couldn't be bothered returning them for the kit, so honda should still have them as NOS.  Also there is a high chance that if you own an Aussie model they may have the kits in them already

[Tim754]

Bugger that turn them into sidecars and fit a leading link.  Or take them out and blow these noisy, expensive to run modern four strokes of the track!! Taking true white knuckle 65hp down to "only" 52 what inspires motorcycle companies to shoot their own feet???

[Damo]

Magoose,
You are right dude you know the 89 CR500 is my Holy Grail !!!!

Nice 89 Mick thanks for the PM

Hey Bill when I come up for Conondale we need to have a "TALK"

84,85,86 and looking for an 89 CR500.

[STW996]

Hey Damo all you need is a contact in the US as they go for peanuts over there. Around 1500 USD for a good clean bike (going by ebay listings) and if Bill is right (and Bill is right as he knows his Honda stuff) they would be worth bring into the country at that price.

Shane