My first time riding the CR500 at the track. Twenty-three years ago when I was on a KX80 I didn't even consider that I would ever own a beast like this, Jeremy McGraths 1996 CR250 was what I thought was the epitome of cool, and truthfully it still is. But in the last few years I have had the eye to watch for a CR500 just so I could get a chance at riding the legendary machine.
I purchased this near original bike two months ago, after giving it some needed refreshers (Tires, chain, sprockets, fork seals, fresh piston and 89.5mm bore) and now it has become my go-to machine.
There is nowhere it is not fun to ride, trails? Yep, Dunes? Oh yeah, Desert? Yep, track? Absolutely. Did I mention trails? I haven't decided yet which place is the most fun, just that I don't know if there is another bike that is such a complete package.
There is simply not a situation that these bikes are not a blast to ride. Is it the fact that at the crack of the throttle you have massive torque, and that at all throttle positions you have more torque than a brand new 450F creates.... ever? Or that at full throttle it launches into a new realm of power? Is it the comfy soft seat? Or the sound of the exhaust?
Whatever it is, its a shame they aren't still rolling out of production, even if it was in the same relatively unchanged setup that they were since 1989.
I know, I know, those 450's got the holeshot....don't blame the bike, this was my first time at a gate drop on the beast, so forgive the bike. The guy on the Honda 450 always beats me in a race anyway, sometimes I can hang on him for an entire moto, but although my skills on this beast need some honing, I had a great time.
4 окт 2024
