Riding a 2023 YZ500 2 Stroke for the FIRST Time! 

I’m 56 years old and I grew up riding 2 stroke motocross bikes and had a CR500R back in the day and wish I still had it today, long live the 2 stroke.

I'm a open class rider from the 80's and 90's. this stuff makes me wish I was young again! 😎🤘☠️

This would be an awesome addition to the Red Bull Straight Rhythm this weekend in California, USA. I'm sure Travis Pastrana would bring his RMZilla if you contacted him. You have time to put it together and the fans would eat it up.

I live in Alberta Canada, a couple hours south of Calgary where BRC is located. I love that a local company is building this stuff, and I am really curious to see what the long term reliability will be like.

You guys have nailed it ! The YZilla looks and sounds amazing ! I love the nod to the YZM (one of my favourite MX bikes of all time) 😲

502 strokes are some of the most wonderful sounding motorcycles ever made the more the better

500cc 2 stroke beast on 250cc frame and suspension is awesome dream come true

500cc rule 1. Shift up. Whatever gear you think that you would normally use, shiftbup one at least, maybe 2 if it can pull it. The loading tames the powerband and you get yo use more of it in a higher gear and gets ahold of more traction if it's there especially in sand. Otherwise, you blow off the tire and going fast takes way more effort. Loading and throttle control are the keys to going fast on a 500 for any period of time. Wait until you get on hard pack. It's a whole different ball game and tire choice is crucial!.....

Gives 'steering with the rear wheel' an extreme meaning ! 😄

reminds me of my 1992 KX 500 , except that WAS a beast. Terrible brakes, terrible suspension, weighed a ton and yet had more power than any motoX had any business having. LOL But it was fun!! Great build and thanks for the memories of terror.

I've never rode the YZ. I just learned about the tuning fork and the piano.

Run 16 or 20:1 always. Suzuki internal tests show significant hp gains with more oil sealing the rings upping compression. Leaner fuel mixture also burns better with proper jetting. Don't worry about spoog.

Nothing like a biscuit color plug! I need one of these for the dunes. Ohhhhh the sound! This brings back memories and I’m only 40. Let the bunny humpers think they’re saving the planet and we’ll bring back 2 strokes to the mainstream. That’s why I love my snowmobile so much. Turbo two stroke power, theres nothing like it.

It's set up perfectly for my size 13 🤔 Thing is a beast the sound reminds me of my 98 yz 250 with a long rod kit and double head gasket with a spacer just a torque monster out of the hole🤘👍🎥🤑🤯🍻

Sounds AMAZING!!

Ex kx 500 rider that motor in that modern frame would fix all the problems us old guys had,but it still takes a finesse and respect on how you ride one,they bite back nasty when you least expect it if you get over confident

I had a 89 YZ 490, I loved it. It had spongey, brakes could described the same with suspention especially forks. though I bought it used and could have revamped both issues but did not). Honestley I truley learned how to just ride it on one wheel, and it worked out well. Anyhow I am in on a new 2023 model. If the publisher is reading this I would love and be very interested in a WR model. I suspect I am not the only one at all either. They had a lower 1st 2nd year thank you 3rd was about the same 4th and 5th were definitely taller with a heavier flywheel which made for a great trail/desert bike. Anyhow that's off do you guys for that build, And thanks for the info Keep doing what you do. the previous bike I mentioned ( Which I still wish I had) A good soild powerplant for sure. Throw in great suspension and breaks to boot and I'm definitely in. It's been said that there's less than a 100 people oh in the world that can ride A 450 to a is true potential maybe even just a handful I would say the number goes exponentially less with this bike. I want one though and I will have 1 because they make certain things easier hill climbs, life, and that 500 2 stroke smile( There is a certain respect and dance that needs to go on with rider and bike as I know some people out there would say good luck.). I would love and can't wait to see a WR version come out. Wide ratio gears for those that don't know, Think lower 1st and 2nd gear and and a taller 4th 5th maybe 6th these days!!! Also a heavier flywheel. Anyhow thanks for the review.

I'm sure many will bring this up, but I'd be curious to see what this bike puts down on the dyno, in addition to how the shape of the torque curve looks. Kaplan America dyno'd his CR500 vs. a '22 CRF450 and they both put out 52HP at the tire +/- a half HP. 4 Stroke technology has come a long way, especially in the past 10 years. It's a weird world where a modern 250F with a Pipe and Ecu tune is only a couple HP down from an early 00's 250 2 stroke.

Heck fricken ya brother good work

Loving the new colour scheme max !!!!

Just beautiful! Your livery/graphics choice is PERFECTION😍😍👍👍👍

Butter cup looks lovely in the dry. 😍 need to bring my cr500 for a blast there.

I love my 86 YZ 490 popped out to a 520 starts first kick n not one of my buddies who ride ever asked to try it scares the hell outta them wide open BRAPPPP

On the gearing - its not really the ratio's that are out so much as the spread of them. The old 500's mostly stuck to 4-5 speed boxes because the massive spread of power meant extra gearchanges were just wasted time. Try going really tall on the gears so you're only really using the first 4 most of the time on track. No need or point in revving this like a 125. The whole point in these is you being able to pull a gear or two higher and just ride the wave from turn to turn. Now how much is my new kit going to be?

I’m starting out on a kx85 and freakin love all 22hp it has… I want a 125 and a 250 but gradually work up to the 250…. One day I’ll ride a 500 and then consider getting one. They’re an untamed beast

Got to take that monster to Ashdown Mx to open her up!

great content been waiting for this one to come out ... as i enjoyed the last video you uploaded about this bike build ... class love it

Brilliant love these videos!💨💨😎

BOOYAH!!! 💪😎

Sick 500 dude, there is a french RU-vidr named kikaninac who did a KTM with the same kit but as a road bike it's really mad

That’s the coolest YZ 500 ever I’m the one that named the RMZilla being I said in 19 that the Quadzilla 500 would be perfect! To bad it’s to wide and next thing I heard was RM Zilla and now the YZ Zilla. ❤️🏁😎

Nothing like a big 2stroke, when she comes on the pipe it's a rocket

I agree with the shifter position. That 500 sounds like an MX bike should sound.

Sounds beautiful, Man she was bookin 👌

Amazing 👏 I love it 😀

2stroke 500 are crazy fast the power band kicks in and hold on they rip.

I just bought a 2016 yz 250 x,and it's in mint condition,love to make it a 500

Dear Santa, I've been so good this year, and there's this bike I've seen........

62 HP Cool Build Thanks

Fantastic videos guys thanx so much

Road the red and yellow big cc's bikes about "87" "88" went to a track were there was a month old green big cc. This was the bike to beat red and yellow. Needing someone to know the difference and I needed to prove my worth. Showing me a 2yr old green 250 with upside down shocks like the big cc bike. We had a race. I decided to obliterate the 500 with the 250. Needing no gear just gloves. As soon as I kicked the 250 he took off. About 1/2 mile caught it in the mud flats and me riding into a turn on the inside. Driving under him until out of the turn, roosting his goggles. Easy win! Now we got to ride and race it, WOW.

Great build but I was pretty sure the 250 gearbox had more than two gears, lol. There is nothing like the sound of an open class two stroke 👍👍

500's just hit different.

My son Jason Laven is a 2 time National Amiture Hillclimb Champion and rides a 500cc Honda. It would be awesome to see how good the Yzilla would be for hillclimb! He could put the rubber down on that bike!

Awesome video! I would like to see you guys testing a smartcarb or a lectron on that beast. Got a SC on my 300 Husky and i will never change it back

I now know how spoiled i was growing up with one of the best MX tracks in the world... Saddleback park, So-Cal USA.

I had a raced out 1990 kx500. i would love to see a drag against an old king.

Sounds great

This should be at Redbull Straight Rhythm.

You say you're 125 riders ... with the revs you're giving that bike, it sounds like you sure are. Short shifting and grunt is needed for good traction, and on a slick track you gonna need it. Lovely bike, I'd have one if I was younger and fitter!

Looks sick love a red and white yamaha

Old school 2 stroke gayness!

A 250 is plenty for everyone but tbh there is an enigma around the 500cc anything

Well done, lad. Two strokes are the sweetest . Planned on doing a 500cc Moto GP style engine fitted into and fettled into a moped or F1 cart. Had all the parts and tools stolen. Ouch.

Let's see. Work on the gearing and.........new front fender. Love the sound of that thing.

You should only use third and fourth gear, don't be afraid to slip the clutch, and hang on tight.

Insane would love to feel that power

I can’t wait to see the dyno numbers. I’m going to guess about 54hp but it sure sounds like it has a broad torque curve.

Thanks two wolf sport

Another channel many people watching this video will like is called Kaplan America. They built a gasgas 500 and have some of the nicest CR500s in the world. They're a motorcycle museum but also build, restore and sell bikes of all kind. Most if not all their bikes are top notch world class machines.

I love em but they’re not for everyone

7:45 his face LMAO

Little guy needed a yz 65 shift lever 😂

No one ever mentions anything about dynamically balancing the crankshaft fly wheels ..that is a big pain in the ass to accomplish successfully with total performance expected ...but when you ever do this for yourself you will be obsessed to do the same for every build you do there after . When you first fire up a dynamically balanced complete rotating assembly with probably turn it off immediately thinking you must have assemble it way to tightly as your build will be more silent and vibration free of any brand new factory production bike ever made .....but the big secret here and the one that will some time eat up hours of labor ..it is crucial and critical that you put the crankshaft together at "0" tolerance crankshaft runout with dial indicators on both mainbearing journals at the same time and read "0" runout on both journals at the same time before you send your rotating assemble off to be dynamically balanced ...and then when you get your balance assemble back You will have to press apart the flywheels to install the connecting rod and then Zero out the crankshaft run out again that can take a long time of pecking and checking pecking and checking until you get it perfect and will be the only possible way of having a spin balanced engine ...counter balancers help somewhat but by doing so are only cancelling the inertial out of balance with moreu opposite out of balance forces that eat horsepower ...and there is mo way you can ever experience the full advantage of dynamic balance vs counter balancing that is only a band-aid until you do it the right way as i covered in the above

54.6 Rwhp. is my prediction. Powervalve opening point is adjustable with spring preload?

Love 2 strokes

Amazing result. Unbelievable.

MULTIPLE EARGASMS

Get nev Bradshaw on that bike and give it a proper rip!!

omg YES!

Next level could be running it with a Lectron carb. Otherwise that spark plug looked black in every areas. This project is the revolution of the big two-stroke dirt ikes which is cool :D

Nice project , nice bike !!!! Although the previous project was my favourite as I love Husaberg 650's I guess 51,5 bhp on the dyno.

2 STROKE is the best !

it looks like Brock Glover should be riding it

What gearing are you running? If I am remembering correctly, the BRC 500’s have a 20% taller primary gear.

Put supermoto Wheels on it and take it to a track day against big bikes.

What was on the rear. My 87 Cr 500 I think I went 13 /49 because I was light and it was fast.

Let's go a drag race with 450F

that is awesome brother....do we get to see it vs a 450 ?

Yamaha should go in the production with that

Very nice bike but the manufacturers need to focus on getting the 250 & 124 2 strokes back on the tracks. The sound and looks are what attract the youth so that’s part of the problem with 4 strokes is the sound. These small things can make or break the sport. The other issue is all local tracks need to report winnings and earn points to the state to go towards a ranking which is what gives you a number at the end of the year. This pushes people to have a goal to work towards. Bike cost need to be around $5000. They will actually make more money in the long run. All areas of all major cities need place to just ride which would be a calm track so they don’t have to drive an hour to ride. Motocross started in the 60’s and in the 60’s-80’s they could ride on any land which is not allowed now. This has to change. It’s been 30 years or more since I’ve seen a group of guys riding together on some land within the suburban areas. There are a few other factors that need to be dealt with to revive this great sport. The sport is just incredibly awesome but who would by a dirt bike when you can’t ride it a few times a week? It’s not gonna happen

Nice Roto tiller!

That bike needs a track like ashdown or Farleigh so it has somewhere to pull through those gears. That track looked to tight for that 500

Anyone else remember Johnny O'Mara on a 125cc beating David Thorpe on his 500cc at the Moto Des Nations?

I own a 1981 I.T. 250 two stroke bought from the Amish in P.A. they used to heard goats rebuilt every thing in the engine it's 6 speed still setting in my building busted gas tank but runs sweet

Nice bike, i built yz500r years ago and raced it against 450s,, its on youtube with 200.000 views

I'll happily ride it at Weston beach race for you 😉 test out the top end

How does it compare to the YZ 495.. ? Suzuki made a gardZilla 500 for 2 years. Had it it and even 500 rider could be white knuckled.

so, how was it compared to the yz450f?

So cool ..........

Too bad we can’t smell it! That’s what makes the 2 stroke experience complete.

That track would be great for my 125 ziller but that 500 ZILLER needs a track with long fast straight aways.........it is begging to be opened up. Thus Spake the Great Sage of the East.

You should totally do a Match up video against megalodon and. Big red next

I want to ride it 🙂🙃

Try a smart carb! They are awesome!

Do a CR next and compare them! It's jurassic park bringing dinosaurs back to life using just a little DNA from something else.

Around that track, I think a good rider on a 125 is going to be passing you on your heavy 500.

I hope you’re going to let Nevster race it Max !?

Does that mean, that the 500cc 2-stroke is comming back?

That would be a great motor in a shifter kart.