Gosh, i dont know about you guys, but now that all these dealers are comming out with these big azz machines that go 70mph stock. I dont like the idea of all these high proformance machines comming in and taking over. It just makes it all the harder for us 300ex riders to keep up! My opinion. I like the 250-350cc machines.. I wish they would stay under 350cc.

 

I agree

 

When I was woods raceing bikes I used to worry about CR500R's and XR600R's and such until I learned that they were so big and heavy they were worthless in tight woods and any good rider could smoke them with a XR250R. The big guys dont have every advantage over us. Just picture a DS650 on a slick tight woods trail trying to keep controal when gassing it only to slow way down for the next turn when the 300EX can hit the same turn twice as fast and still get up to speed with the DS because the 300EX isnt broke loose and is hooking up with great traction

 

You make a Good point.. Alot of people should consider this, I mean Banshees are KINDA fast, but need a good bit of mods to be fast in the woods, their power spread and chassis just isnt set up for it off the show room floor. As a cr500r owner.. I think Its a great woods bike when i get it in the woods, Lots of low end grunt, and well a top end that puts a smile on anyones face, I feel its great as a recreational woods bike, but not for racing there. In short, every Bike has its place!

 

Ron, What year is your 500R? I ride my XR250R with a friends 96' CR500R and his boils over in slow first gear technial uphills.. but any open stretch is a pain (litterly) in my chest I sold my old 88'CR500R becasue of the virbration causing me to get tired, poor fuel milage and it took alot of work in the tight stuff compaired to the XR400 and 250, but still a kick in the butt to ride!

 

Well another 500 person.. Jrm, Mine is an 87, I think they not neccessarily toned the power down on the 90's on up, but changed the gear ratio to a little wider spread to soften the Hit a bit.
Ive abused mine pretty good in the woods, and never boiled it over.. Maybe the newer ones dont have the cooling capacity the older ones do?
Vibration? Yes and in the woods its Noticeable, lets face it, uts not designed for the woods, but with that motor, it just works anywhere, something like an XR is, as you said, much more suited to the woods, Im currently looking at a new KTM 400exc, or possibly a 2001 wr426, Im not sure yet, But Ill still keep the CR regardles, its a blast on those long Killer hills. For the More sedate speeds ill wride my Xplorer, or my Wifes warrior, (sometimes even my sons fourtrax 70) . Happy Trails!

 

I have ridden both the yzf400 and the katoom, the KTM has a awesome smooth but powerful powerband that is enjoyable to ride and fast..the yammie 400F (i havent ridden the 426) is one hot 4 stroke that makes power much the same as the CR. I never boiled my 88' over either, honda has been trying to calm the same engine down since 1986 when they came out with it. Have you ever ridden the old 84'CR450R? The power is like a light switch, nothing at all or everything exploading like a cage of TNT at once! Your right about the 500R doing everything as it can do tight woods or a sand fest that no XR (but the 600) can do

 

I had two 500s at one point, a quad zilla and a kx500. Both 88s. Both had piles of power but I would not want to race my kx in anything but drag racing. I have ridden an 84 cr and I could not rev it out, the front end came up in all but top gear. The yz426 is definatley not a 1st gear bike. It boils over, the header glows red after going slow for about 10 minutes and the suspension is just MX only without new softer springs. I hope I contributed.

 

I just rode a 600R today! wow! that thing was fast, i didnt want to get off and ride my recon again!!! wow!

 

600r?