What's a Better Sand Bike--CR500 or KX500

yeah Ill get to it... she[91 CR500] needs a rebore and its good to go but I get sidetracked with other bikes etc..my friend has a 2000 KX500 and he recently had to get a new cylinder for his [$400] also another $500 for full redux on the cases.good luck on your new KX..

Right on. It's good to know the bike has smooth, tractable power That's what I'm after.

Boy do I know what it's like to get side tracked!

Thanks, good luck on your CR as well.

You really can't go wrong with a big two stroke. I love them.


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Looks good Brucifer

Always thought the KX's with blue forks looked cool/unique..

Thanks RB.
I'm a fan of the blue forks too.

+1 I wish mine had them, I've got old school (right side up??) forks

I got the big, bad KX fired--and immediately shut it down. It was rattling terribly in the top end.
I initially thought it may be a wrist pin because while kicking it over I thought I could feel play somewhere, and when it fired it sounded like it was coming from the top end.
Aahhhhh......no. Of course it's the big end of the rod.
Some piston/cylinder scoring as well.

A few pics.





At least the cylinder has already been sleeved so a minor overbore and piston will take care of that issue without having to send the cylinder out for replating.

Agh!... That's no good :eek1

Do I detect a hint of sarcasm here?

I'm actually making some progress on the KX. I purchased everything I need for a complete crank and top end rebuild (hopefully), but I haven't split the cases yet--who knows what may be waiting inside.

I went ahead and stripped the bike completely and am going to get the frame, sub frame and foot peg bracket powder coated.

Here's what the bike looks like now.

good on you then-I hope you can put it all back together without adding a few extra parts there,eh.. I just came back from the shop and they checked my cylinder and it is NFG so I have to rebore and then get a 90.50mm size piston kit ...so another delay what color are you gonna paint the frame? that green is hard to get touch up paint for...

Gonna stick with the factory green--I really like that color.

Well that sucks about your cylinder. At least that's all that's wrong with it but the delays get old I know.

my 91 CR500 is half ways finished ,new bore job, new cyl head, frame painted, swing arm polished -just needs a few finishes ,like crank seals and I need to buy a white aftermarket gas tank and rad shrouds .hows the KX coming along??

Going to have to go with the KX500 just because I got one and am jealous of those great looking CR500's Keep those build pictures coming, of both red and green bikes.

Looking good, Z! Mines at a standstill. My plated XR600 I recently built quit shifting so I'm in the process of splitting the cases on it.

Rd650- I'll try to get some build pics here but so far the Z-man's smokin' me.

Nice!

@%$&!! needs more work on the ignition side of things as the spark was weak.replaced coil.now I gotta get the FWW removed and rotor taken off to replace the seal too...has low compression as well due to @%$^!! piston and ring job -Ive given up and now its for sale....

For sand I'd take the KX500 for the better motor. The CR500s have a bit better handling though.

FWIW The '87-88 CR500 made massive power with a really meaty, tractable mid-range, but were somewhat hard to start. My 1991 felt much ligher, quicker and higher revving, easier to start, and less midrange grunt. My dad's 1993 (and they really didn't change much from then to end of production) was somewhere in between. The 1991 also had a bit more ridged chassis than the later models. Overall the 1991 is my favorite year for the CR500. The suspension is even quite good once you work it over. All years have issues cracking pistons. A forged wiseco goes a long way and I'm told head work makes a big difference also.

Dropped the frame, sub-frame and foot peg mount off at the powder coater this morning.
Finally some forward movement.

No way, your Honda looks perfect to me. No white tank or anything needed. Maybe at most a set cover in a black gripper or something.

Frame parts done. Forks rebuilt.



Sorry for the fuzzy pic.

This is going to a while as I'm working on 3 bikes at the same time.