CR500 vs. KX500??
Todd O.
What are the differences between the KX500 and CR500 (not just who makes
them)? How do their power bands compare (is the CR more pipey, or is the
KX smooth from the bottom to the top)? Reliability of either engine
design? Which has less engine vibration?
Cam Mitchell
"Todd O." <!tod...@dwave.net!> wrote:
>What are the differences between the KX500 and CR500 (not just who makes
>them)?
to name a few:
The KX has a 19" rear wheel while the CR has an 18".
The KX's body style is more dated than the CR
The KX has a powervalve and electrolite coating in the cylinder
The KX is more stable while the CR turns better
The KX has better suspension while the CR has more usable power
The KX handles best at high speed, I don't know about the CR
>How do their power bands compare (is the CR more pipey, or is the
>KX smooth from the bottom to the top)?
The CR has more bottom end while the KX will dust the CR in the top
end. The KX keeps revving and revving as if you'll never run out of
throttle, the CR falls on its face in the top end range. The KX's
stock jetting just plain sucks. The CR is a torque monster. The KX
is a bit wilder and makes for a better desert bike, while the CR makes
for a better woods/motocross bike.
>Reliability of either engine
>design?
They are both bulletproof, but the Honda is said to be the most
reliable. Less moving parts (no powervalve).
>Which has less engine vibration?
The Honda has less vibration. I think it's just a matter of getting
used to it though.
If I were to buy another open bike, my #1 choice would be a KTM380SX.
My #2 choice would be the CR500. My #3 choice would be the KX500.
Reason being is I ride mainly motocross and the KTM or CR would be
better bikes for it. If I lived somewhere that had lots of open
desert to ride in, the KX would be my first choice.
Just ride both before you buy one.. I wish I would have. I'm selling
the KX to go to a KX250 or YZ250, but if I could afford it I would
definitely keep it. I like the bike, but it dumps me on my face way
too often.
>
--
cmit...@uniserve.com / http://users.uniserve.com/~cmitchel
94 Kawasaki KX500 (For Sale)
64 BMW R60 (For Sale)
"Mffhmmehh hehe heh hehEhehe.." - Beavis
disclaimer: contrary to popular opinion, Cam is not perfect. Cam accepts no responsibilty for what his computer tells him to type, and is currently recieving treatment from a naturapathic entomologist. All stories are fictional unless otherwise advised. Cam's dialog can not be reproduced without written authorization or a reasonable hand drawn facsimile. mxxviiv
FIvanG
That's a pretty darn good comparison between the CR and KX! I raced a CR500
for a few years, and I must say most of your comments are spot on.....The CR
has bad table manners at high speed; typical Honda headshake, but at a much
scarier displacement! They are both torque monsters for sure; I put a steahly
weighted flywheel on my CR and that reduced brake-stalling. Also, Pro-Tapers
mounted in the rubber washers really helped minimize the vibration.
The KX looks dated; it is. Both are as you say; bullet proof. I preferred the
CR as it had no power valve to deal with. Do these bikes really need a power
valve? Anyway, you can't go wrong with either bike. They are both a handful
to race. A mere blip of the throttle on the face of the jump and say goodnight
gracie...
Frank
David E. Wilson
Cam Mitchell wrote:
>The CR has more bottom end while the KX will dust the CR in the top
>end. The KX keeps revving and revving as if you'll never run out of
>throttle, the CR falls on its face in the top end range. The KX's
>stock jetting just plain sucks. The CR is a torque monster. The KX
>is a bit wilder and makes for a better desert bike, while the CR makes
>for a better woods/motocross bike.
I have had open bikes before, and now have a 79 CR500. I believe that
Cam has it correct! Except I would add that the CR is only a little
soft on the very bottom, due to the large muffler. Change the muffler
and it
gets stronger. However, the bike is easier to ride with the large
muffler! I don't feel that it falls on it face at high RPM, but it is
not as strong as KX on top.
One area that Cam did not mention is rider comfort and brakes. I
believe that the CR is a very comfortable motorcycle (better than the
KX) and has brakes that are the best in all dirt biking. Brakes are
very important on a 500 (especially feel on the rear, lock it up and you
can get into big time 500cc trouble). I believe that head shake is
mostly
poor setup, especially not changing to heavier springs when you should.
I have also decided to sell my CR500, it is too difficult to go back and
forth from my 250 KTM trail bike and my Vintage bikes (67' Huskys).
If I ride the CR without going back and forth each weekend then I can
deal with the CR. Open bike are NOT easy to ride on an modern
supercross
oriented MX track! And, I only ride my CR on MX tracks. In the wide open
spaces the power is neat. I would buy (and should have bought a 97
360 KTM) the KTM 380 instead, no matter where I intend to use the bike.
Posible exception lots sand dunes. I didn't buy a 97 KTM 360 because of
the mid range power band that the 96 KTM had. I should have waited
until the tests can out, and I could not find anyone that had a 97 360
KTM either.
Vintage Dave
David E. Wilson
Jim Hall
"David E. Wilson" <dwi...@ucar.edu> wrote:
>In the wide open spaces the power is neat. I would buy (and should have
>bought a 97
>360 KTM) the KTM 380 instead, no matter where I intend to use the bike.
I would agree. So far my 380 has been an awesome bike. It's spit me
off several times though. The fault of the rider (and variousl large
rocks) and not the bike.
--
When the going gets Weird - the weird turn Pro....
h.s.thompson
Jim Hall
Flagstaff, AZ
REPLY TO: jdh...@plateau.com
98 380EXC
83 IT465
94 KDX250 FOR SALE!
84 PW50 (jimmy)
Motodave1
As for headshake I ride my 95 CR500 in the New Mexico Deserts and after setting
up the "stock" suspension there really isn't any. I did get some (only once
but i remember) down at a race in socorro but I think it was cause I was too
tired to ride correctly anymore. I love it.
Dave
95CR500
Mikeee P
I'll bite on this one... in comparo between the CR500 and the KX500 this is
what I've found.
I just raced a 97 CR500 a couple of months ago so I'm still pretty aware of
what it had going on both good and bad.
The CR gets to a certain RPM up top and it falls so flat on it's face that
I thought it hit the rev limiter, but it wasn't it's just that the carb or
porting won't let it rev any further. Thing is, if you ever did this, you
were wasting time because the CR makes awesome low and mid... shift, clutch
say good bye. The only people that passed me were guys that knew the
track... I had never been there before and they passed me going into turns.
The KX smokes the KX in the upper portions of the powerband... not even
close in my opinion.
CR great brakes...
Fresh bled brakes on the KX... almost as good.
Suspension... no contest sorry, but part of that might be that the Kawi is
stable so it doesn't get skittish on an MX track half as bad as the CR
does.
Cornering... well I've ridden a lot of 250's and despite what the mags say,
the CR500 doesn't corner like a 250, but the difference between turning (a
tight turn) a CR and a KX 500 is amazing. I'd prefer the outside line
almost always on the KX, on the CR I was going inside/outside to pass/block
people on the.
Both have super strong personalities that let you capitalize on their
strengths to out do the guy on the other bike. This makes it a toss up, do
you pass on the jumps and bumps (KX) or do you carve and try to get down
the next straight with that strong burst out of the turns (CR).
Ergo's... I don't buy all that ergo's crap. I fit in a Porsche just as
well as a VW. The KX won a ton of titles on that dated frame. If ergo's
were really that important or mattered that much... well... I just don't
see it affecting lap times. I think that sag does more than ergo's and it
still is over rated. Think about it... you can change the attitude of your
bike by leaning forward or back. How many people on earth can really tell
if the bike has 95 or 100mm's of sag. -Over rated- Plus in the long dez
races, the KX's are always on top or right there. If ergo's meant so much
those guys would lose every race on those old dated looking/feeling bikes.
Too thin... now there is a problem, you can't find the thing between your
knee's <G> I hate that...
Anyhow... I think they both rule in their own areas. I love to jump, but
need a bike that is stable (KX) so that rules the Honda out for me. Also I
love passing in the whoops (KX again).
Tight track or smooth track... I'd be all over that Honda and loving every
inch of it. The Honda feels like a much more quality bike than the KX to
me... thing is, nothing has ever broken on my KX so...
Right on, and there are my 2 cents worth.
Mikeee P
MX Tuner
>I just raced a 97 CR500 a couple of months ago so I'm still pretty aware of
>what it had going on both good and bad.
I've never ridden a KX 500. But I have dialed many a CR 500.
>The CR gets to a certain RPM up top and it falls so flat on it's face that
>I thought it hit the rev limiter, but it wasn't it's just that the carb or
>porting won't let it rev any further.
An FMF pipe does wonders for this. Add a RAM Valve and ..... HANG ON!!
>Thing is, if you ever did this, you were wasting time because the CR
>makes awesome low and mid... shift, clutch say good bye.
With the pipe, you can have the best of both worlds. The killer low
end AND the top end overrev (God what a motor).
>The KX smokes the CR in the upper portions of the powerband... not even
>close in my opinion.
Stock vs stock I'm sure you're right.
>Suspension... no contest sorry, but part of that might be that the Kawi is
>stable so it doesn't get skittish on an MX track half as bad as the CR
>does.
A correctly set up CR is as stable as they come at anything below
60mph. Thats when things happen fast on the CR. There is help
available (a.k.a. steering damper).
>How many people on earth can really tell
>if the bike has 95 or 100mm's of sag.
If the spring rates are correct for the riders weight, this can make a
BIG difference in cornering, headshake, plushness, etc.
>Too thin... now there is a problem, you can't find the thing between your
>knee's <G> I hate that...
Are we talking about your choice in women....?<G>
>Anyhow... I think they both rule in their own areas. I love to jump, but
>need a bike that is stable (KX) so that rules the Honda out for me. Also I
>love passing in the whoops (KX again).
Once again, a properly set up CR will truly work wonders.
Wish I could beg, borrow, or steal a ride on a big KX...
MX Tuner