Hey I'm shopping for a CR500 and wondering about differences as they get newer. A friend has an '86 for sale. Obviously the suspension and brakes were upgraded in later years, but what about the engine?
Is an 86 engine as good to have as a newer one? Any major reliability issues or performance differences? Parts availability? vibration?
thanks!
Difference between older and newer engines?
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- Posts: 7
- Joined: October 31st, 2010, 8:37 pm
Welcome to the site.
In my opinion the only major problem with that older vintage is the side cover which houses the water pump, and is Magnesium and most likely rotted out. Sometime in '89 they changed to aluminum though I have an 89 and it's mag
The later side covers are also larger and house a clutch with more disks.
Check here for more info http://bannedcr500riders.com/board/view ... c&start=25
In my opinion the only major problem with that older vintage is the side cover which houses the water pump, and is Magnesium and most likely rotted out. Sometime in '89 they changed to aluminum though I have an 89 and it's mag
The later side covers are also larger and house a clutch with more disks.
Check here for more info http://bannedcr500riders.com/board/view ... c&start=25
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- Posts: 7
- Joined: October 31st, 2010, 8:37 pm
- Roostius_Maximus
- Site Admin
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- Location: Mt Nebo, Manitoba, Canada
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84-01 Stroke is trhe same, 87-01 +5mm rod length
http://www.youtube.com/user/500bigbore
My CR500 Tech Reference... http://sdrv.ms/1a0CIiz
MRE Components... http://sdrv.ms/1bs2zhd
My CR500 Tech Reference... http://sdrv.ms/1a0CIiz
MRE Components... http://sdrv.ms/1bs2zhd
- DieHard2Smoke
- Posts: 50
- Joined: August 27th, 2010, 1:33 pm
my .02
my 85 cr5 has a powerband like most other smaller cc 2 strokes. except that its a 500 so in the midrange when you start getting on the pipe, it takes off like a raped ape and then signs off in the higher rpms and is very short shift friendly.
my dads 90 feels like it has a much broader powerband. i could tell i am faster around a track on the 90, its much more predictable and easier to ride fast, for me atleast.
both are very fun motors but i do prefer the 85 for hills and dunes, and 90 for track or singletrack. hope it helps, also 85-86 were the only years of the shorter rod that had the more explosive hit.
my 85 cr5 has a powerband like most other smaller cc 2 strokes. except that its a 500 so in the midrange when you start getting on the pipe, it takes off like a raped ape and then signs off in the higher rpms and is very short shift friendly.
my dads 90 feels like it has a much broader powerband. i could tell i am faster around a track on the 90, its much more predictable and easier to ride fast, for me atleast.
both are very fun motors but i do prefer the 85 for hills and dunes, and 90 for track or singletrack. hope it helps, also 85-86 were the only years of the shorter rod that had the more explosive hit.
thinking of jumping over to the AF side of things
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- Posts: 7
- Joined: October 31st, 2010, 8:37 pm
Engines
I had an AF with a 1989 engine and now have a steelie with a 1985 engine. I did not notice any difference in vibration and neither vibrated much in my opinion. Be careful of excessive vibration - could indicate other issues such as bad main bearings. The 1985 certain pulls harder off the bottom (a lot of torque) and throughout most of the RPM range than the 1989 I had - both just had new top ends installed. I had to replace the rear engine bushings to use the 1985 in the 1997 frame since the swingarm bolt from 1989-2001 is larger than the pre-1989 engines.bluegroove wrote:brilliant! that's exactly the kind of info I wanted, thanks guys.
Do any years vibrate less than others?
Steelie Build Done
Gen 1 CR500 AF Complete - SOLD
Gen 1 CR500 AF Complete - SOLD