How many would they sell?

[nmdesertrider]

I gotta scratch my head and wonder how many AF CR500s Honda would sell if they made one. I believe that open bikes are truly ridable now with modern suspension and brakes. How much money are they throwing away?

[redrocket190]

Not enough to even be the smallest blip on the Marketing and Finance department's radar screen. Honda is not a niche player. They might even consider every CR500AF sale a lost opportunity for the CRF450R. Practically they get all the benefit of Service Honda and other's efforts in brand awareness for very little hassle. I expect SH might get a deal on the parts.

[dannygraves]

everyone is so over 2 strokes. infact I suspect there are various kickbacks through CARB or EPA or something. I was shopping for a weedwacker last weekend and noticed that half of the were 4 STROKES! and honda didn't make a single 2 stroke. but I did notice that when comparing similar brands and feature sets with only the 2 stroke and 4 stroke difference the price was almost the same. Now let me ask you how on gods green earth can the manufacturer make them for the same price with valves, cams, chains guides, accelerator pump carb, etc. etc?
There has to be some kickback somewhere from some environmental green BS crap. From a manufacturing standpoint going 4 stroke is retarded and gives absolutely no advantages to the manufacturer unless maybe the epa charged them half as much to cert it for sale in cali or something.
2 stroke bikes are never coming back, we're just lucky we still have ours and blue and orange are still selling 2 stoke 250s.

[hoofarted]

But with the AMA allowing same displacement 2 and 4 strokes to run together, I am sure you'll see a lot of two stroke 250's coming back next year. I just wonder if they'll do the same for 500's. HRC does make a 500cc kit for the 450 thumper. And I know people are running them. So it only makes sense if you can run a 500cc two stroke against a 500cc four stroke, no?

[AlisoBob]

450's sell, and the service dept is overflowing in work. They prolly' shoulda stopped the 500 in 1999.....

[hoofarted]

and the service dept is overflowing in work.

yah - wonder how much it costs for a new top end on a 450...people just cant see the light!

a friend of mine wants a 450 just to be cool - I told him you're lame and I'll still hand your ass to you on my 500. For less than half the cost. You can lead a horse to water right?

[AlisoBob]

For less than half the cost.

HALF ???


20%


($7500 x 20% = Cherry 1986 CR500)

[Skidmark]

2-Strokes shall live again. Only with direct injection and 4-stroke style engine oiling.

I'm guessing 2010-2012.

The AMA rule change MAY influence OEMS to get back into it. If they do...Honda wont be back until they have a direct injection set-up. They make no more 2-strokes worldwide at this point...all production has stopped.

The technology is available.....Hell...if Aprillia can do it on a streetbike....all mighty HONDA can do it!

BS