Unboxing a brand new 2001 Honda CR500
This must feel like finding buried treasure.
All the way back in 1984 Honda introduced the first iteration of the legendary CR500, fittingly nicknamed the ‘Ping King’. Back then its 491cc 2 stroke motor was pushing out a ridiculous 60-64 HP, but in 2001 when the CR500 was discontinued the HP had mellowed to around 56. The CR's power figure is enough to rival new off-road bikes today, but that’s not what made the ‘Ping King’ so special.
What made the CR500 so unique was the way it ripped around an MX track or open field. The humongous 38mm flatside carb, the brutally small power band, and a weight of 101kg made the bike accelerate like a rocket ship. And much like the fragrance by Diesel ‘only the brave’ would ride it, as the throttle was like an on/off switch.
These guys from Full Force Racing Components were lucky enough to find a brand new 2001 model, still in its original crate. What would you do with it? Polish it or rip it?
Full Specs
| Specifications | ||
| DIMENSIONS | Overall length | 2183 mm / 85,9 in – CR500 (1992-1993) |
| 2185 mm / 86,0 in – CR500 (1994) | ||
| 2179 mm / 85,8 in – CR500 (1995+) | ||
| Overall width | 825 mm / 32,5 in – CR500 (1992-1994) | |
| 835 mm / 32,9 in – CR500 (1995+) | ||
| Overall height | 1240 mm / 48,8 in – CR500 (1992-1994) | |
| 1237 mm /48,7 in – CR500 (1995+) | ||
| Seat height | 964 mm / 38,0 in – CR500 (1992-1993) | |
| 961 mm / 37,8 in – CR500 (1994) | ||
| 937 mm / 36,9 in – CR500 (1995+) | ||
| Wheelbase | 1489 mm / 58,6 in – CR500 (1992-1993) | |
| 1491 mm / 58,7 in – CR500 (1994) | ||
| 1485 mm / 58,5 in – CR500 (1995+) | ||
| Ground clearance | 343 mm / 13,5 in – CR500 (1992-1993) | |
| 341 mm / 13,4 in – CR500 (1994) | ||
| 328 mm / 12,9 in – CR500 (1995+) | ||
| Dry weight | 101 kg / 222,7 lbs | |
| Curb (wet) weight | ||
| FRAME | Type | Semi double-cradle (steel) |
| Front suspension, travel | Telescopic fork – CR500 (1984-1988) | |
| Inverted telescopic fork (adjustable) , 310 mm / 12,2 in – CR500 (1989+) | ||
| Rear suspension, travel | Swingarm Pro-link with mono-shock (adjustable), 320 mm / 12,6 in | |
| Front tire size | 80/100-21 51M | |
| Rear tire size | 110/100-18 64M | |
| Front brake | Single disc, 2-piston caliper | |
| Rear brake | Drum – CR500 (1984-1986) | |
| Single disc, 1-piston caliper – CR500 (1987+) | ||
| Fuel capacity | 9,0 l / 2,38 US gal | |
| Trail | 119 mm / 4,7 in – CR500 (1992-1993) | |
| 121 mm / 4,8 in – CR500 (1994) | ||
| 114 mm / 4,5 in – CR500 (1995+) | ||
| Fuel economy | ||
| ENGINE | Type | Air-cooled 2-stroke – CR500 (1984) |
| Water-cooled 2-stroke – CR500 (1985+) | ||
| Cylinder arrangement | Single cylinder | |
| Bore & Stroke | 89,0 x 79,0 mm | |
| Displacement | 491,4 cm³ (29,9 cu-in) | |
| Compression ratio | 6.8:1 | |
| Valve train | ||
| Max. power | 64,6 hp (47,5 kW) / 6000 rpm | |
| Max. torque | 72,2 Nm (7,3 kgm) / 6000 rpm – CR500 (1985-1992) | |
| 75,6 Nm (7,7 kgm) / 6000 rpm – CR500 (1993+) | ||
| 0 to 100 km/h | ||
| Top speed | ||
| CARBURETION SYSTEM | Type | Carburetor, 1x 38 mm |
| ID | ||
| DRIVE TRAIN | Clutch | Wet, multi-plate |
| Transmission | 5-speed constant mesh | |
| Final drive | Chain | |
| Primary reduction | 2.52 | |
| Final reduction | 3.5 | |
| Gear ratio | ||
| 1.75 | ||
| I | ||
| 1.388 | ||
| II | ||
| 1.15 | ||
| III | ||
| 1.000 (1984-1992); 0.955 (1993+) | ||
| IV | ||
| 0.870 (1984-1992); 0.792 (1993+) | ||
| V | ||
| ELECTRICAL | Ignition | CDI |
| Alternator | ||
| Battery capacity | ||
