Stormin 9,981 #26 Posted February 5, 2020 On 6/19/2013 at 3:20 AM, SALTYWRIGHT said: I HAVE HAD OVER 50 MOTOR CYCLES OVER THE LAST 71 YEARS. I JUST SOLD MY LAST ONE 2 YEARS AGO. I STILL MISS RIDING. RUSS. Likewise 40 something I think. From 80cc to 1000cc. Some at the same time. Sold the last one, Aprilla Pegaso 650cc, nine years ago. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 9,981 #27 Posted February 5, 2020 On 2/1/2020 at 12:49 AM, tom2p said: those old two stroke Kaw 500's were nasty ! More than nasty. Most lethal bike I've ever ridden. Would take off like a scolded cat. You could get the front wheel airborne in 3rd gear. On high speed corners you'd think the frame was rubber, the way they would wiggle. 1968, (69?) Isle of Man Production TT. I was spectating just after the first lefthander after Signpost Corner. Only 500 Kwacker came round on the first lap, all over the place. The rider was really fighting it. "We'll not see him again", my mate said. We didn't. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,734 #28 Posted February 7, 2020 Anyone ever ridden a Honda (CR?)500 2 stroke? That is a mean bike. My older cousin had one at my (mom’s) place when I was 17, so I could haul it up north for him. I grew up on Honda 110’s, various quads and had a ‘05 Yamaha Raptor 660. That bike reminded me that I’m not invincible on my humble 25 mph street. I was nice in first and second... hit third and decided to open her up a bit. I imagine I was up to about 50 when she decided she wanted a good look at the sky.... RIGHT NOW! Can’t much compression brake like a 4 stroke, I was instinctual enough to let off the throttle and ride the storm out. I only had a couple more goes on it before simply performing my hauling task and leaving it be! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buckrancher 2,679 #29 Posted February 7, 2020 yes I rode one a lot and a KX500 raced a CR250 and a 125 for a few years too 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cvans 1,009 #30 Posted February 7, 2020 (edited) I owned one of the Kawasaki 500 triples. Thing was actually dangerous for the uninitiated rider. When they came on the pipe it was like riding a greased Wolverine. They would literally flip you over backwards in second gear. But trying to stay off the throttle was also a challenge. I can still hear the sound of the winding engine. Talk about an adrenaline rush. Edited February 7, 2020 by Cvans 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vinylguy 4,674 #31 Posted February 7, 2020 You guys have me searching for all my bike pictures instead of working. This was my best road bike ever after owning Goldwings and Harleys Smooth, reliable and so much power. Put over 40,000 on it till we finally quit riding in 2013 I do not miss it as much as I thought I would. So many memories. Mostly good some not so good. Last trip west from Illinois to Colorado on route 36 then up over the Rocky Mountain National Park down to Estes Park then up 25 and over to the Black Hills and the Badlands National Park before heading back east on route 90. Only interstate on this trip (Hate interstates on a motorcycle).side trip up to Leech Lake MN before heading home through Duluth and down through Wisconsin to home. Little over 4000 miles. Best vacation ever. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Tuul Crib 7,336 #32 Posted February 7, 2020 28 minutes ago, Vinylguy said: You guys have me searching for all my bike pictures instead of working. This was my best road bike ever after owning Goldwings and Harleys Smooth, reliable and so much power. Put over 40,000 on it till we finally quit riding in 2013 I do not miss it as much as I thought I would. So many memories. Mostly good some not so good. Last trip west from Illinois to Colorado on route 36 then up over the Rocky Mountain National Park down to Estes Park then up 25 and over to the Black Hills and the Badlands National Park before heading back east on route 90. Only interstate on this trip (Hate interstates on a motorcycle).side trip up to Leech Lake MN before heading home through Duluth and down through Wisconsin to home. Little over 4000 miles. Best vacation ever. Nice looking ride to have Terry. I've been to Estes Park twice and I wish I could go back. What a beautiful place we took the tram up to the top of the mountain there and you could see for miles ! My wife and I got married in crested Butte in the wildflowers. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tom2p 2,394 #33 Posted February 8, 2020 (edited) 21 hours ago, pullstart said: Anyone ever ridden a Honda (CR?)500 2 stroke? That is a mean bike. My older cousin had one at my (mom’s) place when I was 17, so I could haul it up north for him. I grew up on Honda 110’s, various quads and had a ‘05 Yamaha Raptor 660. That bike reminded me that I’m not invincible on my humble 25 mph street. I was nice in first and second... hit third and decided to open her up a bit. I imagine I was up to about 50 when she decided she wanted a good look at the sky.... RIGHT NOW! Can’t much compression brake like a 4 stroke, I was instinctual enough to let off the throttle and ride the storm out. I only had a couple more goes on it before simply performing my hauling task and leaving it be! only ridden a few big bores - never rode CR500 do recall CR500s at the US Nationals back in the 80's - ridden by David Bailey, Rick Johnson, Dan Chandler ... Bailey and Chandler were open class champs at High Point (Mt Morris) - just a few riders/bikes were able to hit a triple on one part of the track ... no 125s or 250s were able to hit the triple - just a few 500s ... Bailey on a CR500 was one unfortunately - and maybe not a coincidence - Bailey and Chandler both paralyzed later in their careers in crashes and Johnson also serious injury from a crash that basically ended his motocross career Edited February 8, 2020 by tom2p 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
