Classic Bike Review: 1985 Honda CR500R

This is my look back at Honda's first liquid-cooled Open Class machine, the 1985 Honda CR500R. Feared for its potency and revered for its iconic looks, the '85 CR500R may be the most powerful 500 Honda ever produced. After 1985, Honda strove to mellow out their 500cc beast and make it easier to manage. Big, burly and not for the faint of heart, the 1985 CR500R stands at the high-water mark in the 1980s Open class horsepower wars.
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[@jeffreyrh]

I had an 85 and an 87. The 85 was definitely more powerful. Miss those bikes!

[@EmperorNerox]

I remember dirt bike magazine saying at the end of their review of the 500 "only 2 people on earth can use this amount of power ,check your driver's license if your name ends in Glover or Johnson..." Something like that. Those 500s were fast as hell, 250s we're getting fast but the 500s pulled to the moon and hit hard. The 85cr500 and the 86kx500 were the beasts

[@joeljohnson3157]

I owned the 84&85 CR 500's when I was a 120lb teen the 84 was a terrible bike un crankable when cold & unpredictable power band!!! The 85,86,&87's were way more fun to ride. Love your content

[@jeffdean7623]

I personally saw David Bailey start a friend's 84 500, that he had flooded in a small fall at Lake Sugar Tree. David Bailey rode up on a four-wheeler, had a broken arm in a cast. Ask my buddy could he borrow his bike to get it started... First kick it fired right up!

[@firegoat73]

I had an 87 CR500 for a couple years. I wish I hadn’t sold that thing, it’s the one bike I’ve owned that I would love to have back.

[@jasonpeters9390]

Had a 86 the only bike I had that none of my mates wanted to have a go on great vlog again always brings back memories

[@deborahchesser7375]

Dang they were so much prettier back then, all the brands had different looks and personality’s

[@westonjaxx7286]

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[@hezekiahskyler9105]

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[@westonjaxx7286]

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[@hezekiahskyler9105]

@Weston Jaxx Happy to help =)

[@CainSample]

I love my 84 cr500r...i ride it wide open👍 i have alot of vids on my channel racing it...i race ama district 6✌

[@Duppavich]

Love your videos mate 👍 I have the 84 CR500, so I'm happy you did a bit on that. After getting the squish clearance mod to the head and 98 octane, pretty much cured the pinging...then I snapped the Conrod at full rpm.. smashing the engine cases 🤬 I have a new bottom end now and starting the rebuild 🤘

[@robertrishel3685]

It’s become a timeless beast! Another great review, thank you👍 Recommendations: review 1980’s works bikes😉

[@RLowVaughn1]

I bought the first '85 CR 500 in Boise when they arrived in the fall of 1984. The sort of iconic spread with the Interceptor 500 and CR 500 drag race provoked me to put flat track tires on it and take it to the local drag strip. I remember the interceptor won the shootout with a 12 something second 1/4 mile, but my bike was turning 11's consistently.

[@dr.hugog.hackenbush9443]

I have 4 500s! '83 YZ490, '88 CR500, '96 CR500 & '97KX500. Need to find a RM500, a Maico, 2 ATKs and 3 KTMs..

[@lawrencemacdonald9454]

Great channel miss the old school dirt bikes sucks getting old

[@jimmy_dirtbike]

well done Tony. Love listening to these videos at work when I can.

[@whitesand8]

loved the look of 85' Hondas including the xr's that year.

[@deborahchesser7375]

whitesands I’d love to find an 85’ XR350 single carb. Can you imagine a pumper carb, oil cooler, full exhaust, suspension mods, and a dual sport kit on one of those

[@deborahchesser7375]

whitesands guess not LOL

[@northwestadvrider5638]

Underrated channel. Awesome content.

[@hedbngr18]

I have an 85 CR500 engine that's going into an 85 ATC frame. It's going to be SO much fun.

[@dr.hugog.hackenbush9443]

Beef up the frame. Thank me later.

[@hedbngr18]

I'll be doing an entire gusset setup along with a new engine cradle. The last thing I want is a frame failure when I'm already riding at speeds above my ability. 😋

[@beckersworldinc.171]

I must have been criminally insane, raced the 85 for many years. I had Baileys practice bike (I was told) and loved it's power, Glen Helen friday night MX was a blast on my 500.

[@TheMotocrossVault]

I admire your skill and bravery sir

[@philipwurm5121]

Love your videos Tony! I had this 85 CR 500 and She was violent.!!! I think She was harder to start than to ride. At this point in time I was riding a KX 250 and didn’t seek out a 500 but some Cat owed me cash and had no way of getting it up so he gave me the CR 500....She was a Beast!!!!!

[@MrJohnnaz]

I ruined a good pair of Fox boots trying to start an '85 after a new top end was installed. After it was lit and broke in, all hell would break loose, what a missile.

[@thulsa5218]

Gotta love Honda in the 80s! They weren't the strangled bean counter and run by accountants and shareholders company that they are today. Ever year a wide lineup of brand new redesigned bikes, not just bold new graphics!

[@JohnSmith-yf6td]

My friend had a 85 cr500, great motor, suspension way to soft especially in the front end and lots of fork flex also especially in the big woops sections

[@huntressrose]

Love your videos man! I always learn something. I just love vintage and post vintage bikes so watching these videos for me are just really interesting. Keep up the awesome videos.

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Thanks

[@2smoker500A]

I had an 85 , 250 and 500 that yr. racing in Florida.The 250 I had a lot of suspension work done to it. the 500 not as much being as I was 130lb soaking wet . It didn’t really know I was on it lol , loved that 500 owned it until the 89came out the updated. Currently have 96 engine on an 08 450AF and a 91 steely

[@jeffdean7623]

Another great video pal! In my opinion the difference between say, a 125 and a 500, would be on a 125 you hold it wide open and try not to come off the pipe, whereas on the 500, you get it pointed in the right direction and ease on the throttle!

[@EmperorNerox]

125s were fun to stay on the power, took skill and feathering the clutch. The 500s were scary fast and you'd fkng LAUNCH off jumps

[@rgerrit4917]

I have a CR500 1985 a great bike !!

[@jimmycapps7263]

I appretiate how educated and thorough you are on this subject! These are the years i grew up to motocross in and it brings back good memories!' Thank you and i will now hit that button...

[@hankschrader149]

I had an 85' CR500 20 years ago it was violent power came on right now! I had it bored, ported and polished, shaved head, FMF nickel pipe, Ohlins shock. The bike was originally owned and raced by either Phil or Mike Larson? Not sure which one. It was brutally fast

[@XEFairmont]

I moto'd a 85 XR600 and got cruel arm pump. switched to an 86 500 and no more arm pump......but man, severe thigh pump!!! What a blast to ride though.

[@jamesbramblett3346]

Nicely done thanks Tony you are awesome. Wow Honda was on the verge of the total domination to come in 1985

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Thank you for the kind words

[@timconnell9587]

Awesome review.

[@travisswiger924]

My old man blames his aches and pains on the cr 500 😂

[@danielrelph6878]

I remember these bikes the 85 and 86 were similar huge tank snappy abrupt and short power...the 86 was so much more plush.The main issue I had was not the power but the handling, The headshake was manageable but kind of ridiculous and they seemed to oversteer compared to other brands I would always tuck when pushing it, but the motor was good just short shift and roll it on ride smoothly.

[@keithbrier4397]

Not many people mention the headshake issue.My 87 has that same problem.Going with inverted forks.

[@dannydepino3874]

I've owned 4 cr500s 84 always hard to start but when it ran was a beast 85 is when they got it together and got better as time went on 88 97 honda was always ahead of there time there not for the inexperienced rider there's nothing like that deep sounding raw 2 stoke power.

[@ocjon1965]

on the 84 honda 500 - all you had to do was change the needle in the carb . .then it ran perfect . .i had no problems with mine , and i beat it up hard. . .120 ft jumps in gorman ..raced it 2 x a week . .only thing i can think of was a cracked piston..replaced it with a wisco - oh , had the head reshaped ..then ran 2 base gaskets. . . it was smooth ..little changes made a big dif

[@sevendyseven4090]

Wow, only discovered you today, Sub'd immediately !Nothing & I mean Nothing beat the '85 Cr line in looks for me !! (include to this, the XR250/350/600 also)

[@deborahchesser7375]

seven dyseven I’d love to find an 85’ XR350, that bike was just a gem to me, in the right hands could hang with the XR500

[@psychosneighbor1509]

Good stuff as usual, Tony. How about Husky MX bikes of the 80's? Just a thought... :)

[@jayb9687]

I remember those ATAC chambers. What a mess. All those little linkages and c-clips.

[@evo5349]

Enjoyed that.

[@zacharyldalziel7569]

I had the 92' cr 500. I've ridin all other 2 stroke bikes before. Of every CC and brand. There's nothing, and I repeat nothing like the bottom and top end power of a CR500. Put a hooker 12 paddle on it. It ruled Pismo beach. Ruled Glamis. Bought it for 3k. Sold it for 3K. Just a beast of a machine.

[@GoogleUser-lu6oe]

Great review. You summed up this specific bike perfectly. A legendary motor rated for pros only.

[@1969cmp]

I had an RJ in 88, raced it in the 89 Finke Desert Race. A little fat but a good solid bike to ride.

[@KingNero4444]

We called those things "Monster-crossers". Not much of a fun factor, but they never seemed to run out of "pull".

[@bradgimbert582]

“It would swat you like a fly”. Throttle control was #1

[@nighthawk3378]

I was 12 years old n rode a mini bike. I came across some teenagers riding riding a 1985 xr350. They were kind of teasing me that i need to ride a real dirtbike. For what ever reason i lied n said i did know how to ride. I was deeply in love with dirtbikes n replayed in my head all day every day how to shift. The dude called my bluff, said go ahead Vedder jump on. I was ecited n scared, f,#? It. I climbed on, i actually compensated the clutch n troddle almost perfect, ley a little roast( sand helped, might of jerk n stalled if i was on concretet, but it wasn't) i took it around the trail. When i returned he smilling with a thumbs up. Later years did ride a 85 cr500r, maybe explans why i wheelied my harleys

[@grantbattison9964]

Hi Tony, just discovered your channel today and subscribed straight away! Your knowledge is truly impressive. This comes straight from my motocross time. I raced in the 125 Junior class in South Africa in 1982 and 83 on a RM 125. We had Americans come to South Africa in those days. For example Rex Staten came over and raced at least one season in South Africa in the eighties. Russ Darnell also came over, and I attended his motocross school. I have never ridden a CR500, but I did ride a KTM 495. Great review!

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Thank you

[@seekingtruth9182]

The 85 is a short rod motor. Revs faster, from what I've learned . I have an 87, from what I've learned , other than water pump right case cover, it's the same motor till 2001

[@nighthawk3378]

Looking at the picture, reminds of being a teenager.

[@timconnell9587]

Can you compare the 80cc bikes from the late 70's through the 1990's?

[@danielrelph6878]

For some reason the 500 power agrees with me you short shift these suckers,I like to lug them and stay a gear high...its feels slow but your moving

[@westcoastlifestyle5916]

I loved the 500 quad racer for that. The power range felt shirt. Low revving. But the torque was always there. I'd would lug thru really tight tech areas without any clutch work or killing it.

[@jayb9687]

I'd still prefer the '83 480 if I was racing. Yeah I'm biased cuz I had one. Weighed just a little more than a 250 and had sharp and nimble handling. But yeah, what an iconic motor for the ages. Even still today.

[@Oregon1978]

Completely agree with you, I have a 1982 CR 480 that I recently restored . They are such great machines . A pleasure to ride with great handling , weights as much as a YZ 250 with plenty of torque . I love these old 2 stroke bikes of early 80’s . No fancy bold stickers and ugly plastics . Just the bare minimum to get the job done . Too bad they were only made in 1982/1983 .

[@vwsandvettes3253]

I want one of these '85 CR500R liquid-cooled beauties but they are NLA, or clapped out, or out of this world over-priced even if I could find one. Even if I had one though I'd be afraid to look at it wrong or it might kill me LOL. Would definitely kill me if I tried to ride it!

[@mikeowens1944]

I’m restoring a 02 cr250, can you do or have done a review on this one with the first year of the RC power valve?

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Mike Owens o will do it for sure 👍🏻

[@MachTuck]

Agree with you at 11:50 ;))

[@johnraylangstonjohnraylang5924]

Hello I like some of your mix views on these bikes for the 1984 to 86 year models. Again it hard to understand some of your mix views it sound like Bal Bal Bal! for the 80s. Just take your self back to the 70s bikes that I can remember and they was great fun bikes for that time frame. The 80s was and new way of motor cross There was no one ready and seen this type of bikes before built and the 80s was far more better bikes then what we had to deal with in the 70s. Guess like the 90s and the 2000s there be mix view as will. The model next flying in the air. The bottom line is eletric bikes will change everything. Just a peace of mind the 1980s what the best years. Again I see alot of views, and it would be great to here a better out look from you about the 80s. Just kick your self back in to the 70s bikes, and ride them fir a few years. i know for a fact you then would have a better out look for 80s bikes. From 1984 to 1986 are the best built bikes that I ever seen in my age group. And I been around them for 60 years. Enjoyed your post. Thanks

[@jacobjames1171]

My Uncle had an 85.

[@deborahchesser7375]

Ah the 81’ CR450, a 4 speed grenade.

[@chadkennedy529]

The power is fun, but everything else built around it wasn't. I've only rode a couple and from what I remember the 97 cr500 had terrible headshake and plush, slow suspension and just felt sloppy.

[@johnweaver1198]

Sexiest Dirtbike ever produced hands down!

[@scootypuffjr.]

Disc brake in the front, drum in the back. Like an old Chevy, lol

[@stevesmith756]

Like a new Tacoma

[@tonycerino9645]

I had an 87 CT 125 best bike I ever had

[@nighthawk3378]

My heart just skipped

[@seekingtruth9182]

60 hp

[@gavinbennett4808]

I have one I'll sell it for 5000 Canadian

[@VlogEpicness]

I’m sure I’m unpopular but I have no interest in riding a 500.

[@JohnErikjohansson]

its fun open field. or gravel roads etc. :)

[@2DclanSnipingTeam]

That's exactly why they stopped making them.

[@JohnErikjohansson]

@@2DclanSnipingTeam yes and it sucks even more !