Alright, let me tell you about the time I got my hands on this legendary beast, the 1987 Honda CR500R. It wasn’t exactly mint condition when I picked it up, more like it had seen some serious action and then sat for a while. But I love a good project, you know?
Getting Started
First thing, I rolled it into the garage and just looked at it for a bit. You gotta respect these old two-strokes. Then, the real work began. I decided to start with the basics, make sure it would even run reliably before worrying about cosmetics.
- Tear Down: I pulled off the seat and tank first. Gave me better access to the engine and carb.
- Carb Cleaning: The carburetor was predictably gummy. Took it apart completely, soaked the jets and body in carb cleaner. Scrubbed everything down with a small brush. Found some gunk in the float bowl, cleaned that out real good. Put it all back together carefully.
- Spark Check: Pulled the plug. It looked okay, but I threw in a new NGK just to be safe. Checked for spark – nice and blue. Good sign.
- Fuel System: Drained the old gas from the tank. Smelled awful. Flushed the tank out a bit to get any debris out. Put on a new fuel line and filter, cheap insurance.
- Air Filter: The air filter was toast. Just crumbling apart. Ordered a new one and oiled it up properly once it arrived.
- Fluids: Drained the old transmission oil. Looked pretty dark. Filled it back up with the correct type and amount. Checked the coolant too, topped it off.
The Moment of Truth
Okay, so with the carb clean, new plug, fresh fuel, and a clean air filter, it was time to see if she’d wake up. Poured in some fresh premix gas. Turned the fuel petcock on. Choke on. Now, kicking over a CR500 is no joke. It demands respect. You gotta give it a full, committed kick.
Took a few hard kicks. Getting nervous. Then, BAM! It roared to life. Scared the crap out of me, honestly. The whole garage vibrated. That sound… pure, raw two-stroke power. It settled into a rough idle, but it was running!
Tuning and Riding
Spent the next hour or so tweaking the carb idle screw and air screw. Got it idling a bit smoother, but these bikes are never perfectly smooth at idle anyway. Checked for leaks, seemed okay.
Then I geared up. Had to take it for a quick spin, right? Rolled it outside. Bliped the throttle a few times. The response was instant. Let out the clutch and eased onto the throttle… haha, “eased” isn’t really the right word. This thing just wants to go. The power hits hard. It’s not subtle. It’s an absolute monster, pulls like a freight train. You really gotta hang on.
It wasn’t perfect yet. The suspension felt kinda sacked out, and the brakes needed attention. But just getting that engine running right felt like a huge win. Working on these old bikes, bringing them back, it’s just satisfying. This CR500R project was a reminder of how raw and exciting dirt bikes used to be. What a machine.
