Yes I'm still thinking about. If I do it won't be EFI. That's out. What years are better and which ones stay from.
Is an aluminum frame CR 500 better for a snow bike?
- Thread starter SnoFro
- Start date
I think 97-01 are pretty much the same. I think you're fine with steel frame on a snowbike. Sounds like the steel vibrates a touch less.
Also cheaper. Leaves money for carb heater,tunnel cooler, t-stat, pegs...etc. Good luck. I love mine!
Become a member on cr500riders.com. Lots of good info there, even if the search feature sucks.
Also cheaper. Leaves money for carb heater,tunnel cooler, t-stat, pegs...etc. Good luck. I love mine!
Become a member on cr500riders.com. Lots of good info there, even if the search feature sucks.
All aluminum frame cr500's are custom built as far as I know. If you get one from service Honda it will be the closest thing to an OEM bike. There are also many other home built ones that may or may not be up to par.
Do you need a tunnel cooler?
If its going to be a dedicated snow bike I wouldn't waste my time. There really isn't a huge weight savings over a steely. The steel frames have a little more rake in the forks than a modern bike but I actually like that. The steel is better at dampening the vibes. I rode mine yesterday and the vibrations never crossed my mind once so that whole thing is a non issue in my mind. If the bike were to be for summer as well I would do a KTM cromo frame conversion before I did an alu frame. The cro mo is way easier to work with and you don't need to cut the frame simply move the engine mount tabs. As far as years go the early 86, 87, 88 bikes had the best engines for power but they are getting really old and parts are hard to find. Honda detuned the bike a bit for 89 as they were basically unrideable. The head was changed again I think in 91. All the rest are the same. Honda switched to a 46mm fork in 96 which can be made to work on a snow bike. The pre 96 forks are 43 mm and a fork swap is mandatory IMO. I have 48mm WP forks from a KTM mx bike on mine. Check out my build thread for more info.
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M5
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DenverSnowBike
Active member
I'm really interested in this. I searched and have read a lot about peoples tunnel cooler builds, pretty sweet stuff!
I am currently building a KX500 AF for next year. I'll be mounting a '16 TS ST w/ TSS to it...
Not trying to dig up old threads or hijack this one, but what is THE BEST solution for cooling? I live in Colorado, so I ride in all conditions, handle bar deep pow all the way up to 50 degrees and mashed potatoes.
I think my final solution is 1 rad and a tunnel cooler with a tstat.
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DenverSnowBike
Active member
That's what I'm running also. The head of the CR 500 has two outlets. I use the one on the left for my tunnel cooler. And the one on the right goes to my right hand radiator. I have a valve in line for the radiator and leave it off most of the time. Occasionally I turn it on for extra cooling on hardpack trails. I also have a scratchers that I put down some times to help my tunnel cooler, but that's just as much for my hifax as anything.
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You don't need two. The tunnel cooler is what cools your bike. Plus removing the left-hand radiator frees up some space for your thermostat.
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portgrinder
Well-known member
If your bike is overheating you just arent riding fast enough. start grabbing gears.
kx500af. some mornings on a slow trail up the mtn i stop a couple times and throw a little snow on it.
put one of those cheapie temp sensors on it.
mx bikes run tighter piston to cylinder clearances vs sleds too, which doesnt help if you start making big power or are a little cold on your temps. i set mine up more to where a sled runs.
thats it really
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