actually before I broke my shoulder I had a shot on a 2004 gen3 CR500AF and I was 3 seconds quicker a lap than on my 450 that was set for me and had been on all year. It has so much power that you can be cruising into and through mid corner. Crack the throttle open and its warp speed. You go past 450's like a 450 would a 125. Strange sensation. Also if you ride it like a 125 by keeping your momentum up through the corners by taking wide lines it actually doesn't tire you out to much.
I have ridden the CR 500 and realized quick that I was never meant to be on such a beast, the power delivery of that engine is incredible. The CRX 450 is a much more manageable bike but I guess that would take the fun out of it all then. The CR 500 will always be a better "Look what I got" bike though. I will stick with the smallbores and leave the bigbores to the pros like you and JP.
Shoulder is still sore. will be worse when I finish my new project bike of a cr250 2007 chassis with a cr500 engine transplant. Although I need to be home to do that.
I love the hare and hound races, we usually run for 2 hours only stopping for gas. Most are held on what we refer to as "Army trails", they are called that because you can "be all that you can be" on them. Hope your shoulder is healing well.
I still do the modern hare and hound races to this day John. They usually are 3 hrs flat out on a "hare determined course" marked out in the morning. The laps usually take about 15 mins so probably around 5-6 mile loops through moorland and woods.
They are good fun and good for bike fitness. Arms, legs and hands hanging off hahaha.
I tried early on this summer to get the old BSA 500 out, Did a few laps around my property and tried a couple of jumps. My fookin shoulder just hurt too bad. I love European Scrambles races. In the desert we used to put on a hare and hound. The hare would fill an old leather mail pouch with lime and take off. 10 minutes later everyone would start, following the handfulls of lime he would drop every 100 yards or so. Made for a great race trying to catch him and not getting lost. Usually the first couple of guys to spot the lime trail, would put their back wheel on the spot and obliterate it so no one else could pick up the 'scent', but someone would eventually pick up the trail. It was always just a good fun race, put on by our own club. Lot's of beer involved and usualy a big BBQ at the end. This could stretch out over 40 miles or so, finally doubling back to the start/finish.
The shoulder is coming on good. Managed an hour on my trials bike riding up the hills for an hour.
Not going to race next year. I think mentally I am done. The past few weeks I have thought about the pros and cons and right now I want to heal my body up and do some other stuff for as change. I am currently looking for a donor late 90's cr500 to put the motor into my 2007 cr 250. Always wanted a Service honda cr500af so can't afford one so I will build my own.
Still going to be out on bikes but just for fun. Might enter the odd local race depending on time and work etc. Will be travelling like mad very soon. Going to Italy tomorrow for 5 days then spain for 10 days. So wil be busy in the next few weeks.
What about you, have you got the iron horse out lately.
