The kx500 was obsolete back in 2004 when they quit making them. Basically same bike since 1988. It's amazing the difference is less than 2 seconds against a modern bike. The difference would probly be more in a modern 450 shootout. It's also amazing we are still comparing and talking about it after all these years. The Kx500 legend!
KX500 all day , raced both bikes , and are great , current race bike KTM SX380 , big bore rider at heart ( currently own and race KTM sx 380 .84 YZ 490 , 84 Can-Am 500 . and 83 Husky 500CR , been looking forward to this video !!! Millville was awesome ET3 brother !!!
Man, would love to ride a CanAm 500, a dream of mine. I've got 2 1980 Mx6s, 400 & 125, and a 95 Atk. All have pros & cons, like every bike. Ride on!!!!
Yeah, but one, you're probably going to sacrifice reliability, and two, adding more power to an already overpowered chassis, suspension and brakes is quite frankly asinine. That motor, with that power in that chassis makes sense. Calling anything with that kind of torque "underpowered" is also very misleading.
Thanks for the video , if you ran stock for stock you would have seen a huge difference between the bikes . But it's cool to see an older bike that's just a little bit slower than the new models . They used to run 250 2-strokes against the 450 4-strokes but the advancement in technology moved them up to a new level . From a stock Chevrolet to a NASCAR and when you think about it , it's a bargain buying the new bikes . Keep up with the great videos and content .
Here's a question: How is it that this 2000 model KX 500 weighs in at 250 lbs and has only 59hp, when if you go look up the specs of the KX 500 you'll see that it had a dry weight of 220 lbs and a max power output of about 65hp? How does that make sense?
The spec sheets are always very generous. HP taken at the crank vs a magazine dyno run that takes HP from the rear wheel. Plus the Manufacturer might take power samples from 10 or more production engines and then list the one that had the best output.
@@tomfoolery8829 Magazines post the crank hp numbers not the wheel hp. At least some of them do. The ones saying modern 450s are making 56-60hp stock nowadays. Other magazines that test them come out with figures around 50-53hp max for the 450s with 32-35lb ft of torque. 500s are pumping out 55-60hp and 44-47lb ft of torque at the wheel stock. They are giving the public deceptive information about the hp numbers
I had a friend that had a 1989CR 500 and I loved the way it felt on the trail. Like my favorite trail bike. I have a 1989 KX 250 that’s pretty decent to.
Great shootout as I also owned a 2004 Service Honda CR500AF built on the last generation Honda CR 125 frame that was modified with A kit suspension, Hinson clutch, and Pro Circuit motor replicating the factory Honda porting from a friend who knew Mitch Payton. Brought back a lot of memories as I had that for almost 10 years of vet racing along with having each year Honda and Yamaha 450 4 strokes. Same results. Could holeshot with 500. but faster race times on the 450 especially if a mud race. Great video...
I don't race MX, but I do compare times to see if I am getting better. I mainly ride for fun, that's why I ride a two stroke. It's just more fun. I don't think I could do any better on a big-bore than on my modern 250, but it sure would be fun in the desert or on some wide open trails. Two strokes forever!
I can't help but think if you had 2 seasoned riders...one that is used to each bike, that the 500 would come out on top. I could be wrong but 2 strokes in general can be a handful for anyone, let alone a 500.
Untrue, ive rode them all, and a modern 450 is just too well thought through for any 2 stroke to really compare, except maybe that new 300 2 stroke, we'll see how that goes
@@pilsnerfamilymotorsports3275 that's why I said if you can ride a two-stroke. Meaning stay wide open the whole time and hit every jump four stroke ain't got a chance especially on a get up and go track with the tight track you might have a chance.
@@ryanbarker4422 ive been riding a 2 stroke since i was 5 and can literally do exavtly what you just said and whats crazy, is i pull faster lap times on a 450, as does every AMA pro, tomac would be slightly slower on a yz250 then on a 450
@@ryanbarker4422 the four stroke is just easier to ride and doesn't tire you out as much. Only people faster on the two stroke are pro racers in great shape. Crazy that a Kawasaki 250cc four stroke can make the same hp as a kx500 nowadays. Btw im talking about a zx 250 not kx 250f.
The 500's never got the rapid development that 250's and 125's had. I always wondered how much HP the factories could have made if 500's were more popular at the races. For speed and lap-time comparisons of the very best riders head to head on 4 vs 2-stroke, watch the US MX Nationals from the year Bubba raced a 2-Stroke 250 KX against RC on his 450 4 stroke. You could tell RC didn't have to work as hard.....You could also review some video of Doug Henry running the full works Yamaha 4-stroke against a field of 2-strokes when the Yamaha was a prototype. The power advantage of the 450 against a 250 wasn't as big a difference then. To me, it always appeared the 4-stroke guy didn't need to work as hard to go fast. One other observation: In 1986 Johnny O'Mara rode a 125 to finish first place against the best in the world, including David Baily (500cc) and Rick Johnson (250cc) at the MXoN. O'Show lined up against 125's and 250's for one moto and then 125's and 500's for the second moto and beat EVERYONE. A determined rider can overcome horsepower or engine type.
Wonder why yhe 500 was less than 60hp. Published in my oem 1988 Kawasaki shop manual, the 500 was rated at 68hp. The 250 was rated at 51hp. Funny thing about factory Hp specs....... If they publish them, they are always understated, or they could open themselves up to legal problems. If you buy something the manufacturer says is 70 hp & you have it dyno tested and its 57....... theres a problem. If you buy something that manufacturer says is 65hp and you have it dyno tested and its 68hp..... your happy, no problem. I was involved in the powersports industry for almost 35 years and have seen it.
The kx500 was obsolete back in 2004 when they quit making them. Basically same bike since 1988. It's amazing the difference is less than 2 seconds against a modern bike. The difference would probly be more in a modern 450 shootout. It's also amazing we are still comparing and talking about it after all these years. The Kx500 legend!
Josh looking for the kickstart on the 450 when he switched over from the 500 gave me a solid chuckle lol
yeah 10:16 😂
good job, love seeing the older bike comparisons
@DM Motocross Action on telegram you guys got a Telegram channel? 👀😍
KX500 all day , raced both bikes , and are great , current race bike KTM SX380 , big bore rider at heart ( currently own and race KTM sx 380 .84 YZ 490 , 84 Can-Am 500 . and 83 Husky 500CR , been looking forward to this video !!! Millville was awesome ET3 brother !!!
I bought a KTM SX380 engine that I will put in a aluminium frame, to go with my CR500AF 😍
Man, would love to ride a CanAm 500, a dream of mine. I've got 2 1980 Mx6s, 400 & 125, and a 95 Atk. All have pros & cons, like every bike. Ride on!!!!
CR500 is the best if thr vintage 500's
No need for tests.. just listen and you'll hear that the 500 is better lol
I always love green.
That's an underpowered KX500 on an old frame vs a newer 450. There's no comparison! Really need to put that 500 2t into a modern frame and tune it.
🤣 underpowered, think your forgetting it was built at twisted development. That’s the real power not some bs dyno test that they lied on
@@tylersvensson4468 Yet anyone can look up other 500's with over 70 hp. 🤣
Yeah, but one, you're probably going to sacrifice reliability, and two, adding more power to an already overpowered chassis, suspension and brakes is quite frankly asinine. That motor, with that power in that chassis makes sense. Calling anything with that kind of torque "underpowered" is also very misleading.
Was thinking the samw thing
@DM Motocross Action on telegram direct massages are inappropriate unfortunately. Hard pass.
Thanks for the video , if you ran stock for stock you would have seen a huge difference between the bikes . But it's cool to see an older bike that's just a little bit slower than the new models . They used to run 250 2-strokes against the 450 4-strokes but the advancement in technology moved them up to a new level . From a stock Chevrolet to a NASCAR and when you think about it , it's a bargain buying the new bikes . Keep up with the great videos and content .
Here's a question:
How is it that this 2000 model KX 500 weighs in at 250 lbs and has only 59hp, when if you go look up the specs of the KX 500 you'll see that it had a dry weight of 220 lbs and a max power output of about 65hp? How does that make sense?
500 should of smoked 450 Wow I didn't know that
The spec sheets are always very generous. HP taken at the crank vs a magazine dyno run that takes HP from the rear wheel. Plus the Manufacturer might take power samples from 10 or more production engines and then list the one that had the best output.
@@tomfoolery8829 Magazines post the crank hp numbers not the wheel hp. At least some of them do. The ones saying modern 450s are making 56-60hp stock nowadays. Other magazines that test them come out with figures around 50-53hp max for the 450s with 32-35lb ft of torque. 500s are pumping out 55-60hp and 44-47lb ft of torque at the wheel stock. They are giving the public deceptive information about the hp numbers
I had a friend that had a 1989CR 500 and I loved the way it felt on the trail. Like my favorite trail bike. I have a 1989 KX 250 that’s pretty decent to.
What's up with the serpentine route up the hill? That CAN'T be the fastest way up...
The longest way up a short uphill!!!😆
goon riding
He said when comparing these mics instead of bikes that's funny. At the 6:45 mark.
Your reaction to No Kick starter was AWESOME Josh.. Great Vs. Video series MXA 👊 👍😉 OLD G
Awesome video, Loved it
Great shootout as I also owned a 2004 Service Honda CR500AF built on the last generation Honda CR 125 frame that was modified with A kit suspension, Hinson clutch, and Pro Circuit motor replicating the factory Honda porting from a friend who knew Mitch Payton. Brought back a lot of memories as I had that for almost 10 years of vet racing along with having each year Honda and Yamaha 450 4 strokes. Same results. Could holeshot with 500. but faster race times on the 450 especially if a mud race. Great video...
@DM Motocross Action on telegram Thank you for the thoughtful message offer. Been reading MXA since 1976!!!
I don't race MX, but I do compare times to see if I am getting better. I mainly ride for fun, that's why I ride a two stroke. It's just more fun. I don't think I could do any better on a big-bore than on my modern 250, but it sure would be fun in the desert or on some wide open trails. Two strokes forever!
Fun Stuff! Thanks!
I can't help but think if you had 2 seasoned riders...one that is used to each bike, that the 500 would come out on top. I could be wrong but 2 strokes in general can be a handful for anyone, let alone a 500.
The kx500 weighs 220 dry. It's not the heaviest open bike, it's the *lightest*
If you could ride a two-stroke you'll beat the four-stroke every time.
Untrue, ive rode them all, and a modern 450 is just too well thought through for any 2 stroke to really compare, except maybe that new 300 2 stroke, we'll see how that goes
@@pilsnerfamilymotorsports3275 that's why I said if you can ride a two-stroke. Meaning stay wide open the whole time and hit every jump four stroke ain't got a chance especially on a get up and go track with the tight track you might have a chance.
@@ryanbarker4422 ive been riding a 2 stroke since i was 5 and can literally do exavtly what you just said and whats crazy, is i pull faster lap times on a 450, as does every AMA pro, tomac would be slightly slower on a yz250 then on a 450
@@ryanbarker4422 the four stroke is just easier to ride and doesn't tire you out as much. Only people faster on the two stroke are pro racers in great shape. Crazy that a Kawasaki 250cc four stroke can make the same hp as a kx500 nowadays. Btw im talking about a zx 250 not kx 250f.
The 500's never got the rapid development that 250's and 125's had. I always wondered how much HP the factories could have made if 500's were more popular at the races. For speed and lap-time comparisons of the very best riders head to head on 4 vs 2-stroke, watch the US MX Nationals from the year Bubba raced a 2-Stroke 250 KX against RC on his 450 4 stroke. You could tell RC didn't have to work as hard.....You could also review some video of Doug Henry running the full works Yamaha 4-stroke against a field of 2-strokes when the Yamaha was a prototype. The power advantage of the 450 against a 250 wasn't as big a difference then. To me, it always appeared the 4-stroke guy didn't need to work as hard to go fast. One other observation: In 1986 Johnny O'Mara rode a 125 to finish first place against the best in the world, including David Baily (500cc) and Rick Johnson (250cc) at the MXoN. O'Show lined up against 125's and 250's for one moto and then 125's and 500's for the second moto and beat EVERYONE. A determined rider can overcome horsepower or engine type.
Use the slimmer '88 KX 250 tank on the 500. Immediately feels better at the cost of a bit less capacity.
Hm Kawasaki xx500 & xx450 ?
Alright, can we have the KX500 and KX450 switch engines, leaving everything else the same and run 'em against each other?
I've never been able to tell the difference 10 pounds makes
Wonder why yhe 500 was less than 60hp. Published in my oem 1988 Kawasaki shop manual, the 500 was rated at 68hp. The 250 was rated at 51hp. Funny thing about factory Hp specs....... If they publish them, they are always understated, or they could open themselves up to legal problems. If you buy something the manufacturer says is 70 hp & you have it dyno tested and its 57....... theres a problem. If you buy something that manufacturer says is 65hp and you have it dyno tested and its 68hp..... your happy, no problem. I was involved in the powersports industry for almost 35 years and have seen it.
Guys do a AF500 at least for these VS.
They have done that, and it proved hybrid bikes arent really that good, fun, but not good
Give the 450 thumper a big bore 500 kit so it could beat the 2stroke even further.
Sad it needs that to beat it further when its 22 years newer haha
Check out Kaplan America he puts bikes on rollers. The 500 numbers are way inflated.from manufacturer
Put the KX 500 in national I don't think it could win it's too heavy drop 10ibs then u will really have good race