I met Jeremy McGrath at Daytona in 2004. I had his book “wide open” and read it 3 times. He was my hero next to Chad Reed. I went up to him to sign my book. I told him “I’m a huge fan of yours and I read your book 3 times.” He replied, “why?” 😂 never forget it.
McGrath is a legend, he was my childhood hero. I was racing a CR80 when he was in his prime. I'm 35 know an it's cool to see him still throwin roost! Hats off to you Jeremy, you still got it!👍
Shane Fochtman I have his autograph on a VP pit pass during his last season. Bud light year. Met him at the Atlanta super cross. I’m an old guy. I’d give it to you if I could.
Haha nice bro i was ripping cr 80s too. I was at the gatorback out door national in the 90s and Mcgrath and eric kehoe were battling it out is was gnarly man i think that was MC first outdoor championship that year
I grew up on 2 smokers and love them to death. 4 strokes are sweet too. For me it depends on what kind of riding I'm doing. If I want to go hard and ride like an animal ill hop on the yz 250 but if I want to trail ride and just cruise its the yz250f.
Imagine getting a call: "hello your kx500 on craigslist still available?" and it's Jeremy McGrath! unless somebody called for him... that would be so cool.
The 89 Kx 250 tank on his bike is one I refinished but couldn’t get all flaws out yet , customer said just send it ASAP. Now I know why and it’s good that it’s not perfect Bc then I’d have JMC also saying oh yeah that James dude in Tx can fix Any plastic tank 😂😂😂
Thought it was 88-91ish.my buddy had a 90-91 looked similar.I had a 87 kx 80 he use to ride the bike everywhere!On sidewalks in front of the library,on rds,needless to say he was chased alot by the cops! Couldn't catch him untill one cop got tired of it and hit his back wheel.Last time he rode it on the sidewalk and rds😂😂
As an 80's kid & Kawasaki guy that loves 2 smokes I gotta say I have so many great memories going to the races with my dad watching McGrath racing! It's just not the same these days without all the legends! FYI I live in Phoenix & that might have been the very KX500 I was going to buy....damn.
I just love the metallic sound of a two stroke exhaust..there is nothing like that..the smell of the fumes as well..brings me back to when I was a kid, watching my dad race mx. I never got to race mx, just riding a few times (I am a bmx racing guy) but what I would pay to own an mx machine ;-)
just wondering if Jeremy remembers when he used to say "I only like 2 strokes, 4 strokes are good for enduro but not serious race bikes" Word for word from a Dirt Rider '90s interview
No, I like both, I have both. I love all motorcycles. However, my CR500 is the one that has that special place in my heart forever. I really like the sound and power delivery of and old school Big bore 2 stroke. I used to race them and I will always favor them. Four strokes have come a long way but I wish they would continue developing new tech for two strokes and bring them back.
Ahhhh, the sweet BRAAAP of a 500cc two stroke! No comparison. All the KX500 really needs (after Jeremy's build), is a modern day aluminum chassis. Back in the days, those chassis flexed like steamed spaghettis....such is progress.
I have a restomod 96 KX 250 and a 2021 KX250x and I just love the 96. It's a handful but it's definitely emotional too. I had a beaten 82 KX80 back in high school so it just takes me back to when life wasn't such a grind.
@@mickeybeahl2233 I have no clue , I found him wandering on the side of the road in 29 degree temperatures 9 years ago , could not find an owner and adopted him ! He turned out to be one of the best dogs we ever had !
The one minor detail I never liked on the 500, (KX, or CR) was the bulbous rear fender. The 125’s, and 250’s lines always looked cleaner. There’s no denying the power those things had back then though. My buddy had a KX500, (still has it I believe)and after riding a RM125, that thing felt like it had nitrous on it!!! Great memories!!!
I wonder if that's not also a reflection of the lack of development of 500s. by the mid 90s, manufacturers weren't doing a lot to them from year to year, and then they just dropped the displacement class from the Pro nationals, which pretty much ended development at all.
Like seeing the K.I.N.G. even riding a bike. Inspired a lot of people to go out and ride. BMX roots brought to a motocross track was amazing to see the transfer over, back in his flying high nack nack days. Still looks fast to me.
Take note people, the King has spoken!! This is how you talk and this is how you reveal a bike, share the info! All hail the King! on the bike King and off the bike, also King looks better on the KX500 jmo. U can keep the John Deere 450, If Kawi made this bike with an updated steel frame Id be on it like Pamela Anderson!
Yee guys clearly have enough funds to get someone like Jeremy McGrath! It would be awesome to see yee do a video on which bike is the king of the 500's 😊 get all the old legends together and compare them that would be really cool to see 👌
It was awesome to see Jeremy cranking on a bike again ! He’s my all time favorite/best rider ! I miss thee ol 2 strokes for sure ! I blasted 4 strokes when they started coming out but now I have one lol And after watching this I may go on the hunt for a 500 2 stroke lol
I bought a brand new 1986 Works Replica kx500! Yes, it ripped! Sold my last 2001 5hunny for a crf450 and didn't look back until......I just couldn't leave the 2t behind. I just bought a new 2020 KTM 300xcw tpi Erzburg edition and lemme tell you, it's the baddest 2t I've ever rode! Butta smooth! Oil and fuel injected? What?? It's outstanding!
Man Motocross Died the day you left and the two stroke was out!!! No disrespect too Ricky but your the MAN THEN AND NOW!!! The KX500 bike is just SICK!!! Great job on the build hope you do more of these races and little vids like this. Maybe get back on a Honda old school or something like that and do what you did on this vid. I really thing people would watch I know I would LMAO...
Mc will never get old. Guy sill in great shape. Would be great to see the king on his kx500 at next years Straight Rhythm. How great would that be? The king against 199?
I'm sure the modern 450's are fantastic but not sure they would give the same feeling of adrenalin as the 500 2t did. Had an '84' CR500 when I was 15 and 10 stone wet through, can imagine a 450 scaring me quite as much as the old 500 did! 👍
Go back to Honda Jeremy! SHOWTIME!!!!!!! I was at your arenacross in Fort Worth back in the 90’s! I followed you since you were on 125cc. I still have your poster lol. It sucks to see that you have Jeff Emigs number 2 on your bike lol. Go back bubba, you are a monster, you are the god father of the nacnac. Steel roots isn’t just a VHS. You are the reason I went all the way on Texas tracks. You are SHOWTIME McGRATH. We in the old school MX scene Miss you bubba. Thank you for crusty demons of course, but you are the King of supercross. Thank you Jeremy. Thank you…..
I’m probably one of the few that is faster and more comfortable on a 500 than I am on a 450. It’s just my preference, I love 2 strokes and the explosive power of them
I’d love to see what the 500s would be if they had all those lost yrs of R&D put into them. We’ll never know, but they will always be the coolest dirt bikes in my eyes....
You rock dude. And that 500 is sick. But we all know you dig that 2 stroke more. You just can't express how much more cause, let's face it, dealerships aren't selling 2020 kx500's, they're selling kx450f's
The EPA has EVERYTHING to do with the demise of the 2 stroke. The EPA created the standards that most 2 strokes could not meet. Manufactures cannot produce bikes that don't cut the mustard.
I’ve been out of the game for a long time, but the conversions people were doing by putting the 500 braps in a 450 frame looked super solid. No idea how they ride, but damn they look slick.
"I wouldnt take this bike and line up against 450's....." Thats all ya need to hear! I love my old RM and YZ but nothing feels like being 2 gears high on a FI 450 and still having it rip your arms off all the way til redline.
The geometry on the aluminum frame is better but the problem with those is they don't flex I say put the motor in a KTM and you have everything you need to compete with the new bikes.
Imagine the look on the guys face when Showtime showed up to buy his old KX-500 that needed some love. Imagine the bikes feelings knowing he was going to get thrashed by Showtime!!!
Steel frame, heavy, no counterbalancer, piston port technology, before the video even begins im gonna say the 450 wins just on technology alone. Should put the 500 in a 450 frame with upgraded suspension to make it more fair.
Yeah and those 4 strokes didn't make 60hp.....so there is that...... Best a good 250 2 stroke can muster is about 50 hp on the extreme side if it will stay together.
Actually it was the other way around.... they let 450 run in 250 class....was no 450 class then....and they couldn't be competitive in open class with 500 2 strokes so they ran 450's in 250 class. 4stroke 450 was 40hp then and 250 2strokes were 35-40 with tweaking so it was a good match then.....now is a diff story.....lol... 4 stroke motor tech has come a long way and surpassed 250 2 stroke forever.....even a super tuned 2stroke 250 efi on fuel can't make 60 hp and live for 45min moto.....or be rideable.
Does it bother anyone else that his number plate is a 2?! Seriously....it’s JM! And it’s really hard to see him on a Kawi! Either way, it’s just cool to see him making videos!!
What can a 450 do down the 1/4 mile ?.I got 12.2 sec at 108mph on a 86 YZ490.All I did was remove 1 fork spring and 2 spacers to lower the front end.Put a solid bar in the rear end to lower that .Geared it up as much as I could and added a old used front road bike tire to the rear end.
Jeremy McGrath has always been my favorite MX pro rider ever🙌🏻😎💯 I bet you anything if he was to do one more race with the pros nowadays he would still win💯👍🏻😎🎸
Basically the whole bike was rebuilt from the ground up cool if you have the cash otherwise good vintage big bore can be found that need minimal restoration the suspension is the key. For the older guys like McGrath the modern suspension on the 4 strokes is hard to pass up. For me is all about the sound, smell of premix and the hit of the smoker.
Love the kx500, not a fan of the newer style front fender/number plate it just clashes a bit with the test of the bikes styling. Would be sweet to be able to afford a build like that on an older 500. I restored an 86' Honda cr500 this year to OEM spec as best I could with a budget. The cr500 is definetly a bit harder to ride since it doesnt have the power valve like the kx so the power just comes on so much harder especially with the 85/86 motor. Would love to see a pro rip around on my 500.
When one of the best riders to walk the planet nicely says STOP debating if a 500 is better or equal to a modern 450, we should listen. Enjoy the 500's for what they were and are.
The engine braking alone will set the 4-stroke 450 apart going down Hills and into corners. When you're going so fast and don't have a lot of time to grab the brakes, the four-stroke is supreme. And of course we're not even talking about a mud race where delivering consistent power and torque is key when the track is slick.
Wouldnt matter. The power delivery of a 450 is WAYYYYY smoother and useable. The age old debate of which bike/motor is faster around a track is over.... technology wins. You can make every excuse in the world or come up with every reason why... but it doesnt change it. A modern 450 motor/bike is going to be the better weapon on race day for mx/sx
For the most part I would agree but the main reason is because 2 stroke tech was left behind. If you ride a new KTM vs an old 2 stroke of the same cc, the difference is amazing, new 2 strokes are butter smooth. 450 is super smooth, but the 500 is already at a handicap in the old chassis.
I just miss all of my two strokes I don’t care what it is I want one. ☹️ but no where to ride anymore and getting to old, kids need daddy to go to work.
Riders are soo spoilt these days with handling comforts, i wanna see modern day riders throw around a 83 kx500 or an 82 CR480, then see how much you really had to work and just how much skill was involved. Love the rawness of those days
The Man...Jeremy McGrath...... Back in the Day..... my best memories is Jeremy on the Red Machine. It's a bummer what happened with the 4 Strokes, they shortened up the tracks with more turns, makes it hard to keep a 2 Stoke on the pipe to keep up with the low end torque of the 4 Stroke. I wonder if Jeremy would take a CR500 against the 4 Strokes......
Could a two stroke be made direct fuel injection with separate oil crankcase? Maybe have two injections parallel with plug in head. Optimal fuel air mix at all time with anti knock properties as no exhaust valve to heat and pre ignition woes. Reed valve induction with timed exhaust ports. Might make complex cone pipes less critical. Power every stoke but with the pros of four stroke design. Excellent riding and awesome demo!
Would like to see that 500 engine shoehorned into the 450 frame... it probably handles pretty good with the 22 offset clamp and new forks, but it would be way cooler in the new frame.
I much much much prefer 2-strokes, but when we get into engine displacements of 400cc and up, I change my tune. Those 2-stroke 500s are monsters. They shake. They're heavy. They're just a whole lot of bike. Suddenly, i find myself appreciating the smooth/"manageable" power of a 4-stroke. 😄 But give me a 150cc or 250cc 2-stroke any day of the week and twice on Sunday. Just don't force me to race them against 4-strokes with twice the displacement.
ya the current bikes look sooo much better, i think around 92-93 dirtbikes started looking a lot better...but imo the early models (1980s) looked goofy
Roost bought two 5's that last year (04} one to ride and one to set in game room. I have lined up w the 450's a bunch o times and here's the deal, several factors here to consider. The 450's are very tame, therefore easy to flog. JM dont weight enough to hold one down, although he can ride one better than anybody i've ever seen, makes sense right. You have to have the right place for the 5 due to its bad attitude, disrespect it and your down, or in the top of a tree. The 5's hit is violent, almost unmanagable, trust me you dont want that back tire to hook like you think. Jeremy is being paid to sell motorcycles, they havnt made the 5 in 20 yrs, you can get the 4 1/2 right now. Btw Abbott said all the same shyt on his video. Its just hard to compare the two, totally different tools imo. So i have a ranch in Texas, we have a dirtbike weekend 2-3 times a year, talk is thick around the camp fire, you guys know this, so the only way to settle this is line em right. This takes out the adevantage of being a great rider like JM. So my pasture is 600yrds across, we line em up, the 5 and 8-9-10 of the newest and greatest, yea yea but how else would you do it other than drag race. We are talking speed here, not suspension, nothing but raw power. So what happens guys ??? its dead even actually at the 100yd mark, its about then that i know i have complete control of the 5 and i can shift my 250lbs to the back and let her eat, and man she digs a daam trench, from there i just walk em, plus throw a truckload of dirt all over em. Then we have to go back to the camp fite and argue bout why that happened lol. If you have the sack to absolutely hammer that 5, and you have some ass on you, over 200 at least, aint many bikes out there gonna go by ya, especially w that 30ft roost coming off the back tire.
![BabyChiefDoit - Wonderful Time (Official Music Video) [Shot By @Rxllo]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/_Bfqt3zV2KE/mqdefault.jpg)
I met Jeremy McGrath at Daytona in 2004. I had his book “wide open” and read it 3 times. He was my hero next to Chad Reed.
I went up to him to sign my book. I told him “I’m a huge fan of yours and I read your book 3 times.”
He replied, “why?”
😂 never forget it.
I literally LOL'd at that. That's hilarious
Lmao! Funny as shit!
He was right. No one likes a suck up.
hilarious.
McGrath is a legend, he was my childhood hero. I was racing a CR80 when he was in his prime. I'm 35 know an it's cool to see him still throwin roost! Hats off to you Jeremy, you still got it!👍
Shane Fochtman
I have his autograph on a VP pit pass during his last season. Bud light year. Met him at the Atlanta super cross. I’m an old guy. I’d give it to you if I could.
Nice! I was just learning to ride at that time. I had an XR80 for a few years then got a CR80.
Dick Ridin! lol
Haha nice bro i was ripping cr 80s too. I was at the gatorback out door national in the 90s and Mcgrath and eric kehoe were battling it out is was gnarly man i think that was MC first outdoor championship that year
I love “ I’m a two stroke guy at heart”. I think those of us who have had both would all say the same thing.
Ditto
I grew up on 2 smokers and love them to death. 4 strokes are sweet too. For me it depends on what kind of riding I'm doing. If I want to go hard and ride like an animal ill hop on the yz 250 but if I want to trail ride and just cruise its the yz250f.
Yeah 2 stroke are fun when you are on a track or in open field and can stay in the power band but four strokes for trails
Yes! 4 real
hell yeah.
love the 2 stroke power delivery.
Imagine getting a call: "hello your kx500 on craigslist still available?" and it's Jeremy McGrath! unless somebody called for him... that would be so cool.
Man is be dead I'd have to atleast try drink beer with him 🤣
The 89 Kx 250 tank on his bike is one I refinished but couldn’t get all flaws out yet , customer said just send it ASAP. Now I know why and it’s good that it’s not perfect Bc then I’d have JMC also saying oh yeah that James dude in Tx can fix Any plastic tank 😂😂😂
I know the guy who sold it to him. Great dealer in Phoenix. I've bought a couple of real nice Banshees off him through Ebay. Highly recommended!
Thought it was 88-91ish.my buddy had a 90-91 looked similar.I had a 87 kx 80 he use to ride the bike everywhere!On sidewalks in front of the library,on rds,needless to say he was chased alot by the cops! Couldn't catch him untill one cop got tired of it and hit his back wheel.Last time he rode it on the sidewalk and rds😂😂
As an 80's kid & Kawasaki guy that loves 2 smokes I gotta say I have so many great memories going to the races with my dad watching McGrath racing! It's just not the same these days without all the legends! FYI I live in Phoenix & that might have been the very KX500 I was going to buy....damn.
I just love the metallic sound of a two stroke exhaust..there is nothing like that..the smell of the fumes as well..brings me back to when I was a kid, watching my dad race mx. I never got to race mx, just riding a few times (I am a bmx racing guy) but what I would pay to own an mx machine ;-)
just wondering if Jeremy remembers when he used to say "I only like 2 strokes, 4 strokes are good for enduro but not serious race bikes" Word for word from a Dirt Rider '90s interview
back then that was absolutely true
And these days, the top riders in Enduro are on 2 strokes.
No, I like both, I have both. I love all motorcycles. However, my CR500 is the one that has that special place in my heart forever. I really like the sound and power delivery of and old school Big bore 2 stroke. I used to race them and I will always favor them. Four strokes have come a long way but I wish they would continue developing new tech for two strokes and bring them back.
I remember that
so true 4 strokes high maintenance and junk 2 strokes rule
Ahhhh, the sweet BRAAAP of a 500cc two stroke! No comparison. All the KX500 really needs (after Jeremy's build), is a modern day aluminum chassis. Back in the days, those chassis flexed like steamed spaghettis....such is progress.
Imagine selling your kx500 on Craigslist and showtime shows up to buy it.
The price just doubled lol
@trav3510 trav3510 shit happens. I let go of my ca street plated yz250 2smoker. Still regret it
I kept waiting for him to say “Other than that it’s all original.) 🤘🏿
motorcopT2 exactly
I was going to comment on that T2. He definitely "Chip Foosed" that bike. Sad.
@@MrCaddy775 definitely did
I have a restomod 96 KX 250 and a 2021 KX250x and I just love the 96. It's a handful but it's definitely emotional too. I had a beaten 82 KX80 back in high school so it just takes me back to when life wasn't such a grind.
Two strokes and motocross are a marriage made in heaven !
Your name and pic crack me up!
I am a Chihuahua owner.
@@mickeybeahl2233 his name is Alvin , he is a treasure !
@@hotchihuahua1546 Is he an Apple or Deer head.
Mine is a Deer head. Same color as yours.
@@mickeybeahl2233 I have no clue , I found him wandering on the side of the road in 29 degree temperatures 9 years ago , could not find an owner and adopted him ! He turned out to be one of the best dogs we ever had !
@@mickeybeahl2233 ok , wife said it’s a deer head , shows how much I know ! 😁
The one minor detail I never liked on the 500, (KX, or CR) was the bulbous rear fender. The 125’s, and 250’s lines always looked cleaner. There’s no denying the power those things had back then though. My buddy had a KX500, (still has it I believe)and after riding a RM125, that thing felt like it had nitrous on it!!! Great memories!!!
I feel like this is only really bad on the kawis tho. The hondas still look like the smaller bikes...
I wonder if that's not also a reflection of the lack of development of 500s. by the mid 90s, manufacturers weren't doing a lot to them from year to year, and then they just dropped the displacement class from the Pro nationals, which pretty much ended development at all.
Good Taste! Have fun with KX500.. thats unique classic two stroke. Its so cool to see you riding big Kawi (I have -90 KX500. Its my fav bike ever)
I've had both, and there's nothing like a kx500
I prefer CR 500. Both of these bike are legendary.☺👍
There's nothing like a 500 two smokers...
Let's be real😉
And any decent rider on a 450 4-stroke could smoke you.
I also had kx500 Jeff ward works replica....nothing, no thumper would touch it, damn sure no "foobar clown"
@@foobarmaximus3506 there’s no doubt. I know this because I’m a terrible rider. CR500 will always be king.
Jeremy should race the Vet Nationals this year on his 500
Sounds like a horrible Vintage day (friday) turn out.
Right on. Good collab! Jeremy McGrath is always a smooth talker.
Everybody's gangster on their 450's until Jeremy turns up with his KX500.Not many have the stones to lean into a 2 stroke 500. The man is God
Like seeing the K.I.N.G. even riding a bike. Inspired a lot of people to go out and ride.
BMX roots brought to a motocross track was amazing to see the transfer over, back in his flying high nack nack days. Still looks fast to me.
Take note people, the King has spoken!!
This is how you talk and this is how you reveal a bike, share the info!
All hail the King! on the bike King and off the bike, also King looks better on the KX500 jmo. U can keep the John Deere 450, If Kawi made this bike with an updated steel frame Id be on it like Pamela Anderson!
That was badass MC!
Great to hear you going over the 500 and all the fun you have riding it.
Yee guys clearly have enough funds to get someone like Jeremy McGrath! It would be awesome to see yee do a video on which bike is the king of the 500's 😊 get all the old legends together and compare them that would be really cool to see 👌
It was awesome to see Jeremy cranking on a bike again !
He’s my all time favorite/best rider !
I miss thee ol 2 strokes for sure !
I blasted 4 strokes when they started coming out but now I have one lol
And after watching this I may go on the hunt for a 500 2 stroke lol
I bought a brand new 1986 Works Replica kx500! Yes, it ripped! Sold my last 2001 5hunny for a crf450 and didn't look back until......I just couldn't leave the 2t behind. I just bought a new 2020 KTM 300xcw tpi Erzburg edition and lemme tell you, it's the baddest 2t I've ever rode! Butta smooth! Oil and fuel injected? What?? It's outstanding!
See this guy riding this two beauties give some nostalgia how good motocross was the 90s.
Man Motocross Died the day you left and the two stroke was out!!!
No disrespect too Ricky but your the MAN THEN AND NOW!!!
The KX500 bike is just SICK!!!
Great job on the build hope you do more of these races and little vids like this. Maybe get back on a Honda old school or something like that and do what you did on this vid.
I really thing people would watch I know I would LMAO...
Glad to see that green Ktech 🤘
Incredible how the price of these old KX500s have kept up, should have never sold my '91 lol.
The KING of 2 stroke Super Cross! Back when tracks were nasty!
Mc will never get old. Guy sill in great shape. Would be great to see the king on his kx500 at next years Straight Rhythm. How great would that be? The king against 199?
#4 the goat
Pretty cool, shoulda included his ServiceKawi alum framed KX250 too :)
I'm sure the modern 450's are fantastic but not sure they would give the same feeling of adrenalin as the 500 2t did. Had an '84' CR500 when I was 15 and 10 stone wet through, can imagine a 450 scaring me quite as much as the old 500 did! 👍
The guys at KX Guru are the best!
Go back to Honda Jeremy! SHOWTIME!!!!!!! I was at your arenacross in Fort Worth back in the 90’s! I followed you since you were on 125cc. I still have your poster lol. It sucks to see that you have Jeff Emigs number 2 on your bike lol. Go back bubba, you are a monster, you are the god father of the nacnac. Steel roots isn’t just a VHS. You are the reason I went all the way on Texas tracks. You are SHOWTIME McGRATH. We in the old school MX scene Miss you bubba. Thank you for crusty demons of course, but you are the King of supercross. Thank you Jeremy. Thank you…..
I’m probably one of the few that is faster and more comfortable on a 500 than I am on a 450. It’s just my preference, I love 2 strokes and the explosive power of them
I’d love to see what the 500s would be if they had all those lost yrs of R&D put into them. We’ll never know, but they will always be the coolest dirt bikes in my eyes....
Back in the Day back in the Day back in the Day man
You rock dude. And that 500 is sick. But we all know you dig that 2 stroke more. You just can't express how much more cause, let's face it, dealerships aren't selling 2020 kx500's, they're selling kx450f's
500 sounds beautiful
They should bring back the 500 races
when hell freezes over !
Just pay off the EPA..."ASS HOLES!!!
EPA has nothing to do with it. If you want to point fingers, point them at the AMA, FIM and manufacturers.
The EPA has EVERYTHING to do with the demise of the 2 stroke. The EPA created the standards that most 2 strokes could not meet. Manufactures cannot produce bikes that don't cut the mustard.
Open class
I’ve been out of the game for a long time, but the conversions people were doing by putting the 500 braps in a 450 frame looked super solid. No idea how they ride, but damn they look slick.
It's sounds great, like it's jetted perfectly.
Just that 2 stroke sound makes it way cooler !!!
"I wouldnt take this bike and line up against 450's....." Thats all ya need to hear! I love my old RM and YZ but nothing feels like being 2 gears high on a FI 450 and still having it rip your arms off all the way til redline.
I remember watching The Show and Larocco duking it out in the 90's. It was great racing
The geometry on the aluminum frame is better but the problem with those is they don't flex I say put the motor in a KTM and you have everything you need to compete with the new bikes.
Imagine the look on the guys face when Showtime showed up to buy his old KX-500 that needed some love. Imagine the bikes feelings knowing he was going to get thrashed by Showtime!!!
Steel frame, heavy, no counterbalancer, piston port technology, before the video even begins im gonna say the 450 wins just on technology alone. Should put the 500 in a 450 frame with upgraded suspension to make it more fair.
(Back in the day) MC be missing the 90's bad!
McGrath, RJ,Jeff Stanton three of the best!
Dont forget Randy Hawkins ! lol
HorsePowA ! Yep he rode the RMX 250!
Stock KX450f
Horsepower: 56.05
Torque 36.88
Stock KX500
Horsepower: 65
Torque:48.4
Two stokes still rule the earth!
I love big block bikes. I've always wanted to see a raptor 700 engine in a bike, with a lectron carb, just to see how fast it could be
I'm running a Lectron on my KX500 ice racing bike.. awsome winter fun ,the carb is fantastic.
That would have made a GREAT do it all adv bike...
I had a KX500. Loved the bike other than the seat.
It’s funny to hear that last statement because when they first made the transition they used to run 250 Two strokes in the 450 class
Exactly... Equal riders, those 450's don't stand a chance.
YEP all day long..
Yeah and those 4 strokes didn't make 60hp.....so there is that......
Best a good 250 2 stroke can muster is about 50 hp on the extreme side if it will stay together.
Actually it was the other way around.... they let 450 run in 250 class....was no 450 class then....and they couldn't be competitive in open class with 500 2 strokes so they ran 450's in 250 class.
4stroke 450 was 40hp then and 250 2strokes were 35-40 with tweaking so it was a good match then.....now is a diff story.....lol...
4 stroke motor tech has come a long way and surpassed 250 2 stroke forever.....even a super tuned 2stroke 250 efi on fuel can't make 60 hp and live for 45min moto.....or be rideable.
@@craigbielsky115 actually a tuned and properly built 250 will make close to 60HP easily...
McGrath VS Bowers 2020 Redbull Straight Rhythm 🤔
Doesn't get much cooler then that!
still cooooool as ...... on any bike...one of the most naturally gifted riders
Make 2 Strokes Great Again!
You show up to any track and fire up a 500 and heads turn. I love track riding on my 01 Service Honda 500af, its violent, just the way I like it.
Loved them kx500,s 💥
Im starting to look at 150 2strokes more power than a 125. Lighter than a 250. Possible best of both? Perhaps a 185?
Does it bother anyone else that his number plate is a 2?! Seriously....it’s JM! And it’s really hard to see him on a Kawi! Either way, it’s just cool to see him making videos!!
Both very nice bikes , great job on the build...
What can a 450 do down the 1/4 mile ?.I got 12.2 sec at 108mph on a 86 YZ490.All I did was remove 1 fork spring and 2 spacers to lower the front end.Put a solid bar in the rear end to lower that .Geared it up as much as I could and added a old used front road bike tire to the rear end.
“The King”
JEREMY SPOKE IN....... CLASS .....TODAY!!
The KING! The Best EVER!
Jeremy McGrath has always been my favorite MX pro rider ever🙌🏻😎💯 I bet you anything if he was to do one more race with the pros nowadays he would still win💯👍🏻😎🎸
That was really good.
Soo cool that Kawasaki not only lets you do this but appears to really enjoy it. Sweet Project MC!! [and swap]
They don’t call it the widow maker for nothin. When it comes alive it comes alive!
2 stroke hey showtime good riding Jeremy
Super cool to hear your impressions of the bikes# but I wish we got some lap times.
Basically the whole bike was rebuilt from the ground up cool if you have the cash otherwise good vintage big bore can be found that need minimal restoration the suspension is the key. For the older guys like McGrath the modern suspension on the 4 strokes is hard to pass up. For me is all about the sound, smell of premix and the hit of the smoker.
Have you thought about doing a horse power at the rear wheel of both the 500 and 450?
Modern 450 still wins
@@brettfrimmer6567
Nope
i had a bunch of steel framed hondas jeremy era.
the best steelies ever! 93-96 cr250
We got wheels on it. Thats always a good idea.
Love the kx500, not a fan of the newer style front fender/number plate it just clashes a bit with the test of the bikes styling. Would be sweet to be able to afford a build like that on an older 500. I restored an 86' Honda cr500 this year to OEM spec as best I could with a budget. The cr500 is definetly a bit harder to ride since it doesnt have the power valve like the kx so the power just comes on so much harder especially with the 85/86 motor. Would love to see a pro rip around on my 500.
When one of the best riders to walk the planet nicely says STOP debating if a 500 is better or equal to a modern 450, we should listen. Enjoy the 500's for what they were and are.
The engine braking alone will set the 4-stroke 450 apart going down Hills and into corners. When you're going so fast and don't have a lot of time to grab the brakes, the four-stroke is supreme. And of course we're not even talking about a mud race where delivering consistent power and torque is key when the track is slick.
Sounds more like a bunch of shameless plugs rather than a 500 vs 450 comparison.
Stuff that 500 motor in a new 450 frame!
i gotta say tps rmzilla looks way nicer than mcs kx and probably handles alot better too.
I was about to post the same thing.
Wouldnt matter. The power delivery of a 450 is WAYYYYY smoother and useable. The age old debate of which bike/motor is faster around a track is over.... technology wins. You can make every excuse in the world or come up with every reason why... but it doesnt change it. A modern 450 motor/bike is going to be the better weapon on race day for mx/sx
For the most part I would agree but the main reason is because 2 stroke tech was left behind. If you ride a new KTM vs an old 2 stroke of the same cc, the difference is amazing, new 2 strokes are butter smooth. 450 is super smooth, but the 500 is already at a handicap in the old chassis.
I just miss all of my two strokes I don’t care what it is I want one. ☹️ but no where to ride anymore and getting to old, kids need daddy to go to work.
Riders are soo spoilt these days with handling comforts, i wanna see modern day riders throw around a 83 kx500 or an 82 CR480, then see how much you really had to work and just how much skill was involved. Love the rawness of those days
The Man...Jeremy McGrath...... Back in the Day..... my best memories is Jeremy on the Red Machine. It's a bummer what happened with the 4 Strokes, they shortened up the tracks with more turns, makes it hard to keep a 2 Stoke on the pipe to keep up with the low end torque of the 4 Stroke. I wonder if Jeremy would take a CR500 against the 4 Strokes......
JM 🏆 spoke from the heart. ✔️
Could a two stroke be made direct fuel injection with separate oil crankcase?
Maybe have two injections parallel with plug in head. Optimal fuel air mix at all time with anti knock properties as no exhaust valve to heat and pre ignition woes. Reed valve induction with timed exhaust ports. Might make complex cone pipes less critical. Power every stoke but with the pros of four stroke design.
Excellent riding and awesome demo!
How it normally goes: Average rider fantasizes about a big bore two stroke. Final gets one. Sells it next month and buys a 350 four stroke.
After all the mods it’s basically a 450.
The biggest difference is:
“The seat”- j McGrath 🙄
Looks like Mc is getting back into moto shape after all the truck stuff. Good to see.
Nothing burns more calories in 45 min workout .....couple weeks on track and that sedentary fat starts burning....lol.
Would like to see that 500 engine shoehorned into the 450 frame... it probably handles pretty good with the 22 offset clamp and new forks, but it would be way cooler in the new frame.
hey page all it takes is money. you want to see it spend your money cheap bastard. otherwise STFU!
@@camgnilpe9300 some of us don't have the cash to do that! But it's good to dream!! DON'T HATE! Dreams built this COUNTRY/world..
I much much much prefer 2-strokes, but when we get into engine displacements of 400cc and up, I change my tune. Those 2-stroke 500s are monsters. They shake. They're heavy. They're just a whole lot of bike. Suddenly, i find myself appreciating the smooth/"manageable" power of a 4-stroke. 😄 But give me a 150cc or 250cc 2-stroke any day of the week and twice on Sunday. Just don't force me to race them against 4-strokes with twice the displacement.
Weird to see him on a KX since i grew up watching him on everything but lol. Jeremy is the best.
Nice add .. i was hoping for a comparison....
THE KX500 ALWAYS WERE A UGLY LOOKING MACHINE TOO BULKY LOOKING THE CR500 WERE MORE STREAM LINE LOOKING.
ya the current bikes look sooo much better, i think around 92-93 dirtbikes started looking a lot better...but imo the early models (1980s) looked goofy
Wish I could’ve been there to see the king doing his thing.
I would love to see 40 year old Jeremy run 5 laps against 30 something Ricky Carmichael............no contest Jeremy McGrath is killing it!!
That's very nice!
I just found out a guy I work with has a 1983 RM500
Complete and running. He wants $2,000 cdn.
What do you think?
Buy it. Try to find another!
Its worth getting definitely
You can make that bike so fast it could become un rideable , I did it to an 81 465 bored to a 480 and porting and pipe mods .
Showtime should have ridden the 500 at Straight Rythm with Pastrana and Bowers.
Bring it to the elsinore gp next weekend
Roost bought two 5's that last year (04} one to ride and one to set in game room. I have lined up w the 450's a bunch o times and here's the deal, several factors here to consider. The 450's are very tame, therefore easy to flog. JM dont weight enough to hold one down, although he can ride one better than anybody i've ever seen, makes sense right. You have to have the right place for the 5 due to its bad attitude, disrespect it and your down, or in the top of a tree. The 5's hit is violent, almost unmanagable, trust me you dont want that back tire to hook like you think. Jeremy is being paid to sell motorcycles, they havnt made the 5 in 20 yrs, you can get the 4 1/2 right now. Btw Abbott said all the same shyt on his video. Its just hard to compare the two, totally different tools imo. So i have a ranch in Texas, we have a dirtbike weekend 2-3 times a year, talk is thick around the camp fire, you guys know this, so the only way to settle this is line em right. This takes out the adevantage of being a great rider like JM. So my pasture is 600yrds across, we line em up, the 5 and 8-9-10 of the newest and greatest, yea yea but how else would you do it other than drag race. We are talking speed here, not suspension, nothing but raw power. So what happens guys ??? its dead even actually at the 100yd mark, its about then that i know i have complete control of the 5 and i can shift my 250lbs to the back and let her eat, and man she digs a daam trench, from there i just walk em, plus throw a truckload of dirt all over em. Then we have to go back to the camp fite and argue bout why that happened lol. If you have the sack to absolutely hammer that 5, and you have some ass on you, over 200 at least, aint many bikes out there gonna go by ya, especially w that 30ft roost coming off the back tire.