Dirt Rider Dot Net's Entry

[crfsonly]

This is a Service Honda CR500AF.



A.J. from Service Honda was the builder and one of the nicest people you'll ever meet anywhere.

[Roady]

Almost as excited to read the review on this one as ours!

[CRFryder]

wow, thats a cool bike, wish i had one...or was big enough to ride one lol but it seem to me it was alot easier to buy that 500 by service honda, isnt that kind of cheating..well if not then it'd be more impressive to see them make their own off a stock bike and make it into a 500AF, or something like it. I mean, correct me if im wrong, but CRF's only probibly did more work to their bike right?

[AJ]

Thanks for the props!!

and hopefully not to be argumentave
just to clear things up a bit maybe-

for example:
there isnt a lot of difference with starting with a
CRF250X , CRF450X , DRZ, or YZ250 as a great platform,
and then deciding and adding the parts, products and services to make it perform better,
-
than starting with some other bike, like a CR500AFX and doing the same thing?
its a production unit, availible to anyone,
The same as choosing an aprillia ,gas gas,ATK, or other smaller dirt bike manufactuers?


We built this bike from the WR trans gears on up.. so nothing was left untouched..
as far as doing the actual work to add those products or modify the bikes,
most of the forums had *someone* assemble it?
either the admin/owner, a forum member, or a local "wrench" or tuner ??
(and i've been a DRN member/moderator since 1999?)
so if i shipped the bike to another DRN member to assemble, nothing much would truly change?
*shrugs*


Cant wait to read the article,
All the bikes were very cool,
the 450 being one of my favorite entrees.
Wish i could ride it

[armyrat]

Sweet ride AJ.

[CRFryder]

oh, ok, alright that clears it up because I thought only some people..like sponcered people or something could buy them, ok thanks, im not every argumentative but yea I still love the look of it

[AJ]

no worries !
( i had heard/read similar "chaeter" comments a few times on a few boards,so probably just overly defensive about it. LOL )

and yea, The AF or AFX's are certainly available to anyone that wants one!!
always have been since 1998-
i couldn't buy shoes for my kid, or myself a new pair of
ty downs, if i only sold them to *sponsored* riders?

[crfsonly]

aj...good to see you here. it was good to meet you at lake isabella. i appreciated your willingness to give up new clutch plates to help us with our burned up clutch.

aj didn't mention this but he also brought a 250x motor mounted in a...what was that frame aj a cr80 or was it a crf150 frame? in any event it was pretty trick looking as well.

aj and i have the same high dollar taste in lodging accomodations too! i took some pictures that i'll have to post just so everyone appreciates the real sacrifice of the internet bike build.

ken

[oldtimer]

AJ. Is this the base 500 that is available on your sight or did you get into that long list of possible goodies you can customize with that you publish?
Buy the looks of the list the sky is the limit!

Do you add a heavy flywheel weight? Or is that 500 controllable on it’s own?

When I win the lotto look for my order… I’ll be the guy checking just about every box!

[AJ]

Ken,
It was great meeting you as well !!
and you have to just love the lake isaballa hotel! LOL
(i was there 3 nights i think )
That "Junior" I had with me is one of our other models.
Its a complete CR85 chassis with a CRF250X engine/electrics /e start etc nestled in it, and with the suspension sprung appropriately for the customer , and the new bike weight. (it ends up at 184 dry)

oldtimer-
The base models are CR500AF (based on a CRF250R)
and CRF500AFX (based on a CRF250X)

The X version DRN started with comes stock with
the 18" rear, the kickstand, larger X tanks, lights etc that youd expect on X models,
and a new digital CDI,stator and rotor , we ,in conjunstion with electrosport , designed for CR500's
to supply 120watts of lighting and new CDI mapping for increased torque and better power.(yes the new stator is a bit heavier than stock as well)

all the other goodies were picked out by the forum to add to that bike..

but when customers order an AFX they can order it stock, or with whatever products or services they want,, we build them to thier spec.. *shrugs*

[fat_boy_on_crf450x]

When I graduated from college and got my first job, I treated myself to my very first new bike after riding beaters all my life. It was a 1984 CR500R and it was a blast to ride. I saw the Service Honda line of 500s for the first time this year. My hat's off to them for preserving a great powerplant while bringing it into modern times by engineering it into the modern frames and suspensions. The intro of the 500AFX was over the top great, especially with the green sticker capability.

I think my next bike (don't tell my wife) will be the AFX.

Great job AJ.

[Dust Devil]

Service Honda builds some sanitary rides.

[langhammx]

that thing is sick