Large 2-strokes

[BoatBuoy]

What's the largest 2-stroke ever used in a motorcycle? I rode a Kaw. 500cc about 30 years ago. That thing had a horsepower curve that would scare the bejeebers outa ya.

 

[one more cast]

Re: Large 2-strokes

Kawasaki also made a 750 triple 2-stroke.

 

[rwise]

Re: Large 2-strokes

I had a 400 yamaha with just one lung, bad a$$ bike on the dirt, ate pistons on the road. (untill I put the old style plug in it)

 

[dolluper]

Re: Large 2-strokes

Those 750 trips were scary nice speed wabbles over 100 mph and they got there real quick ,if you could keep the front wheel down If I remember right if you beefed up the swing arm bushings the wabble went away, they were really really quick

 

[toomanyboats]

Re: Large 2-strokes

I remeber back in the late 60's early 70's when we were racing dirt bikes in the first years of moto-cross,my dad came across a Maico 750 twin moto cross dirt bike,factory made!what a sight.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Large 2-strokes

Didn't Yamaha hava 750 single dirt bike? Or was it Honda? Darn thing was darned near unrideable unless you weighed 250lbs.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Large 2-strokes

I had one of those Yamaha 400s somewhere in the 70s, I was into hill climing. Came home one day after rideing and threw everything in the corner of the garage, walked into the house and told the wife, "I quit"! She said, "Quit what"? I said, "Im done rideing"!<br />I told her that if I didnt sell the bike and quit rideing that I was going to either permanently injure myself or kill myself. I sold the bike, helmet and boots and all and have never been on a bike since.

 

[wilkin250r]

Re: Large 2-strokes

Originally posted by Mark42:<br /> Didn't Yamaha hava 750 single dirt bike? Or was it Honda? Darn thing was darned near unrideable unless you weighed 250lbs.

I know Honda had the CR500, which is the largest factory single cylinder 2-stroke I know of. It was in a dirtbike, built for acceleration rather than top speed, so it was pretty scary.<br /><br />Most anything over 500cc was multi-cylinder, and limited to streetbikes and snowmobiles, with a few models (like the Maico) being the exception.

 

[norman158]

Re: Large 2-strokes

Yamaha also had a 500cc single 2 stroke back in the early 70s

 

[brother chris]

Re: Large 2-strokes

I know the Honda CR500 that my buddy has goes like stink! <br />Before it stopped running, it was a mad machine. You better know what you are doing if you get on that bike. It will buck you off in a hearbeat. <br />Should have it running within the next few weeks, hopefully(now that we have the manual)

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: Large 2-strokes

The Kawasaki 500cc either twin or triple about the hottest thing in it's day around 1970 or so. Bzck then, you'd hear about some one splatting themselves on the news ocasionally, and it was always a Kawasaki 500 that got away from them.<br /><br />Susuki had a water cooled triple 750 back then that was supposed to be a touring bike. And they also offered a Rotary in the early 70s as a big road bike, but can't remember what displacement/horsepower it was. I saw one once, but they never sold many.

 

[Nos4r2]

Re: Large 2-strokes

I rode a maico 490 a good few years ago- that was a mad beast too. I was 19 and it took half an hour to start it and nearly broke my foot trying.<br /><br />I don't think anyone made anything over 750cc as a 2 stroke within the last 40 years or so-though some of the real early stuff may have been bigger.Kwak's H2 and Suzuki's GT750 triples were so heavy on fuel that any bigger an engine you woulda needed to tow a tanker.

 

[Nos4r2]

Re: Large 2-strokes

Originally posted by Winger Ed.:<br /> they also offered a Rotary in the early 70s as a big road bike, but can't remember what displacement/horsepower it was. I saw one once, but they never sold many.

That was the RE5- 500cc wankel.Awful heavy underpowered thing based on what looked like the old GT500 chassis-but rare as rocking horse s**t now and collectors over here pay a fortune for them.

 

[rayjay]

Re: Large 2-strokes

youse guys ain't been keep up with current dirtbike developments.<br /><br /> http://www.atkusa.com/newsite/ProductsIntimidator.aspx

 

[dolluper]

Re: Large 2-strokes

Nice looking ride there rayjay never heard of that one thanks

 

[brother chris]

Re: Large 2-strokes

Bultaco had some nice bikes. Can't remember if they had a 500 2 stroke. I think they did.