It has a cult following and a nickname of “Quadzilla.” A Quadzilla would be the last word in civility compared to a compact three-wheeler with even more power that is more violent in delivery than the LT500R.ĭepending on how sensible you are, it could be fortunate or unfortunate that Honda never chose to offer an ATC three-wheeler with an open-class two-stroke powerplant. Suzuki is the only company that injected a 500cc two-stroke production sport ATV into the market. Nevertheless, stories about the sheer power and (compared to modern machinery) its violent delivery are true. Like most stories about the “good old days,” the legends of the CR500R are outsized and some distance from reality. Anyone who has experienced one will doubtless tell glorious riding stories of untameable beasts with massive power output! A CR500R makes more power than a modern 450cc motocrosser, but it isn’t nearly as civil or easy to ride as a modern four-stroke. With two decades since Honda built the last new CR500R, fewer and fewer people are around who experienced riding one. At one point in the rpm range the power jumped up 18 horsepower in 1500 rpm! Starting one takes talent and dedication. The non-power-valve engine was always a brute. Honda built the liquid-cooled CR500R from 1985 to 2001 without many major engine changes. With a Honda CR500R engine in the ATC 250R chassis, owner Shane Hitt more than doubled the power at close to the same weight. This would be a custom build in the truest sense of the word.Įvery photo of this machine shows blinding acceleration. Even when you have a frame and an engine from the same manufacturer, they never just jump right together. Hitt had sourced a Honda CR500R 500cc two-stroke motocross engine that needed to find its way into the ATC 250R frame cradle. A parts pile like that would be daunting for some, but Rath’s shop is the mechanical equivalent of the Fortress of Solitude for Superman.ĭaryl and his crew were to transform the parts pile into what we call “Black Beauty.” The kicker of the whole build is one of the most powerful production two-strokes available. A frame from a 1985 Honda ATC 250R, an exhaust that matched the engine but didn’t fit the ATC, black plastic bodywork, and a motor were left at Rath Racing. He showed up at Rath’s shop with a pile of parts. Hitt had a long-time dream of owning one of the most powerful and plain nasty ATCs ever created. It has a mean stance, and the frame opening is packed with that giant engine. To be honest, black is not our favorite color choice, but Black Beauty really has put the look together.
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