Would you trust taking an EX500 LA to Chicago?
 

I think I'm going to drive/ride to Chicago this year, but I wanted to take the bike (2000 miles). I have an 07 EX500 with 23k miles on it (I replaced the plugs, air filter, brakes, tires and chain/sprockets), but there is some noise cold coming from the clutch basket (that is what is sounds like).

Would you trust this bike to go 2k then another 2k back from Cali to IL?

Being what it is I wiould go for it.

Go for it, it will be plenty comfortable but I'd sure want a bit more power for such a long trip personally. You plan on taking interstate the entire way or finding some back routes?

Sure, go for it.

Oh yea a 500 would be okay.

Well first, what kind of noise is coming from the clutch? When i had a 500, I started to get a funky noise from the clutch area, turned out that one of the clutch plates had sheared in and and was sorta just bouncing around in there. The clutch though is pretty robust and was lifted right off the GPZ1100, but apparently mine just failed. I wound up buying a used clutch basked and just swapped the old for the new and the bike has gone almost 10k since.

Other than checking the clutch noise I say go for it.

do it.

LA to chicago? yeah, its entirely doable on an EX500. I'd do any service work that hasnt been done prior before you head out, but aside from that, its totally able to get you there. its not a 2 stroke that will break down every 200 miles needing plugs or a rebuild, unless you ride your 500 at 10k+rpm all the time.

go for it

Exactly why I won't take the 250 that far, especially on the freeway. You have to have it almost pegged to get 80-85 mph out of it.:lol: