Vintage Power: 2001 Honda CR500R Sparks Bidding War on eBay, Matches Price of 2025 Ford F-150 Raptor

In a stunning display of vintage motocross mania, a pristine 2001 Honda CR500R motorcycle recently went to auction on eBay and triggered a ferocious bidding war that had gearheads and collectors alike glued to their screens. The final hammer price? Just shy of the MSRP of a brand-new 2025 Ford F-150 Raptor, Ford’s flagship performance truck that starts at around \$78,000.

The auction, which began with a modest starting bid of \$500, quickly escalated as dozens of enthusiasts and collectors recognized the rare opportunity to own one of the last—and arguably most legendary—two-stroke 500cc motocross bikes ever produced. Over the course of seven days, the auction drew in thousands of watchers, and more than 80 verified bids poured in from around the United States and abroad. By the time the auction closed, the final bid had reached an astonishing \$76,800.

The 2001 Honda CR500R represents the end of an era. Known for its raw, unrelenting power and simple, reliable engineering, the CR500R was Honda’s flagship two-stroke off-road machine from the mid-1980s until its discontinuation in 2001. Its 491cc liquid-cooled two-stroke engine is infamous for delivering brutal acceleration and torque, making it a favorite among seasoned riders and daredevils. It was never a bike for beginners—but those who could tame it spoke of it with reverence.

What made this particular bike so desirable? According to the seller, the motorcycle was in immaculate condition, with less than 10 hours of total runtime. It had been stored in a climate-controlled garage, kept in near-showroom condition, and came with the original documentation, service manual, and even a sealed tool kit from the factory. It had never been raced, modified, or rebuilt—an increasingly rare find in the CR500 world, where most bikes have been pushed to their limits on tracks or trails.

Motorcycle collectors have long regarded the CR500R as a “holy grail” of vintage dirt bikes. While most examples from the 1980s and 1990s can still fetch several thousand dollars, finding a late-model version in such untouched condition is almost unheard of. The 2001 model year holds special significance as the final production run, marking the end of Honda’s legendary two-stroke era.

On social media and in motocross forums, the auction quickly became a talking point. Many users expressed disbelief at the final price, while others defended it as justified. “This bike is like the Shelby GT500 of dirt bikes,” one user wrote on a vintage motocross group on Facebook. “Try finding another one like it. You won’t.”

Comparisons to the 2025 Ford F-150 Raptor only added fuel to the fire. The Raptor, an off-road beast in its own right, boasts 450 horsepower from a twin-turbo V6 and includes the latest tech and suspension innovations. While it’s hard to compare a high-end truck to a 24-year-old motorcycle, the price tag overlap has sparked a conversation about the value of nostalgia, rarity, and raw mechanical design.

In a market where classic vehicles often surge in value, the CR500R auction may be a signal of growing demand for vintage motocross machines. As modern bikes become increasingly complex and electronically controlled, a generation of riders and collectors appear to be looking backward—toward the visceral, no-frills machines of the past.

The buyer, whose identity has not been disclosed, reportedly plans to keep the CR500R as a centerpiece of a growing private collection. Whether it ever sees a dirt trail again remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the legend of the CR500R is alive and well—and more valuable than ever.