Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

KXSOO (Co ntinued from page 31) R igh t o ut of the crate, the Ka wasaki has o ne o f the finest suspe ns io ns o n a n Open-d a sser. Both the for k a nd rear shock ca me slightly too stiff fo r a 160-po u nd rider, bu t a fter a short break -in period, th e suspens io n sm oo th ed o ut. We di d so ften up the pre load just a tad. The back en d really sh ines over rea l ro ug h stu ff at speed, and we never worried abo u t it snea king in a n un su specting swa p o n a fas t straight. Over th e sma ller bum p s i t wa sn ' t as sensitive a nd would give th e rider a good sha king; however, the KX a lmost a lways m aintai ned a stra igh t li ne. It's over th e ro ll ing whoops wh ere th e 500 rea ll y hooks u p - the rear wheel stays close to the ground, diggi n g for traction . T he back end is very sta b le a nd it tak es a na sty bump at speed or la ndi ng from skyscra pe r j umps to ge t it to bouorn. T he for k a lso wor ked ver y well o ver a n y size bum p s, and we co u ldn ' t fi nd any thing to nag a bo u t. Bo tt omin g is rare, a nd wh en i t does bottom , th ere isn ' t a ha rsh jolt; even at hi gh speed, the front end hard ly ever sha kes. Slo wing th e bi g Kawasaki down for th e turns is easy th anks to a ver y powerfu l front di sc brak e; wh ic h is a good thi ng , beca use O pen class riders m ust rely on th e front brake m uc h m ore th an the rear brak e, since big bor e two -strokes ca n be sta lled too easi ly if th e rear brake is used much . L uckily, th e rear brak e o n th e KX isn 't to uc hy and ca n be used effectively to keep th e back end under co n trol when slow ing for tu rn s. The front brake h as excellent feel , a nd o ne fin ger is a ll th at is need ed to pull in the lever. Turn in g the KX isn ' t a ll th a t good, b u t, th en aga in , it 's reall y n ot wh at we'd cons ide r bad , ei the r. So me times yo u ca n reall y wh i p th e KX through a tigh t, grooved berm one lap, the n completely blow it th e next. No m at ter how many tim es you blast through o ne particul ar turn , the rid er must co nce nt rate every single tim e - th e KX wo n' t do it fo r yo u . T hrough a berm, th e KX must be lea ned wa y over with stea dy th rottle a nd kept leaned over a ll th e wa y through the turn . O the rw ise th e KX500 will rise up a nd drift over the ber m and o ff the ri der 's line; there is n o room for error o n th e KX - w h en done right, it rea lly fli es; do ne wrong, yo u' ll pay. O ver th e j umps, the Ka wa sak i launch es in to th e air predictably a nd ma inta ins a leve l flight pattern; every n o w-an d -th en , th e back end rises a litt le higher tha n the front , but a sligh t tw ist of throttle brings it bac k down where i t should be. In the air, the KX doesn't rea lly like to be flicked around - it would rather keep a straight line and get bac k down to th e ground as quickly as possible. T he Ka wasa ki is a comfortable bike to ride - although the whole bike feels q u ite lo n g , the co ntrols are a ll in th e right p laces, th e seat is firm , th e handleb ars have a co m forta ble ben d (bu t so me rid ers we've talked to pref erred to h av e th e h andl e bar clamps reversed ). N othi ng broke o n th e KX - th e sp o kes sea ted in well, th e chain d idn' t stretch m uch , th e sea t stay ed firm , th e bra kes stayed strong, but th e rear tire wore o u t a lmost instaru lv. T h e la test O pen-cl ass 'p roduc tio n KX500 Ka wasak i isa wi nner - th ere's n o do ubt a bo u t th a t. Its powerf u l m ot or st ill ma kes it a ha nd ful to manage, but righ t o u t o f th e crate, th e KX is toug h to bea t. (For th e p ast couple o f years, Kawasak i has been a laugh in g stoc k in the 500 class .) No w it 's Ka wa sa ki 's turn to do the laughing . . •• •• . , ' ,_ ' ~ " .' !t FIGHT of the The Hearns and Hagler bo ut is histor y - Now the REAL fight begins SATURDAY &SUNDA~ APRIL 27&28 AMA Superbike National - Round 2 Willow Springs Raceway, Rosamond, CA Gotothe KEilKER® 100 See defend ing Superbike Champion Team Honda's " Flyi ng" Fred Merkel attempt to KO the contenders: Kev in Schwantz, factory Suzuki - two t ime AMA Superbike champ ion Wes Cooley , Starfire Racing Honda - top ranked rookie Todd Brubaker, Starfire Racing Honda - Sam McDonald, Factory Yamaha - and the others, Scott Gray, Suzuki - Rueben McMurter, Yamaha - Jeff Haney, Honda - J immy Filice, Yamaha - J im Vreeke , Yamaha Dale Quarterley, Kawasaki - Dave Busby, Honda - Rich Oliver, Kawasaki - Roberto Pietri, Honda - and more! Contender Stats Rider Lap Times Merkel Schwantz Cooley 1 1 1 1 Brubaker m in . 29 m in . 29 m in. 29 min. 29 sec . sec. sec. sec. Schedule of [vents Gates open 8:30 a.m.• Saturday & Sunday Practice starts 9 :00 a.m. both days SATURDAY Vintage Bike Race Kerker 4-Hour Endurance Race A.M, 1:00 P.M, SUNDAY Castrol Oil Super Kart Cup Kerker 100 First Leg NO Spark Plug F-2 National Lockhart 600cc Super Street Kerker 100 Fina l Leg 11 :3 0 A .M . 1:00 P,M . 1:45 P.M. 2:45 P.M . 3:30 P.M. -lIEiIKEii- - Saturday Pass $5.00. Sunday Pass $10.00. Overnight Camping $5.00 Veh icle Race Info Call (80S) 256-2471 The Superlight of the Year is On. BE THERE!

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