Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

~ ~ 'fi:" ~ 00 ~ ...... ...... C(") ~ ...... ~ I---) / The new Kawasaki KX250 has a very strong motor but lacks power off the bottom when exiting turns. Suspension is f irst rate. The Yamaha's motor is the best of the bunch. but the suspension comes way too soft out of the crate. Heavier fork springs are a must. everything the Honda does as well, if not a little better , especially in turns and hooking up out of the corners. The Honda use s everything it has, whil e the Yamah a has a little left o ver a t th e same speed . Neither th e Suzuki nor th e Kaw a sa ki m ak e g reat su percross bikes, beca use they la ck th e a ll-im p o rta m other hand , are strict ly ra cers and good ones at that. The Kawasaki has a few bugs like a front brake -that never quite works right and a weak , gra bby clutch . With th is in mind. we gi ve th e nod to th e Suzuki over th e Kaw a saki ; th e Suzuki's clutch didn 't ge t grabby, its brak es worked well , a n d it o u t- ha n d le d a n d our-per- low-end and tight turning abilities. Of the four bikes, th e Honda is th e easiest and th e most fun to ride. The Honda is a good cho ice for a ca sua l rid er wh o races for fun o f it a nd trai l rid es on th e side . Major sus pens io n a nd cngim- modifi cati on s ca n mak e th e Honda into a co mpetitive MXer. The Suzuki a nd Ka wasaki , on th e Kawasaki KX250 Eng ine t ype •• .• . U quid -coo led, two-stroke single Bore x stroke . •• ••. 70x64.9mm D isplacement ••• ••• . • .• 249cc Compression ratio •• • .• •• 9. 1 :1 Carb uretion ••• •• 40mm Mikuni Ignition • • . . •• •• . ..• • .• . • • COl Lubrica t ion .. '.' ••• • •• • • Pre -mix Gear ratio s Primary . ..•..•• • . •••• .. 2 .750 Final • • •••. • . • . .•••• • .• 3.500 5th • • •••• • . ••. . • . .• . • 1.000 4 th • • ••••••• .• .• .• .•• l .136 3rd . • .•. • ••• . • . .••• .• 1 .3 B8 2nd • . •• . . . • • . • . • • • • •• l .764 1st • ..•• • .• •. . . . . . •• •• 2 .133 Frame • •• ••• . Single downtube, double cradle Rake .. .. • •.... . . . • .. • • . . 28 0 Trail • .• • • • .• ... .. .• •• . • 4.7 in . Front suspension type .. •. Tele scopic fork formed the Kawasaki on the track but not by much. The winner of this shootout is, without a doubt, the Yamaha. It has th e best motor. Its suspension is good stock and has th e potential to be the best around with minor modificati ons . That m ak es the Yamah a YZ250N a lmost im possible to beat. • Yamaha YZ250 Fork tube diameter • •. .. . 43mm Front w!teel travel • . .••• 11 .8 in . Rear suspension type • .• Singleshock, swingarm Rear w hee l travel •.• •.. 12.6 in. Front brakes •• . ••• . 8. 7 · in . disc Rear brakes • • • .• •. • •.. • . Drum Front wheel • • . • . •• 21 xl .60 in. Rea r wheel • • • • • • • • 18x2. 15 in . Front tire • • •.. • • • • • 90/90-21 Bridgestone M37 Rea r t ire •••• •.. . • . 130/80-18 Bridgestone M38 Dry weight • •• •• ••. •. 21 2 .7 Ibs. Wheelbase • ••••• • .•. • • 57.7 in . Fue l capacity •• ..••• . • . 2 .1 ga l . Ground clearance .• •..• 14.8 in. Seat height •. .. • • •.. •. • 34 in . Colors . • • • •. •. . •. •. Lime g reen Retail price . •••••... . . • $2499 Eng ine type •• •• . Uquid -cooled. two-stroke single Bore x stroke • .•. ••. 86x86mm D isplacement •••• • •• ••• 246cc Compression ratio •... • •. 8.2:1 Carburetion . • .• . 38mm Mikuni Ignition • . • • • • •• •• •• . . • . • • COl Lubrication . •••.• • • •.. • Pre -mix Gear ratios Primary • .• • •• .•• . • , . •.• 2 .625 Final • • .• •• •••• • ••• . •• . 3.571 5th . • •• • • •...•. • • .•. • 1.000 4th . • . •. •. • . • .. • • • • . • l.200 3rd .•. •. • • • •.•• •.••. • 1.444 2nd •• . • .• .• . . • .•• • • .• 1.750 lst •• • . • .• .• . . . .•• • • . • 2 . 143 Frame . . . .• . • Single downtube, double cradle Rake •• • • . . • • . • . • • • • . . • . . 28° Trail. • . •.. .•. . • .• • • •• •4.69 in . Front suspension type ••. . Telescopic fork Fork tube dia meter • . . . • . 43mm Front wheel travel . •• •.• 11.8 in . Rear suspension t ype • . • Single shock swingarm Rear wheel t ravel •. • ..• 1 2. 6 in. Front brakes • . • . • . • . 9.4-in . disc Rear brakes • .• .• • • • • • . • •Drum Front wheel .. •.• '. • 21 xl .60 in . Rear wheel •. ••• •. • 18x2.15 in . Front tire .•.• •. • .• • 90/90-21 Bridgestone M-37 Reartire 1 30 / 8 0 - 1 8 Bridgestone M-38 Dryweight 2 161bs. Wheelbase • • ; • •• • • •• • • 57.9 in . Fue l capacity •••••••. • 2.25 gal. Ground clearance .. • ••. 13.4 in . Seat height .••••• • •. • • 38.0 in. Colors Wh ite Retail price •• .• •• •• . • . • $2499 The chart on the left shows how each bike rated when timed from a standstill to the f irst turn at a local MX track. We made eight runs each, threw away the best and worst scores and determined an average. The right chart shows best five-lap average t imes for each bike. Start to first turn (six runs, average time, approx. 250 feet) Lap times: Five laps, best average times Seconds Minutes: Yamaha_"~" Honda _ _ ~_ Suzuki -~!Ii Kawasaki Yamaha---~~ " Ho nd a _ Suzuki Kawasaki _

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