Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126842
l-< Q.) ..0 o .... u o A smaller, lighter and more compact engine is fitted to the new CR500R; improved coo ling is afforded by a rev ised radiator. C hanges to the pipe, igniti on t im ing , a irbox, and ATAC chamber yield a more powerful and mo re rideable CR 125R N ew for t he CR80R is a low -f rict ion N ickas il-plated cylinder bore. Suspension travel has been increased both front and rear . Camshaft and carb uretion changes ma ke t he 1986 XL2 5 0 R easier to start; improved handlebar swi tches are sma ller and easier to operate. 16 The CR250R received im provem ent s to the intake tract, and a new reed valve to match the higher int ake veloc ity. Horsepower is rated at 47.5 bhp . The massive XL600R is also easier to start; a softer seat enhances longrange comfort. An optional luggage rack is ava ilab le. a lter th e top half o f th e exh a us t port. The in tak e tract o f th e C R250 R has been cha nged 10 promote flow. and a reshaped reed va lve m at ch es th e higher port velocity for improved thrott le response. The com p ression ratio has been bum ped from 8.6:1 to 9.0: I , and the 249.3cc engine is ra ted a t 47.5 hor sep o wer. T heCR 125R a lso received cha n ges to th e engi ne room. w ith cha nges to th e pipe. ig n ition timing. airbox , a nd ATAC cha m ber net ti ng a n addi tiona l th ree horsepower. The C R 125R is the o n ly CR eq u ipped with th e ATAC system ; th e system now in corporates a n a lu mi n u m su b-cha m ber for reduced weight. Cranksh aft bala nce ha s been improved , and th e cy linde r head n ow ha s a frame support for reduced vibra tio n . Th e machin e 's frame has been m od ified for reduced weight and in creased durabi lit y. Thanks 10 reduced engine vibration, th e h and lebars a re no w solid-m ounted for improved feel . The suspension simi lar to th a t of th e C R250 R. wit h fron t forks wi th a travel- cont ro l va lve for p recise da mping. a rev ised Pro -Link ra tio for a more progressiv e rear suspension , a three-bea rin g rear hub, a nd wheels laced w ith stra ig h t-p u ll spokes. At th e small end of th e CR spectrum . th e CR80R is filled with a n ew , lightweight engi ne th at sports a Ni ck asi l-plated bore. The pi ston is _ fill ed with a single ring, an d th e co m p ression ra tio is now 8.7:1, up from la st year's 8.2: I . Igni tion and port timing have been cha nge d for increased power. The cra n ksh aft and center cases have been red esigned to permit th e use of a sma lle r to p end. T he tra ns m ission asse mbly is ligh ter. a nd need le-ro ller bea ri n gs o n th e cl u tc h li fter m ak e for lig h ter, easier cl utch ac tio n. T heframegeometry a nd sea t he ight have been changed to accommodate tall er riders. T he Pro -L in k rear suspe n sio n is n ow fill ed with adj u sta ble com pressio n damping, and th e sw inga rm is wider a nd is su pporte d by needl e roller bearings. __All th e 1986 C Rs arefitted with au im p ro ved (en larged) airbox, and are fitt ed with lighter and more durable chassis a nd ru n ning gear. For 1986. H onda 's trad itional dua lpurpose ra nge is represented by the X L250R a nd th e XL600R. T he XL250 R has a cam -p rofi le a nd carbureLOr changes for eas ier starti ng. as well as revam ped hand leb ar swi tches for eas ier opera tio n . T he XL600R received the same starti ng improveme nts. alo ng with a reshapedsea tforIong-ra ngecom fort. T he CD I ig ni tion un it n ow feat ures a n rpm sen so r to elim in a te kick-back o n sta rt in g . The graphics have been cha nged to include white body pans, a red engine , a n d go ld rims a nd fo rk J egs, _•• • ••••••• • • • __ • _. •