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/126935
The new Kawasaki is simple to flick around over jumps and through turns thanks to its lightweight and well-balanced chassis. a .quick tap on the lever IS enough to change gears under a heavy load, with or without the aid of the clutch. Gelling in and ou t of turns q uickly is easily accomplished on the KX. Because of its light weight, narrow layout, good low-end and easy-to-use clutch, the KX can be £licked through tUFns quicker than any l25cc motocrosser we've ever ridden. The motor is so responsive and the clutch has such smooth action, that the KX hooks up well and predictably when exiting turns. The cI Ulch lever moums close to the handlebar making it easy to reach, and only one finger on the lever does the job. Even though the Kawasaki's suspension received only minor changes, the end results are major. The rear Uni-Trak suspension has a plusher ride compared to last year's KX but bottoming is still rare for a rider between 150-160 pounds even when touching down after steep, Oat-landing jumps. On a rough track where there are a lot of small, squared-o£[ bumps, the back end stays close to the ground and doesn't kick as much as it used to. Only once in a while did the back end swap but not usually enough for the rider to let 0[( on the throttle to bring the back end under control. The KX almost always recovers on its own. The slightly refined Kayaba forks are also quite improved over last year's KX. They have much smoother action especially over the smaller bumps while still maintaining the strength to handle the bigger obstacles. Last year's fork was a little on the harsh side under sharp impacts, but the '87 fork is noticably smoother and less twitchy. Hav'ing a lot of horsepo,:",er really doesn't mean a whole lot without having good brakes. The Kawasaki KXl25 has the best in the business. The rear disc brake is super strong and progressive, and the from disc works equall y as well. Slight pressure on the rear brake pedal is all that's needed to start slowing the KX down for the turns, and when you A new center port exhaust system. a modified K.I.P.S. and ingnition changes gives the new KX stronger low- and mid-range power.. The Kawasaki KX125-E2 is a serious threat for being the best 125cc motocrosser in 1987. need instam stopping power, there's plenty of that available before the wheel starts locking up. The front brake is the same way and one finger on the lever is more than enough to slow the bike down. When braking over stutter bumps, the back wheel likes to chauer and hop around a bit, but considering there's no full-noating braking system, it's easy to live with. Overall layout is very comfortable. The handlebars have a good bend; all the controls are easy to reach and simple to use. The handlebar/seat/footpeg combination is comfortable and spacious enough for taller riders, and the seat has just the right texture. It's obvious we like this motorcycle very much and we can't find anything to really complain about. The Kawasaki carries its weight well by having a low center of gravity and being well balanced. Combine this with a super responsive, powerful motor with good low-end and midrange, and pi ush suspension and you have a motorcycle that's easy to £lick around and just plain fun to ride. And to top things off, the new Kawasaki KX125-E2 has the capabilities to win on any motocross track. What more could you ask for? • 7