(Right) Honda inc reased the
steering stem from 26mm to 30mm
to increase front end stability.
Gusseting was added to increase
strength. (Below) Honda filled the
CRI25 with 45mm Showa inverted
cartridge forks . O nly the com pression damping is adjustable.
this year th ey've tak en so me major
steps to stabilize the front end.
One of those steps, and one of the
most obvious changes made to the
cha ssis, is the additio n of a 45mm
Showa inverted cartridge fork. Compressi on damping can be set a t any of
14 settings, but there is no rebound
adjustment. Tapered slider bu shings
are used to red uce friction and a new
for k oil was specially developed for
H onda to reduce friction, as well as
provide consistent damping.
At the bottom 'o f the fork the front
axle is now clamped on a t bo th ends
for added torsional rigidit y. The lower
sliders are still well-protected with
H onda 's wrap-around, thi ck ' plastic
guards.
.
Inverted forks are inherently more
rigid than conventional forks, and that
in creased rigidity pla ces more stress o n
th e frame. To compensate for that
extra stress and improve straight-line
stabili ty, H onda increased th e steeri ng
stem from 26mm to 30mm and added
gusseting around th e steering head to
in crease fram e strength.
T he engine was als o raised 3.5mm
in th e fram e to increase _handling
precision an d response. The e R 's
Continued on page 53.
Wh ile all of the o ther manufacturers ha ve swit ch ed to 19-inch rear wheels, H ond a
chose to stick with IS-inch rims because th ey felt that the re is a greater selecti on
of tires avai lable to the average rac er. A redesigned chain gui de preven ts derailing.
moving sale.
If ~u've been waiting to
move up to KTM, ~u \\On't
want to miss this deal.
For a limited time only, KTM's 1989 250 MX,
D/XC, and E/XC models are priced to move-a full
$1000.00 below 1990 prices. That's abrand
new bike for less than you'd pay for a used one!
This is the same 250 E/XC that Cycle World
mimed 'The Best Enduro Motorcycle of 1989." The
same 250 D/XC that dominated the desert: And the
same 250 MX that carries on KTM's Gran Prix
championship heritage.
The choice is yours. But you'd better hurry. PJ. this
price, these bikes are mcwing fast.
KTM America. Inc
.
East 1906Broadw3y, lorain,
Ohio44052 ~6) 246-1060
_435 'B W Bradley,
,
B Cajon. Calfllmla 92021l
i
(6191440-3995
49
