Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

number of refinements have been made to' the 1992 off-road and motocross models from KTM, the Austrian firm that is celebrating its 25th yea r of exporting m otorcycl es to Ameri ca. On ce again, KTM offers the off-road rider one of the widest selections of bikes for specific riding applications. There are a total of 13 di ffer en t m odel s available in five basic types: motocross (SX models), enduro/ cross cou ntry (EI XC), desert!cross country (DIXC), trail/ cross cou ntry (TIXC) and four-s tro ke (LC4). In wh at many will feel is a copycat move, all '92 KTM s come ado rned with new "Speed Splatter" graphics in a mint and pepper color design. Like it o r love it, the new wave pai nt themes are nearl y impossible to escape in the off-roa d mo torcycle marketplace. Beneath the paint, an assortment of new tech nical features can be found throughout the lineu p. New White Power suspension units are featu red at the front and rear of every mode l in the form of an all-new Dual Taper 4057 fork, featuring reb uildable ant icavitation sealed cartridges, new valving and low-friction bushings, held in place by stronger yet ligh ter triple clamps, and a Whi te Power shock that also has lowfriction bushings, new piston material and revised valving. Each model also has new disc brake rotors front and rear, designed to gi ve . longer brake pad life, an d th e front disc is clamped by a two-piston Brembo . caliper. All models also come fitted with wider footpegs, new-style Magura control levers, hi gh er-rise handlebars with a new clamping system , new seat shape and material , and quieter exhaus t! silencer systems. Each of the 125cc models featu res a longer swingarrn with improved suspension linkage system, a new exha ust pipe, an easy-access clutch which has improved sintered plates and a newlydesigned actuating system, and a new shifting quadrant designed to improve shifting. The 250 and 300cc SX models now have die-cast engine cases, while all 2501 300cc models come with redesigned exhaust power valves, stronger cylinder head, new piston shape with im proved rings, improved porting, larger-eapacity radiators and a new kickstart lever bend. All 250/ 300cc trail/cross co untry models co me eq ui p ped with 82 decib el · ' EPA off-highway ap proved silencer l spark arrestors and are enduro-ready with a stock odometer. At the top end of KTM 's displ acemen t scale, the 500 and 550cc two-strokes get th e sam e swingarm/rear suspension linkage imp rovemen ts as the 125, and larger radiators are simi lar to the 2501 300cc mod els. New gas tan ks wi th . increased fuel capacity are fitted to the big-bores, and they now breathe through Keihin carb uretors. T o improve shifting and redu ce weight, a new alumin um shi ft drum mounted in needl e bearings has been fitted to the transmission. Specific changes to the four -stroke LC4 haven 't been fina lized, but it's likely that the thumper will get the same White Power suspension improvements as the two-stroke models as well as an increase in engine disp lacement over the '91 model' s 552.6cc. The new KT Ms are expected to be released to dealers in the middle of September, beginning with ' th e 2501 300cc models with the remainder of the lin eup following a short tim e later. Suggested retail prices are as follows : 125 SX $3475, 125 ElXC $3625, 250 SX .$4325, 250 DIXC $4375, 250 EIXC $4475,250 TIXC $4515, 300 SX $4525, 300 DIXC $4575, 300 EIXC $4675, 300 T IXC $4715, 500 SX $4525, 550 DIXC $4615 an d 600 DIXC $4995. tl'l A Keep up with the diverseworld of motorcycle racing. From the high powerof the 500cc World GrandPrix Road Race series which hugsthe pavement from Britain to Brazil, to the grit and grindof the AMA National ChampIonship Motocross Series, Thursdays on Prime Network. .Checl

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