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/127599
w rap arou n d three-spoke cas t alu minum wheels; the front rim is 35 inches wide, while the rear has a whopping 55-inch width. The bodywork on the ZX-9R includes a wider and taller windscreen, with a small center vent that allows air to defog the windscreen. Also, there is room under the sea t for a bike lock, and the rear-view mirrors feature a positionmemory function. The riding position, while sports-oriented, offers more rider I passenger comfort than the ZX7R, with lower pegs and higher bars (complete with end we ights). Suggested retail price on the ZX-9R is $9299, and it has a claimed dry weight of 474 pounds. For the off-road crowd, the big news is the much-anticipated KLX2S0R, which Kawasaki manufactured last year but opted not to import into the States. Still, several publications (including Cycle News) were able to get their hands on the little thumper, and it has received shining reviews. The KLX2S0 will go head- to-head against Honda's popular XR250R, and ups the ante with KX-like features such as a perimeter frame, full-coverage rad iator shrouds, electrofusion cylinder, liquid-cooled engine, and a 43mm inverted fork. Also standard is a large airbox, a 32mm Keihin CVK carburetor, six-speed transmission, ratchet-type cam chain tensioner, dual radiators, automatic compression release, sta inless steel exhaust header and aluminum rims. The KLX comes enduro-ready, with plastic handguards, a quiet silencer with spark arrestor, quick-release rear wheel and a resettable odometer, but the fuel tank is a bit small at just 2.1 gallons. While the KLX6S0, introduced las t year, was criticized for being ove rweight, the 250cc version is said to tip the scales at a mere 220 pounds, dry. For comparison, claimed dry we ight on the XR250 is 245.8 pounds. That ad ded technology and weight-savings doesn't come free, however, as suggested retail price on the KLX is $4699, an even gra nd more than the XR. While the ZX-9R an d KLX6S0 stole the show, another mod el to receive conside rable updates was the EXSOO, or the Ninja 500 as it is now called . The bike is intend ed to brid ge the gap between the N in ja 250 a nd the N inj a 600 R, a n d " re p laces t he EXSOO wi th u pdate d styling and featu res to increase value to ~ METZELER~~W=~~ GRAND NATIONAL FINAL Cash Continge nc ie s Pa id In All 15 Metzeler Classes METZELER Future Stars: METZELE R Novice: Expert Superstock: Endurance, Clubman, Vintage: 1st - $200, 2nd - $100, 3rd - $50 1st - $250, 2nd - $200, 3rd - $150, 4th - $100, 5th - $50 1st - $250, 2nd - $200, 3rd - $150, 4th - $100, 5th - $50 1st - $150, 2nd - $100, 3rd - $50 . the customer." Serious riders will rejoice to hear that the 500 finally gets bigger and wider 17inch wheels, replacing the little 16-inchers that greatly limited tire selection in the past. Also , the new front fork has largerdiameter tubes with thinner walls for increased rigidity, without an increase in weight. To accommodate the wider tire, the triple clamps now put the fork legs farther apart, and the front fender is wider; the swingarm is also redesigned to be wider and stiffer: The all-new fairing is said to offer better wind protection for the rider, with a larger windshield than the EX500, and the handlebar is also lower than the EX's. The' Ninja 500 borrows parts from several up-scale Kawasaki models. The tu m signals, tail light and mirrors come from the ZX-7, .while the headlight an d handlebar swi tches are from the ZX-6E. The new di gi tal igniter adds a n a n titheft fu nction, and the twin ex ha ust silencers are now chrome-plated . The Ninja 500 looks to be ~ m uch' imp roved bike over last year's EXSOO, and this is reflected on the price tag. At $4399, the bike's price is $700 higher than that of it's '93 predecessor. Claimed dry weight remains the same at 372.6 pounds. cv . For more information, contact METZELER Roadracing Contingency Department: 4520 107th Street SW ยท Mukilteo, WA 98275 ~ 1-800-722-3336 METzel E R ~~ ' <:::T" Donate to T HECLAYTON FOUNDATION 2201 Cherry Avenue Long Beach, CA 90806 310/427-7433 "We want to be yourfavoritecharity" 19'