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/127607
. the power out in a more rideable fashion, while a 39mm Keihin PWJ carburetor replaces last year's 38mm Keihin PJ unit. Acco rding to KTM's Scot Harden, the PWK gives the 550 a smoother type of power, whereas the PJ gave the bike a ~ somewhat violent mid-range punch. 1 All-new WP suspension graces both ends of the M/XC. Up front, the WP fork , features an internal bleed system that utir lizes a tapered need le for more progres_sive, controlled fork action. KIM claims that the system allows the fork to soak ~ up small bumps, while retaining suffij dent damping for la rger hits. The IBS - system offers a wider range of effective • external damping adjustment. Out back, a WP bleed adjustment shock has similar technology to that found in the IBS fork. Like the fork, the shock features a tapered needle that automatically compensates for increased operating temperature. Complimenting the new rear shock is an all-new swingarm and shock linkage. Stop ping the big Katoom are a new set of Brembo brakes. The front master cylinder offers a slimmer, more comfortable lever design and a quick-adjust external contact adjus tment. -I The rear unit has larger and thicker -I. brake pads, and is claimed to provide a more progressive feel than past versions. The caliper floa ts freely, and the pads may be changed without the removal of the rear wheel. The most obvious changes made to the KIM are the new styling. While a few of last yea r's smalle r-displacement models received the sleek, new bodywork, the 550 was left with the same 01' bulky plastic. This year, though, the 550 M/XC joins the rest of the fleet, and sports the new Technosel graphics and seat. Scott is humbled Eager to strut his stuff, Mr. Rousseau elected to take his first spin on the track aboard the KIM 550 M/XC. After only two laps of arm-jerking, brake-slamming, arm-pumping action, the onee-outspoken member of our staff returned to the pits, eyes wide and head hung low. "I can't believe how fast it is - that thing is scary," he said, then went on to beg for a ride aboard the Suzuki RM125 that we had happened to bring along. Later in the day, we persuaded Rousseau to try again, this time on the Honda CR500. Though he found the Honda more to his liking, we were unable to coax him into riding the third machine, the Kawasaki KXSOD, as he and the "piddley" 125 had become somewhat inseparable. ~ t's no secret that I'm the biggest 125 fan amongst our editorial staff, but I was pleased to find that the SODs weren't as difficult to ride as I had thought they might be. Like a 125, a SOD takes a special type of riding style. While a 250 - if ridden aggressively - should be II 29