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/127676
KX125 ~ m ean that the KX125 a nd 250 were ignored. In fact, both ben efit from a long list of small refinements, which are aimed at makin g each bike a more competitive package. On the 250, Kawa saki wan ted to move the hit lower in the rev range so tha t the bike would be more resp onsive at low rpm. Subsequentl y; they gave the engine a new crankcase, which mounts the reed valves closer to the crankshaft and raises the compression ratio. The crankcase is also beefed up in the swingarm pivot area. On the Kawasaki Integrated Power valv e System (KIPS), the su b-exhaust po rt va lves a re 6mm smaller, and the ma in exha ust port slide valve is thicker. The latte r change lowers the po rt at low speeds, shor te ns the port timing an d boosts the compression ratio. The power valve governo r lever is larger and ma de of a more durable material, and has been re designed to open the valves over a ve ry narrow rpm range. Th e cylinder hea d's combus tion chamber now has A KX250 T KX500 , more squish area, as well . The balance factor of the crank is changed in an effort to reduce vibration, the ignition timing map is all new, and a new ignition coil supplies a longer-duration spa rk . Rounding out the engine changes are a 100mm-longer expansion chamber and wha t is said to be a quieter silencer. The perimeter frame has a beefier "d ow n-s ized" carburetor, though the mixer is still a 36mrn Keihin. Like on the 250, the carb got two added breather hoses on top . The cylinder head's combustion chamber is reshaped to raise the low-speed compression. The p iston crown and skirt are thicker, ring groove tolerance is tighter, and the rings themselves have a new surface treatment The cylinder gets larger sub-exhaust ports and new port timing aimed at increasing low end and midrange. A new water passage to the right of the exhaust port is . added to increase cooling. The power valve got the same changes as on the 250, and also receives larger sub-exhaust passageways to match the cylinder ports. In the tranny, third and fourth gears have sligh tly lower ratios than last year, and the output top gear has a iarger-diameter shift fork groove. The silencer is said to be quieter. The list of changes on the 1995 Kawasaki KXSOO is much shorter, with nothing more than new brake pad material and bold new graphics. A tire swap to a Dunlop K195 and K695 • is the extent of the changes on the little KX60. Prices on the '95 models are as fol. lows: $2049 for the KX60; $2599 for the KX80 $2999 for the KX100; $4449 for the ; KXl25; $5249 for the KX250; $5149 for the KX5OO; and $3999for the KDX200. C\' ~ e ~ 0\ 0\ T'"""i ... I:'-. C'l - >.. ;:l KX80 ~ -. 25