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/127692
ยท . .COMPARISON . 1995 125cc MX Shootout By Donn Maeda ' Photos by Kit Palmer and Maeda bout this time each year, the editorial staff's mouths begin to water in an ticipation of our annual 12Sec MX shootout. What could be more fun ? Hanging out at the tracks, playing on prepped and watered courses on four brand-new, state-of-the-art 125cc motocrossers - now that's what we call an assignment. But while the rid ing part of the shootout comes eas y, it's the later part that gives us fits. As usu al, this year's cr op of Japanese motocrossers are so close that rating the bikes and choosing a winner became an absolute task . Would it be the all-powerful Honda CRl25? The rejuvenated, peppy Suzuki RM125 ? The all-around-good-guy Yamaha YZ125? Or the mean, green Kawasaki KX125? Unable to come up with concrete opinions through recollection alone, test riders completed detailed questionnaires in which they awarded points to each bike in several categories. In the end , the bike that A ~ 0\ 0\ ...... 0' l-< Cl) "S Cl) ~. 18 earned the most points and topped the class was... C'rnon, now. It's not gonna be that easy. Read on, and find out which 125 we think is best POWER Without a doubt, the most important part of a good 125 is its engine . A fast motor is imperative in the tiddler class, as a lethargic bike will leave its pilot in the dust as soon as the gate dr op s. All four 125s feature crankcase induction, as the system' produces a harder-hitting, more abrupt style of po we r th an the cylinder-inducted design. Even though it wa s left unchanged for '95, the Honda CRl25 is the fastest, most-powerful motor of the bunch. Period . The CR hits hard and fast - power starts down low and pulls hard and long through the middle and top of the powerband. But while th e CR is the fastest and hardest-hitting, it can also be the hardest to ride. On a loamy or tacky track, the CR is a blast - traction is the Honda's best friend. The Honda is equally at home on fast, wide-open tracks as it is on cut-and-thrust supercross courses. When the going gets dry, however, the Honda requires maximum attention from the rider. On hardpacked, slippery tracks, the motor can and will break the rear wheel loose if the rider is not disciplined. The CR engine favors an experienced rider, and may be a bit of a handful for beginners. The Suzuki RM has a slower-revving feel than the Honda, but its power down low rivals that of the CR. The RM has a nice burst of power that pulls hard through the middle, but it tends to sign off a bit early. The Suzuki is fast - very fast - but don 't count on revving out the engine. Shifting into the next gear is the key to success on an RM. Unlike the Honda, it is easy to maintain traction in the dry on the Suzuki. While it also loves tacky cond itions, the RM works equally as well in blue-groove conditions. Beginners and novices will love the RM, but faster riders may wish for a bit more on top. Kawasaki had some bad luck with last year's KXl25. Instead of ripping and snorting, it popped and wheezed. This year's bike doesn't suffer from such maladies, however, and has a healthy sp read of power that starts in the middle of the powerband and pulls healthily up top . The KX doesn't ha ve much down low, and liberal amounts of clutch work are required to get the green bike going. From midrange on up, though, the KX comes alive and can be a rocket. Unlike the Suzuki and Honda, the KX doesn't feel as great when traction is abundant. As a matter of fact, it feels a bit on the slow side. Instead, it excels when the ground is dry and slick, as its powerband makes it easy to find traction, even when it seems non-existent. Beginners may ha ve a bit of difficulty keeping the KX on the pipe, but experienced riders can make the KX engine sing. Though not the fastest, the Cycle News test staff liked the Yamaha YZ's engine best. The best way to describe the YZ's motor is a kinder, gentler version of Honda's CR. Like the Honda, the YZ begins to produce power early on, and pulls hard and steadily well into the upper rev range - it just doesn't hit .as