Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

T h is one's easy. Even though I spent the least amount of time riding the 1255 as compared to the rest of '* the CN staff, I had no problems choosing the Yamaha as my favorite. To me it was the easiest to ride, had the best all-around motor - maybe not the fastest but close enough - had the best out-of-the-crate suspension, and its overall handling was as good as any of the others. It's the kind of bike you can just hop on and ride fast. The bottom line is that the Yamaha just feels right. I also enjoyed the Kawasaki, Overall, it feels good but could use a better hit off the bottom. The lack of bottom-end grunt got me into trouble a few times. Still, I could live with the KX quite happily. Despite the fact the Suzuki didn't fare well with our point system, I could live in harmony with the RM, as well. The motor simply rips and the suspension is good, but I really don't get along with the RM's ergos. Suzuki needs to raise the back end to give it a more balanced and level feeling. Otherwise, the Suzuki performs well. It just takes a little getting used to. Surprisingly, the Honda doesn't do much for me this year. While it does have an outstanding motor, I just couldn't get in sync with the CR as a whole. The suspension is okay, it handles well, but I just didn't feel all tha t comfortable on the Honda. All in all, I d o believe it's a very good motorcycle, bu t for now, I'd just as soon race the Yamaha . mush y, and Kit Palmer requir es regu........... la r bl eeding to d eli ver optimum perfo rm a nc e. One te ster complained that the KX's rear brak e felt like a toggle switch - it was either on or off. The Suzuki an d Yamaha were bo th fitted with ade qua te binders - nothing to complain about, yet nothing to p raise. Ergonomically, we found the YZ the easiest to ad ap t to wh en jumping from bike to bike . The Yamaha has a neu tral feel that just "feels right," while the others each ha ve their distinct personalities. The KX feels tall and long. Thou gh no t offensive, one tester said that the layo u t of the KX felt like riding "the box tha t bicycles come in." The Honda has a neu tral feel, bu t its handlebar bend is aw kward. Adjusting it forward gives a tall feeling, and setting it in the m id d le makes it feel too low. The Suzuki was disliked by all bu t the shortes t tester. Than ks to a low sea t that d ip s in the m iddle section, it was tough for mos t riders to mak e the transition from sitting to standing. The RM is also the wid est in the midsection. he story of this shootout can pretty much be told in my lap times - they were nearly identical on every bike. I felt faster on some, but the clock doesn't lie. While I can go equally fast on all the bikes, the Yamaha is easy to go fast on. · . I like the YZI25 best, simply because it doesn't do anything wrong. The motor, suspension and handling are all at or close . to the top of the class . It's nice and neutral, and immediately feels comfortable - no adaptation required. Even the bars are good. The KX is also quite nice, offering good suspension and good handling. I actually feel the most comfortable with the green machine's ergonomics, but too much clutch work is required to keep it going fast; the YZ's broad powerband makes the difference. Both the CR and the RM feel weird to me. The pegs feel too II' Hn aCR125R od Us! Price . .. . • •. • • . • . . . . . . . • • .$4299 Displacement 125cc Engine type Liquid-aloled, singlecyflllder two-stroke Borexstroke 54x 54.5mm Compression ratio 8.8:1 Carburetion . • . .• .. . .• . . • . . • . • .38mm Keihin f1atslide Ignlllon COl Transmission speeds 6 Starting system Kick Fuel capaclly , 2.0 gal. Wheelbase .57.1 in. Seal helght • . . . . .. . .. . . •• • . . . .37.4in. Fronltire . . • . . . ... . . . .• .• •.• . .80/loox21 Rear tire ..... . .. •. • •. •• .• .• . • •1OOI9Ox19 Frontwheel travel 12.2in. Rear wheel travel 12.6 in. Frontbrake • . . . • • . • • . • . . • . . • • .Disc Rear brake Disc Rnal drive Chai n Claimed dry weight 193Ibs. (RighI) The Suzuki RMhas a healthy powerband thet packs quite a punch down low and Inthe middle. A squatty reer end was disliked by all teste rs. (Below) The Kawasaki Is the slowest of the bunch, but Is one of the best handlers. The engine does, however, have lots of potential. THE VOTES ARE IN far back on the Honda, while the Suzuki feels like a quick-steering chopper (if that's possible). Still, both are competitive packages. I'd probably opt for the 'Zook over the red bike, since it seems to be a hair better in every department. The Honda's suspension is better than last year, and still isn't bad, but the RM's Twin Chamber fork seems more versatile. And the CR may have more power, but horsepower charts don't always apply in the real world. On the RM, I could miss lines and still equal my fast lap times on the CR. On neither bike did the odd feel affect my lap times, and I'm sure I would adjust to both over time. Why adjust, however, when Yamaha sells what I'm looking for right off the showroom floor? I could race the YZ stock, and I'm sure modifications would imp rove it even more. In two short years, Yamaha has gone from worst in class to A+ student. They're serious about motocross, and it shows. Chris jonnujn Kawasa~ KX125 . .. ......... . ..... . .$4449 . . . . . . ... .. .. . . ... . .124.8cc • .•• ..... •.• • .. • • . • •Liquid-<:oOled. singlecylinder two-stroke . . . . ... .. • . . . . . . • . • •54x 54.5mm . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .N/A ....... .... ... .. . .. .35mm Keihin PWK . . . . . . . . . ..... . .. . . .CDI . .. . . .. . . . .. . .. ... ..6 ...... .. . ... . .. . .. . .Kick . .. .. . .. . .. . ........22 gal. ..... . .. .. . ..... . .. .57.3 in. · 37.4 in. · 8011oox21 •.• . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .100190x19 ... . .. .. ... . . .. ... .. 122 in. .. . . .. 13in. .... .. .. . .... ... ....Disc .. . . . . . . .. .. . .. . .. . .Disc .. .. .... .... .. . ... . .Chain . . . . .. ... .. . ••.. • . . .1911bs. When the points were tallied, one bike rose above the rest. And yes, it was the bike that we all expected: the Yamaha YZ125 . Though it' s no t the fas test bike , the YZ is the easies t to rid e in a variety of track conditions. Aside from the ra ther la me-looking graphics, we found nothing objectionable abo ut the white and purple bike. Looks like the "YZ Warriors" d id their job well. But wha t about the rest ? The Honda and Ka wa sak i finishe d second a n d third , res pectively, separated by only a ha nd ful of points. The Suzuki was a d istan t fourth in the po ints race. But d oes that mean that the Honda, Ka wasak i and Suzuk i s ti nk? Not a chance! All three bikes have their strong and weak points, and in the hands of the right rider, all can be winners. The next time you go to a motocross race, check out th e st arting gate when the 125cc class lines up . In the 250 and 500cc classes , a stock bike isn't an uncommon sight, but a bone- stock bike in any 125cc class is a rarity. With only a few modifications, any of the fo u r 125s can be transformed into comp letely d ifferent machines. Trust us - we've alread y s tarted on our 125 p roject bikes! a WhIle Cycl News beliroestheforegoing test relie able, It is the opinion of the reviewrrs only and should not be relied upon in determining tM performance or safety of the vehicle(si. The reader slwuld ""'ke his or her own investig ation. Suzu~ RM125 ....................$4249 · 124a: · liquick:ooled. singlecylindertwo-stroke • . . • . • . ..-• . . . . . • . . . .54x 54.5mm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 8.0-9.1 :1 · .. . • . • • . • . .• . . •. . .. 36mm Keihin PWK . • • . . • • • . . . . . . . . . . . •PEI ...... ... ..... .... ..6 .. . .. . .. ... .. . . . .. .. Kick . . . . •• .. . • . . . . . .. . . .2.0 gal. . .. .. .. .. ... . . ..... .56.5 in. · . . . •. : 37.8in. · . • . . •. •.. . .. . . .. .. .80/1oox21 • . • • . . • . . • .. . . . . . .• .IOO19OxI9 .. . .. . : 122in. ... .. .. . .. 12.8In. • • • . • • .• • .• . . • . . •• . .Disc . . . . . . ... .. . . .. .. . .. Disc . .... . .. .. . . ... . . . . . .Chain . • •. . . . . . . ••. . • . . • • .1941bs. Ymh a a aVZ125 .. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. .$4249 . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. .. .124a: . . .. .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. .Liquick:ooled. singlecylnder lwo-stroke i . .. . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. .54x54.5mm . . . . . .. . .. . . . .. . . . . .9.0-11 :1 .... ... . .. .. ..... .. .36mm Mikuni TMX . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. .CDI . . . . . .... . . . . . .. . .. .6 . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .Kick .......... .. . .. .. ... 2.0 gal. . .. . . . .... . . . . . .. .. .57.2 in. . 39.3 in. . . ... ... . .. • • . . . • . • .8OI1oox21 . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . •. . .loo/90xI9 •. .• . .• .•.• • .•• . • .. •11.8 in. .. .. .... . .. .. .. . . ...12.4 in. . . . . . . .. . . . . .. : . ._. .Disc . . .. .. . . . .. . . . .. .. . . Disc . . .. . .. .. . . ... . .. . . .Chain • •• . • • . . • • . . • . . ., • . •193Ibs. ~ 0\ ,......, 0\ I-< (1) S (1) > o z 21

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