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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127760
1996 125cc MX Comparison Honda CR125 tery-smooth shifting action, coupled with excellent clutch (eel and modulation made it the hands-down best. The CR is close behind and probably hilS a better clutch than the RM, but the transmission takes a tad more effort to operate. The YZ and KX. were Close in this category. As always, the YZ transmission wasn't as smooth as it could have been, and some testers missed repeated shifts. The KX clutch faded quickly and required the most adjustment. The Yamaha scored its second win in the handling department. The most neutral-feeling of the four, the YZ is stable at speed, yet nimble in cut-and-thrust situations. Steep-faced jumps, whoops, choppy straights and corners of every configuration were no problem for the Yamaha. - choose a line, any line. The YZ· earns a rider's trust in a short amount of time. The KX is the ~ost confidence inspiring at speed, yet maintains a respectable amount of tight-condition prowess. In stadium-type whoops, the KX was without equal as it stayed the most level of the bunch. Fast runs down choppy straights and through rolling whoops came just as easily. The KX is the longest-feeling of the four bikes, but still maintains a "flickable" feel. The CR and RM are the quickest-handling bikes. While both bikes excel on stadium-type tracks, they took the most getting used to on faster, choppier courses. Both bikes feel as if they have short wheelbases, and a twitchy sensation is encountered when the speeds pick up. The CR can carve a corner tighter than any of the others, and amazingly, it works p·retty good in sweeping turns as well. The RM, meanwhile, cuts a comer nearly as well, and is the easiest bike to slide. Feet-up drifts on slippery tracks came easily on the yellow and purple bike. The CR and RM feel the best in the air, as both feel super light and are easy to maneuver on and off the ground. Midair corrections are no problem when you're mounted on red or yellow. The YZ scored its third knockout in the suspension category. For overall balance, the YZ had no rival and inspired the most trust. Everything that the YZ did was predictable, and the Kayaba shock and forks were easily dialed in for every tester. Faster or heavier riders will need stiffer springs front and rear, but in stock condition, the YZ was the best, soft or not. The YZ gobbles up square edges and begs for more, though the forks can bottom on occasion if the curb is large enough. Both ends provide a plush ride, and the rear end stays straight and tracks true in almost every condition. . The KX came next. Though the KX and YZ have basically the same 46mm Kayaba forks up front, the KX chassis better compliments the new legs. From slap-down landings to stadium whoops, Honda CRl25R Kawasaki KX125 the KX forks shine brightly. The 'rear end works nearly as well, but our lightest tester felt that the KX lacked overall plushness, and complained that the bike kicked him around in fast stutter bumps. As far as balance, the KX has a squatty feel that can be remedied with a set of stiffer springs, front and back. The KX works just as well as the YZ in most situations, but comes delivered a bit too soft. Once again, the CR and RM received nearly identical reviews, even though they have drastically different suspension components. While the CR has 43mm inverted Kayaba forks and a Suzuki RM125T Yamaha YZ125 List Price $4699 $4749 $4749 $4749 Displacement 125cc 124.8cc 124cc..............•.... U4cc Engine type Liquid-cooled, single-eylinder two-stroke Bore x stroke 54 x 54.5mm 54 x 54.5mm 54 x 54.5mm .......•.... 54 x 54.5mm Compression ratio 8.81 8.4-9.7:1 8.9-10.9:1 .........•..... 8.5-10.4: Carburetion 36rnm flat-slide 35mm Keihin 36mm Keihin ......•.... 36mm Mikuni Ignition Solid-state digital Digital CD ......•........ Electronic..........•.... CDI Transmission speeds 6 ,.6 6 ............•......... 6 Starting system Kick Kick Kick Kick Fuel capacity 2.0 gal........•......... 2.2 gal......•.......•.... 2.0 gal 2.11 gal. Wheelbase 57.1 in 57.3 in " 56.9 in 56.5 in. Rake/trail N/A N/A 27.75° / 111mm N/A Seat height. 37.4 in........•......... 37.4 in 37.4 in. 38.7 in. Front tire 80/100-21. 80/100-21 80/100-21 80/100-21 Rear tire ............•.... 100/90-19 100/90-19 100/90-]9.....•...•..... 100/90-19 Front wheel travel ...•.... 12.2 in 12.2 in 11.8 in............•..... 11.8 in. Rear wheel travel 12.6 in 13.0 in 12.4 in. 12.4 in. Front brake .........•.... Disc Disc ..............•..... Disc Disc Rear brake Disc Disc Disc Disc Final drive Chain Chain Chain Chain Oaimed dry weight. 192.9Ibs 191lhs 1941bs 1931bs.