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/127760
Kayaba shock, the RM comes with
9mm conventional Showas up front
and a Showa shock out back. The CR
forks work about the same as the larger
units on the YZ and KX, but don't
bsorb the jolt of slap-down landings
quite as well. The RM Showa forks,
owever, outshine all three of the Kayaa offerings when they are slapped
down. The inherent flex of the conventional design also yields a more forgiv'ng ride in choppy conditions, but at the
ame time feels a bit wallowy in stadim whoops and when slamming into
teep jump faces. No tester bottomed
he RM forks with any regularity, and
n the occasional occurrence, there was
o harshmetal-to-metal clank.
The CR gets the nod over the RM in
e rear suspension department. While
1e CR soaks up everything thrown its
ay with deliberate ease, the RM back
nd tends to catch its riders off guard.
quare edges can coax the RM back end
o kick to the left, to the right and even
traight up. Testers had to adjust their
iding styles the most on the RM. Carryg the front end high into the offending
umps often solved the problem.
Though Honda still rules the braking
ars, the others have closed the gap
onsiderably. Of the three "others," the
. Z is the most imp-roved, but the RM
nd KX also offer excellent power and
eel. The KX's shorter front-brake
ydraulic line has breathed new life into
he once mushy-feeling front binder,
d the new front-brake master cylinder
f the YZ is a super performer.
Ergonomically, the new RM is the
efinition of comfort. The new body-
work is slender, easy to slide back and
forth on, and the redesigned fuel
tank / seat junction practically forces the
rider into an aggressive, over-the-bars
riding position. The seat is firm, slender
and comfortable, and the footpeg and
handlebar placement is good for both
short and tall riders.
The new YZ styling is also excellent,
and our tallest and shortest riders
enjoyed the new feel. The bike is easy to
slide back and forth on, and nothing
catches boots of knee braces.
The KX is the largest-feeling bike,
and takes a few laps to get used to after
riding any of the others. The full-coverage radiator shrouds yield a bulkier-atthe-knees feel, but at the same time
make it easier to grip the bike.
The Honda is the smallest feeling,
and takes the most time to get used to.
Die-hard CR fans will feel right at home
on the red and black machine, but others may struggle to adapt to the
cramped feel. This year, the CR's pegs
were lowered a tad, giving the bike a
'more spacious footpeg-to-seat relationship than ever before.
When the scores were tallied, the
Yamal1a YZ125 came home the clear-cut
winner. Voting it the best-liked aUaround package, every tester agreed
that they could race the bike in stock
condition. The Suzuki RM125 earned
the second-highest number of points,
but only a single point more than the
Honda CR125. The RM has a great
motor, good forks, and a semi-sketchy
rear end, while the CR has an advanced
motor, quick handling characteristics
and the best brakes. That leaves the KX.
Though the green bike was as far back
in fourth as the YZ was al1ead in fitst,
each and every tester felt that the bike
was a good package that could be raced
with good results.
All four of the '96 125s offer a good
base to begin with - as hardly anyone
actually races in the eighth-liter division
on a bone-stock machine. Though our
results show a wide variation in points
between first and fourth, any of the four
machines can be dialed in to suit a
rider's individual taste with minimal
modifications.
There are truly no losers in 1996. l.'N
While Cycle News believes the foregoing test
relmb/e, it is the opinion of the reviewers only and
should not be relied upon in determining the performance or safety of the vehicles. The reader
should make his or her OWl! investigation.
Bits and.pieces'
· 'EverY tester agreed' that t~e· SUZUki RM was
a great-looking blk.e, The new bodywork Is
The' Honda CR has the most comfortable ·identical'lo. that. used liy works. Suzuki rider
flon Tichenor.t.hroughout '95.,. The red radla- .
ooritrols. ,Traditionally,' Cfl grips ar-e 'the best
tor-Shr.oud .decals· will iast only a few min.
'In the cl.ass, .and this year· Is. no' different. This
0te·s... Th.e AM air filter. tended to stay the
yea('s controls are· silver, and th-ey can be
bent back after lhe.y are damage.d In a ·cleanest... Most of the' bolts on the AM are
.crash... T.he stoCk CA handlebars feel'a little . black anodized and look terrible' after they'
on the wide side .... The. CR's white. gas tank' have been wrimched on ... The yellow seat
turns grey after a few rides - a scouring pad cover turns disgusti·ng. hue .of beige after.a
arid contact cleaner' can restore the bike's .- day of, rldln.g ..·. -Tlie front· number-plate/fork.
gua'rd Is 'quile .functlonal : in .addition to pro:
Juster.:. Working orr the.·blke 'required. only a
few tools, as 8,10 and 12mm bolts' make up 'vidlng a niCe, flat 'surface for ,numbers, .the·
unit protects the, delicate, fork tubes and
·the majority of the most:tlsed fasteners... The
·routes·the fr\lnt brake hydrllulic line In'a most
CA Is t~e loudest... .
'.'
.
.,
· efficient manner... ·. ,
.
Gues?' who ilnally replaced their bOljUS fuel-'
·tankc!lp with an excellent,'Wlde-mo~th, easy-. The.Kawasakl'i