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/127801
(Above) Can this bike carry Steve Lamson to another title next year? Don't bet against it. (Right) Honda didn't mess with the motor too much - it didn't need to. (Left) Straighter, wider and taller handlebars help give the CR a roomier feel. f' include I8-way compression damping only. In the back, the Kayaba shock, which features 20-position compression and rebound damping, as well as low- and high-speed, adjustability, features valving changes, as well Spring rates both fore and aft are slightly softer this year. So what does all this mean? Quite simply, this is the best suspended CRI25 ever. The back end feels more stable than any production CRI25 we've ridden, and the fork deals with the hits without complaint. Overall stability is improved, but we still felt a hint of headshake on the faster, more highspeed tracks, usually while under hard braking over the stutters. Plus, the back end had a tendency to dance around a little bit. Nothing major, though. With the p.ower on, the CR tracks straight - bumps or no bumps. Every once in a while, the back end would kick out slightly on the square edges, but rarely was it severe enough to where you would have to back off the throttle. Getting on the brakes is serious business on the CR, as it will slow down in a hurry with minimal effort. Again, the CR has the best brakes in the business. One or two fingers on the front brake lever and a light foot on the back brake pedal are all that's usually needed to haul in the CR from any speeds. Just a little bit more pressure on the pedal and you can easily lock up the back tire for those quick pivot turns. Just like the '97 YZ, the CR comes shod with Dunlop K490s up front and K695s in back - good all-around tires. Other minor changes include nothing more than a few cosmetic alterations, including' new tank decals and going from a red- to white-colored front discbrake guard. . So do not think for a moment that Honda totally forgot about the CRl25, even though its bigger brother, the CR250, is getting all the attention. Honda did its homework, and our initial riding impression of the new CR is that it is an improved machine. But how improved - compared to the other machines, namely the YZ, RM and KX is yet to be seen. But we are working on it. ('I\' (Above) Honda repositioned the footpegs 5mm lower on the frame, again to help eliminate that cramped feeling oftha past. (Left) The '97 CR125R should be hitting the showroom floors . soon, carrying a $4799 price tag. 1997 Honda CR125R SpecIficIIIons ~_ T,... Dlepl. c . Liquid-eooled. two-stroke. HHP 125cc __ 54mm x 54.5rnm Comp••••I_ 1'liiio I'" c11001 Solid-stale digital 8.8:1 wi electronic advance T _ 1I.1a • ....Close ratio, six.speed Flnal ••• ctlan 1'liiio .. .12/49(4.083) SUlp. E'en FranI . _ Kayaba. telescopic inverted cartridge fori<. 46mm ...... ....r ... Kayaba, single shock, swingarm FnMII .. Single disc w/twin-piston caliper .......Single disc w/single-pislon caliper .............. ....r nre F . 12.2 in. 12.6 in. FNftI Dunlop K490 80/100-21 ....r Dunlop K695 100/90-19 s-e height Gr-.d c l . _ .. . 0Iy weigIIt CcIaimedl F cap Color PC'" 37.4 In. 13.9 In. 56.8 in. NI A 2.0 gal. Red . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$4799