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/128095
2001 1 25cc Motocross Bikes Honda CR 1 25R vs. Kawasaki KX 1 25 vs. KTM 1 25SX vs. Suzuki RM125 vs. TM 125MX vs. Yamaha YZ125 Heat- f, mud-dispensing wave-perimeter brake rotors Redesigned tank. seat f, shrouds w/ narrow cockpit area Weight cut on parts throughout the bike Water pump relocated further back & on outside of the right crankcase Showa front & rear suspension (250 uses Kayaba) Steering-head rake changed from 27.75° to 26.60° Mikuni TMX38S carburetor replaces Keihin PWK38PWJBS Redesigned bodywork for flatter layout 20-inch front wheel available as after-purchase option Cylinder porting specifications altered Ignition-flywheel mass increased by 8 percent Fork has stiffer spring rates (, different damping Larger air-intake connecting tube Anodized aluminum brake pistons (, lighter front-brake rotor Reed valve changed from 6 petals to 4 (new, asymmetrical reed block) HGS unpainted exhaust pipe Blue-anodized Excel rims Aluminum handlebar Ohlins shock & Paoli fork Chrome-moly perimeter frame Koukusan electronic COl w/ variable advance Brembo brakes (270mm front, 220mm rear) New fork damping for initial plushness 20-inch front wheel available as after· purchase option Mikuni TMX36 carburetor replaces Keihin for improved low-end Reed-cage mating surface machined 4mm to move carb closer to motor Flywheel Is 4.5 ounces lighter for improved response New porting specifications Transmission updated for smoother shifting Mikuni carburetor bore increased to 38mm for improved top-end Front brake master cylinder (, lever adjuster redesigned; enlarged front rotor Frame reinforced in critical areas; swingarm stronger f, thinner at rear Aluminum subframe 10mm lower at rear for flatter feel Reeds are changed from resin to carbon fiber & from 4 petals to 6 Exhaust f, scavenging ports changed Overall diameters of connecting rod & small-end bearing reduced for less reciprocating weight Keihin Powerjet carburetor Stiff 20mm axles in front (, rear wheels UnkJess WP POS shock Magura hydraulic clutch Downsized crankshaft for higher reVVing (, less weight Cycle News [fJ ® @] D [jfjiJ G!J A and quick handling, is probably the best bike of the group for Pro riders, but since the majority of the riders out there aren't Pros, we gave the nod to the more-user-friendly Yamaha. Still, the Suzuki is a good all-around bike, but is far less tolerant of sloppy riding. It was a battle to the finish between the Honda, Kawasaki and KTM for that final step on the podium, but the KTM pulled it out. The KTM's great motor, good ergos, strong brakes and much-improved suspension (not to mention keeper handlebars and levers) edged out the Honda and Kawasaki for that final spot Of course, we can't conclude a shootout these days without saying that all of the bikes in this comparison are competitive and are worth consideration when out shopping for a new bike. None of these bikes are losers, but we certainly think that the Yamaha is a definite winner. s we alluded to in the lead to this story, the Yamaha YZl25 mounts the top step of the podium in this shootout. As with its 250cc shootoutwinning bigger sibling, the YZ250, the Yamaha is a complete package that performs at or near the top in every category. One of its strongest attributes is its adaptability; the bike feels good on a wide variety of tracks, and anyone from a Beginner to a Pro will feel right at home on the bike. Standing next to the Yamaha on our Cycle News Shootout podium is the Suzuki. The RM, with its strong motor BORE x STROKE CARBClRETlON IGNmON TRANSMISSION STARTING SYSTEM FUEL CAPACITY WHEELBASE RAKE/TRAIL SEAT HEIGHT FRONT TIRE REAR TIRE FRONT-WHEEL lRAVEL REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL FRONT BRAKE REAR BRAKE FlrtALDRIVE C1JWI1ED DRY WEIGKJ' 26 MARCH 14,2001 . c U c I • When Yamaha's Attack: Our tester claimed that the VZ's throttle stuck, but we couldn't lind a problem with It. After the wreck, we had to replace the broken handlebars and straighten the subframe (above), but the little Yamaha was good as new after that. $4949 124cc Liquid-cooled, single-cylinder twostroke 54 x 54.5mm 8.0-9.7:1 36mm Mikuni Digital CDI IfumiM 1XifljJ'iJ~ $4999 124.8cc Uquid-cooled, singlecylinder, crankcasereed two-stroke 54x 54.5mm 8.9-10.7:1 38mm Mikuni TMX38S CDI 'ii!liJ 'iJ~ $5999 123.5cc Uquid-cooled, single-cylinder twostroke 54 x 54.5mm 16.7:1 38mm Keihin CDI W&liIIJ8lI.lIiJ 'I'mI'iJ~ $4999 124cc Uquid·cooled, single-cylinder twostroke 54 x 54.5mm 8.7-10.8:1 38mm Mikuni CDI Six-speed Kick 2.25 gal. 56.3 in. 26°/109.2mm 37.2 in. 80/1 00-21 Bridgestone 100/90-19 Bridgestone 12.0 in. 13.0 in. Disc Disc Chain 1921bs. Six-speed Kick 1.95 gal. 58.44 in. 27"/N/A 37 in. 80/100-21 Metzeler 100/90-19 Metzeler 11.8 in. 12.8 in. Disc Disc Chain 202.4 Ibs. Six-speed Kick 2.1 gal. 57.1 in. 26.5°/104mm 37.0 in. 801100-21 (51M) Dunlop 100/90·19 (57M) Dunlop 12.2 in. 12.6 in. Disc Disc 520 chain 191 Ibs. Six-speed Kick 2.5 gal. N/A N/A N/A 90/90-21 Pirelli 110/90-19 Pirelli N/A N/A Disc Disc Chain 209lbs. Six-speed Kick 2.1 gal. 56.9 in. 25.6°/109.22mm 39 in. 80/100-21 Bridgestone 110/90-19 Bridgestone 11.8 in. 12.4 in. Disc Disc Chain 196 Ibs. ~tm'iJ~ $4999 125cc Uquid-cooled, single-cylinder twostroke 54 x 54.5mm 8.75:1 36mm TMX flat-slide Solid-state digital w/ 3-D map Five-speed Kick 2.0 gal. 57.9 in. 26.05°/116.0mm 36.9 in. 80/100-21 Dunlop 100/90-19 Dunlop 12.4 in. 12.6 in. Disc Disc Chain 1931bs. COMPRE5SIOI"l RA110 companies for their assistance in the 2001 125cc Motocross Shootout: Decal Works (swingarm stickers); N-Style (numbers and number-plate backgrounds); Renthal (handlebars); and Spectra (lubricants). Special thanks to Race Tech's Kaipo Chung {or proViding trackside technical assistance, and to Glen Helen Raceway for providing the battleground. For more information regarding the T1'1 125, contact T1'1 Competition Motorcycles, 8468 Loma Place, Upland, CA 91786, 909/608-0082. fZiififJ 'iJ~ $5098 124.8cc Liquid-cooled, single·cylinder two· stroke 54 x 54.5mm N/A 39mm Keihin Digital ~@llI'iJ~ USTPRICE DISPLACEMENT ENGINE TYPE The Cycle News editorial staff and testers would like to thank the follOWing n • - •