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 MotocrtOss Bikes Honda CR125R Suzuki RM125 KX VS. VS. Kawasaki KX125 vs. KTM 125SX VS. TM 125MX vs. Yamaha YZ125 SUSPENSION/MANDl-INa Here's where the Honda shines. The CR's motor might leave a little to be desired, but not when it comes to the Honda's chassis. Everyone agreed that Honda's chassis is solid, firm and stable, and it can be slammed into big obstacles with the confidence of knowing that you probably won't get thrown off. 0 Some riders mentioned the dreaded 'W word (headshake) but that was about it. 0 The Honda works extremely well through the corners, especially fast, sweeping comers, where the CR likes to be pushed hard, which pretty much applies to the Honda in general - the harder you ride the Honda, the better it seems to work. 0 No one had anything bad to say about the CR's forks, but some felt that the back end sat a little low, which was easily cured by running a few millimeters less sag. This seemed to give the CR a better, balanced feeling. BOTTOM UNE: Stability and a solid feel make the Honda a confidence builder. The KX has a nice balanced feel on the track, too. One Pro tester described the KX chassis as being stable and controlled that never sneaks in 'weird bounces." 0 In the suspension department, everyone was pleased with the KX's fork and shock, and very little adjustments were made between the Beginner rider to the Pro, demonstrating the KX's excellent universal appeal. If anything, the suspension comes set up a little on the stiff side. 0 Bending the KX through the rutted corners is easy enough, it goes where it's pointed and resists popping up out of the grooves prematurely. Dirt-tracking it through the flat comers is easily accomplished, as well. BOTTOM UNE: Stiffer springs result in a sturdier machine. The new baby Kawi has some serious power this year. The past few years, Kawasaki has missed the bull's eye, but they nailed It this year. The slightly cramped feel contributed to keeping it off of the podium In this year's shootout, however. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Our pro testers loved the 2001 Suzuki tiddler's super-powerful motor, plus It comered really well and had no bad habits when handling anything from braking bumps to hard landings. It finished as the runner up in our shootout. KTMs have been imprOVing steadily ever since they went to the linkage-less rear-suspension system. At that time, KTMs felt overly stiff, which resulted in a molar-jarring ride, but not anymore. In the 125SX's case, the bike now has a much more compliant and yielding ride, no longer does your spine feel like an extension of the bike's shock. Instead, the back end actually feels like it's absorbing the hits and does so quite well. Rarely does the back end kick or swap. One Pro rider, however, felt that the KTM's back end rides a little too high, preventing the rear tire to hook up as well as he thought it should. 0 "The back end wants to slide around a little when you get on the gas,' he said. 0 Up front, the fork has good feel, as well, but some of our riders felt as though it could use some stiffening up, which would also help reduce the back end's high feeling and make the SX feel more balanced. 0 '1 really like the KTM's forks: said one rider. "They have a plush feeling and settle down in the comers really well. They take the braking bumps fine with no harsh feedback.' BOTTOM UNE: Go ahead, slam into the whoops as hard as you want, the KTM can take it. It took a lot less time to ask what our test riders didn't like about the RM's suspens.ion and handling package than it was asking them what they liked about it - nobody spoke. Yes, a discouraging word was hardly heard when talking about the RM'S suspension, instead we heard words like 'plush: 'smooth: 'controllable: and "great.· 0 "The RM's suspension soaks up everything,· one Pro tester said. 'Small bumps, hard hits, big jumps, everything, and it doesn't bottom. On the acceleration bumps, the back end handles well and doesn't kick, but it does bounce around just a bit on the braking bumps." 0 Not only does the RM float over the bumps, but it gets in and out of the turns in the blink of an eye. o "It comers awesome: said another rider. "You can tum it wherever you want and it goes there." 0 Definitely, the RM is a quick handler, so when you tell the RM to do something, you'd better mean it. BOTTOM UNE: Pros will benefit the most from the RM'S quick-handling qualities. Just like with the TM's motor, you have to get used to the way the TM handles. It doesn't handle badly, but it does feel dramatically different than the other five bikes in this comparison. 0 Up front, the TM's forks are a little on the soft side and feel "bouncy: especially coming down from high speed (something you'll be doing a Jot on the TM) while under heavy braking over the bumps. In the back, the Ohlins shock actually works quite well and does a good job of keeping everything lined up and going in a straight line while hard on the gas. 0 Getting the TM in and out of the turns quickly requires some effort, but it gets easier and easier the more you ride the bike. BOTTOM UNE: An overall good handler but is held back by its forks. Dang it, is there anything that this bike doesn't do well? Not only did our test riders love the YZ's useable motor, but also the YZ's compli'llnt chassis. The closest thing to a complaint that we heard from our test riders was the YZ's suspension was slightly too soft, but those complaints came from our Pro guys (who else?). Otherwise, everyone agreed that the Yamaha has the best all-around handling/suspension package of the group. Sure, some of the other bikes might do better in certain areas, but the Yamaha just does everything so well, and nothing badly. Need we say more? BOTTOM UN£: The YZ125 never met a bump it didn't like. It can handle anything thrown its way. 24 MARCH 14.2001 • cue • _ n __ s