Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

If comfort alone won shootouts, then the CR would win this one hands down. The CR is one of those bikes that just feels right as soon as you throw a leg over it. It has a somewhat flat layout and the seat/tank area isn't too narrow, nor is it too wide, but just right. The bike feels roomy and the bars are positioned right where they should be. Moving around on the CR is super easy. a The CR does all of the little things well, too: The clutch has a nice light pull, the brakes are strong and predictable, the control levers feel right, the grips are soft .and grippy, and the bike just holds up well to all the usual track abuse. After all our testing, the Honda looks the freshest. However, we weren't too crazy about the black fuel cell, which makes it difficult to see how much fuel's in there. BOTTOM LINE: One of the most ergonomically pleasing bikes of the bunch, and the CR is built to last. The KX is comfortable, too, but not if you've got long legs and arms. One of our sixfoot testers, said of the KX's ergos, "The bike feels really small, the bars feel like they're in your lap, and [going from] sitting to standing requires some effort." Still, it's smallish size gives you that l'm-in-charge feeling, and you can throw it around a little easier than some of the other bikes. a Catching the tops of your boots on the bottom of the side panels is still a problem on the KX, but zip-ties makes for a good, qulck fix. Also, like the Honda, the KX uses an annoying black-colored fuel cell. BOlTOM LINE: The KX has nice ergonomics but some riders will feel a little cramped on It. There's plenty of living space on the KTM, but you have to get used to its ultra-narrow profile and rock-hard seat. Some of our testers like this, while others were less thrilled, but they all agreed that overall the KTM is fairly comfortable and roomy. "It's one of those bikes that you don't hop on and feel real comfortable on it right away," said one rider. "The KTM feels a little tall and spread out." a However, one of our testers fell in love with the KTM's ergonomics right away, saying he liked the "factory" feel of the KTM, with it's shorty Magura levers, tapered handlebar and somewhat tall positioning. a We heard no major complaints about the KTM during our testing, though a few riders mentioned that the SX's transmission was a little notchy while shifting under power, and they didn't like the black gas tank. BOTTOM LINE: High-quality handlebars and levers are a nice touch. Uke the KTM, the TM features many first-rate components and the bike feels quite comfortable when you first throw a leg over it, but the footpegs, which are positioned way too high, take away some of that good feeling once you start rolling. The high pegs make it difficult to get from sitting to standing, and just make the TM feel...weird. (But at least you don't have to worry about dragging the pegs in deep ruts.) But all is not lost, because the more you ride the bike the more you get used to it and the more you can start taking advantage of the TM's good qualities, like its powerful motor, good brakes and stable handling. BOTTOM LINE: The TM has a lot of potential; it just takes some getting used to. The TM features first-rate components and a purpose-built engine, but the Iightswitch power is hard to handle at best. It handles well, but takes a lot of getting used to. All in all, It just feels really different. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Yamaha's 2001 125cc motocrosser Is the class of the bunch this year. It handles well; it has good, usable power; and It flts anyone, from Novices to Pros. This bike rips, which Is why it's the winner of our 2001 125cc Motocross Shootout. The Suzuki is a qUick handler, and all of our testers liked the way the RM felt. "This bike just feels good," one rider said. "I liked the tall and flat seat, making it really easy to get around on. It's one of the bikes that you can get right on and ride." a However, the RM's strong motor and ultra·responsive handling intimidated some of our less-experi· enced test riders. "You can tell that the RM was designed with the Pros in mind," said one Novice tester. "The Suzuki is less forgiVing than the Yamaha and Honda - but I still liked it." a Unlike the prevIous four bikes, you can actually see how much fuel is in the Suzuki's gas tank. BOTTOM LINE: The harder you ride the RM, the better it works. The YZ is another bike that anyone can hop on, ride and feel right at home on. It has a nice, comfortable layout and you can move around on it with ease. Some riders said that they thought the YZ could use a bit more "leg room" while others riders said that the Yamaha felt just right. Mechanically, our test bike held up well, but we did experience a possible stuck throttle that resulted in a small crash and a bent sub-frame (nothing a good swift kick couldn't fix). We dissected the entire throttle assembly and found no obvious problem and have yet had any more problems with the throttle, so we'll chalk this one up to arm-pump. a We also liked the Yamaha's "big-mouth" filler hole and the white fuel cell. a BOTTOM LINE: One lap on the Yamaha, and you'll feel like you've owned it your whole life. It's easy to ride and won't play tricks on you. cue I _ n __ lIS MARCH 14, 2001 25

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