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/128110
The trend among minis is to bump up to the full 8xc displacement that the class allows. Kawasaki was the first to do so last model year, and for 2002 both Suzuki and Yamaha are doing likewise. Actually, the displacement of Suzuki's all new mini is 84 .7cc, which it arrives at via bore and stroke numbers of 48.0 and 46.8mm, respectively. The cylinder is SeEM-plated for light weight and good heat-transfer, and the piston ring is thicker. The big-end bearing is redesigned with thrust washers to control piston and rod movement (side-to-side). and the exhaust-valve actuator now has a steel connector to the control arm Gust like the 125 and 250) . A new Keihin PE28 carb is bolted in place, the magneto cover is reshaped, and the radiators are larger for better cooling . Going along with the bigger motor is a new frame that is said to be stronger and more rigid, and the footpegs are longer and wider. The new, inverted 37mm Showa fork has a cartridge damping system, fully adjustable rebound damping and 20-way adjustable cornpres sian damping, and the shock has a simplified com pression adjuster. T he bodywork is updated to be more similar to the bigger bikes. and like them, the 85 gets a new front-brake-pad material (along with a new brake hose) . At $3099. the price of the new RM85 is $50 more than last model year. [ 08-Z 4005 Introduced two model years ago, the DR·Z line has proven quite popular. No, the bikes aren 't as serious as Yamaha 's fire -breathing F models, but on a gnarly. technical trail, sometimes that can be a good thing. Ther e aren't a host of changes to these bikes for 2002, but the ones that are scheduled make good sense. For example, the dual -sport DR-Z400S has all -new suspension components, including a fork with fully adjustable rebound and com pression damping, and a shock with adjustable high - and low -speed compression damping, prel oad and rebound. In oth er words. the S is now a dual -sport model with ser ious suspension. making it highly desirable to the 2000 and 2001 m odels . It also gets a restyled headlight cover, rubber turn signals, an engine guard and a rear -disc-brake cover. The dirt-only DR·Z400 (kick-start) and 400E (electric start) also get the headlight cover, along with a plastic-lensed headlight and RM·style wide pegs . Not only that, but the shock now has adjustable high- and low -speed damping. Amazingly, the suggested retail prices for Suzuki's off-road line-up have not gone up . They are as follows: DR-Z400S, $5449 ; DR·Z400, $5349;DR-Z400E,$5449;JR50.$1099;JR80,$1899. Suzuk i has also seen fit to give an early release to a trio of affordable street bikes - th e SV650, SV650S and Bandit GSFI200S. Non e of these .-.:-.c....... bikes has seen much change since 200 I (the first got a preload adjuster on the fork, and the last two got new colors) , but all have' been extremely popular thanks to their barga in prices and admirable performance. Said prices (none of which have been increased since last model year) are $5799 for the SV650, $6199 for its faired sibling, the SV650S, and $7399 for the Bandit GSFI200S. cue I n e _ S • JUNE 27 ,2001 43