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/128127
2002 250cc Motocross Bikes Honda CR250R vs. Kawasaki KX250 vs. KTM 250SX vs. Suzuki RM250 vs. Yamaha YZ250 SUSPENSION/HANDLING Honda The CR gets the "most improved" award in this category. Uke the '02 CR125 that we tested in an earlier issue, the CR250 has a far less harsh ride than in the past, and it just plain doesn't beat you up as much as it used to. This has a lot to do with the major redesign the aluminum frame underwent in order to make it more compliant and forgiving than in years past. Honda has also been improving the CR's Showa shock and fork, resulting in a far more cushy and pleasing ride. At the same time, however, it stays up high in the stroke and doesn't blow through the early part of the travel to the stiff portion. The Honda's suspension seems easier to fine-tune from track to track than before, as well. Still, all is not perfect. While our pros called the CR's suspension the best ever on a stock bike, novice riders noticed a slight "edge" in stock form (especially compared to the Suzuki and Kawasaki's setups), as landing from large jumps onto flat ground can still be a jolting experience on the Honda. We installed PVC "clips" in our fork legs, effectively increasing the oil level, which allowed us to back off the compression damping and helped eliminate the jarring. Many of our testers felt that the Honda is less twitchy on fast tracks than before, and that it is now as 'stable as a rock. The CR also comers well; the bike can carve an inside, rutted line as well as the best of them, but when the outside line is more desirable, no problem - the Honda can be railed through the berms just as easily. Getting the Honda hauled in for those turns is just as easily accomplished as ever, since it still has the best brakes in the business, with plenty of power but excellent modulation. BOTTOM UNE: After years of struggling in this department, Honda has made huge strides. Tough to beat. Kawasaki While Honda has been trying to soften up their chassis, Kawasaki has been trying to stiffen theirs. The KX's suspension is noticeably stiffer than before, both front and back, which certainly pleased our faster (and heavier) testers. The others complained of an initial harshness on jump landings, but the pros liked how the Kawie rode up high in its suspension stroke. Even though the KX's suspension isn't as plush as before, the bike is still just as stable and confidence-inspiring as ever. The KX is a good jumper, too, flying stable and true. Turning has never been one of its strongest features, but you can get the Kawie in and out of the tums pretty quickly; it just takes a little bit more effort than with some of the others - mainly the Suzuki and Honda. Part of the problem is the cramped cockpit, which makes hauling yourself forward into the attack position difficult. Once you're there, the bike will tum fine. We weren't unhappy with the Kawasaki's brakes, but the front could use more power. BOTTOM LINE: Things are a bit stiffer (and harsher), but Kawasaki still knows how to suspend its motocrossers. KTM Our beefs with the KTM's chassis and suspension are pretty much the same ones that we had with the Austrian manufacturer's 125: The seat is excessively hard, the suspension is too harsh for novices, and the bike is - in comparison to the others in this shootout - not easy to tum (it enters tums well, but wants to stand up and drift out), and the rear end feels quite tall. It feels harsh and "deflecty" in braking bumps - apparently the result of a stiff part in the midstroke, since it resists bottoming well. That said, the KTM does have some things to cheer about. The bike is pretty stable overall, the suspension doesn't wallow and absorbs hard hits quite well, the transmission shifts easily, and the brakes are exceptionally strong. In fact, the brakes are dangerously close to being too grabby, especially the toggle-switch rear. BOTTOM LINE: Okay overall, but its awkward feeling takes away from the strong motor. Suzuki The RM has arguably the best suspension of the group, at least for novice riders (the really fast guys thought it a bit soft). Mere mortals applauded its plush ride, while pros sniveled that braking bumps and jump landings blew through the travel and caused disconcerting rebound from bottoming. These same hot-shoes noticed a tendency for the shock to pack on acceleration bumps. In short, aces will want stiffer springs, while normal guys will sing the RM's praises. The 'Zook is also a quick handler - you point it, it goes there, like right now. While it might be ultra responsive, it's not what we would call squirrelly or nervous. The bike also feels the lightest of the group, which helps make the RM very flickable and controllable in the air. Like all of the bikes, the RM features strong brakes with good feel. BOTTOM LINE: On the soft side for the fast guys, but how many pros do you know run their suspension stock? In other words, great for the masses. Yamaha The Yamaha's chassis and suspension falls somewhere between the Honda's and Suzuki's - not quite as fum as the Honda, yet not as plush as the Suzuki. It is, however, one of the most stable and secure of the bunch when hammering down a fast, whoop-filled straight. The bike is also a good, no-nonsense jumper that gets the job done without surprises. The Yamaha, like most of the bikes in this comparison, required only few suspension "clicker" adjustments from rider to rider throughout our testing, as long as those riders weren't pros. The really fast guys thought it was under-sprung, complaining that the YZ bottomed (and rebounded) hard on jump landings, and that the shock packed coming out of corners. The bike does have a slight overall stiffer feel than last year's YZ, but unlike some of the other publications out there, we actually like the change. The Yamaha corners okay, but not as quickly as either the Suzuki or Honda (it holds a flat line quite well, but doesn't like the sharp turns as well as before, though it holds a line well once it's comrnitted). Brakes are strong, but some riders felt that the front binder could have better feel. BOTTOM LINE: Good, all-around handling package, but soft for the fast guys. 20 OCTOBER 24, 2001 • cue •• n e _ os