Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Honda Comfort is one of the Honda's strong points. It has a pleasant, flat and neutral layout that all of our testers applauded. Compared to the other four seats, the Honda's is the widest (but not by much), and it has the most padding where it climbs up the gas tank - very nice. As always, the Honda has best-feeling controls, as the levers have light pull (the clutch and brake are the best), and the grips are second to none. The CR's flt and flnish is unsurpassed (what else is new?), and the new look is killer, but that damed black tank is a pain to flll - or more accurately, to know when to slop filling. BOTTOM LINE: The CR just feels right. Kawasaki Since the KX's frame, chassis and plastic haven't changed much over the years, the KX feels...well, like a KX. The fairly wide seat is ultra cushy, and there's just enough room to stretch your legs and arms. As usual, some riders will notice that their boots catch on the side panels, a problem that can be rectified with a drill and a zip tie. Uke the Honda, the Kawie has a black tank that makes seeing the fuel level impossible. BOTTOM LINE: Last year, we said the KX is beginning to look dated; this year, it does look dated. KTM Except for the 2x4 of a seat, the KTM is quite comfortable. It has a spacious layout, and the trick fatty aluminum handlebar, "shorty" Magura levers and silver-plated exhaust pipe give the SX that "factory" bike feel and look. The KTM is awfully skinny, which was popular with some testers and unpopular among others, who wanted something for their knees to grip. The rear end feels high enough that some riders have been known to cut them down and re-weld them. Tall riders appreciated the roomy layout, though the handlebar is a littie straight. Of course, looks are important, and the KTM is a good looker. The new black (instead of gray) rear fender blends in nicely with the seat and side panels, but that black tank (with small filler hole) promotes over-filling; since the radiator shrouds aren't decorated, there are no decals to wear out and scratch up to make your bike look thrashed, and our test bike held up well over many days of abuse at the track. Shifting was on the notchy side, but the hydraulic clutch is nice (it's got easy, consistent pull, although one rider thought it was like a toggle-switch). BOTTOM LINE: Race-ready right out of the crate. Suzuki The RM is also very comfortable and easy to adapt to, much thanks to its flatter layout that Suzuki designed into the bike last year. The seat seems overly soft at first, but it feels just right once you get the bike on the track. We actually dug the way it grips the riders butt and keeps him or her from sliding back while accelerating (but we've always been big fans of butt-gripping). Earlier, we said that the Suzuki feels incredibly light; this sensation carries over to the bike's controls. The clutch and front-brake levers require very little effort to operate, which enhances the RM's already overall controllable feel. Shifting is buttery smooth, but the tranny has been known to fall into neutral under power. Plan on replacing the RM's graphics right away - they'll start tearing and balling up during your first moto on the bike, just like last year. BOTTOM LINE: Looks good, feels good. As far as ergonomics are concerned, not much has changed over last year's YZ, except that the handlebars have been moved forward by a few miJlimeters. This gives the YZ a slightly more roomy feel, which all of our testers welcomed. The seat seems slightly firmer, too, so moving around on the bike is slightly easier, since you don't sink in as much. Otherwise, the Yamaha feels very much like it did last year, which is a good thing. The plastic, which has been subtly redesigned, was a hit with our riders. Shifting was fine, but the front brake didn't offer the power of the other bikes'. The riding position is nice and open, and the new shrouds don't catch on the riders' boots like before. Clutch pull is nice. This the only bike that experienced a mechanical, as a bolt under the right engine cover backed off, but it appears to be an isolated case. BOTTOM LINE: Though updated in the visual department, the YZ still feels like a Yamaha (and that's a good thing). cue. e n e _ s OCTOBER 24, 2001 21

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