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/128165
Te~h Ti~ker 8/112002 8/112002 ENGINE • Main-bearing diameter is increased 2mm • Clutch cover is made of magnesium alloy to cut weight • Oil groove is added in left case for lubrication of clutch mechanism • Head mount is reversed to match new chassis • Cylinder-head combustion chamber has a changed shape for more top-end power • Compression ratio is revised from 8.9:1 to 8,6:1 • Chrome-composite T -treatment plating of cylinder waDs • Upper exhaust-port edge straightened for improved scavenging • Teeth added to gear of KIPS valve, which opens sooner and is reshaped • Transmission tolerances reduced, and different shift mechanism utilized • More space between second and third gears • 'Crosshair" added to reed valve for less petal wear & improved engine response • K-TRIC uses a sensor to alter ignition timing according to throttle position & engine speed for better throttle response & more power • Power Jet system uses an electronic selenoid to close fuel passageway according to rpm & throttle position for clean jetting & more top end • Silencer is 20mm shorter for light weight & improved midrange • Clutch push rod is lengthened & rod-actuator shape changed for improved feel • New single-spark ignition wi acceleration compensator & new ignition map • Radiator capacity is increased for improved cooling 8/1/2002 8/112002 8/112002 812/2002 8/312002 8/312002 81412002 8/6/2002 8/6/2002 81612002 8/6/2002 816/2002 816/2002 8/6/2002 8/6/2002 8/6/2002 8/6/2002 8/6/2002 8/6/2002 8/6/2002 8/6/2002 8/6/2002 8/7/2002 817/2002 8/7/2002 8/8/2002 8/8/2002 8/8/2002 818/2002 819/2002 8110/2002 811012002 8/10/2002 8/1112002 8/11/2002 SUSPENSION • New damping mechanism eliminates bladders in fork • Bump rubbers replace oil-lock system for improved bottoming feel • Linkage ratios are revised to provide better action & reduce ride height for lower center of gravity CHASSIS • New perimeter-frame design wi 1° steeper rake & 6mm-longer head pipe • Fork offset increased from 22 to 25mm for sharper cornering • Swingarm is hydroformed in a tapered shape for more stiffness & lower weight • Thinner triple-clamp wall thickness for reduced weight; top clamp bolts from rear to eliminate interference wi numberplate • Steering stem is tapered to reduce weight • Rear-brake master cylinder is now a one-piece design for improved durability • Rear-brake rotor is 20mm larger & _5mm thinner to increase power & save weight • New brake-pad material improves performance & feel • All-new styling, seat & bodywork for improved rider mobility • Rear-axle diameter is increased from 20 to 25mm • Oval-type I1ms replace standard rims 8/1312002 8/13/2002 8/1312002 8/1312002 8/1312002 8/13/2002 8/1312002 eager to revive its image as a seri- company invited the press up to leg- ous contender (its motocross teams endary Washougal Motocross Park have nine National and regional super- near the WashingtonlOregon border to cross championship, 14 National tryout the new bikes, After spending a motocross championship and four day trying out the KX250 and KX125, manufacturer's titles just since 1990, here are our initials thoughts on the and its bikes once regularly won mag- quarter-liter bike (the KX 125 will be azine shootouts), and to prove it, the featured in an upcoming issue), eN {;Sfj)@@5(l5@ffJ'!J5@[fD&)8 2003 Kawasaki KX250 ENGINE: .. , ' . ' " " . " . _ " " " , "" , .. ",Two-stroke single wi KIPS power valve DISPLACEMENT: ,." _, , , , , , _. , , , , , , , . , ' , , , , , _' , , , , , , , , , ' , . , ' , , ' , , ,249cc BORE x STROKE: " " " ' " _, . , ••• ' , •... , , , , , , _, , , , ' , , .. , . ' .66.4 x 72.0mm COOUNG: " " . " , ... _. , . , , .. ••• , , , , . , . , , , . _.. , _. , _, , ,Liquid CARBURETION: , , _, , , , , , , . , ..• _.••• ' •. , , , , , , , , , ,Keihin PWK38S wi Power Jet INDUCTION: " " ' . " , , ..• • , __ .... _. _.. , . , , , , . , ' , , ,Piston reed valve COMPRESSION RATIO: " _ . , . " " " " , .. " .. """"""",.,,,,10,1-8,6: 1 IGNmON: . , , , . , , , , , , , .. , . , . , , , , , . , , . , . , , . , , , , , , , , , , .. , , . , , _. ,Digital COl TRANSMISSION: , . " " " " " . , . " " " , . ' .. " " " " " . " " " " .. .5-speed FRAME: , _ " . , . , . " " " , ,High-tensile steel perimeter design wi aluminum subframe RAKE(TRAlL: " , . " " " , . " " " " . " " " " " " . " . " " . " , . , _ .27°/3,8 in. FRONT SGSPENSION: , , , , , . ' , . , .Inverted telescopic 48mm Kayaba cartridge fork wi preload, 18-way compression & rebound damping & 11,8 in, travel REAR SUSPENSION: , ..... " " " ,Uni-Trak single Kayaba shock system wi preload, 3-turn high-speed compression, 20-way low-speed compression & 18-way rebound damping & 12.6 in. travel FRONT TIRE: " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " .80/100x21 REAR TIRE: " " " ••• ' ••• ' •• '." _ " " " " " .. "." .. " , . " " , .l10/90x19 FRONT BRAKE: ' , , ' , . , ' , , , , ... , , . ' •.••••••• , .. , , , ' , , . , , , , . , ,Hydraulic disc REAR BRAKE: , , , . , , , , , , , . , . , , , , ...•••••••• , •. , , , , , , _, , , , , , ,Hydraulic disc OVERALL LENGTH: , , , _••• , • _•.•. , , , , , , , , , , , , . , , , ' , , ' , , , ' , , , .. , . ' .85.6 in, OVERALL WIDTH: . " . " ' •• ' . ' " . " " " " " " " " " " " " " " , , . , .32,5 in, OVERALL HEIGHT: ."." .•• , . " , _, , , . ' , , . , , ' , , , , , , ' , ' , , , . ' , , , . , . .47.4 in, GROQND CLEARANCE: ,.,,. ' ,.' , , , . , , , , , , , , , , , . , , , , , . , , ,14,0 in, SEAT HEIGHT: .. , ' .. , ' ...•. , • , , , • , .•••••• • , __ , . _, , . , ,37,2 in. FUEL CAPACITY: " " , , .. _. ' , , , , , ' , , ' , , , , , . ' , , , , , , , , . , , , ' , . , , , . _,2,17 gal. WHEELBASE: .. , , , , . , , . , •••••••• _•• _••• , __ , . _, , __ , . , , ' , . , .58.3 in, CLAIMED DRY WEIGHT: , ,_. '. _••••. , •. , ' , , ' , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ' , , . ' , ,213,8Ibs, PRICE: " " . , _.. , ' , , , ' , , , . _.. • _.• _, .•••••••••.••. _•. _••• , .. , , ,$5899 8/13/2002 8/13/2002 8/13/2002 8/13/2002 8/13/2002 8/13/2002 8/1312002 8/13/2002 8/14/2002 8/14/2002 8/15/2002 8/15/2002 8/16/2002 8/16/2002 8/20/2002 8/20/2002 8/20/2002 8/20/2002 8/2012002 8/20/2002 8/2012002 812012002 8/20/2002 8/20/2002 8/2012002 8/20/2002 8/20/2002 8/20/2002 8/20/2002 8/21/2002 8/21/2002 8/22/2002 8/22/2002 8/22/2002 8/24/2002 8/24/2002 3:30AM 5:00AM 7:30AM 8:30AM 8:00 PM 6:00AM 7:00AM 12:00 PM 4:00 PM 12:00AM 12:30 AM 1:00AM 2:00AM 3:00AM 8:00AM 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 9:00 PM 10:00 PM 11:00 PM 11:30 PM 3:30AM 7:00AM 7:30AM 7:30AM 8:00AM 8:30AM 6:00 PM 2:00 PM 5:00AM 7:00AM 3:30 PM 12:00 PM 3:00 PM 12:00 AM 12:30 AM 1:00AM 2:00AM 3:00AM 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 9:00 PM 10:00 PM 11:00 PM 11:30 PM 7:00AM 7:30AM 7:30AM 8:00AM 5:00AM 5:00AM 12:00 AM 12:30AM 1:00AM 2:00AM 3:00AM 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 9:00 PM 10:00 PM 11:00 PM 11:30 PM 7:00AM 7:30AM 3:30AM 7:30AM 8:00 PM 7:00AM 6:00 PM Legends of Molorsport - Focus 500 MotoWorid (R) Speed ESPN2 Corbin's Ride On . Brian Jackson, host Speed Legends of Motorsport - Assen 1977 Legends of Motorsport - Focus 500 AMA Motocross - 125cc - Unadilla Bike Week - Dave Despain, host AMA Motocross - 250cc - Washougal AMA Motocross - 1250c - Washougal Speed Speed ESPN2 Speed ESPN2 ESPN2 Bike Week - Dave Despain. host Speed Motorcyclist Speed AMA Formula Xtreme - Mid-Chio Speed 24 Hours of Lemans MotoGP 125 - German Grand Prix Legends of Motorsport - Rendezvous at the Ring FIM Wortd Supertlike - Brands Hatch - Race 1 FIM World Superbike - Brands Hatch - Race 2 Bike Week - Dave Despain, host Motorcyclist AMA Formula Xtreme - Mid-Ohio Speed Speed Speed Speed Speed Speed Speed Speed 24 Hours of Lemans Speed MotoGP 125 - German Grand Prix Speed Corbin's Ride On - Brian Jackson, host Speed American Thunder - Michele Smith, host Speed ESPN2 AMA Motocross· 125cc - Washougal Motorcyclist Bike Week - Dave Despain, host Speed Corbin's Ride On - Brian Jackson, host Speed Legends of Motorsport - Champions on Two Wheels Legends of Motorsport - Spa 1982 MotoWorid Speed Speed MotoGP 125 - German Grand Prix Speed ESPN2 Speed MotoWorid (R) ESPN2 Speed Bike Week· Dave Despain. host AMA Superbike - Virginia Int'l Raceway - Day 1 (Uve) Speed AMA 600 Supersport - Virginia Int'l Raceway (SOD) AMA Superbike - Virginia Int'l Raceway - Day 2 (live) Bike Week - Dave Despain, host Speed Motorcyclist Speed FIM World Superspon - Brands Hatch Speed AMA Superbtke - VirgInia Int'I Raceway - Day' Speed AMA Superbike - Virginia Int'I Raceway - Day 2 AMA Superbike - Virginia Int'l Raceway - Day 1 AMA Superbike - Virginia int'l Raceway - Day 2 MotoWorid Speed Speed Speed Speed Speed ESPN2 Bike Week - Dave Despain. host Speed Motorcyclist Speed FIM World Supersport - Brands Hatch Speed Speed Speed Speed Speed Speed Speed Speed AMA Superbike . Virginia Int'! Raceway· Day 1 AMA Superblke - Virginia Int'l Raceway - Day 2 Corbin's Ride On . Brian Jackson, host American Thunder· Michele Smith, host Motorcyclist Bike Week - Dave Despain, host Corbin's Ride On . Brian Jackson, host Legends of Motorsport - Rendezvous at the Ring Speed ESPN2 ESPN2 Speed AMA Motocross - 250CC - Washougal MotoWorld (R) Bike Week· Dave Despain. host Motorcyclist Speed AMA Formula Xtreme . Virginia Int'! Raceway Speed AMA Grand National - Springfield n AMA Grand National - Charlotte AMA 600 Superspon - Virginia Int'l Raceway Speed Speed Speed FIM World Supersport . Brands Hatch Speed ESPN2 MotoWond Bike Week - Dave Despain, host Speed Motorcyclist AMA Formula Xtreme - Virginia Int'I Raceway Speed AMA Grand National - Spnngfield n AMA Grand National - Charlotte Speed Corbin's Ride On - Brian Jackson, host Speed Harley-Davidson Sportsters - Charlotte Speed Speed Speed Speed Motorcyclist Speed Speed Speed Speed Speed ESPN2 Bike Week· Dave Despain, host Legends of Motorsport - On the Surface Corbin's Ride On - Brian Jackson, host Legends of Motorsport - On the Surface Bike Week· Dave Despain, host AMA Motocross - 250cc - Spring Creek For complete monthly listing go to www.cyclenews.com &click on TV listings All times shown III Enlern, ESPN2 -Sills Communlcellons and Sp!!dvislon Iiated above, SOD, Same Day Delay, Networks frequently modify program schedules. Consult your local cable listings to confirm broadcast dales and times, ESPN2 - Seals Communications - 770,631,5300, and Speedvision - 203,406,2500 Cycle News is not responsible for changes in scheduling_ eye I e n e vv S • JULY 31, 2002 55