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/128180
2003 1 25cc Motocross Bikes Honda CR125R VB. VB. Kawasaki KX125 vs. KTM 125 SX Suzuki RM125 vs. Yamaha YZ125 Cahuilla Creek MX Park VZ125: This year's VZ Is even faster Ulan la51 year's, which says a lot. That engine, mated to the charac:teristlc solid, stable Yamaha chassis, makes for a very competitive 125cc motocross machine. Bob Harvell is back. You might remember him as the guy who started the original Rainbow MX track in Fallbrook, California. That mostly all-natural-terrain track was an instant hit with us here at CN and, judging by the crowds it had on the weekends, it was a big hit by many others, as well. Unfortunately, the track wasn't a big hit with the local avocado growers, and - poorone day Rainbow 1 was history. Undeterred, Harvell went searching for a new location for another track and found it on an old dairy in San Jacinto, California, and named his new facility Rainbow II. Harvell eventually sold Rainbow II, and the new owners changed the name to Competition Park, which survived for many years before recently suffering the same fate as Rainbow I. (After Competition Park shut down, it moved to another location on an Indian reservation called Scboba, and we all know what happened there.) After selling Rainbow II, Harvell headed up north and opened up a new track there, but the urge to return to So Cal hit him hard, and now he's back. His latest venture is Cahuilla Creek Motocross Park, located near the small town of Anza, about a half-hour drive southeast of Temecula, not too far from the MX Compound track. The friendly and easy-going Harvell is a firm believer in "outdoor" natural-terrain MX tracks. The Cahuilla Creek track definitely reflects this, as the circuit primarily consists of soft, sandy terrain, with plenty of rail-berms mixed in with off-camber turns and a lot of elevation changes. Currently, there are only a few jumps (and even fewer man-made jumps) on the track, but most of the track is just old-school moto. Just like he - and we likes it. The track is still in its early stages, but Harvell has many plans for it, his first priority being running water. He's using a water truck now but will soon be better able to keep the track saturated by utilizing his multiple water tanks. The track's natural sandy terrain should make the Cahuilla Creek facility an ideal "winter" track. Cahuilla Motocross Park is open to the public for practice every Saturday and Sunday, unless there is a race scheduled. Otherwise, reservations are available for riding or testing during the week. Cahuilla Motocross Park is located at 50100 Highway 371 in Anza, CA and can be contacted at 909/926-4646. TIOD® WnOOOD®crS I\awa~ak.i I\X 12(j For 2003, we have a new "face" on the Cycle News 125cc Shootout Podium, and not only did it make the podium, but it made the top step - the KX125 is our new champ. What a turnaround - from nearly worst to first in just one year. The majority of our test riders and there were a lot of them this year - ranked the allnew to< at the top of their list, and if it wasn't on top, it was damned near the top. (No one rated the to< lower than second-best.) Everyone seemed to agree that the to< had the best all-around package of the group, saying the to< had a very good motor and argUably the best chassis and suspension of the group. No one really had anything bad to say about the revamped Kawi, making it our official 125cc Cycle News Shootout winner. The battle for the second step on the podium was a fierce slugfest to the finish between last year's winner (the Suzuki) and last year's runner-up (the Yamaha). In fact, we had to resort to a points system to decide between the two, and when all things were added up, the Yamaha edged the Suzuki by a single point. Most felt that the Yamaha handled the two extremely different tracks better than the Suzuki, making it more versatile. Had it not been for the KTM's sketchy handling and jUst plain harsh feeling, the Austrian bike certainly would not have been bumped off the podium this year, but that doesn't mean that the KTM took a step backward for '03. In fact, that's not the case at all - it's just that the KTM isn't for everyone. It's a serious race bike obviously designed for the Pro rider and supercross tracks, where bumps are few and far between, turns are tight, start straights are short, and jumps have short runways - all things that are right up the KTM's alley, thanks to its torquey motor and quick handling. Also, We wouldn't be surprised if some aftermarket work cured its handiing flaws, at least for outdoor tracks. The Honda didn't quite make our podium again, but it came a lot closer than the '02 version did. like the KX, the CR is far better than it was last year. The motor makes tons more power but is a little difficult to manage, at least compared to the Kawasaki, Yamaha and Suzuki. All the CR needs is a little more grunt off the bottom and it'll give the KX a run for its money. IlaWas* 0125 va.1Ia Yl125 THJlNK5: Our thanks go out to all of the manufacturers, who not only provided us with the machinery for our shootout, but attended each of our testing days; setting ride heights, changing wheels and air filters (a lot of air filters), and generally just addressing every picky complaint or suggestion of ours with smiles on their faces. Also, thanks to Maxxis Tires for providing us with tires, Motorex for supplying our lubricants, and last but not least Cauilla Creek MX Park and Glen Helen Raceway for providing the battlegrounds. 20 NOVEMBER 13, 2002' cue • e -n e _ s o 0" E)