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/128347
It still looks the same, but inside it's new and improved. $5999 249cc Uquid-cooled, single-cylinder two- stroke with KIP5 BORE x STROKE ........66.4 x n .Omm COMPRESSION RATIO .... 10.5-9.1: I CARBURETION 38mm Keihin Powerjet IGN IT ION Digital CDI TRANSM ISSION Five-speed FRAME Perimete r style, high-tensile steel with aluminum subframe STARTING SYSTEM Kick FUEL CAPACITY 2.2 gal. WH EELBASE 58.3 in. RAKEITRAI L.. 27°/96.52mm SEAT HEI GH T 37.2 in. FRONT T IRE 80/ 100-21 REAR TIRE 110/90-19 FRONT SUSPENSION .48mm, twin-chamber, inverted, cartridge-type LIST PRICE D ISPLACEMENT ENGINE TYPE The new, gripper seat is a big plus. We'll give the tranny a few more rides to let it break in befo re we come to a final conclus ion, though. Even though the new and improved 10<250 was fast, bringing it to a stop was never a problem . The brakes worked so we ll that we were able to sto p for comers that seemed to be coming up way too fast. With some of the faster test riders, the brakes start ed to squeal slightly, but they never did fade away to the point that they didn't work . As for the new chassis improvements, they were exce llent as we ll. The bike handled a nyt hing we could th row at it . W it h t he new stee r ing head a ngle, it t urned like a dream . We co uld always find the ins ide line o n any t urn and rai l loamy berms wi th confidence . The suspen sion worked equally as we ll as the improvements to the chassis and made the bike feel com plete . After se tting . the sag, we never felt the need to to uch the for ks or shoc k. C hargi ng do w n stra ights was never a prob lem; there also weren't any moments when the bike felt nervous. And much like last year's bike, The engine is completely redesigned. the '05 10<250 handles jumps like a champ . In the air it feels remarkably neutral, and upo n landing, the suspe nsion soaks up even the hardest of hits. While the bike still co mes with steel bars - the last bike in its class to do so Kawasaki did improve t he bend and added • • • •~;;;;~~ w ide r handlebar mounts . So, we can at least better tole rate them . A few good pluses to the erg ono mics are t he gripper seat and nice, wide footpe gs. Both made us feel like we we re act ually a part of the bike , instea d of feeling like we we re alo ng for the ride . The seat is also somewhat taller than last year's, making it easier to mo ve aro und and get forvvard for turns . O verall, this bike is reallygood . For now, we can only gripe about the st eel handlebars and the notchy shifting The bars, however, . are an easy (but costly) fIX, and the jury is still out on the tranny. Hopefully things will smoo th out with time. Otherwise, the green machine is impressive with its fast motor, superb suspension and exce llent handling characteristics. This bike will give the foureN strokes a run for their money. www.cyclenews.com telescopic fork; 16-wa y com pre ssi n o and rebo und adjustment REAR SUSPENSION .New UNI-T swingann, single shock; l6-way rak compression and rebound adjustment FRONT·WH EEL TRAVEL 11.8 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL 12.2 in. FRONT BRAKE Disc REAR BRAKE Disc FINAL DRIVE Chain CLAIMED DRY WEIGHT ..213.8 Ibs. 31