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/128352
2005 250cc Four-Stroke MX shootout The Yamaha was our unanimous sec ond choice . Wh ile it might've dropped down a step on the podium. its not because it isn't as good as last year 's - in fact, it's actually better because of it's more user-friendly mo tor and improved fork. But it just doesn't quite feel as refined as the Honda It's still plenty fast. handles well and has arguably the best suspension of the group. but it could use some help in the ergo department. A lower seat height and a lower CG would be a great start. Perhap s we'lI see these things next year if Yamaha switches over to an aluminum frame like it did with its two-stroke Yb. . As far as the Kawasaki and Suzuki. well. we almost feel guilty about rating them third. After all.they're both incredibly good and are much improved over last year's machines . But. like the Yamaha, they just don't feel as polished as the Ho nda. nor are they as fast on top as the otherwise the Kawa-Zuki cou ld've been our first cho ice. Alum inum handlebars wou ld've greatly helped their cause . as well. When it gets this close. things such as handlebars can mean the difference between winning and losing shootouts. The bottom line here is that all of the bikes are extremely good; it's just a matter of what you want out of a motorcycle. If you're into good bottom-end. maybe the KawaZuk i is the bike for you . Or. if you like a bit more of a hit and want something you can scream. then maybe the Yamaha is your mach ine. Or, if you want something with some torque that you can also rev out to the moon. well maybe the Honda is the right bike for you . It was for us. eN n. LIST PRICE $5599 DI SPLACEMENT 249cc ENGIN E TYPE Liquid-cooled. SOHC . single-cylinder two -st roke BORE x STROKE 77 x 53.6mm COMPRESSION RATIO 12.6:1 CARBURET ION 37mm Keihin FCR IGNITION Digital CDI TRANSMISSION Five-speed STARTING SYSTEM Kick FUEL CAPACITY 2.0 gal. WHEELBASE 58.1 in. RAKE/TRAIL 26.5 °/109 .22mm SEAT HEIGHT 37.8 in. FRONT TIRE 80/100-21 REAR TIRE 100/90-19 FRONT SUSPENSION ,48mm inverted, cartridge-type telescopic fork REAR SUSPENSION Uni-Trak single shock system, fullyadjustable FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL 11 .8 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL.. 12.2 in. FRONT BRAKE Single semi-floating 250mm disc. dual piston REAR BRAKE Single 240mm disc. single piston FINAL DRIVE Chain WEIGHT (wet) 229 Ibs. 20 DECEMBER LIST PRICE $5899 DISPLACEMENT 250cc ENGINE TYPE Liquid-cooled. SOHC. single-cylinder four-stroke BORE x STROKE .78 x 52.2mm COMPRESSION RATIO 12.9:1 CARBURETION ........37mm Keihin flat slide IGNITION ..So lld-state w/electronic advance TRANSMISSION Five-speed STARTING SYSTEM Kick FUEL CAPACITY 2.0 gal. WHEELBASE 58.2 in. RAKE/TRAIL 27.49 °/120. 1mm SEAT HEIGHT 37.9 in. FRONT TIRE 80/ 100-2 1 REAR TIRE 100/90-19 FRONT SUSPENSION ,47mm inverted 5howa cartridge fork w/16 -positions rebound and 16-position compression damping adj. REAR SUSPENSION ........Pro-Link Showa. w/17 -positions rebound and compression dam ping adj. and high- and low-speed adj. FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL 12.4 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL.. 12.4 in. FRONT BRAKE Single. 240mm disc w /twin-piston caliper REAR BRAKE FINAL DRIVE WEIGHT (wet) 1,2004 • CYCLE NEWS Single. 240mm disc Chain 226 Ibs. LIST PRIC E $5699 DISPLACEMENT 249cc EN GIN E TYP E Liquid-cooled . DO HC. single-cylinder four-stroke BORE x STROK E 77 x 53.6mm COMPRESSION RATIO 12.5: 1 CARBURETION 37mm Keihin FCR flat-slide IGNITION CDI TRANSMISSION Five-speed STARTING SYSTEM Klck FUEL CAPACITY 1.8 gal. WHEELBASE 58 in. RAKE/TRAIL N/A SEAT HEIGHT 39.2 In. FRONT TIRE 80/ 100-21 REAR T IRE 100/90 - 19 FRONT·WHEEL TRAVEL 11 .8 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL.. I2.4 in. FRONT SUSPENSION 48mm twin-chamber. Kayaba inverted fork REAR SUSPENSION Single-shock. ad]. rebound and compression; high- and low-speed damp ing FRONT BRAKE 250mm . floating disc REAR BRAKE 245mm . disc FINAL DRIVE Chain WEIGHT (wet) 227 Ibs. 40th Anniversary LIST PRICE $5599 DISPLACEM ENT 249cc ENGINE TYPE Liquid-cooled . 50HC. single-cylinder two -stroke BORE x STROK E 77 x 53.6mm COMPRESSION RATIO 12.6: 1 CARBURETI ON 37mm Keihin FCR Digital CDI IGNITION TRANSM ISSION Five-speed STARTING SYSTEM Kick FUEL CAPACITY 2.0 gal. WHE ELBASE 58.1 in. RAKE/TRAIL 26.5 °/ 109.22mm SEAT HEIGHT 37.8 in. FRONT TIRE 801100-21 REAR TIRE 100/90- 19 FRONT SUSPENSION 48mm inverted . cartridge-type telescopic fork REAR SUSPENSION Uni-Traksingle shock system. fully adjustable FRONT-WHE EL TRAVEL 11 .8 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVE L.. 12.2 in. FRONT BRAKE Single semi-floating 250mm disc, dual piston REAR BRAKE Single 240mm disc. single piston FINAL DRIVE Chain WEIGHT (wet) 229 Ibs.