YAMAHA
MOTOR
Key Features:
Six-speed transmission
Flat-head piston
7.S-degree cylinder
forward angle
Yamaha could have left the
yz's motor alone and we
would have been happy, but
now with the advent of
250cc four-strokes, it was
YZ125
CHASSIS/SUSPENSION
Key Features:
Aluminum frame
Aluminum Renthal handlebars
Kayaba cartridge fork
Rear Kayaba full-rebound oil-lock system
Light and comfortable can best describe the Yamaha's ergos. With the new aluminum frame and
numerous improvements, the yz dropped a total of 10 pounds over the 2004 YZ, and believe us, it can
be felt on the track.
The Yamaha turns exceptionally well, too
- maybe not as good as the Suzuki, the best
forced to somehow squeeze
turner of the group. but it can hold its own
even more juice from the
with all the rest. One tester thought that the
Yamaha turned the best on hard-packed cor-
already powerful motor. In
order to do that, Yamaha
pretty much had to start
from scratch, and what it
ended up with was an allnew motor that, combined
with a lighter chassis, simply
rips.
Compared to the KTM,
the Yamaha is right there
when it comes to sheer
horsepower, but it does
feel a bit stronger on top
ners rather than rutted-out ones. But we
have to say that with the right finesse, the
Yamaha can rail through the deepest ruts out
there.
With the new Kayaba fork and shock, the
yz soalks up everything like a pillow. Overall, the entire suspension package rates right
up there with the Honda's Showa equipment - and that is saying a lot.
The stopping power of the Nissin brakes
is good - much like the Kawasaki's, Honda's
and Suzuki's brakes, which isn't surprising
and just plain more robust
since they are all equipped with Nissin com-
overall, making it easier to
manage and more forgrv-
ponents.
Yamaha joined the aluminum-handlebar
war, which goes a long ways in improving
the Yamaha's ergos. We also liked the yz's
titanium footpegs, whether or not they
ing. And to compliment
things, the Yamaha shifts
well and has a smoothoperating clutch.
38
made us go any faster.
MAY 4,2005 • CYCLE NEWS
