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/128376
2005 125cc Motocross Shootout AND THE WINNER Is ••• HONORABLE MENTIONS 1ST: YAMAHA yz 115 This one was easy. All of our testers unanimously picked the Yamaha, once again, as their number-one choice for the number-one 125cc two-stroker. And they had many reasons to do so: The bike feels the lightest on the track, makes the best all-around power and handles at least as good as any of the others - ditto the suspension. 50, it pretty much goes without saying that the Yamaha is the best 125cc twostroke that we've ever ridden. Period. Because of the Honda. the Kawasaki. KTM and Suzuki all got bumped back a notch compared to last year's shootour outcome As a result. the KTM got knocked off the podium. but it put up a good fight. Its new frame does improve the KTM's handlmg, but not enough to keep it on the 2ND: HONDA CR 115 We mulled it over quite a bit, however, as to which bike filled the next two spots on our 2005 I 25cc two-stroke shootout podium. It pretty much boiled down to a threeway dogfight for the two positions involving the Honda, KTM and Kawasaki, but the CR got the nod for second place. That's quite an improvement over last year, when you consider that the CR was not even close to being a podium contender in '04. Finally, Honda gave the already good-handling and suspended machine some beans, and what a difference that makes. Like we said, the Honda has always had the handling and suspension departments down pat with its 125, and we have always said that if it had a motor, it would be right there. Well, it certainly is right there now. It still might not be the fastest bike of the group - the Yamaha and KTM have that market cornered - but it's fast enough for most of us and handles nearly as good as the bike standing next to it on the top step of the podium. lRD: KAWASAKI KXI25 Completing our shootout podium was a difficult decision, but when the votes where tallied, the Kawasaki slipped past the KTM - even after a recount. Yes, it was a narrow victory, so to speak. Both the Kawasaki and KTM are excellent bikes, but the general consensus was that the Kawasaki was just a little easier to ride overall than the KTM. The Kawasaki has a motor comparable to the Honda but falls just a little bit short in the handling and suspension departments, which kept it from finishing even higher on the podium. podium. In a way, the KTM IS suffering the same fate as the prevIous CRs, but in the opposite direction - it has the power but not qUite the handling, though it does turn well and stops on a dime. Overall, it's a great bike that will appeal more [0 the fast and aggressive rider, one who can put all that power to good use and has the talent to keep things under control. In other words, In the right hands, the SX could very well be the pick of the litter. Of all of the bikes, the Suzuki feels the least changed, which IS not exactly a great thing since it did not make our podium last year. This is not to say that the RM is not a good bike - as It IS one . but when It comes to the highly competitive 125c( two-stroke class, jf you don't make a step forward (rom the prevIous year. It IS almost like taklllg two steps back. SPECIFICATIONS HONDA CRI25R LIST PRICE DISPLACEMENT ENGINE TYPE BORE x STROKE COMPRESSION RATIO CARBURETION IGNITION TRANSMISSION STARTING SYSTEM FUEL CAPACITY WHEELBASE RAKEITRAIL SEAT HEIGHT FRONT TIRE· REAR TIRE· FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL FRONT BRAKE REAR BRAKE FINAL DRIVE CLAIMED DRY WEIGHT KAWASAKI KXI25 KTM 125 SX SUZUKI RM 125 YAMAHA YZ 125 ............................$5299 .................................... 125cc ......................Liquid-cooled, single-cylinder two-stroke ........................54 x 54.5mm ....................................7.48:1 .......... 38mm Mikuni TMX-x .. .Digital w/3-D mapping ............................Five-speed ..............................Kick ..................................2.0 gal. ..................................57.9 in. ..................29.75°/100.Omm ..................................37.3 in. ............................80/100-21 ............................ 100/90-19 .................................... 12 in. ................... ......... 12.5 in. ......................................Disc ......................................Disc ....................................Chain .............................. 192.9Ibs. ....................................$5099 .................................... 124cc ......................Liquid-cooled, single-cylinder two-stroke ........................54 x 54.5mm .............................8.1-10.6: I ........................38mm Mikuni ............................Digital CDI ..............................Six-speed .. .. Kick ................... ..................................2.2 gal. ......................................N/A ....................27.So/1I 1.6mm ..................................37.2 in. ............................80/100-21 ............................ 100/90-19 .................................. 11.8 in. .................................. 12.2 in. ...................................... Disc ....................................$5298 ................................ 124.8cc ......................Liquid-cooled, single-cylinder two-stroke ........................54 x 54.5mm .....................................N/A ..............Keihin PWK 39mm ............Kokusan Digital 2K-1 ............................Five-speed ......................................Kick ............. ", $5099 ............, 124.8cc ......................Liquid-cooled, single-cylinder two-stroke .......................,54 x 54,5mm .....8.7-9.8: I .............. 38mm Mikuni TMX ......................................CDI ....Six-speed, constant-mesh ..........................Primary kick ..................................2.1 gal. .. 57.1 in. ........................27.3°/115mm ..................................37.4 in ............................80/100-21 ............ 100/90-19 .. 12.2 in. ................................. 12.6 in. ......................................Disc ......................................Disc ....................................Chain .. 192Ibs. ....................................$5299 .................................... 124cc , ,., Liquid-cooled, single-cylinder two-stroke ........................55 x 54.5mm ..........................8.6:1-11.0: I .............. 38mm Mikuni TMX ................................. ,....CDI ", ... ,..... ", ... "", .... ",Six-speed ......................................Kick .. 2.1 gal. ... 56.6 in. ......................................N/A . 39.1 in. ............................80/100-21 ................. 100/90-19 11.8 in. . ... " 12.4 in. ...................................... Disc ..................................... Disc ....................................Chain .................................. 192Ibs. ......................................2 gal. ..................................57.9 in. ..........................27"/120mm ..................................36.4 in. ............................80/100-21 ............................ 100/90-19 .................................. 11.8in. .................................. 13.2 in. ...................................... Disc ......................................Disc ....................................Chain ..............................203.7Ibs. *To keep all the bikes on equal footing for this shootout. we fitted all of the bikes with DunLop 0742 (front) and D756 rear intermediate-terrain tires. 42 MAY 4, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS ...................................... Disc ....................................Chain .. 189Ibs.