Rex Kl-100
Trail Test:
SPEAKING GENERALLY, Italian built machines have not earned much of a reputation in the off-the-road or scrambler category; the Rex KL-100 is an exception. Recently introduced, the Rex joins the illustrious ranks of under 100cc two-stroke trail machines and meets its opposition admirably. The 98cc, single-cylinder, two-stroke engine is cooled by forced air, pumped by a fan on the crankshaft. A full and steady supply of cooling air is guaranteed, even when the machine is standing still or buried in deep sand or mud, trying to escape. We have pointed this out as an advantage before; there is little need to elaborate on it.
We liked the Rex for many reasons, among the more prominent being its engine. Distributors of the line rate it at eight horsepower, a reasonable claim. Performance is outstanding, pulling power and torque both are above average.
We didn’t like the hand gear change system, but it is optional and the bike with the four-speed foot change is less money, curiously. None of our staff riders can accustom themselves to the ambidexterity required or the awkwardness of the system. We are told that many novice riders like it, reason enough to offer it as an option. We would also like to see a bit more “travel” in the forks; genuinely rough going makes them bottom on occasion but we continue to make one mistake in our evaluation program of such machines, that of treating them like scramblers or racing machines. We know full well that only a small portion of the total sold are being raced, but we also know that racing brings out the best, and conversely the worst, in a motorcycle. Regardless, the KL-100 handles excellently and offers a glowing line of reasons why it should find popularity.
REX KL-100
“Conventional” best describes the Rex. It employs a fabricated tubing frame with double down tubes to the engine, swinging arms in the rear and hydraulically dampened forks and shock absorbers; it is built like a motorcycle in all respects. Nineteen-inch wheels are fitted, decidedly helpful when one gets serious about setting it up for competition since a wide variety of tread patterns and tire sizes are available in 19-inch specifications.
Full road-going lighting is standard, with power coming from a 6-volt battery maintained by a generator in the engine. Ignition is by magneto so no key is necessary, but a steering column lock is provided to discourage potential thieves, and a kill button shuts off the engine.
An unusual feature on an Italian motorcycle is the soft seat, and quite welcome at that. We note with amused detachment that the dimensions of the engine are 50mm X 48mm; this figures out to 94.5 cubic centimenters, a bit shy of the “98” title. The four-speed gearbox operated flawlessly, but we would like to see the ratios spaced closer together since quite a few engine revolutions, and the power they deliver, are lost during gear changes. First gear is a real “stump puller” and takes excellent advantage of the engine. The engine and gearbox are in unit with a gear primary drive in-between.
We were impressed with performance, including a truly amazing top speed of over 60 mph. The advantage is gained with a sacrifice in the aforementioned gear spacing, though, since almost everything is a compromise when designing a machine and its uses are limited by the designer’s intents. In this case he placed high value on a usable cruising speed for road use.
Regular CYCLE WORLD readers may remember our test of a Rex KL-135 in the Aug. ’62 issue, and recall that it was a German-made machine. We don’t know what has happened in the interim, but the current Rex is an Italian product, and we are pleased to note that it is still a quality product though quite different from the previous one. United Rex Motor Corp. is at present in the formative stages and setting up a dealer network. Soon we feel fairly certain they will be popping up all over the place. We can hear it now .... here Rex, here Rex, c’mon boy!
