Quick Ride

QUICK RIDE

KAWASAKI KX100 Tons of fun for everyone

JUST BECAUSE THE Kawasaki KX100 was born for the 100cc or Super-Mini motocross class doesn’t mean that it’s just for kids. It’s a fun scoot for the young at heart, too.

The KX100 is based on the KX80, with its added displacement coming by way of a 4.5mm overbore to the liquid-cooled, reed valve-inducted, two-stroke Single. Like the discontinued KX80 Big Wheel, the 100 gets larger wheels (19-inch front and 16-inch rear, compared to the 80’s 17/14-inch combination), which raise the seat height by more than an inch, and which roll over bumps better. Just like the bigger KX motocrossers, the 100 has an inverted fork and single shock,

each with 10.8 inches of travel. Compared to the full-sized KXs, the only missing feature is an exhaust power valve.

Size-wise, children under 5feet tall will find the 100’s 34.3inch seat height a bit lofty, while adults and teens over 5-foot-8 will feel cramped. That’s okay, though, because riders who are too big for an 80 and too small for a 125 will find the 147-pound KXIOO a perfect match. Don’t think for a moment, however, that the 100’s small stature stops fullsized folks from wanting to lap an MX course on it. No matter what your size, confidence comes in just a few laps. With a gallon-and-a-half of pre-mix in the KX’s fuel tank, you’re ready to roost. Power is abundant right off of idle, and there’s plenty of torque for slow-going. Snap the clutch and there’s enough boost to grab a holeshot—or flip over backwards, depending on your skill level. When the engine is on the pipe, there’s lots of midrange power and a decent top-end pull, though it does sign off a bit early for Experts. And yes, it is faster than an 80; in fact, with the proper-sized rider aboard, the 100 will pull a 125, thanks to its better powerto-weight ratio. Combined with a solid-feeling, six-speed transmission and a light clutch pull, there’s a gear for every occasion.

Like its larger brothers, the 100’s rider compartment is slim yet roomy, and its controls are located right where they should be. The suspension accommodates a surprising variety of riders. Apparently set-up for those in the 120-pound range, every one of our testers, from a 100pound Mini Intermediate to a 175-pound Pro, was able to go fast safely. The suspension may be a little stiff for slower, lighter riders, but the fact that it bottoms less than some full-sized bikes around a supercross course is pretty impressive. Though the shock’s 16-way rebound-damping clicker provides a wide range of adjustment, turning its four-way compression-damping adjuster hardly makes a difference, and the fork lacks any form of adjustability.

So, at $3199, are you paying a premium for something that is really just a minibike? Well, if you consider that everyone from adult off-roaders to supercross-crazed teenagers loved riding it, the KX100 has to be considered a bargain. After all, it’s strong enough for a man, but made for a kid.

Jimmy Lewis