Big News For Small Motocrossers
BIG NEWS FOR SMALL MOTOCROSSERS
IF YOU CAN FORGET FOR A moment about Yamaha’s new four-stroke YZ400F (see page 74), the big news on the 1998 motocross scene concerns Honda and Kawasaki.
The former is introducing an aluminum-framed CR125, while the latter has new KX80 and KX100 models.
Rather than simply stuffing a CR125 motor into a CR250 chassis, Honda created a 125specific frame that is 15 percent less rigid than the 250’s and 50 percent more rigid than the CR125’s previous steel frame. The engineers didn’t leave the motor alone, either. Porting has been updated, ignition wattage doubled, the powervalve reshaped and, since the motor is now putting out more power, a beefier five-speed transmission replaces last year’s six-speed ’box. The 125 is still equipped with Kayaba suspension components (the 250 uses Showa), though these have been revised to suit the new frame. The price has been held in check at $4899, with bikes scheduled to arrive in
dealerships in November. The most significant change to the $5749 ’98 CR250 is slightly longer suspension, with
an emphasis on reduced friction. The $5549 CR500, $3049 CR80 and $3149 CR80 Expert are all still in the lineup, sharing the same factory race teaminspired graphics.
The big news from Kawasaki for ’98 is a redesigned KX80/
100 motor (the two are identical save for bore sizes), with a new, two-way powervalve. The clutch cover is now a two-piece unit for easier access, and carries a stronger clutch to handle the extra power. The suspension was beefed-up, too, with fully adjustable 36mm inverted forks. The 100 also had its frame lengthened to better match its larger diameter wheels.
The KX125 and 250 didn’t get passed over, either, with a host of motor changes in search of more power. Both bikes now come with powerjet carbs, remapped digital ignitions and new crankshafts with increased inertia for
smoother power delivery. The suspension on both bikes was shortened to reduce travel, and a progressive, three-way spring has taken up residence on the shock.
With Yamaha’s motocross engineers busy developing the YZ400F, you might expect the YZ125 and 250 to have been neglected. Fortunately, this is not the case-both received revisions. Civ's Best Motocross Bike of 1997, the YZ125, gets a host of motor mods to broaden its already impressively wide powerband, while both bikes received all-new KYB forks that utilize elastomer bottoming bumpers instead of hydraulics. The pair’s rear shocks were also upgraded, with larger piston surfaces for better sealing and increased durability, and new linkages with less-progressive leverage ratios. Oversized rear brakes, just like those on the
factory bikes, were also added. Rounding out the changes (literally), are new seats with lesssquare edges. The YZs will hit showrooms in late August with prices that are unchanged from last year: $4799 for the 125, and $5599 for the 250.
As of presstime, there was no word on Suzuki’s ’98 models, but rumors of all-new KTMs with linkage-less rear suspensions had been substantiated. Look for more information and photos in an upcoming issue.
Jimmy Lewis
