News Flash: Kx-F And Rm-F Moto-Thumpers

NEWS FLASH: KX-F AND RM-F MOTO-THUMPERS

WHEN THE JAPANESE outdoor motocross nationals start up, the trick machines roll out. As expected, two (or one, depending on how you look at it) of this year’s most anticipated models were there: the jointly developed Kawasaki and Suzuki 250cc four-strokes-the green KX250N1 and the yet-to-benamed yellow version, which is coded XRMO. Exactly who developed what is still a mystery, but from what we were able to gather, Suzuki penned and bench-tested the motor, while Kawasaki developed the chassis and will build the entire machine. When they reach dealers’ showrooms in September, the two bikes will differ only in the color of their plastic, graphics and radiatorshroud shape.

So, what’s inside? Little information was available at presstime, but speculation says that the top end is a slice of GSX-R1000, a liquid-cooled, dohc, four-valve head mated to a short-stroke cylinder. A pumperequipped Keihin carburetor handles fuel delivery. Power is said to be a bit greater than that of the current Yamaha YZ250F, with a bit less “torquey” feeling. Suspension on both bikes will be Kayaba, though the Suzuki shown here has works Showa suspenders. -Jimmy Lewis