Real Steel: the "Other" 1997 Mxers
REAL STEEL: THE "OTHER" 1997 MXERS
IN THE AFTERMATH OF HONDA dropping its aluminumframed nuclear bomb, the 1997 CR250R (see riding impression page 50), on the marketplace, the remainder of the coming year’s
steel-framed motocross models pale in comparison.
But while the 250cc class may have become a one-horse race (on the sales floor, if not the racetrack), the technological battleground still appears to be fairly level in the 125cc ranks. Honda left its CR125 largely alone, with the biggest change being a larger-diameter (46mm) front fork, plus the same digitally mapped ignition as the CR250 and minor porting revisions.
Kawasaki is making the most improvements to its eighth-liter bike in an effort to get back on top of the class. The ’97 KX125 will see increased rigidity by way of a revised frame and a \ new, beefier swingarm, VN —— just like the
works bikes. The transmission has larger shafts to handle the increased power output
that resulted from revised reeds, power-valve and porting.
Suzuki’s RM 125 will remain largely unchanged except for a new cylinder and “winged”
Keihin carburetor.
Happy with the chassis, the only change is a new front fork with less axle underhang.
Yamaha isn’t sitting around on its laurels, either. Drawing on experience gleaned from the
front-running factory 125s of Kevin Windham and John Dowd, the ’97 YZ125 (see “Quick Ride,” November, 1996) features a revised engine that displays improved top-end power by virtue of a lighter piston and improved powervalve tolerances. A beefed-up, more durable transmission and front fork using a non-circulating oil system (just like the factory racebikes) round out the changes.
In the 250cc category, Kawasaki’s ’97 KX250 hides numerous changes behind its familiar looks. All of the 125’s improvements are incorporated, along with revised suspension valving and a new shifting mechanism.
Revision is the name of the game for the ’97 RM250, too. Many of the modifications that the race team made to its ’96 factory bikes have made it into production. Among these are a new shock linkage and updated fork with less underhang and different settings, slight changes in frame geometry, a threestage powervalve to coax more
___ power out of the en-
g*ne ar,d a stronger clutch.
Yamaha made just a few changes to its YZ250-improved cylinder porting, pipe, reed valve and ignition curvein an effort to give the engine more bark. The YZ’s looks were also updated to look like last year’s factory bikes.
As for the Open class, it’s BNG (bold new graphics) only for the two remaining models, the Honda CR500 and Kawasaki KX500. -Jimmy Lewis
