Ultimate Mx
ultimate MX
125 vs. 250 vs. 500 vs. Thumper in a quest to find the top berm-buster
JIMMY LEWIS
CYCLE WORLD COMPARISON
WE'VE HEARD IT ALL before; so have you: "There's no way a 125 can compete with a 500..." "A 250 is always the best..." "Five-hundreds are pigs, they'll kill ya..." "Thumpers are underrated, they never get a fair chance..." "In supercross, Kevin Windham on his YZ125 turns faster lap times than most 250 guys..."
Good benchracing fodder, but where’s the evidence, the cold, hard facts? Here, that’s where. We picked four bikes, lined up test riders of varying skill levels, then booked time at three diverse tracks for a very different kind of motocross shootout.
Yamaha’s YZ125 was an easy choice, being everyone’s all-world selection as best 125. Next up was Honda’s technological leap forward, the aluminum-framed 1 asaki’s KX500 fit the Open-c unrivaled in power and the only 500 bike to receive updates for the 19< season. A Husaberg FC501, potent an lightweight, was the logical choice fo: an MX Thumper.
Our first test day was at California’s Glen Helen track on a revamped layout that could be classified as perfect for a 250. It had high-speed straights plus jumps and tight turns-a little bit of everything.
From the test notes:
“The YZ125 is lots ot fun to ride and not nearly as scary as the CR. I can yank open the throttle in the midst of adrenaline-induced excitement and not end up on my head. I actually feel in control of the situation.”
Right from the get-go, though, testers fought to ride either the YZ or the KX. Both bikes, polar opposites in this comparison, performed so well that riders of all abilities immediately felt fast and confident on ’em. The Yamaha made pals because of its balanced suspension and pinpoint handling-it went exactly where it was aimed, every time. For a 125, the YZ has a broad, brilliant spread of power, though a few of our fast guys wanted a bit more. They always do.
Well, not always... There were no such complaints about the Kawasaki. The big KX has power, and plenty of it, anytime, anywhere. This abundance was further graced by stone-solid handling that, quite frankly, surprised most of our test crew, who had written off 500s as evil, unridable brutes. Wrongo! The KX lives in Point-andShoot City, and on a loamy track like Glen Helen, simply has no need for berms. It makes its own, quite literally digging a trench around the track.
Also doing its share of earth-moving was the Husaberg Thumper. Testers generally felt extremely fast on the FC501, even though the suspension was too soft, bottoming on larger jumps and G-outs. Handling was a bit off the standard set by the Yamaha and Kawasaki, but there was little else to complain about. And everyone flat lovvved the sound it made.
Yamaha
YZ125
Price....................$4799
Dry weight...............215 lb.
Seat height..............37.4 in.
Ups
Power spread to make a works rider jealous
Screamin’ deal-the only bike here under $5000
Honda-like durability
Downs
You’ll have to look for used ones— dealers sold out!
What happened to the CR250, the pre-test favorite? Well, first its suspension was stiff and didn’t offer nearly as compliant a ride as the other bikes. And, sure, its razor-sharp handling, excellent stability, crisp throttle response and nuclear motor drew positive comments, but the CR demanded tons of rider attention, especially at the end of a long moto. Only in-shape Experts need apply.
Preconceived notions deflated, it was time to go to the stopwatch. Glen Helen was a good warm-up, but at the two remaining tracks, Gorman and Castaic, we ran four 20-minute motos, taking lap times and comparing results. To keep things fair, we kept fresh Dunlop K490 fronts and K695 rears on the bikes, always at 12 psi. The only other deviation from stock was the addition of Renthal aluminum handlebars for rider comfort and extra crash protection.
Gorman’s Quail Canyon MX Park is a state-run natural outdoor track that incorporates rolling hills and long, power-robbing straightaways. Openclass territory, for sure.
As expected, riders were on average fastest on the KX500. Yet the quickest lap and moto of the day were cut on the Honda, albeit ridden by a fast Pro. Surprisingly, the Yamaha edged out the Husaberg, snagging third in overall times.
Padding the Kawasaki’s lap times were its report cards. KX power ate up the straights and its smooth, no-surprises character made even slippery turn exits a cinch.
Overall second fastest, the CR250 was not praised so highly on the evaluation forms. Its firm ride was not as bothersome as it had been at Glen Helen; this time it was the handling that tripped up testers: One-hundred percent concentration was required at all times. Ridden in attack mode, the CR is awesome, but anything less and it can be a real handful. Proving the point were the decreasing lap times as motos wore on, more so than for any of the other bikes.
Honda
CR250
Price....................$5699
Dry weight...............221 lb.
Seat height..............36.4 in.
Ups
Ride the CR to its potential and there’s room for you in the Honda semi
You’ll never need to buy stiffer fork or shock springs
Downs
For most of us, it may be too good
If you get second place, it’s your fault
From the test notes:
“That Honda is a straight-up moto weapon. The thing barks! But I could tell it was so far above my ability that it wasn’t even funny.”
Twisted and screamday at long, 14,000 the rpm little all Yamaha made up for its lack of ponies with high cornering speeds and unmatched agility. Another plus: Throughout the motos, YZ riders tended to get faster and not tire.
Blame the Husaberg’s tail-end Charlie status on the fact that fourstrokes aren’t as fast as they feel. Everyone swore they rode the 501 faster than their lap times revealed. The handling was solid, though the suspension was still a bit too soft, even on the outdoor track, even with the compression damping screwed all the way in at both ends.
Kawasaki
KX500
Price....................$5549
Dry weight............... 238 lb.
Seat height..............37.0 in.
Ups
Proof that Open-classers are not for Neanderthals only
Hop-up parts? We don’t need no stinkin’ hop-up parts!
Downs
Has an appetite for race gas
Still a heavy bike
Old-school styling
Final test stop was the supercrossstyle track at Castaic. Speculation had the CR and YZ ruling the hardpack, jumpinfested facility, with the KX and FC hurting. Hard numbers confirmed the Honda and Yamaha’s abilities, but the shocker was the KX500 turning the fastest lap of the day.
We raised the Kawi’s fork tubes 5mm in the triple-clamps for more precise steering, and though the KX never hunted the inside line, it turned better than we thought a 500 ever could. Possibly the new 46mm fork, 3mm larger than last year, adds rigidity and steering confidence. The KX’s big piston surges at low rpm were a bit off-putting, but as smoothed as the open, throttle riders was were rewarded with four-stroke-like traction, making it easy to clear the jumps out of tight turns.
From the test notes:
“I was really surprised, the KX500 was real easy to ride. Just blip the throttle over doubles, and tractor out of turns. This bike was the least tiring for me, though I'm not sure I’d have the control to restrain myself in the heat of battle.”
From the test notes:
“Even though I ranked the Husaberg last, I really enjoyed the ride. Cushy suspension, smooth power and a cool sound. It would be a blast to race.”
As we guessed, the Husaberg suffered with its soft suspension, and in the hands of our lesser-skilled riders, it stalled and proved reluctant to re-light. This was later traced to a coil that was slowly going south.
Where does this leave us? Going strictly by the numbers, the Kawasaki KX500 is on top by virtue of being, on average, 1 second quicker in overall lap times. Color us shocked and amazed. By the clock, the Yamaha and Honda tie for second, with the Husaberg slightly off the pace.
But there’s more to MX than the clinical sweep of the stopwatch. Factor in rider preference and Yamaha’s YZ125 is a clear-cut winner. Testers’ ratings placed the YZ out in front, voted favorite at Glen Helen and Castaic, a close second at Gorman. The KX, all wheelies and roost, slots into second, topping the poll at Gorman. Call it a toss-up between the Honda and Husaberg in the fun-factor department. The CR demands so much attention compared to the other bikes, riding it is sometimes like work-and how many of us are getting paid to race? The thunder and charisma of the FC501 elevated it above its shortcomings.
Husaberg
FC501
Price....................$7821
Dry weight 241 lb.
Seat height..............36.0 in.
Ups
Thump-thump-thump!
A real racer, not a modified trail bike
Soon, you too will be ambidextrous at kickstarting
Downs
Paying for it
Upkeep intensive
Light for a four-stroke, but heavy here
So, surprises all around. But here’s the bottom line: Yamaha’s YZ125 is the ultimate production motocross bike of 1997, the most fun you can have on knobbies. Let the benchracing begin.
