Millennium Motocrossers

MILLENNIUM MOTOCROSSERS

Jimmy Lewis

DIRTBIKE SALES ARE BOOMing (up 29 percent from last year), and the Big Four have released their year-2000 models. Without further ado...

Honda’s CR125 ($4899) and CR250 ($5799) benefit from a host of changes, all aimed at sending Red Riders to the front. Now sporting single front downtubes, the second-generation twin-spar aluminum frames are narrower

and less rigid. Motor mods include a redone cylinder and head, allnew powervalve and pipe, a larger airbox and rejetted carburetor.

Additional changes:

• dual radiators • larger-diameter rear axle • lighter, simpler plastic • revalved fork and shock • revised shock linkage • slimmer everywhere • tapered aluminum swingarm • taller, rubber-mounted handlebar

Four-stroke fans, get ready for Yamaha’s YZ426F ($5899). Proving there’s no replacement for displacement, the title-winning Thumper received a performance-enhancing 3mm overbore. Other updates:

• all-new, ultra-compact carburetor • aluminum subframe • beefed-up crankshaft webbing • bigger radiator • high/low-speed compression adjusters on shock

• larger-diameter, extra-plate clutch • more rigid triple-clamps • new silencer • one-touch clutch-lever adjustment • roomier riding position • shorter wheelbase • taller firstand secondgear ratios • updated connecting rod and wristpin

Kawasaki’s big news is the tiny-tot

KX65 ($2699), which is a miniature, disc-braked, fully suspended version of the KX125 ($4849) and KX250 ($5699). Changes to the bigger bikes include all-new forks with stiffer straightrate springs and sealed internal

bladders. Also new: • larger big-end bearing • modified porting • new shock settings with highand low-speed compression-damping adjustments • quicker-acting powervalve • revised reed block • rejetted carburetor with new Power Jet settings • separate shift-drum pins for smoother gear changes • updated ignition timing and K-TRIC settings Suzuki’s RM 125 ($4949) and RM250 ($5699) benefit from mostly detail changes, as in revised cylinder porting, reinforced frames, stiffer springs, wider footpegs, etc. Here’s the latest: • carburetor bypass starter circuit • carbon-fiber reed valve • factory-style exhaust pipe • increased crankshaft inertia • larger-diameter rear axle and hub • modified gearshift cam plate • reduced-friction brake pads • reshaped piston crown • revised ignition timing • solenoid-controlled exhaust valve breather Let the roosting begin!