Kawasaki Super Sherpa
Quick Ride
KAWASAKI SUPER SHERPA
First-rate first-timer
IN THESE DAYS OF Tibetan awareness, tacking the name "Sherpa" onto anything can result in some nasty repercussions. Unless, that is, the product in question is a tribute to the sure-footed mountain people who serve as porters for Himalayan climbing expeditions.
Kawasaki’s Super Sherpa is just such a JL machine. Formerly only available in Japan, the air-cooled, \ four-valve, dohe, -249cc, four-stroke Single was designed and tuned for beginning riders. As such, electric-starting eliminates kicking, and the smooth-shifting six-speed gearbox is geared low for easy takeoffs. Similarly, the clutch is feather-light and softly sprung, with sonic designed-in slip page. This means less stalling br those who are new to coor dinating clutch with throttle. More experienced riders will notice a difference only during full-throttle powershifts.
The rest of the bike follows suit: disc brakes that are powerful enough for quick stops without being grabby; a low and unintimidating (for a dirtbike) 32-inch-high seat with cushy foam; and light-effort steering, with lock-to-lock rivaling that of a trials machine for easy slowspeed maneuvers. In fact, the bike’s only apAvjk parent liability i\\\% .. ’ is its 278-pound • )/l t wet weight. MfjÊ , That’s a bit Hnjpi' porky for trail~ side pickups.
Don’t think, however, that ^ ^ the Super Sher¿ií'M pa’s beginner *■ • . ' influences limit its abilities. Engine performanee, for 3* ”example> continue to should excite as skill level increases. There’s decent power off idle, but in typical Kawasaki Thumper style, the engine performs best in the midrange and up. Pressed, the bike will scream its way to an indicated top speed of 80 mph on flat pavement. The softly sprung suspension feels as if it will bottom upon impact with the smallest ripple, but it doesn’t. Damping is quite firm, and cushions everything short of motocross landings.
Styling is another area that the Sherpa has going for it. Its pseudo-trials appearance, courtesy of the low-mounted front fender, impressed everyone who saw it. The gold-anodized rimsjj and stainless-steel exhaust sys-^ tern don’t hurt, either. Ditto the digital speedometer with a clock and dual tripmeters. And at $3999, the bike is priced right in the hunt with its smaller-displacement competition, namely the $3799 Suzuki DR200 and $3849 Yamaha XT225.
As an entry-level streetbike, a novice dual-purpose machine (made even better with a set of handguards) or a bumper bike upon which to scoot around when the motor home is parked, the Super Sherpa will fit right in with the rest of the family fleet. In all, then, it’s a fitting tribute to the courageous Tibetans. It just happens to pull better wheelies than they do!
Jimmy Lewis
