Limelight!
By TMX Archives on 16th Sep 04
Next year's Kawasakis take centre stage as the dbr test team jet off to Germany for the '05 model launch... UNLIKE MY good self, Kawasaki haven't been lying stagnant for the last few years. I just can't imagine a Japanese technician sat on the sofa watching Trisha while washing down a pecan pastry with another cup of coffee. What with the all-new 250F this year and the world championship-winning 125cc before that, it seems the Big Green Machine are doing all they can to be at the top of the MX tree - I just wish I had their dedication. Saying that, Kawasaki have delayed their new addition and it's now official that the KX450F will be developed for another year under the watchful eye of Jan De Groot - so it should be a good 'un. KTM have pretty much dominated the world 125cc championship over the past few years but there has been a Kawasaki sandwiched in between, ridden to glory by Maschio. We all know Kawasaki storm the class in the US but, without meaning to sound disrespectful, most people put that down to the exceptionally talented Mr Stewart. Well the '05 125 is better than the '04 model but not in such dramatic fashion as its bigger two-smoke brother. Throttle response is so much better and that's what Kawasaki set out to do. Powerwise I think the bike's almost the same as last year's model but the new sharpness of the pick-up makes this an easy 125 to ride. Straight from the bottom the power snaps in razor-sharp the moment you crack open the throttle. The jetting was bang on for the conditions, no fettling for this one. The most noticeable improvement was in the mid-range. As you slip through the smooth gears the power picks up quicker saving you that split-second of time and, ultimately, making it easier to maintain your momentum. The chassis has only had the minor changes which Kawasaki have made to all the bikes like the thicker spar walls of the swingarm, lighter suspension mounting bolts and the new seat. The handling of the 125 is the best of the bunch in stock trim - it's really well balanced for standard settings and still turns blissfully easy. The plushness of the stroke on both suspension units remains progressively smooth although I would prefer them harder. Anyone wanting to stay on a two-stroke machine could do a lot worse than this straight from the crate. Jeff Perrett For our full verdict on the new Kawasaki MX range don't miss the October issue of dbr – on sale September 17