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2001 125 SHOOTOUT: THE WRAP

It’s fun to look back and realize that shootouts have always been tough. Back in the December 2000 issue of Dirt Bike, we had a six-bike 125 shootout and evidently had a hard time getting anyone to agree on anything. All we knew was that the KTM was fast and the Honda handled well. We eventually came up with a winner–it wasn’t either of those bikes. The Suzuki RM125 came out on top. Here’s how we ranked them and how the did on the White Brothers dyno (Miss those guys).

TOP-END POWER
1. KTM
2. Yamaha
3. Suzuki
4. Kawasaki
5. Houda
6. Husqvarna
Even though this seems like a rehash of the dyno chart, the seat of your pants can tell you so much more. The chart doesn’t show throttle response, jetting and, frankly, doesn’t always reflect real world riding impressions. By coincidence, the dyno and the riders agree this year.

2001 KTM 125

POWER USABILITY
1. KTM
2. Suzuki
3. Kawasaki
4. Honda, Husqvarna
6. Yamaha
A dyno chart can’t show this. The KTM, for example, is friendly just because it makes enough power to make up for mistakes. The Yamaha seems to make low-end power on the charts, but in real life it falls flat at partial throttle openings.

2001 Honda CR125

FORK
1. Honda
2. Yamaha
3. Suzuki
4. Kawasaki
5. Husqvarna
6. KTM
Consider the top two spots almost too close to call. The Kawasaki only gets bumped back because the front is so much stiffer than the rear that the whole package is unbalanced. Husky and KTM are a notch off the Japanese bikes in suspension.

2001 Yamaha YZ125

SHOCK
1. Honda
2. Yamaha
3. Suzuki
4. Kawasaki
5. Husky
6. KTM
This is the closest category of all. As an interesting side note, remember that horsepower is the worst enemy of suspension. Take away a few ponies and the KTM would miraculously develop a better shock.

2001 Kawasaki KX125

STABILITY
1 Kawasaki
2. Honda
3. Suzuki
4. Husqvarna
5. Yamaha
6. KTM
All of the bikes are stable. The Yamaha and KTM were the only bikes that generated reports of slight head shake.

2001 Suzuki RM125

TURNS
1.Suzuki
2.Yamaha
3.Honda
4.KTM
5.Husqvarna
6.Kawasaki
Once again, this is another category where you could throw a blanket over at least the top three bikes. The Kawasaki would have ranked much higher if the 20-inch wheel were standard.

2001 Husqvarna 125CR

DETAILS & QUALITY
1. KTM
2. Husqvarna
3. Yamaha
4. Honda
5. Kawasaki and Suzuki
When it comes to the quality of the parts that come stock on the bikes, the Europeans are way ahead. Both the KTM and Husky have good bars, chains, etc. (although we did blow up a Husky wheel). Of the Japanese bikes, only the Yamaha has a quick-adjust clutch and Excel rims. The Honda has the best graphics, plastic and levers.

CONCLUSION
So what do you do with a bunch of test riders who don’t seem to agree on anything? You listen a little more closely. On the surface, they didn’t seem to agree simply because they all had different favorites. But if you listen to their reasons, it becomes apparent that all the test riders are in perfect agreement. They just have different priorities. For example, they all agree that the KTM has the best overall motor, but handling that’s inconsistent and sometimes unpredictable. They all agree that the Honda is just the opposite, with awesome handling and a weak motor. So the riders who value horsepower above all will list the KTM first. Those who value handling like the Honda.
And if you listen to enough riders, you get an idea of which bike will appeal to the most people. In this case, that bike is the Suzuki. The RM125 has always been good; just overshadowed in recent years by the Yamaha. Now, the Suzuki motor takes a big step forward and the Yamaha motor, in the eyes of some, takes a small step backward. To tell the truth, it was a tough call between these two bikes. The Suzuki’s user-friendly motor is what put it over the top.
In third, once again, we have the KTM with a motor that’s even better than last year’s–which we thought was great. Several riders choose the KTM as their favorite, just for that reason. But several others hated the bike, just for the suspension. Again, it’s just a matter of priorities.
Next, the Kawasaki sits pretty in fourth without any real shortcomings. It’s simply not outstanding in a class where all the bikes are outstanding in some way or another. Behind it, the Honda and Husqvarna are handicapped with motors that just lack firepower. A few years ago, they might have actually been considered fast. But that was a few years ago. It might as well have been the last century.

2024 GASGAS TRIALS

2024 GasGas TXT300 GP

GasGas has revealed its new trials bikes for 2024. The TXT 250 and 300 GP are the top of the line, and there are also four Racing Editions:  125cc, 250cc, 280cc, and 300cc .

2024 GasGas TXT300 Racing

Technical Highlights – TXT GP
New Akrapovic exhaust pipe boosts power while saving weight
New brake disks front and rear
New gear lever for improved shifting in all conditions
New GASGAS Factory Racing replica graphics
New TECH TJ3 shock absorber is fully adjustable and offers consistent damping
TECH front fork with 174.5mm of travel and a KASHIMA coating for enhanced sensitivity
Lightweight steel frame made from cast and tubular parts with aluminum front hangars
Cylinder head with interchangeable inserts for customized power
NEKEN handlebars and RENTHAL grips GASGAS Factory Racing inspired bar pad
CNC-machined, black anodized aluminum triple clamps
BRAKTEC hydraulic clutch and brakes
Strong and lightweight wheels with CNC machined hubs and a lightweight rear rim
Michelin Trial X11 tires front and rear for maximum traction
Patented 4/6-speed transmission

Technical Highlights – TXT RACING
Lightweight steel frame made from cast and tubular parts with aluminum front hangars
Cylinder head with interchangeable inserts for customized power
Fully adjustable TECH forks offer 174.5mm of travel
TECH shock allows for a personalized rebound and spring preload set up
Ergonomic bodywork complete with in-mold graphics
Footpeg design boosts control in tough conditions
Silencer features a super-durable end cap
NEKEN handlebars and RENTHAL grips BRAKTEC hydraulic clutch and brakes
Strong and lightweight wheels with CNC machined hubs
Michelin Trial X11 tires front and rear for maximum traction
Patented 4/6-speed transmission

BACK TO 2001…

Vertemati C500

While we were in the 2001 archives, it was fun to see some bikes that aren’t with us any more. We got a chance to test the Vertemati a few months later. It was far better to look at than ride. We never got a chance to ride the Villa or the Alfer. It’s unlikely that they got past the prototype stage. At the time, everyone was going four-stroke crazy.

Villa TR400
Alfer 400

See you next week!

–Ron Lawson
News

Great Fast Bikes From The 2010s

You may not even realize it, but the 2010s were not that long ago. One second you’re watching the Chicago Cubs win the World Series and break their 71-year curse, “Gangnam Style” was the biggest song in the world, and everyone suddenly became an activist after using #KONY2012 on their social media. Next thing you know, you’re buying baby formula, teaching yourself how to balance a checkbook, thanking whoever it was that invented the air fryer, and debating on whether you should deactivate all your social media accounts and enjoy life.

We have all gone through significant changes in a short amount of time, and the motorcycle industry is no different. These days motorcycles are outfitted with technology that is downright futuristic, and it keeps getting more and more advanced every day. But the 2010s were also great for the motorcycling world too. It was a decade for when the standard for what makes a sport bike great was raised to a new level. Bikes saw new designs, bigger engines, more torque, more power, and best of all… more fun. So let’s take a cruise down memory lane and check out some of the sport bikes that made the 2010s a great decade to start your motorcycling journey.

Related: Here’s Why Supermotos Are So Much Fun

1 2018 Ducati Panigale V4S

r reeve via Flickr“>

2018 Ducati Panigale V4S
r reeve via Flickr
Ducati Panigale V4S

While the 2010s were a big decade for motorcycles in general, the one class that really took this time to stand out are superbikes. One in particular that managed to stand out from the crowd was the release of the Ducati Panigale V4 in 2018. Up until this point, Ducati had been in the habit of pushing out capable-yet-clunky Panigale V-twins that many customers were growing weary of. Seeing room for improvement, the motorcycle manufacturer replaced it with a new brand-defining model with new standards of performance, power, torque, and control. The Panigale V4 based its frame off that of a MotoGP and was available in for trims: the standard V4, the performance-focused S, the even more performance-focused Speciale, and the top-shelf V4R. This V4’s approach to power was direct and instant, as it could accelerate from 0 to 60mph in 3.2 seconds, 100mph in 5.63 seconds, and 150mph in 9.85 seconds. With a top speed recorded at 191.3mph, the Panigale V4 served as the new face of Ducati by attracting customers ranging from casual weekend riders to full-blown competitive racers.

Specs

Engine

1,103cc 90-degree V4 w/ counter-rotating crankshaft

Engine Output

214 horsepower and 92 lb-ft of torque

Transmission

Six-Speed

Fuel Economy

34 MPG

2 2013 Ducati Streetfighter 848

FoXY_85 via Flickr“>

2013 Ducati Streetfighter 848
FoXY_85 via Flickr
2013 Ducati Streetfighter 848

What happens if you take the Ducati Panigale and strip it down? You get the Ducati Streetfighter. By doing away with the additional fairings and bringing a set of higher handlebars, Ducati’s Streetfighter line is about as “naked” as these bikes can get. By bringing some of the style of its V4 brethren, the Streetfighter is powered by a V2 engine that brings all the fun and speed one can expect from a Ducati, but at a more affordable price point. Also, thanks to its easy-to-handle nature, this motorcycle is often viewed as a decent entry-level model for someone looking to enter the Ducati world without feeling overpowered by the bike. While the model we are referring to comes equipped with the V2 engine, multiple versions of the Streetfighter are available with V4 engines.

Specs

Engine

849cc liquid-cooled, Testastretta 11-degree L-Twin, 4 Desmodromically actuated valves per cylinder

Engine Output

125 horsepower and 66 lb-ft of torque

Transmission

Six-Speed

Fuel Economy

42.6 MPG

3 2010 BMW S 1000 RR

ferriman5 via Flickr“>

2010 BMW S1000RR
ferriman5 via Flickr
2010 BMW S1000RR

If there was a motorcycle that understood the assignment of “perfect timing”, it would be the BMW S 1000 RR. This superbike was launched by the German auto manufacturer in 2010, and it also happened to be their first attempt entering the superbike world. But considering that BMW has some of the greatest engineering minds on the planet, it seemed rather appropriate that the S 1000 RR set the bar high for the decade in terms of power, performance, and handling. Outfitted with ABS, traction control, four selectable ride modes, and the option to add a quickshifter, this bike first started out as a limited-edition model with only 1,000 available units for sale. But considering the positive response it had from customers, as well as hungry buyers, BMW quickly brought this bike back into the factory for mass-production.

Specs

Engine

4-Stroke, traverse four-cylinder, DOHC Engine

Engine Output

193 horsepower and 82.6 lb-ft of torque

Transmission

Six-Speed

Fuel Economy

33.8 MPG

4 2014 Kawasaki Z1000SX