1980-80Cc-Shootout.Pdf
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tr The 80s are the glamour bikes of the leader Yamaha have their acts together. brake pedal is adjustable in height. minicycle world. There are more 80cc Each bike plies its particular personality to The RM air filter is serviced by accessories, more 80cc racers and more the advantage of every potential motor- removing the seat and spinning two 80cc bikes sold than any other class. With- cycle racer. If you have an honest wingrnuts on the front of the air box. The out a high profile TV series or a big-bucks appraisal of your ability and needs there is filter is oiled foam, but isn't very large. soft drink sponsor, the minis have burst a minicycle powerband that is perfect for The miscellaneous paraphernalia on the onto the American motocross scene in a you. Suzuki is top-flite. The tires are made by bigway. There are l4-year-old factory There isn't a markedly bad minicycle in IRC, and the RM and KX are the only riders who are catered to and waltzed the grroup, but there are significantly minis that come stock with a 4.l0xl4 rear around the main offices like diamonds in different machines. You pays your money tire. The 28-inch-wide handlebars have the rough. The 80s are virtual rocketships and gets your kicks. Oury-type grips attached, but the levers in the hands of a talented rider. SUZUKI NMSOT and throttle are nothing special. The triple Each year the bikes get faster in The all-yellow Suzuki RM80 is a potent clamps have only one pinch bolt on each guantum leaps, get better suspension in power package tucked into a miniature leg. The seat has a nifty lift handle average leaps, and improved handling in replica of the World Championship Suzuki Velcd to the rear to aid in hefting it in mediocre leaps. Only the price keeps Grand kix bikes. The motor is the same andout of the van. pace with the horsepower ratings. straightforward Suzuki desigrn that has The Suzuki plastic is identical to the 1980 is the first year of a full frontal blessed the RM since its inception. The detailing on the works bikes. The ga^s tank assault on the mini market by all four single downtube frame nestles in between is steel. The gas cap is minute, and makes maior Japanese manufacturers. Honda has a set of Kayaba forks and Showa shocks. ' putting fuel in the bike a hassle. The RM is ioinedthe fray this year with a brilliant The swingarm is steel, although it is the only mini in the test with aluminum first effort. Kawasaki is only in their painted to look like aluminum. The rear rims. The chain is a hefty 4% unil. second year of production, and has brake is rod activated, but it has an un- YAIIIAHA YZSOG refined some of the rough flaws out of their usual mid-way pivot point that doubles the The YZ80 is the only single shock mini- gem. Suzuki and perennial minicycle moving parts used to stop the sucker. The cycle on the market, although several of 56 MOTOCROSS ACTION/SEPTEMBER 1980 The Suzuki RM80 has good, quick and abrupt ponies. lt would Ridinqthe YZ _means keeping your wrist locked and your too in win any raco on a tight, bermy track. gear. The YZ8) would win on smooth, fast and long fracks. The green machine is slow, but like the tortoise and the hare it You can carve circles around the competition with the Honda; has winning traits. lt is the easiest to ride. it turns better than all of them. SEPTEMBER 1980/MOTOCROSSACTION 57 EIGHTIES: their competitors are testing mono set-ups Yamaha uses IRC tires, but mounts a mini-motocrossers on the track. The seat on their works bikes. The Yamaha motor 3.60x14 on the rear instead of the larger height is over Vz-inchhigher than the has been the bacldcone of minicycle 4.I0. The handlebars are 30 inches wide, other bikes. The KX motor is an electro- racing since the first mini enduro 60cc and have long powerbend levers. fusion cylinder (no liner), and uses a engine. It still has plenty of ponies. caressing them. The grrips aren't anything heavy flywheel igrnition. Yamaha has a double downtube frame special. The Yamaha is the only mini with Kawasaki has built a rugged looking with Kayaba forks and a Kayaba mini a plastic ga^s tank, and it has adecent frame to hold its motor. The swingarm is monoshock. sized gan cap. The biple clamps on the YZ steel, paintedto look like aluminum, and The triangrulated YZ mono swingarm is have only one bolt on the top set, but two made out of rectangrular stock. The rear extremely rigid, and Yamaha didn't paint on the lower unit. brake is rod activated, and has an adiust- it silver to make it lok like aluminum. It is The center port, CDI, reed-valved able pedal. The forks are by Kayaba and steel. The rodoperated rear brake pedal is engine is fueled by a Mikuni carburetor. the shocks are Showas. not adlustable in height. The Mikuni has a push-pull choke device. The air filter is a nightmare. To remove The air filter is easy to get to and easy to The power is transmitted down a 4% the fuzzy foam filter, the seat has to be change. It hides behind the left side chain. removed and bolts have to be backed out panel. The kill button is totally wrong! It is KAWASAf,I KXSO of the front of the air box. It is similar to the on the throttle housing instead of on the The grreen ru(80 really stands out from Suzuki unit, but without the simple clutch side, and it can't be moved. the other bikes. The KX is the largest of the wingnuts. The Yamaha YZfll has been the standard bearer of minicycle The Suzuki RM$ is an excellent minicycle package. The powor racing for the past five years. A little more low end and longer is top of the line and the suspension is good. forks would make it first rate. The Suzuki motor has more beans than any of the minis. lt is The YZfl) comes on later and stays on longer. lt is a high rpm Mr. Horsepowol. rocketship. 58 MOTOCROSS ACTION/SEPTEMBER 1980 The KX uses a 4.l0xl4 Nitto tire. The CR250R motor, with the addition of a small 2.5ox17-inch front wheel and a 3.60x14 handlebars are27 % inches long, and flyn'heel. The Keihin carb breathes rear tire. The handlebars are?B inches have unusual Can-Am-style, cross-hatch through reed valves. wide, and have mediocre grips. The triple grips. The triple clamps don't have bar The swingarm is steel, painted red. The clamps have one bolt on the top clamp and backs, and the fork caps are the difficult- rear brake is rod operated, but the pedal is two on the bottom. to-use circlip kind. The KX does have not adiustable. The single downtube frame The red gas tank has a small gas cap double bolts on the lower clamp. is the smallest and lightest tubing of all the opening. The chain is a smallish 420. The The chain is a small420 (American 40). minis. The forks and shocks are by Showa. Keihin carb has the pin-type of choke The kill button is too small. The rims are The shocks are miniafure versions of the lever that is hard to use. steel. The front number plate rubber cast aluminum reservoir works bike The Honda has extremely short foot- bands rotted through immediately. Or the shocks. pelts. Stealinq an idea from Suzuki, good side-the KX has a large gas cap, The air filter is serviced by removing Honda mounted a nylon strap to the back radial head and a oonical front hub. the right side panel and taking a rubber of the seat to help lift the bike. HONDA CNsO band off of the air box cover. Then two WIIEnE ITS AT_POWEN The all-red CR80 is the new kid on the bolts have to be removed. The filter is dual Racing a motorcycle is a personal block. Its stylish desigrn was the best layers of oiled foam. matter, and it takes on all sorts of peculiar looking of all the bikes. The little 80cc The Honda uses IRC tires like Yamaha traits. What one nrern loves, another hates. motor is a pre-shrunk version of the and Suzuki, but it chose to mount a small It is no different in minicycle powerbands. The Kawasaki KXfl) is the big kid on tho block. The KX has the The new kid on the block is the Honda CR80. lt is the smallest most torque and the softest suspension. lt is an excellent of the mini machinee. lt also has the least suspension travol, beginners bike. but the best cornering manners. Thanksto a flywheelignition the Kawasaki KX80 motor is mellow and torquey. The red Honda engine is short, brisk and snappy. lt is quick. SEPTEMBER 1980/ MOTOCROSS ACTION EIGHTIES: O] IHE mrnn! When tho RM80 hlts you had better The YZdl was mlghty smooth. lts hlgh have it aimed. Younger rlders would be rpm rat-a-tat-tat motor and golld well advlsed to stay off this potent suspension made lt the fastest blke ln package. our lap time test. 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