DIRT BIKE MAGAZINE’S ’01 QUICK BIKE REVIEWS

Are you looking for a 2001 bike? Here is quick look at what the Dirt Bike Staff thought of some 2001 bikes.

2001 HONDA CR125R
In handling, suspension, weight and construction, the Honda is excellent. Notice, please, that engine performance isn?t on that list. The Honda has a doggy motor, and that?s a huge handicap in the 125 class. It finished fifth in the 2001 125 shootout.
TEST BIKE WEIGHT: 227 lb.
PEAK HORSEPOWER: 31.5 hp @ 10,300 rpm

2001 HONDA CR250R
Honda found more power for 2001, but that didn?t necessarily make the bike any easier to ride. The Honda remains a pro-level machine that feels better the faster you ride it. It finished second in the 2001 250 shootout.
TEST BIKE WEIGHT: 227 lb.
PEAK HORSEPOWER: 44.6

2001 KAWASAKI KX125
Kawasaki didn?t change much for 2001, but the bike is holding up well, anyway. There are gains in the horsepower department, which is where it was most lacking. The bike is a little slow-handing for a 125. A 20-inch front wheel helps. It was third in the shootout.
TEST BIKE WEIGHT: 209 lb.
PEAK HORSEPOWER: 32.0 hp @ 10,300 rpm

2001 KAWASAKI KX250
Once the king of the 250 class, the KX250 is getting outdated by now. The overly soft suspension has been corrected, but the bike still feels big and cumbersome. The motor, however, is still awesome. Handling improves with a 20-inch front wheel.
TEST BIKE WEIGHT: 227 lb.
PEAK HORSEPOWER: 42.4 hp @ 8700 rpm

2001 KTM 125 SX
KTM is still the acknowledged horsepower king of the 125 class. The 2001 model has much-improved ergonomics and a smoother seat/tank junction. Still, the suspension is crude and holds the bike back. It was third in the 2001 shootout.
TEST BIKE WEIGHT: 209 lb.
PEAK HORSEPOWER: 33.2 hp @10,600 rpm

2001 KTM 250SX
Problem corrected. The 2001 250SX is much faster than any previous KTM 250. The only thing that holds it back is rear suspension that is both harsh and too soft–an interesting trick. It finished fifth in the 2001 250 shootout.
TEST BIKE WEIGHT: 225 lb.
PEAK HORSEPOWER: 44.0 hp @ 8500 rpm

2001 KTM 520SX
KTM isn?t sitting still. The new 520 has better ergos due to a flatter seat/tank junction. The bike still is super light and super fast. And it still lacks really top notch suspension, which is the only thing that holds it back. Tested in the February 2001 issue.
TEST BIKE WEIGHT: 240 lb.

2001 SUZUKI RM125
Suzuki made big strides in the 125 class for 2001. The bike got a new engine, frame and body work. It also got more power and vastly improved suspension. The 2001 125 shootout was a knock-down, drag-out fight to the end, but the RM emerged the winner.
TEST BIKE WEIGHT: 208 lb.
PEAK HORSEPOWER: 32.5 hp @ 10,600 rpm

2001 SUZUKI RM250
Suzuki gave the RM a new engine, frame and look for 2001. It still handles much like the old RM–that is fast, responsive and twitchy–but the engine is less revvy. It finished third in the 2001 250 shootout.
TEST BIKE WEIGHT: 227 lb.
PEAK HORSEPOWER: 43.8 hp @ 7100 rpm

2001 YAMAHA YZ125
Still a big contender for pros in the 125 class, the 2001 YZ took a slight step backward in effectiveness for novices. The switch to a 38mm carb made it faster, but harder to ride. It finished second in our 2001 125 shootout.
TEST BIKE WEIGHT: 209 lb.
PEAK HORSEPOWER: 32.3 hp @ 10,600 rpm

2001 YAMAHA YZ250
Yamaha refined the suspension and powerband of its 250 which was already a favorite. It?s still the smoothest and easiest bike to ride in the 250 class. As a result, the bike is an even more clear-cut winner in its class. It won the 2001 250 shootout.
TEST BIKE WEIGHT: 227 lb.
PEAK HORSEPOWER: 43.7 hp @ 7300 rpm

2001 YAMAHA YZ250F
This bike is almost like cheating. Actually, most people think it is cheating in the 125 class. If you think of it as a 125, you?ll be delighted?it?s better in virtually every way. If you traded in a 250 two-stroke, you?re in for an education. You might make the transition, but you might not. Tested in the February 2001 issue.
TEST BIKE WEIGHT: 225 lb.
PEAK HORSEPOWER 32.0 @ 10,500

2001 YAMAHA YZ426F
Still the king after all this time. The 426 is still powerful, but its strongest points are suspension and handling. The clutch works better for 2001 and there?s less of a carburetion hitch if you whack open the throttle too fast.
TEST BIKE WEIGHT: 248 lb.
PEAK HORSEPOWER: 47.0 @ 9600 rpm