Two Wheeled Excitement Part 1

Spice up your off-road adventures this year with single-track action

by Rob Reaser
photography by the manufacturers

We all know how much fun four wheels are — be they mounted on all-terrain vehicles whose fun-meter is measured in cubic centimeters, or supporting full-size pickups where displacement is counted as cubic inches. But there’s more fun to indulge in during our adventures afield, and the wild antics of which we speak are delivered with half as many wheels.

An entire new world of off-road adventure is waiting for you behind the handlebars of spicy dual-purpose and Enduro/off-road cycles. Where the two-track leaves off, the single track is ready to lead you even farther afield. This issue we decided to give you a glimpse of some of the latest bikes on the market. For those of you who aren’t quite savvy on the terminology, brief explanations of the categories are in order. Dual-purpose bikes are designed to be ridden on the road (they’re street legal) as well as offer spirited off-highway jaunts. They are no way as refined (or even as comfortable), as street-only bikes, but of course if you’re reading this magazine then such trifles aren’t even in your vocabulary. Enduro, or off-road bikes, differentiate themselves from the more aggressive motocross machines in that they are built for long-distance riding in an off-road environment, have forward lighting, and generally sport four-stroke engines, but don’t necessarily fall in the street-legal category. In sum, they are somewhat wilder critters than the dual-purpose bikes, and designed for long-distance off-road competition. Whichever category you find yourself leaning towards, the two-wheel action provided by these raucous machines will definitely add some pepper to your summertime downtime.

Yamaha XT225 Lightweight and compact. Those are the primary attributes of Yamaha’s XT225. Dry weight is a scant 238 pounds. That, coupled with the short 53.1-inch wheelbase, makes the XT225 feel right at home in the fun stuff. If that’s not enough to make on- and off-road handling lithe, consider the low 31.9-inch seat height, which goes a long way towards lowering the center of gravity. Power is delivered by a 223cc air-cooled SOHC four-stroke single-cylinder engine that delivers power across the rpm band. A wide-ratio six-speed tranny with a manual clutch sends the muscle to the chain drive. The suspension balances the bike’s on- and off-road nature with 8.9 inches of front travel and 7.5 inches of rear travel, while the high-mounted engine delivers 11.2 inches of ground clearance. Additional features include Enduro-style high/low beam headlights, flex-mounted turn indicators, bikini-style fairing, resettable instrumentation, dual rearview mirrors and a heavy-duty aluminum skidplate. Front disc and rear drum brakes handle stopping duties.

Kawasaki KLR650 Dual-purpose may be no better represented in a single bike than in the Kawasaki KLR650. With its large seat, generous 6.1-gallon fuel tank, mini fairing and windshield, large rear cargo rack, front and rear disc brakes, and strong 651cc DOHC four-valve single-cylinder engine, the KLR650 brings sophistication to the trail, or grit to the highway, whichever way you choose to look at it. Built on a semi-double cradle frame utilizing the same steel used in the world-class KX motocross bikes, the KLR650 features a detachable rear subframe, which simplifies maintenance by providing better access to the rear shock, air box and carburetor. The front long-travel suspension, incorporating air-adjustable forks, and the Uni-Trak rear, boasting progressive-rate springs, five-way pre-load shock with four-way rebound damping, and an inherent low center of gravity give the KLR650 relatively aggressive off-road handling capabilities with highway manners. The liquid-cooled engine works with a five-speed tranny to provide a broad torque curve for both types of driving.

Honda XR650L Only one dual-purpose bike is found in Honda’s 2004 line-up. With a machine this capable, the company obviously figured that anything more would be redundant. Features start off with a stout 644cc SOHC four-stroke engine. It’s an air-cooled single-cylinder with a radial four-valve combustion chamber, 42.5mm CV carb and free-flowing two-into-one headpipes. The heavy-breathing helps the engine deliver crisp throttle response and a power and torque band suitable for both on- and off-road excursions. A solid-state capacitative discharge ignition with electronic advance, plus an automatic cam chain tensioner and O-ring sealed chain, helps minimize maintenance issues. Tacked to the lightweight semi-double-cradle steel frame is a 43mm XR-spec Showa cartridge fork with 16-position compression damping adjustability. In back is the Pro-Link single-shock rear with a 46mm Showa damper that’s also fully adjustable. The aluminum box-section swingarm is trailed by a quick-detach 18-inch rear wheel. Additional features include a combination headlight/number plate and dual airflow shrouds to direct cool air to the engine, Enduro-style headlight, rear-fender-mounted tool kit, wide-section folding and cleated footpegs, and a motocross-style seat.

Suzuki DR650SE While the DR650SE is the definition of a dual-purpose cycle, this bike hits its stride on the steep trails. The engine is a 644cc single-cylinder four-stroke with a four-valve head and a single overhead cam. The muscle is there for a wide range of driving conditions, but it is specifically tuned for strength in the low- and mid-range. Weight and space is reduced thanks to the compact design of the crankcase, cylinder and head, engine covers and single counterbalancer. Operational simplicity is credited to an electric start and digitally-controlled CDI ignition system. Power management is handled by a five-speed transmission with an O-ring-sealed final drive chain. The ground-grappling is the job of the conventional front fork and the link-type rear with adjustable spring preload and compression damping. Hydraulic disc brakes are used fore and aft. A neat feature is the adjustable seat height (can be lowered up to 1.6 inches) available through suspension modifications performed by the dealer.

Honda XR650R “King of the Desert” is how Honda bills its XR650R. Reason One is the engine. The 649cc four-valve single-cylinder four-stroke is a powerhouse designed to run hard and run cool. The engine is light, at 88 pounds, and keeps the heat away with a dry-sump oiling system, Nikasil cylinder lining, and dual aluminum radiators. Large valves, a 40mm carb, and a free-flowing stainless steel exhaust deliver serious torque and horsepower for aggressive hill climbs. Reason Two is the chassis and suspension. An aluminum frame combined with an aluminum subframe balances strength and durability while keeping the load light. The 46mm Kayaba cartridge fork with compression and rebound damping adjustability (and minimal protrusion below the axle for increased rut clearance) delivers a pleasing 11.2 inches of travel. In back the lightweight, tapered aluminum swingarm’s pivot is combined with the rear engine mount, making the assembly compact, light, and reduces the number of components. A 44mm fully adjustable long-travel Kayaba piggyback rear shock absorber sucks up the bumps, and twin-piston front and single-piston rear calipers work on large 240mm stainless steel rotors to bring it all to a stop.

Suzuki DR-Z400E The DR-Z400E is the rough-and-tumble version of the DR-Z400S. Designed to get its rider up and over the mountain in as short a time as possible is the 398cc four-stroke engine. It’s liquid-cooled and features a four-valve cylinder head and dual overhead cams. The cylinder is nickel-silicon-phosphorous-plated to reduce weight and maximize heat transfer. Also contributing to reduced weight and better cooling is the forged aluminum piston. Breathing is enhanced with a Keihin FCR39 carb (Mikuni BSR36 in CA) fed by a 6-liter airbox. The transmission is a cable-operated clutch five-speed with a separate outer cover. An electric start system is standard, but a kickstarter can be added without replacing the electric. A chromoly steel frame and aluminum bolt-on subframe form the chassis base, to which is added a long-travel 49mm cartridge-style fork with compression/rebound damping and adjustable spring preload, as well as an aluminum swingarm managed by an adjustable rear shock.

Kawasaki KDX 220R Torque is what the KDX 220R is all about. It’s based on the KDX200 engine, but a 3mm increase in the bore gives this liquid-cooled two-stroke an additional 18cc displacement, and allows the engine to build more power in the low- to mid-range of the powerband. On the flip side, to keep that power delivery smooth, a smaller 33mm carb is installed. The tranny is a six-speed unit. The KDX 220R borrows its frame from the KX, with box-section top frame members tying the steering head directly to the swingarm pivot for added strength and rigidity. Up front the 43mm conventional cartridge fork offers 20-way compression damping, and chamfered fork bushings and pistons are used to help eliminate those “stutter bumps.” Rearward, the Uni-Trak suspension system has a nitrogen-filled, aluminum body, remote-reservoir shock with 20-way compression and 18-way rebound damping, as well as adjustable spring pre-load. Disc brakes are found on both ends of the bike. Headlight and taillight, hand guards, snail-type chain adjusters, odometer, rear fender bag, and 2.9-gallon fuel tank are among the standard features.