CR85r:
Goods:
improved power from extra displacement
excellent gear ratios, shifting
effective, highly-adjustable suspension
Bigbike front disc brake, super-powerful
good balance between cornering, stability
unequaled durability, ease of maintainance
Downs:
bar bend old, changes with crashes
chain wears out too quickly
suspension on soft side for experts
seat/tank junction snags right boot
clutch fades when abused, no AOF
KX85:
Good:
Excellent turning, handling
great clutch action, light pull
Easy to flick around
smooth power delivery
great beginner/ novice mount
bad:
suspension holds back fast ones
so does the midrange motor
heaviest bike in class
pocket in seat restricts movement
gastank inlet too small for quickfills
rm85:
good:
best clutch, slick shifting
smaller, lighter kids dig shocks
more low-end than yz, cr, kx
lightest weight in class
flat tank/seat junction
bad:
Lacks top end power
fork too stiff, shock too soft
cheesiest graphics in class
slowest turning, some shake
steel brake pedal
yz85:
good:
most top-end power, good bottom/ mid
excellent suspension balance, action
excellent turning, stability
good bar bend, skinny ergonomics
great package at lowest price
bad:
Cheesiest chain stretches quickly
clutch weak, need adjust on the fly
tall seat height for shorter riders
power delivery erratic for neophytes
Ergonomically Correct
1:Yz85..............Thinnest
2:cr85..........Wide, Catch Boot
3:rm85.......Tallest, swept bars
4:kx85........Seat pocket
Fork Facts
1:yz...........Tuned for speed
2:rm...........Stiff
3:cr..............stiffest
4:kx............Softest
Shock Jocks
1:yz...............perfection
2:cr..............stiff but good
3:kx..............soft but good
4:rm.............to soft for most
Suspension sensations
1:yz..........Best balance
2:cr..........best expert
3:rm...........imbalanced
4:kx...........beginner/novice
Peak Ponies
1:yz.............22.7
2:cr.........21.8
3:rm............21
4:kx..............20.7
power spread
1:yz...........widest spread
2:cr.............soft low
3:rm...........all mid
4:kx.............no top
Turning Tables
1:kx............mindreader
2:yz............wired into CNS
3:cr............stiff fork
4:rm.......... stiff, sedated
Stability at speed
1:yz.........no headshake
2:rm.........imbalanced
3:kx.........headshake
4:cr.......... headshake
Clutch
1:rm
2:kx
3:yz
4:cr
Brakes
1:cr
2:yz
3:kx
4:rm
Best beginner/ novice
1:kx
2:rm
3:yz
4:cr
Best expert
1:yz
2:cr
3:rm
4:kx
Overall
1:yz
2:cr
3:rm
4:kx