The little Kawasaki had been sitting up at our local cycle shop for some time. I noticed it next to all of the faster and more expensive motocross bikes. I couldn't believe that a dual sport with a plate could be so cheap. I talked to my dad, and about a week later, in late June; the Kawasaki was...
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The little Kawasaki had been sitting up at our local cycle shop for some time. I noticed it next to all of the faster and more expensive motocross bikes. I couldn't believe that a dual sport with a plate could be so cheap. I talked to my dad, and about a week later, in late June; the Kawasaki was coming home with me in my brother's Ford pickup. OK, so maybe it wasn't quite that dramatic, but all said and done, my dad bought the bike, plus a case of Yamalube 2 stroke oil. The case of oil is way overkill, because the oil injection system is very efficient. In the 600 miles t that I have ridden this machine, I have burned a little over 1 quart of oil. With only 100 cc in displacement, you would expect that this bike would be fuel-efficient. I am estimating about 55 miles per gallon, but it is thirsty for its size. The big plus of the oil injection is that you put straight gas into the tank, and it doesn't smoke much except on startup. Riding the KE 100 is a very unique experience. You will want to drag the clutch a little bit more than you would on a big 4-stroke bike, because that little 2 stroke will stall very easily off the line. Hill starts are a real bear; so don't get into a very steep hill start situation. Hill climbing power is adequate, but it is important to anticipate hills and keep the engine on its power band. My bike is totally stock except for a slightly different battery. Build quality on this machine is what you would expect from Kawasaki. That is the bike is flawless except for the handlebar bolts that the dealer rounded off. Suspension is on the soft side, not set up for competition. I keep the rear preload at the 3rd notch because I don't drive that fast. Frond and rear suspension is very easy to bottom out. The small 19 inch front wheel makes the bike impractical for very rough terrain. The little two-stroke engine is a real gem. The bike just begs to be wound out in first gear, then pop the effortless gearbox into second and roll on the power. It's like starting all over again. I have seen about 25 in second gear and about 35 in third. In the tight trails I don't have the guts to push it any harder. The engine is somewhat buzzy when wound, due to the deep air-cooling fins. Driving the bike fast on the road is a chore. The engine screams and the bike is kind of jittery on the open roads. This would be a good bike for smaller back roads where nobody is in a hurry. I understand the maximum speed of the KE 100 is around 60 miles per hour. I don't have the heart to push mine past its 45 mile per hour break in limit. The low seat height gives the impression that you are sitting in, rather than on top of the bike. This bike is lightweight too, perfect for the beginner. So what are my complaints in my 600-mile relationship? The bike is actually very good overall. More power would be needed for road use, and when it gets hot, there is a tendency for the bike to stick between first and second gear. Keeping the bike on the power band on a hill can be hard sometimes. Passengers would be very uncomfortable on this machine. The low seat height is an advantage for smaller people, but my 6 foot 1 inch brother is folded up like a pocketknife on this machine. I also had an issue with a wood chip in the carburetor, and the oil injection comes set too rich from the factory. I also had a small clutch problem that worked itself out. Overall, the character of this bike is cute, and not annoying to most people. I highly recommend this bike to anyone looking for cheap wheels.
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