Two weeks in the past, Yamaha organized a visit to the Ampro testing grounds in Union, South Carolina to indicate off the brand new YZ450FX. That sucked up all the eye, however we additionally acquired to trip the 2024 Yamaha YZ250X two-stroke off highway bike. It was unchanged, however final 12 months it acquired every kind of latest stuff. Secretly, that’s the bike I used to be most enthusiastic about. The 2024 YZ250X sells for $8099. That’s solely $100 greater than the motocross model. Try shopping for a kickstand alone for that.
We all know that the YZ250 motor dates again to 1999 and the aluminum central-backbone body first appeared in 2005. But in 2016 Yamaha took the motocross bike and gave it an off-road make-over. Then, a 12 months in the past, it acquired a giant replace with new bodywork and suspension upgrades. There are sure issues that the typical Joe can’t do in his storage, and that’s what Yamaha focused on with the YZ250X. The gearbox is primary on that checklist. The X has a wide-ratio five-speed. First and second gears are the identical, however third, fourth and fifth are progressively taller. Also: The cylinder head quantity is elevated, the compression ratio diminished and the exhaust port raised. The energy valve form and timing are altered together with the ignition mapping. The clutch plates are made of various materials and the growth chamber is tucked up tighter and out of hurt’s manner.
The X makes use of the identical fork because the MX mannequin, however with softer valving and softer springs (4.3 N/mm versus 4.4). The identical is true of the shock (48 N/mm vs 50). From there, it’s simply bolt-on stuff; an O-ring chain, an 18-inch rear wheel and a kickstand. The YZ250X has the identical gasoline tank because the MX model (1.8 gallons) and the identical silencer.
If you anticipate all that to remodel the elemental nature of the YZ, it doesn’t. The YZ250X runs, handles and behaves like a present YZ250–a modified one. All these alterations make life a bit of simpler in lots of off-road conditions, however the YZ remains to be a YZ. That means it’s a race bike at its core. That’s fantastic information for riders in lots of venues just like the NGPC collection, which pits all 250s in the identical class whether or not they’re two-strokes or not. In a head-to-head race with any 250F, the YZ250X has a bonus in peak horsepower and a slight benefit in weight. It makes about 2 or 3 extra peak horsepower than the most recent YZ250F and weighs about 3 kilos much less.
If you evaluate suspension, dealing with and manageability, the four-strokes have a bonus–that shouldn’t shock anybody. The YZ250X hits exhausting and indicators off early. Even in comparison with different off-road two-strokes, the Yamaha is a little bit of a handful. All the tweaks and changes to the YZ250X make it smoother in the course of the powerband, but it surely’s a motorbike that requires aggression and dedication in the event you go racing. You can, nonetheless, take it down a notch and trip the X slightly below the massive energy surge all day lengthy. It’s exhausting to stall and makes glorious torque. Another trait that shouldn’t shock anybody is the suspension, which is great. The X isn’t removed from the present YZ four-stroke suspension which remains to be thought-about tops within the motocross world. It’s softer than the MX spec, however for many off-road riders, it may very well be softer nonetheless. Yamaha remains to be pondering of racing. It’s most likely exhausting to get out of that behavior. We could have extra on the 2024 Yamaha YZ250X and the opposite Yamaha off-road bikes within the May, 2024 print version of Dirt Bike.
FLASHBACK: 1981 HONDA CR250R
The 12 months 1981 was tremendous bizarre for motocross. I used to be working at a now-forgotten publication referred to as Cycle Guide, which was truly fairly large on the time (for wages that weren’t). When I arrived, all of the filth bikes we had within the take a look at fleet have been nearly unridden as a result of the prevailing employees had its palms full with avenue bike exams. One of the loneliest was the 1981 Honda CR250R. I used to be very conversant in the CR450R (I owned one). But I didn’t get to trip the 250 till I inherited that one. It wasn’t horrible, but it surely wasn’t nice, both. The actual drawback was that it regarded like a spaceship. At the time, a liquid-cooled single shock motocross bike was Star Wars know-how. Very shortly, I modified my take-home bike to the 1981 Suzuki RM250, which wasn’t as spacy trying, however far more strong. The RM was the topic of my very first take a look at within the October subject (beneath). The lead picture isn’t me; it’s Dean Taylor, who was lightning quick in these days. He’s nonetheless fairly good. The picture was by David Dewhurst, who can be nonetheless fairly good.
As for the Honda, we glance again on your entire historical past of the CR250 within the May, 2024 print version of Dirt Bike. Here’s what it says in regards to the 1981 mannequin:
1981: Honda predicted the approaching of liquid-cooling and single-shock suspension and rushed to satisfy the decision. The 1981 Honda CR250R leaped years forward; the truth is, it was too superior. It had reliability issues, and the brand new Pro-Link rear suspension didn’t work effectively. Once once more, Honda misplaced its edge within the 250 class. Over the subsequent two years, the bike obtained back-to-back modifications on a reasonably large scale, and a lot of the issues have been sorted out, making ’83 an excellent 12 months to trip a CR.
There’s a considerably dated historical past of the Suzuki RM250 here–it’s an older publish so my apologies if it doesn’t load shortly.
SHERCO TY 125 LONG RIDE
Sherco has simply launched images of the 125 TY Long Ride. This is a mix-breed that has some trials bike attributes with a seat and sufficient consolation for actual path rides. For extra data go to Sherco’s website.
BIRMINGHAM SX THIS WEEKEND
This weekend the Monster Energy Supercross tour makes its first ever cease in Birmingham, Alabama. If you assume you realize who’s going to win, put it in writing and win some prizes. The MXA fantasy league is successful and this weekend there’s a Maxxis Tires giveaway. It doesn’t price something.
ROUND 9 // MAXXIS TIRE GIVEAWAY
Round 9 of the AMA Supercross collection is heading to Birmingham, Alabama this weekend! The MXA Fantasy League Round 9 winner will get a set of Maxxis off-road moto tires!
Fantasy participant with the Username “Whoop Dee Doo” received the Daytona prize courtesy of FMF Racing with an astounding 291 factors! In whole, there have been 5 riders picked within the right place in addition to accurately guessing each the hole of the chief and the place of riders lapped. If you want to know exactly “Whoop Dee Doo’s” picks and points click here.
If you might be in search of a killer deal, subscribe to Motocross Action magazine for $24.99 and get a $25 Rocky Mountain ATV-MC gift card.
The following prizes beneath go to the winner of every spherical:
RD 9 Birmingham: Maxxis set of moto tires
RD 10 Indy: Nacstar Wheelset
RD 11 Seattle: Ogio giveaway
RD 12 St. Louis: 100 percent giveaway
RD 13 Foxborough: TO BE ANNOUNCED
RD 14 Nashville: TO BE ANNOUNCED
RD 15 Philadelphia: Boyesen $250 shopping spree
RD 16: Denver: TO BE ANNOUNCED
RD 17 Salt Lake: TO BE ANNOUNCED
We even have prizes for the highest gamers from all 31 SMX rounds. Here is the checklist thus far:
2. Boyesen $500 shopping spree
3.Maxxis truck tire set as much as $2500
4. FMF 4-stroke muffler or 2-stroke pipe and silencer with $200 clothing shopping spree
See you subsequent week!
