It was solely a matter of time. The Yamaha YZ250F dominated either side of the motocross world for years. It was wildly profitable within the professional racing ranks and a success at native tracks. It couldn’t final, although. Other 250Fs had been sooner, others had been lighter and others had been profitable championships. When the 2023 YZ450F was redesigned, it was an unofficial announcement that Yamaha would give the 250 a remake in 2024. Now, the 2024 Yamaha YZ250F is right here. There’s little or no stunning in regards to the new bike: it’s, principally, a 250 motor within the new YZ450 body. It’s lighter, it has new ergonomics, it handles in another way and runs in another way. And, it has very large sneakers to fill.
THE RECIPE
The bilateral-beam body appears roughly just like the outdated one, nevertheless it’s totally different in most dimensions. It’s constructed from 10 aluminum items—some cast, some extruded. The tank rails are decrease, and there’s elevated rigidity within the downtube, swingarm pivot and footpeg cross-member. The motor mounts have musical-chair modifications in rigidity, and the subframe is totally new. Along the best way, Yamaha shaved off little bits of weight right here and there; the rear axle has a bigger gap within the heart, and the footpeg brackets are aluminum. The chainguide, throttle cables and gas pump all misplaced a couple of grams apiece. With the brand new bodywork, it’s obvious how totally different the bike is. The radiator shrouds and gas tank are narrower, seat top is bigger, and there’s extra room from the seat to the pegs. Just like all the time, the air filter sits in entrance of the gasoline filler, however now the airbox compartment is bigger, and there’s extra quantity within the air boot. If there’s any shock, it’s how little the motor modified. The consumption is probably the most vital replace. The mapping is new, however the cams, piston, crank and head have all gone unchanged. Only the cam chain and tensioner have been up to date for elevated sturdiness.
In phrases of weight, the modifications to the 250 aren’t fairly as dramatic as these for the 450. The new YZ250F is 225 kilos with out gas, as weighed on our scale. That’s 2 kilos lighter than it was. In the massive image now, the lightest of the 250s is the Honda CRF250R at 219 kilos. The new-generation KTM, Husqvarna and GasGas 250s are all inside a pound of one another, round 226. The Kawasaki and Suzuki are 227.
WHERE WE WERE, WHERE WE ARE
As we mentioned, the earlier Yamaha YZ250F wasn’t the quickest or lightest, nevertheless it was nonetheless one of the best in our 2023 250 MX shootout—by the smallest margin. It gave away energy to the KTM-powered bikes and the Kawasaki, however made up floor in suspension and throttle response. It additionally provided one of the best user-based tuneability with the Yamaha Power Tuner smartphone app. On the flip aspect, the Yamaha was cramped within the rider compartment.
That final level is not legitimate. The Yamaha is now the most important, most roomy of all of the 250 motocross bikes. It’s a big bike with a tall seat top and a really relaxed rider structure. Big riders find it irresistible. For most of our check riders, that alone is the most important enchancment for 2024. For smaller riders, some adjustment is perhaps mandatory. Sean Lipanovich is 5-foot-5, so he can’t contact the bottom flat-footed on just about any full-sized motorbike. The Yamaha was a wrestle for him simply to get a leg over. He would additionally require beginning blocks for a gate launch. On the observe, although, these points had been negligible. He beloved the general match and dealing with of the YZ. Beginners may really feel in another way. Tall bikes could be intimidating, however that can change into much less of a difficulty with extra time.
Another large change is within the total dealing with character. Yamahas have lengthy been identified for “rear-wheel steering.” The time period is just a little foolish, nevertheless it’s the best way now we have come to explain a motorbike that turns greatest when the throttle is open and the rear wheel is spinning. Now, the YZ responds equally properly to steering enter. You can are available in arduous, level the entrance wheel and observe out of turns with much less throttle. The bike feels lighter and extra responsive. It additionally feels busier on the entry to the flip. If you experience a Honda or a KTM, you’ll really feel proper at residence from the beginning. If you completely beloved the character of your outdated YZ250F, you might need just a little adjustment to make.
When it involves testing Yamahas, we anticipate most of our check riders to say good issues in regards to the suspension. This time, the feedback verged on hyperbole. Everyone beloved it. That goes for pro-level guys like Carson Brown all the best way to super-duper seniors like Pete Murray. Everyone got here off the observe claiming that the suspension was glorious as soon as it was arrange with 105mm of sag. Those check riders ranged from 150 to 200 kilos, which is a tremendous unfold.
In common, the YZ suspension doesn’t actually shine on low-speed, uneven tracks. As it seems, that’s probably the most troublesome situation for suspension tuners; the one factor that basically works for that’s softer springs and valving, which is simply too limiting for some other situation. The YZ is okay in mild chop, however the place it actually shines is when the speeds are increased and the bumps are bigger. It has a capability to maintain a reasonably even keel whereas it’s absorbing the most important whoops and most horrid circumstances. That isn’t to say it’s Supercross suspension by any means. The YZ retains you snug and nonetheless will get job one completed. For a race bike, that’s going quick from the beginning of the moto to the end.
MOVING FORWARD
If there’s something that can maintain the YZ again within the coming yr, it’s the truth that the motor is kind of frozen in time. It’s nonetheless a comparatively highly effective 250 four-stroke, however the ante is all the time getting increased in that world. Already, the Kawasaki, KTM and Husqvarna have an edge in mid- and top-end energy. Where the Yamaha nonetheless holds an edge is in throttle response. It will get extra completed with quarter or half throttle than absolutely anything else. Part of that’s just because the Yamaha has a shortish throttle flip, however extra is as a result of the bike makes extra occur with much less dedication. It communicates a sure eagerness to get going that the majority 250 four-strokes lack.
You get a sure vary of motor adjustability with the Yamaha Power Tuner smartphone app. We are shocked that extra producers haven’t jumped on options like this. KTM made a weak try at its personal model two years in the past, however then roughly deserted the challenge, blaming the scarcity of semiconductors on the time. For 2024 Kawasaki has one thing related for its new 450, however for now, Yamaha nonetheless holds the technological excessive floor. The precooked maps that Yamaha gives are pretty helpful for various observe circumstances, however probably the most vital benefit is that the method teaches you all about mapping and the outcomes of modifications in gas supply and spark advance. Going ahead, that’s information that all of us have to have. In common, most riders like probably the most aggressive of the three maps which can be provided; it appeared to get into the meat of the facility sooner and rev out longer. It did pop on deceleration extra. In common, the YZ does lots of that, and also you’re extra conscious of it due to the unusually loud exhaust and upward-facing air consumption.
At the tip of the day, although, you aren’t going to search out some hidden reservoir of horsepower in some nook of the Power Tuner. It’s an incredible characteristic, nevertheless it’s a instrument for fine-tuning and never main persona change. The Yamaha’s energy output is what it’s, and that’s mid-level in a really aggressive class.
UNIVERSAL APPEAL
Last yr the YZ250F gained our 250F shootout, and up to now there’s nothing in regards to the new model that makes us rethink that. The new bike clearly has totally different mannerisms and traits, and that may offend some hard-core Yamaha lovers, however they are going to recover from it. The 2024 YZ250F has the identical strengths as final yr: glorious suspension, a straightforward to-use energy supply and outrageously good reliability. It places its rider in an excellent place, even when it will get there by means of a unique route.
The Yamaha YZ250F was first proven to us on the eve of the SMX finals. This is the fiftieth Anniversary Edition, which sells for $9,099 ($200 greater than the usual version).
