When it comes to the 2015 Yamaha YZ250F, we really don’t have too much to complain about. Ever since it got its complete overall in 2014, we’ve been a huge fan of the YZ. So much so that’s it’s been our top dog in our annual 250F motocross shootout for the past two years (’14-’15). So what’s to change? Well, not a whole lot (at least not a lot of major changes), but Yamaha still managed to make a number of smaller refinements to both the engine and suspension that keeps us still digging the YZ. How do we know? Because we just got our first chance to ride the 2016 YZ250F when Yamaha introduced the bike to the press at Perris Raceway in California.
Yamaha made many small changes to the ‘16’s engine to boost midrange performance. The biggest change was getting a new bridge-box piston that features a flatter top, and it pivots on a new friction-reducing DLC-coated piston pin. We found that the new YZ250F rips from top to bottom, just like it used to, but, just as advertised, the YZ definitely runs better in the middle part of the powerband. This means that the bike carries second gear better and pulls harder when you click into third gear, which is usually the time you’re on the gas, hooking up out of the turns. (A very key time if you’re interesting in lowering your lap times.) Otherwise, the YZ’s motor feels very similar to last year’s. But just that little bit more midrange grunt, really does make a big difference.
Yamaha also made a few upgrades to the transmission that results in a more positive feel as you’re twisting the right grip wide open and banging the lever through the gears. Yamaha also made a few refinements that are said to reduce the chances of accidently hitting a false neutral. So far so good, that never happened to us our first few hours on the bike.
Suspension has also been one of the YZ250F strongpoints ever since its overhaul in 2014. Yamaha continues to stick with its KYB Speed Sensitive System spring fork rather than going to air and for good reason—it’s excellent! Air forks are cool and certainly have their advantages, but the YZ’s SSS fork is just plain good and is going to be tough to replace when or if Yamaha ever decided to go springless. No need to change yet in our opinion. The rear shock got a lighter spring, which might be better for a wider range of rider. After dialing in ride height, making a few clicker changes here and there, we felt right at home with the YZ updated suspension, which we still feel is one of the best in the business overall.
A larger-diameter front-brake rotor is a welcome change. The 270mm disc (formerly 250mm) provides better feel and improved stopping power. When a bike is as fast as the YZ250F, you definitely need—not just good but—great brakes and that’s exactly what it has now. After just riding the bike for a few short hours, we’re again very pleased with the 2016 Yamaha YZ250F; it might not be radically changed, but Yamaha, it seems, did find a way to make the already outstanding YZ even better. On the cosmetic front, Yamaha will offer the YZ250F with two color options: traditional Yamaha Racing blue and, like the YZ450F we featured earlier, Yellow 60th Anniversary Edition. The yellow version cost a $100 more at $7,690 ($7590 for the blue.) We’ll have more on the 2016 YZ250F in a future is of Cycle News magazine.
SPECIFICATIONS
2016 Yamaha YZ250F
MSRP: $7,590 (Blue) and $7,690 (Yellow 60th anniversary edition)
Engine Type: 250cc liquid-cooled DOHC 4-stroke; 4 titanium valves
Bore x Stroke: 77.0mm × 53.6mm
Compression Ratio: 13.5:1
Fuel Delivery: Yamaha Fuel Injection (YFI), Keihin 44mm
Ignition: TCI – Transistor Controlled Ignition
Transmission: Constant mesh 5-speed, multiplate wet clutch
Final Drive: Chain
Front Suspension: KYB Speed-Sensitive System inverted fork; fully adjustable, 12.2 in. travel
Rear Suspension: KYB monoshock; fully adjustable, 12.4 in. travel
Front Brake: Hydraulic single disc brake, 270mm
Rear Brake: Hydraulic single disc brake, 245mm
Front Tire: 80/100-21 Bridgestone M403A
Rear Tire: 100/90-19 Bridgestone M404
Seat Height: 38.0 in.
Wheelbase: 58.1 in.
Ground Clearance: 12.8 in.
Fuel Capacity: 2.0 gal.
Claimed Wet Weight: 231 lb.
