Kit Palmer | May 3, 2016
Photography by Kit Palmer
Motocross used to be so simple. Okay, maybe saving up your hard-earned dollars to buy a motocross bike didn’t used to be so simple but keeping and maintaining it certainly was, at least it was for me in my much younger days when all competitive motocross bikes on the market were two-strokes. You could race ’em every weekend, sometimes twice a week like I did, and do all of your own maintenance, like I did. I’d race my bike, bring it home, wash it, clean the air filter, adjust the chain, tighten the spokes and repeat, weekend after weekend. And when it came time to freshen up the top-end, no sweat! A couple of hundred bucks, a few basic tools and a few hours in the garage with the stereo belting out Led Zeppelin were all it took to have a fresh bike again. For me, it was a fun way of spending the night, and I actually looked forward to it. Life was good…no, it was awesome!
Climb aboard the YZ and it actually feels a little on the small side, especially after hopping off a YZ250F four-stroke. One of our testers thought that the distance between the top of the footpeg and the top of the seat on the two-stroke was very short, making him feel “as though I was riding a mountain bike.” Still, the YZ is comfortable in the saddle. The footpegs are wide, we like the shape of the seat and the neutral bend of the aluminum handlebars.
It truly is amazing that after all these years the YZ250 is still such a fantastic motocross bike that can still compete against bikes far more sophisticated than itself in the same displacement class. Unfortunately, it can’t compete against the rulebook that prevents this from happening, at least in the pro division. But if that’s not a big deal to you and you just want to get out there and moto, then the YZ250 is still a very viable option when it comes to choosing your next motocross bike. Plus, you can work on it yourself with nothing much more than some wrenches, screwdrivers and a stereo. CN
SPECIFICATIONS: 2016 Yamaha YZ250
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MSRP:
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$7,290
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ENGINE TYPE:
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Liquid-cooled, YPVS reed-inducted, 2-stroke
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DISPLACEMENT:
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249cc
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BORE x STROKE:
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66.4mm x 72.0mm
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COMPRESSION RATIO:
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8.9-10.6:1
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FUEL DELIVERY:
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Keihin PWK38S
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IGNITION:
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CDI
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TRANSMISSION:
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Constant-mesh, 5-speed, close-ratio, multiplate wet clutch
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FINAL DRIVE:
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Chain
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FRAME:
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Aluminum
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FRONT SUSPENSION:
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48mm KYB Speed-Sensitive System, inverted fork, fully adj.
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REAR SUSPENSION:
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KYB monoshock, fully adj.
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FRONT WHEEL TRAVEL:
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11.8 in.
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REAR WHEEL TRAVEL:
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12.4 in.
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FRONT TIRE:
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80/100-21 in. MX52 Dunlop
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REAR TIRE:
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110/90-19 in. MX52 Dunlop
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FRONT BRAKE:
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Single 250mm disc, 2-piston caliper
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REAR BRAKE:
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Single 245mm disc, 1-piston caliper
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SEAT HEIGHT:
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39.1 in.
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WHEELBASE:
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58.3 in.
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RAKE:
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26.0°
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TRAIL:
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4.3 in.
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GROUND CLEARANCE:
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14.4 in.
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FUEL CAPACITY:
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2.1 gal.
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CLAIMED WEIGHT (WET):
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227 lbs.
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You can read the original magazine story by clicking HERE.
For more Cycle News Off-Road motorcycle reviews, click HERE.
For more Yamaha motorcycle reviews, click HERE.