2022 · Motocross · Buyer's Guide
The Unfiltered Two-Stroke Brawler
The YZ250 is a two-stroke motocross bike in its purest form, and in this generation it is still the reference point for riders who want the raw version of the sport. Its 249 cc liquid-cooled single makes 49 hp and hits hard. The whole bike weighs 227 lb (103 kg) wet, so there is very little mass to fight. It comes with fully adjustable suspension front and rear, with an upside-down fork. Out of the box it takes heavy flat landings and high-speed braking bumps with real composure. There's no electronic safety net. You get a 5-speed box, a chain and a chassis built to be ridden hard.
This is not a lazy rider's motorcycle. The powerband comes on with a punch, and you have to work the clutch precisely to get the most drive out of a corner. Ride it half-hearted and it will make you look slow. Ride it with commitment and it gives back a directness modern four-strokes struggle to match. It's tough, it's easy to work on and the aftermarket support is deep, which is why it still fills the pits at local tracks. The honest caveat: it rewards technique and punishes sloppiness, so riders still learning throttle and clutch control should know what they're signing up for.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 49 hp (36 kW) |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 249 cc |
| Engine | Single-cylinder |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 5-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Fork | Upside-down (USD) |
| Front brake | 270 mm |
| Front tire | 80/100-21 |
| Rear tire | 110/90-19 |
| Wheelbase | 58.5 in (1485 mm) |
| Ground clearance | 14.2 in (360 mm) |
| Front travel | 11.8 in (300 mm) |
| Rear travel | 12.4 in (315 mm) |
| Seat height | 38.4 in (975 mm) |
| Wet weight | 227 lb (103 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 1.8 gal (7 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
The first thing you notice is how little of the bike there is under you. At 38.4 in (975 mm) the seat is tall, so shorter riders will be on tiptoe in the staging area. Once you're moving it feels narrow between the knees. The rider triangle is flat, and you can slide from the front of the seat to the rear fender without anything catching your boots or hips. That freedom counts on a long moto, when your legs are cooked and you still need to get your weight forward for the next turn. In the air it feels light and eager, and small inputs through the bars and pegs change its attitude right away. On the ground it asks you to stay active and stay on top of it. Sit back and it won't carry you. Ride it properly and the bike feels like an extension of your body.
Over the years I've listened to a lot of YZ250 owners in paddock conversations, at club nights and in the messages riders send me directly. For this generation the pattern is simple. Riders love it when the dirt is good, and they have to work much harder when the track breaks down.
When conditions suit it, owners describe the YZ250 as hugely fun, with a character they say they don't find anywhere else. Some single out the updated KYB suspension as the best in the two-stroke class. The reworked front brake also gets credit for strong stopping, with riders mentioning the stiffer caliper, bigger pistons and larger pad area. Owners also like that it fires easily on the kickstarter, and nobody seems to miss a starter button.
The other side of the story shows up on dry, rough, rutted tracks. Owners say the bike then gets far more physically demanding than a modern four-stroke. Some also mention that the power comes in abruptly by today's standards, so you have to roll on the throttle precisely as you turn in. A few note that the slimmer bodywork cost the tank about a quart of fuel.
No widely-reported issues on record.
Where this Yamaha YZ250 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the YZ250 is actually built for.
This is your bike if you race or train hard every week. It's light and the suspension is ready to go, but you have to ride it aggressively with a sharp clutch hand to get everything out of it.
Made for Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area · Fox Raceway at Pala · Glen Helen Raceway
The low weight and composed suspension make technical desert sections a pleasure. It's a track bike first, though, and the 1.8 gal tank limits long days far from the truck.
Made for Bar M / Kane Creek · Imperial Sand Dunes · Johnson Valley OHV Area