2019 YAMAHA YZ250F
FIRST TEST
P92
In the chassis department, the '19
YZ250F features a brand-new bilateral-beam
aluminum frame, which is now identical to
the 2019 YZ450F's frame. The YZ has often
been criticized in previous years for being a
little on the wide side and for having a slight
inconsistent feel over high-speed bumps.
Engineers addressed these things by adding
rigidity to the frame in key areas, like chang-
ing the backbone down tubes and moving
the steering head tube forward 6mm. You
can feel the results.
Our test riders could immediately feel
the difference between the '18 and the
'19—mainly in the turns. One of them said
that the new YZ just plain corners better
than the '18. The '19 has a more precise
feel in the turns and requires less effort on
the rider's part to lay the bike down in the
ruts. And once it's there, the Yamaha tends
to stay there and track better than the '18.
Even in the berms, the new YZ has a more
planted, precise and controllable feel.
Even though the new YZ gets in and
out of the turns quicker now, no straight-
line stability was sacrificed. At speed, the
new YZ feels just as stable as before, and
Although the
2019 YZ250F
gained some
weight, you
don't feel it
on the track
because of the
well-balanced
chassis.
