2019 YAMAHA YZ250F
FIRST TEST
P90
Part of the Yamaha's winning formula
when it comes to the YZ250F has been
its class-leading engine. In recently years,
the YZ250F has never been accused of
being slow, that is for sure. For 2019, Ya-
maha made a big effort to squeeze even
more power out of the YZ250F's engine,
which has a new cylinder head, valve
train, intake cam, and piston. Yamaha's
main target was to boost
mid and top-end power,
without sacrificing
torque, which it already
had lots of. The head
has a straighter exhaust
port outlet and the
intake gets a smoother
intake port shape along
with a brand new two-
step CNC machining
process at the port
and valve seat. This
increases both flow and
horsepower. The intake
cam has more lift and
the bike gets larger-
diameter lifter buckets
and stiffer valve springs
to prevent valve float. It
is topped off with a new
piston with a higher compression of 13.8:1
(up from 13.5:1 from last year). All of Ya-
maha's work paid off. This bike is faster!
We noticed it right away.
Riding the 2019 YZ250F back to
back with the 2018 reveals
big differences. Power-wise,
they actually feel very similar
down low, but as soon as you transition
into the middle of the powerband, the 2019
starts to pull away from last year's bike,
and keeps doing so as you reach top end.
Our test riders all agreed that the '19 feels
noticeably more powerful from midrange
on up, and didn't lose any of the torque
that it's famous for.
In response to the increased power,
Yamaha beefed up the transmission by
using stronger materials where needed, so
durability should be just as good as before.
A narrower
frame and
reworked
bodywork gives
the YZ250F a
much slimmer
feel between
your legs. And
the plastic looks
so much cleaner
without all those
ugly rivets.
(Above) The
2019 YZ250F
got many
of the same
updates as
last year's
YZ450F.
(Left) The
engine pumps
out more
power and we
love the new
app-based
engine turner.
GET
ON IT!
