VOLUME 56 ISSUE 49 DECEMBER 10, 2019 P97
mounted button allows you to
switch between two engine maps
on the fly, and those maps are se-
lectable and further tunable on the
Power Tuner app. If you want to
shift the power curve in any direc-
tion, it's nice to simply pick up your
smartphone before picking up your
wallet. With the YZ, you can start
with the free app before deciding
if you need an exhaust system or
engine work.
One of our biggest complaints
with the YZ, however is the sound.
The Yamaha's beast of a motor is
irritatingly loud, and left us wishing
the fancy Power Tuner app also
came with volume control.
As for suspension, it's like we
stated before—if the 250 shootout
was left to suspension perfor-
mance alone, the Yamaha would
win hands down. The KYB SSS
fork is simply unmatched in its abil-
ity to slice through the rough chop
with supple ease. Its plushness
doesn't give anything away on the
bigger hits, either. And through all
the different tracks and different
riders, we found ourselves making
minimal changes to the clickers.
Kudos to Yamaha for sticking with
the KYB speed-sensitive coil-
spring fork for so many years and
never venturing into the air-spring,
single-side, separate-function craz-
es, from which many of the manu-
facturers are now making their way
back. Yamaha chose to innovate in
other areas, and not change what
was clearly working.
The YZ is still a unique design in
the field, with its signature re-
verse cylinder, forward airbox and
wrap-around exhaust. The chassis
results in some nonconventional
bodywork, and while this is nothing
new for Yamaha, ergonomics is still
an area that can hold the YZ back
for some.
"For me, this is the outsider,"
one tester commented. "I'm not
loving the design; from the front
fender to the rear fender the YZ
makes me feel out of place."
Irregular, perhaps, but the
geometry of the Yamaha is doing
plenty right. Handling is nothing
short of excellent, rounding out a
stellar performance package for
the YZ250F.
Fit and finish are among the
best: powerful brakes and a large
270mm front disc handle stopping
power, a tapered aluminum bar
and extra-wide footpegs add com-
fort to the cockpit (the stock grips
could be better) and details like the
blue rims, engine plugs and gold
chain finish off this great package.
PROS
•STRONG POWER FROM
BOTTOM TO TOP
•KYB SSS FORK STANDS
SUPREME
•WIFI AND POWER
TUNER APP
CONS
•ERGOS NOT FOR EVERYONE
•LOUD!
BY THE NUMBERS
ACTUAL WEIGHT
(FULL FUEL): 237 LBS.
MSRP: $8199
YAMAHA
YZ250F
1
st Place
