P94
2020 250cc FOUR-STROKE MOTOCROSS SHOOTOUT
SHOOTOUT
I
t's not the first time the Yamaha
YZ250F has topped our 250cc
shootout, but this might be the first
time a carryover model has risen in the
ranks to win a comparison. No, the Ya-
maha hasn't changed. And yes, it is the
winner of our 2020 250cc four-stroke
motocross shootout.
Last year it came down to a hair-
splitting decision between the Yamaha,
the Husqvarna and the KTM. This year,
it stands clear of the crowd, earning
half of the number-one picks from our
test pool. How did this happen? Simply
put, Yamaha left well enough alone.
Just like the 2019, the 2020 YZ250F
is a beautiful machine with unmatched
suspension, a ripping motor and tech-
nological features that no other bike in
its field can claim (onboard WiFi and a
free Power Tuner smartphone app). It
all comes together in a package that
shines in every performance category.
Starting with the motor, the YZ has
gobs of power right from the first crack
of the throttle. While other bikes in the
class have incredible mid-to-top mus-
cle, the YZ has it where others are lack-
ing—off the bottom. That's where it hits
hard with plenty of roll-on power that
makes the Yamaha incredibly easy and
fun to ride for a wide range of riders.
"The bottom end is essentially what
makes this motorcycle roar," said one
expert tester. "It pulls out of deep sand,
mud and really anything you throw at it."
On the top end, it is rivaled by the
Husky, KTM and Kawasaki. However,
its usability and its tunability are big
plusses for Yamaha. A handlebar-
YZ250F
YAMAHA
