Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125828
Page 27 October 2, 1973 big jump, it behaved much better in sliding across fairly smooth surfaces. Once we came off a small, high.speed jump sideways, and finding too little traction to straighten up, the rear end kept going out. It became a full-lock, 30-foot slide under compete controL It's a scrambler hiding behind knobby tires. Back to the YZ. It is, according to Yamaha, "as like the Yamaha factory team 250 as is possible in a production machine." And it's genuinely tricked out in comparison with the standard MX. The Autolube is gone and so is some weight from the front end. The 7·port engine has !lifferent cases, cylinder, head and carburetor, but shares the 7.4:1 compression ratio ~ith the MX. The engine doesn't exhibit a very wide power band, but produces considerable torque. As we mentioned earlier, the cannister-carrying shock absorbers need some more work..Their job is further hamp!,red by a non-floating rear brake which is grabby and generates some violent rear end hopping in the -rippled stuff. The rear hub is aluminum and has been lightened with a drill. The chrome-barrelled engine produces good power, but the rear suspension steals much of it under rough going. As indiviliual riders discover the right set-up, the 207 pound YZ should provide some good competition for its foremost compe ti tor, the Honda Elsinore. Comparisons between the two are inevitable, but at almos.t $400 less the Honda will surely win out with the budget minded moto person. Trickery abounds on the YZ, with its nicely formed aluminum tank (1.8 gal), 0.1.0. rims, drilled countershaft sprocket; bolt caps dished out for lightness and a big aircleaner. And it's all mighty fetchingly packaged. But the stingy little silencer is louder than it should be. With its Husky type seat, the YZ sits a bit higher than the Elsinore and may require shorter riders to adapt their style accordingly. We ain't big like Jaak Van Velthoven. So, that's what you can get for the extra half a grand, almost a factory racer. The price puts it up in the league of the very best equipment available, and whether or not it's worth it depends on your budget and the seriousness of your motocross intentions (and ability). It is surely the best motocross machine Yamaha has produced. And if the "monocross" rear suspension proves out, that just may show up as standard on next year's YZ. The YZ 360 is scheduled for an even smaller production run this year, and the results of the Trans-AMA series may well de termine Yamaha's future motocross plans. They have Karsmakers and Hait in the big bucks series, up against Tripes, Chaplin, and the Jones boys for Honda. You might also watch out for the independent Yamaha entry of Jimmy Ellis. Suzuki, who has yet to build a real MX replica, will be represented by Roger DeCoster, Rich Thorwaldson and Mike Runyard. Bauer and Wei! are expected to make the Maico influence known. A batch of YZ's will surely sbow up in the support class this year, and we'll watch them closely as the great motocross contest begins again. • The YZ has plenty of power and a good gearbox, but getting all the grunt to the ground can be tricky. The YZ is a mighty neat looking package.•. Elbow·flying the YZ. •••8nd The MX 250 is easier to get off the line. , so is the MX, but there's 8 worla of difference.