Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

00 00 0") ....... Yamaha's new VZ250 has a broad an d smooth powerband, and the suspension to keep up. New handlebars are a major im p rovem ent. '. Seati ng posr uo n a n d overall layout of th e YZ used 10 lake a li ll ie gelling accustomed 10 , bu t no t so muc h a ny more. T he new YZ ha s a more neutral rid in g pos ition, and much of its neu tral feel has to do with a n ew h andl eb ar be n d . Although the handlebars a re a. maj or Improvement o ver last year 's bend, th ey still have a slig htl y awkwa rd feeling com pared to the H onda a nd Suzuki. T he co ntrol levers are as good as ever, and th e grips have been improved - they're slightl y softer. The footpegs are mounted a li llie - - 'B8 model - - - - '87 model Leverage ratio Rear su spens ion levera ge ratio c urv e 3 --. ~ ~ ~ ".::.: -.- . .' -, 2 " '\ o 100 200 300 Wheel travel (mm ) The chart shows the new, more progressive rea r suspension leverage ratio curve of the 'SS YZ . hi gh o n th e fr am e , w h ich was noticed by taller riders. T his mad e th e Yamah a a Iiule tougher to sta nd up on qu ick ly a nd riders felt sligh tly uncomfortable in th e stand-u p positio n. Plus, we had some problems with the top o f o ur righ t boot h anging u p o n th e si de o f th e mo tor cycle. T he re's a gap between the ri ght side panel a nd the gas tank where the sea t's edge han gs down , which catches th e top of the boot. We also wore a hole in th e sea t cover at the sa me spo t. T he seat paddi ng has good den sit y. T he most noticed improveme nt in th e YZ's sus pension is the for k. T he new cart ridge for k gives the YZ a wh ol e new feeling for the better. Las t year 's fork needed maj or adj ustrnerus righ t oUI of the cra te, 'includ ing a cha nge of spri ngs an d lo ts of damping tamperi ng - not a ny more. The new Ka yaba fork doesn 't need an y major work ,o ther tha n th e usua l fin e-tunin g adj ustme nts. T he harsh ,feeling of last year 's for k is go ne. T his yea r's unit has a smoother, more predictab le feel. The Monocro ss rea r sus pe nsion is much im proved, as well. It 's th e mOSI stable YZ rear suspension we've ever rid den . The back en d stays close to the ground and rarely swa ps 10 the sides, and, like the fro n t end, th e ' Monocross suspension comes out of th e crate race ready. Even th ough the Yama ha doesn 't hav e th e B.A.S.S. an ymore, the YZ doesn 't hop around more than it used to under hard braking. Stopping power is first-ra te, but the rea r disc is a little touch y and easy to lock. But th e more the YZ is ridden , th e st!'onger and more progressive stopplllg power becom es.. T urning th e YZ is easy as long as you ai m for th e o uts ide line. T he YZ ca n' t cut in side of a Suzu ki bu t does ra il a berm eas ily. T he fro nt end feels a lillie heavy. The bottom line The new Yamaha is just about th e best all-around rno tocrosser on th e market, today. Not o nly is the YZ o ne of the best 250cc MXers go ing in 1988, it will please a wid e varietv of riders, thos e who no t o nly like to race mo tocross b ut also like to tra il rid e, ride enduros, desert races or har e scra mbles, as well. Mu ch of thi s has to do with the Yama ha's potent and useab le motor, wi th its tractor-like lo w-end, stro ng midrange a nd suitable top -end. And it fin all y has the sus pe nsion to keep up. There j ust isn 't much we d idn 't like abou t the Yamaha. T he only th ing th at we would change are the handlebars. • The new YZ has finally made the switch from a drum rear brake to a disc. Gone is the Brake Activated Suspension System (B.A.S.S .). Yamaha YZ250U Engine type Liquid-cooled. two-stroke. single Bore -x stroke 68.0 x 68.0mm Displacement 246cc Compression rat io 8.5-10.1 :1 Carburetor .. . • ... 38mm Mikuni Starting system . . . . Primary kick Ignition . . . . . . . . . . • _ CO l lubrication Premix Primary drive Straight-cut gear Final drive #520 cha in Frame . • . . . .. High-tensile steel. semi-double cradle Rake 28 0 Trai l • .. : . . . . . . . . . • . • . •. 4 .7 in. Fro nt suspension .. . . .•. Kayaba cartridge t elescopic fork Fork tube diameter . . . • . . 43mm Front wheel travel 12.0 in. Rear suspension • . .. . . . Yamaha . single shock Rear wheel travel . . . . •• 12.2 in. Front brake . .. . . . . . . • . . . . Disc Rear brake .. •.. . . . . . • . . . . Disc Front t ire 80/1 OG21 Bridgestone M23 Rear tire 110/100-18 Bridgestone M22 Cla imed dry weight 228 Ibs Wheelbase 58.3 in . Fuel capacity 2.1 gal. Ground clearance 13.4 in . Seat height • .. .•• . . • •. 37.4 in . Colors white Retail price , $3099 No major parts are interchangeable between the ' S7 and 'SS YZs. The fork is a cartridge Kayaba . 7

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