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/127531
whi te, accen ted by a blue seat and turquoise stick-on graphics. Hoofin' down the road When we threw a leg over the Serow , the first thing we noticed was its sma llness. The low seat height makes it perfect for short er riders, and th e placement of the footpegs - which are also very small - and handlebars give the Serow a very compact feeli ng . Our test machine wa s often di fficult to start whe n cold, at ti mes so diffi cul t we were afraid th e electric starter would drain the battery. After cranking for a while, we had to let it sit for a work s best. The suspension is quite soft, so irr egu lari ties in paved roads are barely noticeabl e. Deep gutter s, however, bottomed the sus pe n sio n when they were hit at speed. The Serow is equally pl ush o n graded dirt roads. After tak ing a quick run through a field, one tester said it rode like a Cadillac. But if the road is rutted, ha s deep po t holes or roll ing whoop -de-doos, the Serow quickl y becomes a handful. The rear end bo ttomed easily in such , terrain and tended to kick to the side when rebounding, wh ile up fro nt the forks just bo tto med easily. T hey're so (R ight) The 223cc single overhead cam en gine p rod uces manageable, yet peppy power . A skid plate protects the underside of the frame fro m offroad damage. soft that nearly all of the travel is used just under braking. By sta yin g on smooth , maintained dirt roads, th e Serow is a lo t of fun , , even for the experi enced rider. It turns corners quickly, its small size ma kes sliding around smooth turns a breeze. Long rides o n the Serow weren't any proble m. The sea t is padded well and the footpeg- ha ndle bar configuratio n provided a comfortab le riding posi tion. We go t nearly 60 miles per ga llon during a spirited ride, so the Serow should be ab le to cover about 150 miles before its 2.3-gallon tank needs a drink. few minutes before tryi ng aga in , and then it usually fired u p ri ght away. There was no problem bringing the engine to life when it was warm . At idl e, only a low th um p reveals that the engine is running. The Serow is quiet, and stays that way even when ridi ng. We were apprehensive about th e amount of power the little 223cc mo tor wou ld produce, but th e firs t ride eras ed all doubts. A slight twist of th e throttle produces a mellow, manageabl e sp read of power throughout the range. Gently applying the gas and shifting through the gears brings the Serow up to spee d in a smooth fashion with no sudden surges of power. The less-experienced rider won 't be intimidated while cruising around town or on the trails. But theSerow isn't just a gentle goat. When the throttle is deliberately cranked wide open, there is a decent surge of power that quickly builds off the bo ttom and pulls th rough the midrange. Quick shifts up into second or even third gear often raised the front wheel off the ground. Although the power tends to tap er off as the engine winds into the upper rpms, the upper gear rat ios are hig h enough to keep the Sero w go ing at a good cli p . Freeway speeds in six th gear are no proble m. We too k the Serow on a rural interstate, and even at the pos ted 65 mph speed limit there was still some po wer to spare. Off the pavemen t, we raised the speedometer to nearly 80 mph on a smooth dirt roa d. Smooth surfaces are where th e Sero w King of the mountain? If you want to blast up, down and around th e mountain as if you were La rry R oeseler tea ring do wn the back roads of Baja , o p t [or one of the Serow's bigger rivals. Bu t Yamaha didn 't aim [or the gofast riders wh en it built the Serow. It's inte nded mor e for entry-level riders or those who want a motorcycle that can easily take them on ru ns around town yet carry th em on a weekend explora tio n throug h th e coun tryside. With its mild-mannered powerband a nd small size, th e Sero w proved to us th a t it is aptly named and fits th e bill. CN Specifications Yamaha XT225 Sero w (Above left) The Serow abounds with convenience features, such as th is grease fitting on the swingarm. (Above right) The front disc does a good job of slowing down the 239 pound mo torcycle. ' Engine type Air-coole d, four-stroke, SOHC sing le Bore x stroke 70 x 58mm Displ acement 223cc Compression ratio 9.5:1 Carburetor 34mm Mikuni Starting system . ' Electric Ignition COl Lubrication : Wet sump Transmission Wide-ratio 6-speed Primary drive Straight-cut gear Final drive Chain Frame High-tensile steel Rake N/A Trail N/A Front suspension Showa telescopic fork Front wheel travel 8.86 in. Rear suspension Showa single shock, Monocross linkage Rear wheel travel 7.48 in. Fron t brake Disc Rear brake Drum Front tire 2.75x21 Rear tire 120/80x 18' Claimed dry weight 238 lbs Wheelbase 53.1 in. Seat heigh t 31.9 in. Ground clearance 11.2 in. Fuel capacity (incl.reserve) 2.3 gal. Colors White w/turquoise Suggested retail price $2899 15