VOLUME 57 ISSUE 46 NOVEMBER 17, 2020 P79
first laps on their new YZ-Fs. Co-
incidence? We think not. It was a
treat to see the 250F in stock trim
next to its full-blown racing relative.
The blue crew also brought out a
2020 model to compare updates
and test back to back. The State
Fair track is known for having a
tight and twisty layout with plenty
of jumps; good for testing low end
torque, suspension, brakes and
cornering ability.
After setting sag and firing up
the small-bore Yamaha, we took to
the track. I say this everytime but
I'll say it again; if you don't normally
ride a YZ-F you'll notice the sound
of the engine right away. Since the
airbox sits in the rider's lap, you
can hear the bike pulling air in a much more noticeable manner
than some of the other Japanese competitors. It's by no means
a deal breaker, but you might want to pick up some ear plugs on
your way home from the dealership.
First laps. Someone call the dog pound because this thing
barks. The YZ250F's engine is just as strong as ever, with equal
parts of lugg-ability paired with a ferocious top end. The layout
at State Fair caters to second and third gear on a 250F, both
of which possessed more than enough juice for jumps right out
The new cylinder head (top) has new intake
port shape, and the length of the valve
guides went from 29 to 33mm. Overall, the
top end took on a number of changes. The
goal? For more mid to top pulling power and
increased peak power output.
