VOLUME 58 ISSUE 1 JANUARY 5, 2021 P67
both days of testing, as it continues to offer
that sought-after cloud-like feel. The front
end eats up chatter bumps with progres-
sive damping that floats over the rough stuff
and provides a confidence-inspiring cushion
deep in the stroke. Our testers said that they
could hold it on longer going into a corner or
send it farther down a landing without harsh
repercussions. Only two of our riders even
felt the need to touch the fork clickers. The
nimble character of the chassis and suspen-
sion give the rider an ability to slice through
ruts or rail outsides in an ultra-controlled
manner. Balance is the name of the game
and the Yamaha gives you just that.
The Yamaha continued to impress in the
overall usability department. The wide pegs
provide a comfortable rider platform while the
handlebars and bar mounts offer four unique
positions to best suit rider needs. Lastly, we
can't forget the Power Tuner App. From a
consumer point of view, this is a huge selling
feature as riders have nearly unlimited options
on the power characteristics of their bike.
Each time we ride the YZ, we're reminded just
how easy it is to use this smartphone app.
If we had any complaints about the Ya-
maha they'd be left in the dust. After spend-
ing some time on the YZ250F we've realized
it doesn't take long for the rider to get used
to the sound of the airbox and exhaust.
Undoubtedly, the bike is louder than most of
the rest (maybe not the Kawasaki), but in the
end it's something we can overlook due to
the smile-inducing ride experience. The blue
bike brought its best to this year's gun fight
and heroically rides off into the sunset, once
again, as the 250-class champ.
