FIRST PLACE
VOLUME 59 ISSUE 3 JANUARY 19, 2022 P97
The Yamaha
YZ250F was a
unanimous winner
among our test
riders. There just
isn't anything the
YZ doesn't do well.
YZ250F
YAMAHA
>
The blue bike stands atop
the Cycle News podium,
once again, in 2022. All our
test riders, regardless of
ability, unanimously ranked
the YZ250F in first place. The
Factory Star Racing Team
undeniably solidified this bike
as a winner at the pro level,
but the best part is it's a front
runner even in stock trim.
Simply put, the 2022 YZ250F
is the easiest 250F to ride.
The cockpit is noticeably
comfortable from the get-go,
and the peg, bar, seat ratios
were easily adaptable for
every rider. Footpegs were a
highlight for all our riders. They
praised the wide and solid
platform of the stock units
right away.
Speaking of wide, the YZ
still feels wider at the knees
when compared to the thin
Austrian bikes or the new
Honda. From a first look, the
cockpit of the Yamaha is much
"rounder" than the sharpness
of the others. This contributes
to that wider feeling, when in
reality it's only an inch or two
difference. We didn't overlook
that width, but our testers
adjusted accordingly and
didn't make further mention of
it hindering the bike's overall
riding experience.
On to the motor. If you want
fast and in-your-face power,
the Yamaha again rises to
the top. The snappy engine
character is ultra-responsive
nearly everywhere in the
power curve. The bottom end
has enough oomph to pull you
out of a corner and quickly
transitions to the meaty mid-
to-top. This is where the bike
excels. You can keep pouring
on the revs as long as your
eardrums can handle it. Yes,
the Yamaha's front-facing
airbox and exhaust system
are still obnoxiously loud, but
the power just makes it so
worth it. The Power Tuner App
is another standard option on
