VOLUME 59 ISSUE 3 JANUARY 19, 2022 P99
The Yamaha is
a well-rounded
package with a
robust motor and
plush suspension
that are matched
to a solid chassis.
And it also has the
best engine tuner
of the group.
the YZ that sets it apart. You
can fine-tune engine settings
from the convenience of your
smartphone. We enjoyed the
aggressive "over-rev" map
that Yamaha loaded onto our
bike and used it for most of
our two-day test.
But wait, there's more.
The suspension on the
YZ250F is the icing on the
cake. For the past few years,
the KYB components on
the blue bike have been
simply top-notch right out
of the box. Four of our six
riders were comfortable
without needing to touch
the clickers, and the other
two only made minor, one- or
two-click adjustments to
find their sweet spot. You
can go fast, charge through
rough sections, and go deep
on landings with little to
no consequences. We did
notice, though, how much
the bike moves around. And
don't take this the wrong
way. With suspension like
this, the bike practically
does all the work for you.
It may not be the lightest
bike in the class, but you'd
never know it. You direct it
where to go, it stays planted,
and you twist that freakin'
grip. The butter-smooth
function of the suspension
eats up chop for breakfast
and allows the rest of the
bike to dance harmoniously
underneath the rider. As we
said, the bike is just plain
easy to ride.
The Yamaha YZ250F
graces the top step of
the Cycle News podium
once again. Due to its fast
yet rideable power class-
leading suspension, and
technological advancements,
it edged away from the
competition. All six of our
testers ranked it first,
making it the clear-cut
winner in the class of 2022.
WRAP UP
>
This year's shootout
was one of the most
difficult in recent memory.
Without any real changes
happening to five of the six
bikes, our team split hairs to
determine an overall ranking.
The Honda CRF250R was
the only bike that received
significant updates, and
while they weren't enough to
take the win, the Red Riders
showed they are certainly on
the right track—moving from
sixth to third in just one year.
The KTM 250 SX-F again
reaffirmed its position as
the best Austrian bike, while
the Yamaha YZ250F took a
unanimous victory amongst
our test riders.
The other bikes on the grid
are downright impressive
too. Every machine finds its
niche where it can shine.
But as always, only one can
stand atop the podium. We're
confident you'll be pleased
with any of these machines,
but we feel you'll be most
pleased with the Yamaha.
CN
