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/1546504
P106 RIDE REVIEW I 2027 YAMAHA YZ250F As for the shock, I made no changes. It worked very well right out of the crate, and when running 105mm of sag, I found the bike felt balanced all around the track. Both the fork and shock now offer finger adjusters for quick compression tweaks. The overall chassis feels more stable than before. The 2024 and newer models made strides in feeling narrower and in turning ability, but they gave up some of the stability of the 2023 and earlier versions. The current updated frame helps blend those two together, just as it did with the 2026 YZ450F. Now you can slice through a tight rut without sacrificing high- speed stability down a long straightaway. I could feel the stable character in the faster sec- tions of ClubMX's outdoor track, and it didn't give up anything when we switched to the ultra- tight S-turns on their unforgiving sand track. Summary The new YZ250F feels improved in nearly every way. However, there are still two things that irk me while riding it. First are the foot- pegs. With the current shape, I ended up stand- ing on the mount just as much as on the actual peg. You have to train yourself to keep your feet out to avoid the mount and bite the real plat- form. Second is the seat shape. The cover itself is good, but the rounded shape of the seat just doesn't jive with me. Plus, the foam feels harder—too hard—than on other bikes. Luckily, there are easy fixes out there for both issues. Yamaha's done its best to maintain, and even exceed, the YZ250F's current perfor- mance while meeting new, quieter sound stan- dards. Having not yet had the chance to ride the 2027 YZ250F back-to-back with the 2026, it's hard to tell what the real the differences are or how much they affect the new model. However, Yamaha's main objective seems to be met by producing a significantly quieter YZ250F without any performance loss. It's difficult to imagine the YZ250F being knocked off the top step of the 250 class in the 2027 model year, since it feels as good as it's ever been, if not a little better. CN 2027 YAMAHA YZ250F ($9099) Engine 4-stroke, single Displacement 250cc Valvetrain DOHC, 4-valve Bore x Stroke 77.0mm × 53.6mm Starting System Electric Compression Ratio 14.1:1 Fueling Mikuni fuel injection, 44mm Transmission Constant-mesh 5-speed Clutch Multiplate wet, w/ Nissin, hydraulic actuation Frame Aluminum Front Suspension KYB SSS inverted fork; fully adjustable Rear Suspension KYB single shock; fully adjustable Front-Wheel Travel 12.2 in. Rear-Wheel Travel 12.3 in. Front Wheel 21 in. Rear Wheel 19 in. Front Tire Dunlop MX33 80/100-21 Rear Tire Dunlop MX33 120/90-19 Front Brake Single 270mm disc Rear Brake Single 220mm disc Wheelbase 58.3 in. Seat Height 38.2 in. Fuel Capacity 1.6 gal. Rake 27° Ground Clearance 13.8 in. Weight (wet, claimed) 236 lbs.