Ride Time
We rode the YZ250F at ClubMX in
South Carolina, and the first thing I
noticed about the new bike is the up-
dated starting system. Electric-start
YZs are notoriously slow, and I've
been left on the line during
dead-engine starts, waiting for the
engine to turn over. Not anymore.
When cold, you can practically look at
the button, and this thing starts right
up. While small in terms of overall
performance, this is definitely a help-
ful update for Yamaha owners.
YZs are notoriously loud, and
there's no way around it because
you sit on top of the air intake. While
the overall engine layout remains the
same, the noise level is more bear-
able. Previously, the bike felt rattly at
high rpm. Now the deadened-sound
character makes the bike feel tighter
and more cohesive. There's less
rattle across the rpm range; it's most
noticeable at high rpm.
Gear ratios feel longer than before,
which means less shifting around the
track. Second and third gear pull much
farther, and you don't have to short-shift
the bike to keep it in the power window.
Yamaha also raised the rev-limiter by
700 rpm, which further extends the
length and usability of each gear.
(Above) The
new chassis is
more stable at
speed without
losing its narrow,
nimble character.
(Above right) The
airbox has fewer
intake ports,
which helps keep
things quieter.
absorption, and the engine mounts
have been reworked to match. Out back,
there's a new rear brake system and a
larger rear shock to complement the
updated frame. Fork settings have also
been updated to match the chassis. The
bodywork, seat, frame and shock are
the same as those on the YZ450F, which
was updated for the 2026 model year.
All told, the 2027 model gained
three pounds. One look at the muf-
fler makes it clear where most of
that weight comes from. The YZ250F
retails for $9099 and is also available
dressed up in the Monster Energy Edi-
tion for an additional $200.
P102
RIDE REVIEW I 2027 YAMAHA YZ250F
