RIDING IMPRESSION
2015 YAMAHA YZ250FX
W
hen Yamaha announced a few months
ago that the all-new YZ250FX, an
honest-to-goodness, race-ready off-
roader, would be joining its off-road lineup,
it caught many of us by surprise. After all,
when was the last time any of the Japanese
manufacturers offered such a capable off-
road machine? Perhaps Yamaha itself with
its own revamped WR450F of 2011? Maybe.
There is, however, no question that the
new FX is a serious off-road racer, ready to
compete head-to-head with KTM's 250 XCF,
and it showed up pretty much unexpectedly.
And we're glad it did, and we're more glad
Yamaha is showing renewed interested in
making competitive off-road bikes again. The
company also revived the WR250F, intro-
ducing it in conjunction with the FX.
The FX (as well as the WR) is based closely
on the YZ250F, one of the best 250F moto-
crossers on the market. Heck, the FX is really
just a YZ250F in off-road drag. In the past, if
you wanted a competitive Japanese 250cc
four-stroke off-roader, you had to start off with
BY THE CYCLE NEWS STAFF
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIT PALMER
WE RIDE YAMAHA'S NEW OFF-ROAD SURPRISE
Out
Blue
Of e
P62
