Yamaha YZ250 2017 — Specifications

Does motocross with two-stroke engines still have a place in a market overrun by high-pressure four-strokes? Ask a rider who has experienced the Yamaha YZ250, and the answer will be an unmistakable roar. This machine, far from being a relic, is a purebred mechanical marvel that runs on gasoline and nostalgia. Launched in 1974 and still produced, the Yamaha YZ250 embodies a raw and direct riding philosophy, which updates, such as the 2015 revision carried over to this 2017 model, have only sharpened.

On paper, the figures speak for themselves: a 249 cm3 two-stroke single-cylinder engine delivering 48 horsepower for an announced dry weight of 103 kg. But these data do not tell the essential story: the sensation. Here, no electronic management, no assistance. Just a 38 mm carburetor, the famous YPVS to modulate power, and a five-speed gearbox with close ratios. The result? An immediate response to the slightest twist of the wrist, an explosive pull that propels this projectile out of corners. It is this liveliness, this manageable lightness, that makes it a formidable weapon on the track and a favorite for freestyle.

The chassis is up to the mechanicals. The aluminum double cradle frame offers precise rigidity, while the suspensions derived from the YZ-F models, with a 48 mm cartridge fork at the front, digest impacts with remarkable professionalism. The brakes, with a 270 mm front disc in 2017, offer braking power without fade. These elements, combined with a redesigned and aggressive bodywork, make this YZ250 a motorcycle ready for competition, as it has proven in the EMX300 championship.

But beyond pure performance, the true asset of this Yamaha YZ250 motocross bike lies in its mechanical accessibility. A two-stroke is inherently simpler to disassemble, adjust, and maintain than a modern four-stroke. For an amateur rider or a competitor on a tight budget, this ease of maintenance and the moderate cost of parts are significant arguments. This also explains the solid value of used models. While the new price approaches 8100 euros, a search on the used market, for a Yamaha YZ250 2006 or a model from the 90s, reveals values often around 3000 dollars for a well-maintained example, a reasonable investment to access this level of sensations.

So, who is it for? Clearly not for the complete beginner, intimidated by its explosive power and the absence of traction control. It is the preferred tool of the seasoned cross rider, the enthusiast seeking pure sensations who refuses compromises, or the freestyler looking for a light and responsive engine. Faced with the KTM 250 SX or the Husqvarna TC 250, the YZ250 plays the card of proven reliability and a well-tempered character, perhaps less radical, but of formidable effectiveness. It is not an everyday motorcycle, but for those who understand its language of piercing cries and kicks in the back, it remains an undisputed reference. The question is not what the speed of a Yamaha YZ250 is, but rather if you have the nerve to hold it open.