WORDS: Callan May, Ben Wilkins
PHOTO: Greg Smith/ikapture.com.au
2019
YAMAHA
YZ250F
With electric start
and a new engine and
chassis, the 2019
YZ250F is in the hunt
for the top step.
fter seeing the new YZ250F sitting in the warehouse at Yamaha NZ I was amping
to get over to Aussie for the launch of the all new machine and see what it was
all about. I was lucky enough to attend the launch for the 2018 YZ450F last July
and was stoked to get the call from Kiwi Rider to head to Willowbank MX Park to
test the all-new 250F. If the ‘baby’ version was anything like the 450F I knew good things
were to come.
I arrived at Willowbank to see an impressive line up of Yamaha race trucks, and had my
own bike numbered and ready to be ridden for the day.
ENGINE
During the press briefing Yamaha
explained that this is an all-new machine,
with a all-new motor and chassis. The
engine is an all-new lump with bigger
valves, higher compression piston and
the angle of the cylinder has moved
slightly more upright to alter the handling
characteristics. You’ll be pleased to
know that the 2019 machine gets an
electric starter, something we’ve been
campaigning for on all new MX machines.
Although the engine and chassis are
new, the tech guys put a lot of emphasis
on the smart phone tuner app, which is
something I was super keen to try out
when we were let loose on the bikes.
As I said, the 2019 motor is all new and
the specifics include a higher compression
ratio, new piston, lighter crank, stronger
con-rod and a new valve-train with more
intake cam lift, modified valve angles
and larger intake valves. This all works
together to give a faster revving motor
with more top-end power. The new motor
definitely revs higher than before – the
previous 250Fs have always had a strong
bottom end, which is still there, but
there’s certainly more in the middle and
up top. I currently race a YZ250FX, and
the difference between the two motors
is very noticeable, the MX machine just
keeps revving and pulling where the FX
would be signing off early. There’s a new
clutch tucked away inside, too, featuring
thicker plates and a lighter spring load for
a lighter lever feel. To me the clutch feel
is an improvement and in the soft loamy,
sandy dirt there was no clutch fade or
strange lever feel despite it getting a good
workout.
KIWI RIDER 23