KIWI RIDER SEPTEMBER 2020 VOL.2 | Page 39

four preset modes that can be dialed up from your phone, along with the ability to design your own mode, using Yamaha’s app. So, you should be able to dial up a power delivery that suits your wants and riding style. AGILE YET STABLE The steering is great with a terrific balance of stability and agility, the 27-degree caster angle certainly contributing well here! The KYB suspension at both ends is a class act and at least as good as anything else in class, and is highly adjustable. The action is plush, progressive and sits up nicely in a well-balanced fashion – it works well. I rate the Yamaha’s brakes as top shelf items. An excellent 270mm front disc brake offers stopping feel and power that I couldn’t have even dreamed of way back in the day, while the 245mm rear disc brake is a strong and solid performer in all regards. The only real down side to this machine is that it’s obnoxiously loud to ride from both exhaust and intake noise – you’ll want to wear ear plugs. Also, for some reason I found it to be a reluctant starter, seldom starting on the first or second press of the button. This might just have been our particular test machine, but it could be disappointing at cross-country starts. The bottom line though is though, this YZ250FX is a sensationally quick and thoroughly competent cross-country machine – buy with confidence. KIWI RIDER 39