Yamaha Yz 250

The Yamaha YZ250 Continues to Please

Dirt bike enthusiasts have been riding the Yamaha YZ250 for competition and for fun for many decades. This bike is a proven dirt bike that delivers dependable performance, which is why it continues to be in production as a rare two-stroke 250cc bike. You can find an affordable used Yamaha YZ250 for sale easily on eBay, and there are often many editions to choose from.

The Yamaha YZ250 is a two-stroke motocross race bike that was launched in 1974 and is still in production. It is regularly updated and refined. These are some of the major editions of the YZ250 that have been released over the years:

• YZ250 1974 - This was the first edition of the YZ250. The prototype was built in the U.S. by Gary Jones for his son. It was shipped to Japan, where the production bikes were then made.
• YZ250 1975 - The second YZ250 added a Monoshock rear end.
• YZ250 1976 - Yamaha merged the YZ250 and the MX for a new YZ250.
• YZ250 1977 - The 1977 YZ250 was redesigned and received a smaller motor, a lighter frame, and the ability to travel further. The fuel tank was plastic.
• YZ250 1980 - This model has a five-speed transmission and excellent suspension and power.
• YZ250 1986 - The 1986 YZ250 was completely redesigned. It received a new chassis and frame, and most of the inner components were improved and changed. The front brake became hydraulic, and the rear shock was repositioned.
• YZ250 1996 - After several years of slight refinements, everything on the 1996 YZ250 was redesigned, except for the engine.
• YZ250 1999 - The 1999 YZ250 gained a new motor, which gave it an increased throttle response.
• YZ250 2002 - This version has a redesigned chassis and frame, a new airbox, and a slimmer bodywork.
• YZ250 2005 - This year marked a major redesign of the YZ250. It received an aluminium frame but kept the backbone layout for the frame. The YZ250 has undergone slight changes in the years since, and Yamaha revised the suspension in 2015. The 2018 rims were changed from black to blue.

The YZ250 is the only two-stroke 250cc bike being produced in Japan. It is one of the longest-running dirt bikes that is in continual production and is a well-regarded bike for racing or for off-road recreational use.

The 2020 YZ250 has one choice of engine. It is a 249cc liquid-cooled, two-stroke engine with inducted reed valves. The bore/stroke is 66.4 mm x 72 mm, and the transmission is five-speed with a multiplate wet clutch. The carburettor is a 38 mm Keihin PWK carburettor with a power jet and a throttle position sensor.