Reality check!
By TMX Archives on 9th Dec 05
I think it's about time Yamaha gave their 250F a facelift and it's good to see it's finally happened for the '06 model. Words by Tony Marshall Photos by Sutty I think it's about time Yamaha gave their 250F a facelift and it's good to see it's finally happened for the '06 model. From a distance I didn't think it had changed too much but when you get up close and see the zero-sixer next to the '05 machine you start noticing just how many changes they've made - the biggest, obviously, being the ally frame. Although Yamaha led the way in the four-stroke market and definitely had a bit of a head start on everyone else I feel they may have been overtaken in recent years - it's such a competitive market and there are some fine bikes out there that don't come in blue. Track conditions at Mallory were exactly what you'd expect for Britain at this time of year - typical November weather made it tough going and a shortened circuit made it hard to really give the suspension a proper work out. There was the option to fly out to the States for the test but we decided that seeing as most of you who'll buy the bike will be riding it in the slop, testing it in the slop would make for a more accurate appraisal. There's not much point testing on a sun-baked track when the majority of you will only experience these conditions for, at best, a couple of months in the summer. Sutty mumbled something along the lines of 'keeping it real, little Tony and Chris dudes' and he was right on the money! Anyway, back to business - so what's the little four-banger actually like. Well, for starters, the riding position feels similar to the 2005 model with a slightly higher seat which could be a bit of a problem for, how can I put it, short-arsed riders. But I think I'm right in saying you can probably put the '05 seat on it or, if not, simply using a thinner seat foam. And, anyway, the extra height seems to help push your weight forward a bit and that's got to be a good thing. I couldn't believe once I started to pick up the pace how well this bike turns - steering is spot on - even in such wet and slippery conditions. A few times I thought I'd over-cooked it into corners and was preparing to end up upside down but the front just went where I pointed it. And the back followed suit. It turns like it's on rails. Over braking bumps the front end works in a very balanced manner with the back end. It feels a little bit lighter and narrower than the '05 machine - this may not actually be the case but riding's all about 'feel'. Through ruts the bike is very positive and inspires confidence which is great for me because I was never a good rut rider and always tried to avoid the things. The bike didn't seem to want to ride out of them - once you were in a rut it was positive all the way through. Given the reduction to 96db I was impressed with how much power Yamaha have got out of the 250F compared to the '05 machine that was capped at 98db. The very, very bottom could've maybe done with sharpening up a bit which I'm sure could be done with a different pipe but the mid-range is definitely the strongest and most exciting part of the motor. This was really noticeable through a couple of muddy turns that could've killed it but that strong mid-range just pulled me through. Top-end was good as well although admittedly, given the conditions, the circuit wasn't the best for getting the most from the top-end. I would've loved to have tested on a track where you could have really pushed right through the rev range and seen what the over-rev was like. Saying that, I tried holding a gear a little too long on some parts of the track to see if the power would drop off but it didn't seem to happen. Jumps were not a problem - even with lots of mud stuck to the bike adding weight the suspension felt very plush and there were no harsh landings. It was an absolute pleasure to ride. Controls generally feel similar to the '05 model which isn't a bad thing. Yamaha have got this department covered. hammal nitrate! Yamaha's little four-popper gets the thumbs up from our little tester Words by Chris Hammal Being the first manufacturer to introduce the new wave of two-fiddy four-strokes to the tiddler class - and now with a good few years under their belt - you'd expect Yamaha to have got rid of all the kinks and produce a good bike. Well, they've put loads of effort into the '06 machine and they haven't disappointed. At first glance this bike looks great - everything looks well made, nothing's been over-looked and the plastics have been tweaked a little here and there giving the bike a very modern appearance. The main change is the new great looking ally frame and like most of the other brands they have done away with the monkey metal standard bar and bolted on nice Renthal Fat Bars. To keep the temp down on this hot four-banger they've made the radiators bigger and they've still got little trick bits like titanium footrests and an easy clutch adjuster as standard. After throwing a leg over the steed it felt good - the seat height was high and the bars were a little low but, unlike its two-stroke cousins, the handlebars didn't feel down by my knees and there's a nice narrow feel to the bike making it come across as less bulky. Then came the time to fire up the beast - unlike four-bangers of old this bike was a piesh of pish to start as Sean Connery might say. Hot or cold it fired up first kick, then when life was in the motor the bike sounded great with a real bark to it - even with one big ass silencer hanging out the back which I think they've taken from a four fifty (obviously, the length keeps it within the new noise restrictions). Once out on the wet and muddy Mallory Park the bike felt good. It is an easy and comfy bike to ride that fills you with confidence the more laps you notch up. I don't know what bend the Renthals are but they are great and for a four-stroke it feels light and manoeuvrable - in the corners it went where you aimed it. Even in the muddy, slippery conditions the flat seat and tank profile made it easy to move around on making the bike super-controllable. As for the engine, off the bottom it had a snap to the motor with instant power and from there up through the rev range it pulled well and kept on ripping - the motor felt easily rideable and has useable power for any ability. The gearbox worked without fault and was smooth with every change. On to the suspension. This felt a little on the rigid side but some of that could be down to newness and that they still needed a little working in. But the action was smooth and it didn't bite back so with a little tweaking you could get it dialed in. It also soaked up a lot of hits, I noticed this watching Tony messing about on some little whoops - the bike absorbed all he could throw at it with ease. This bike shows why Yamaha won both the MX1 and MX2 world titles. They know how to build a great bike and this is a great all-round bike for any ability of rider. It even made me want to stay out playing on it all day and we're talking a cold winter day up north (everywhere above the Thames is north to me). specifications YZ250F Capacity: 249cc Bore and stroke: 77mm x 53.6mm Transmission: Five-speed Carburettor: Keihin FCR37mm Front suspension: Kayaba fork (300mm travel) Rear suspension: Kayaba shock (310mm travel) Front brake: 250mm disc Rear brake: 245mm disc Wheelbase: 1473mm Seat height: 994mm Dry weight: 93.5kg