| Does the torque of the YZ250F make it that much | | | | a reason for this? There must be, so let's check it |
| better than the light and snappy YZ125? We have to | | | | out! |
| dig a little deeper than what the media and | | | | Does It Handle As Well? |
| government says. I think we all know that most | | | | A simple question, and it will be responded with a |
| motocross companies are pushing for the | | | | simple answer... "no." You can do anything you want |
| four-strokes because they are "eco-friendly" by not | | | | to the bike, such as lowering the radiators, reducing |
| producing as much pollution as the two-strokes. But | | | | the weight, or shaving the seat, but it's never going |
| for this battle we will totally scratch those | | | | to handle as well as the two-stroke unless you do |
| opinionated facts out because they don't mean a | | | | major modifications. That does not mean it handles |
| thing in the motocross realm. | | | | poorly. Over the years Yamaha has turned their |
| I have ridden Yamaha's YZ250F's and YZ125's, and | | | | YZ250F tank into one of the best handling |
| can say that they are two different kind of animals. | | | | four-stroke dirt bikes. The newer the model, the |
| Both motocross bikes have plenty of power and will | | | | better it gets. The main difference between this bike |
| require some balls to ride, but are about as reliable as | | | | and the 125 is that it's top-heavy, meaning the center |
| you can get as far as motocross bikes go. Each bike | | | | of gravity is at a higher location on the bike, causing |
| has its ups and downs, but the question is, "which | | | | it to be less stable. This is most noticed in the |
| one is better?" Well you'll have to wait until I do a | | | | corners, so laying it down will be a little more difficult |
| little more research on these bikes....... Just kidding. | | | | for shorter or younger riders. |
| YZ125 | | | | How About Suspension? |
| Ahhh, the smell of pre-mix in the morning! Are | | | | Suspension on the 250F is great for 140-175 lb |
| two-strokes making a come-back? Well, I'll cover that | | | | amateurs, similar to the 125. It has good bottoming |
| in a future article... The YZ125 is a serious piece of | | | | resistance and handled jumps with ease. Not much |
| art. It's been rated the number 125cc motocross bike | | | | else to say except that the suspension on the |
| in magazines and websites more than any other 125 | | | | YZ250F's worked well for me. |
| two-stroke. The light-weight makes it flick-able, the | | | | Does The Engine Make Up For It? |
| raw horsepower begs it to be revved to the moon, | | | | The first time I rode a YZ250F I was blown away. |
| and the suspension is top notch. There's no question | | | | Torque across the entire rev-range was unbelievable. |
| that this bike is ready to race right out of the box. | | | | This bike gives you the traction and power down low |
| Although you might have to re-jet the carburetor if | | | | that you will never get from the 125. The |
| you are riding in an extreme climate. | | | | "power-band" is not as fun as the two-stroke. The |
| How Does It Handle? | | | | torque, though, will pull any 2-stroke out of corners. |
| Pretty much any modern 125 two-stroke is going to | | | | After riding a 250F for a while, the smooth, yet |
| handle well these days, and the YZ is no exception. | | | | powerful engine just got a little...... I don't know if I |
| The handling is among the best in its class. It will ride | | | | should say it.... boring. It just wasn't as fun to ride |
| any berm and the front end will stick pretty well in | | | | around on as the two-stroke. Racing the YZ250F |
| those pesky ruts. What I like about the 125 is that it | | | | would be a different story. It's not exactly about |
| has a really low center of gravity compared to the | | | | riding whichever bike is more fun, it's about riding |
| four-stroke, so it made it a lot easier to lay in down | | | | faster and more comfortably than the other riders. |
| in the corners. I am a shorter rider (5'6''), so having a | | | | This bike helps out a lot on that part, but is it good |
| bike that handles well in corners is a must. The YZ125 | | | | enough to beat the 125? |
| felt comfortable to ride and cockpit was narrow | | | | Notes: |
| while the 250F was a little more bulky. | | | | The YZ250F was the first four-stroke motocross |
| What's The Suspension Like? | | | | bike in the 125 class, and has been the most reliable |
| You want good suspension? You got it! The YZ125 | | | | 250F the entire time. Take care of it and it will take |
| suspension set-up is great right off the showroom | | | | care of you. The first years, 2001 & 2002, the bike |
| floor. If you weigh more than 180 or less than 140 lbs | | | | had manual-decompression, making it a little more |
| then you might want to consider getting some softer | | | | difficult and time-consuming to start. That can be |
| fork and shock Springs though. The stock suspension | | | | fixed with an '03 or newer exhaust cam because |
| has really good bottoming resistance and can handle | | | | Yamaha switched to auto-decompression. The |
| a lot. It feels great on any kind of obstacle. Although | | | | YZF250 is probably the easiest 250F to kick start. I |
| it may be a little mushy for A or pro riders. The | | | | was usually able to start mine in 1-2 kicks when they |
| forks soaked up most of the braking bumps and the | | | | were cold. |
| bike was very controllable in the air and in the | | | | The bad part about owning a 250F is that it can |
| corners. It felt stable at all speeds. | | | | grenade if you don't maintain it properly. If it does |
| What About the Engine? | | | | just "happen" to blow up, the cost of repairs can be |
| The engine may be the two-strokes' greatest | | | | enormous, especially if you have a shop to do it. This |
| set-back against the 250f, but it is no slouch. Any | | | | is one of the only reasons why I don't like the |
| skilled rider will be competitive on this little ripper. The | | | | four-stroke motocross bikes, otherwise I would buy |
| YZ125 may not have the torque that the 250F does, | | | | more of them. |
| but it has the horsepower to make up for it. | | | | And The Winner Is.... |
| Yamaha's 125 is known for it's do-it-all engine. It does | | | | Neither bike, because they are just as good as each |
| have more bottom-end power than any other 125 | | | | other...... You didn't want to hear that, did you? Good, |
| two-stroke I've ridden. The mid-range has some | | | | because it's not true! After comparing the |
| punch, and the top-end is never-ending fun. All you | | | | characteristics of these bikes that have been rivaling |
| have to do is keep this bike on the pipe then you will | | | | each other for the past decade, there are still pros |
| be able to pass those 250F's, that's it. | | | | and cons that each bikes has. My decision would be |
| Additional Notes... | | | | to go with the YZ125 because I love two-strokes |
| Above are the main topics that riders ask about | | | | and don't like big bills when they explode. For a racing |
| when deciding which bike to get. I just wanted to | | | | scenario where money is no option and the only goal |
| give you a few more facts about this bike that could | | | | was to win then I will choose the YZ250F. It has the |
| factor into your decision. The YZ125 is a great | | | | torque and horsepower that will beat the 125 on |
| motocross bike to start out on, and is perfect for | | | | almost any track, the suspension is great for me out |
| younger riders just stepping up from and 85 that | | | | of the box, and it's just plain easier to ride faster. |
| don't want a big four-stroke. This bike is cheaper and | | | | That's why the Yamaha YZ250F is the better bike in |
| easier to maintain. The cost to rebuild any 125 will be | | | | this match-up. |
| less expensive than a 250F just because it's a | | | | Furthermore, there are so many variables to consider |
| two-stroke and has less moving internal parts. That | | | | because not every rider is the same and rides similar |
| doesn't mean you will be spending less, because if | | | | terrain. If you have a big bank and want to be on |
| you don't maintain it, it will break down eventually. | | | | par by technology standards then the 250F is the |
| The YZ125 has always been very easy to start. If | | | | bike for you. If listening to a two-stroke WOT is |
| it's not, then you have a problem. One of the only | | | | music to your hears, and you want to learn better |
| extra things you have to do to this bike is add | | | | riding techniques as well as a bike that's easier to |
| pre-mix to the gas before you put it in the tank and | | | | maintain then a YZ125 is a perfect bike. |
| ride. | | | | Remember... whatever bike you choose, have fun |
| YZ250F | | | | and ride hard! Good luck! |
| It's bigger... It's badder... Is it too much for the | | | | -Tom Stark |
| two-smoker to handle??? The YZ250F is the number | | | | P.S. Check out my site (Motocross Hideout) for the |
| one selling 250cc four-stroke motocross bike. Is there | | | | official article. |