Yamaha YZ250
The Yamaha YZ250 is a two-stroke motocross race bike made by Yamaha. The model was launched in 1974 and has been regularly updated, and is one of the only two-stroke bikes of this displacement still in production, with new releases every year.
Engine
The original YZ250 of 1974 used an air-cooled 250cc two-stroke engine of 70 mm bore and a 64 mm stroke, which was improved semi-annually. The air-cooled motor was replaced in 1982 with a 249 cc liquid-cooled two-stroke reed-valved engine with a YPVS exhaust valve for a wider spread of power. The bore on the water-cooled engine was reduced to 68 mm and the stroke was increased to 68 mm producing a displacement of 247 cc. In 1999, the bore was further reduced to 66.4 mm and the stroke lengthened to 72 mm producing a displacement of 249 cc. The longer stroke engine resulted in a lower redline, slightly less top end power and greatly improved torque at lower RPM.The engine produces a peak at 8,800 rpm and of torque at 7,500 rpm, with a 9,000 rpm redline.Chassis
On its introduction in 1974, the YZ250 used a single backbone steel frame with a twin-shock swingarm. The following year, reflecting the factory racer Hakan Andersson's factory racer, the swingarm became a monoshock unit, initially made of steel, then aluminum from 1978. The swingarm rear suspension system featured more than 12" of travel, while the telescopic inverted front forks had of travel. In the 2005 model year the YZ250 gained a new frame made from aluminum that reduced the dry weight to approximately. All YZ250s feature front and rear hydraulic disc brakes.Significant advances
Advances
| 1999 | First year of the current engine |
| 2002 | First year of the current frame geometry and bodywork |
| 2003 | Exhaust port raised about 0.5mm and h-igher compression head for USA model. |
| 2005 | Aluminium frame |
| 2006 | KYB SSS forks |
| 2007 | Pro Taper 1-1/8 Handlebars |
| 2008 | Smaller fork lugs and shorter lower tubes. Brake calipers also reduced in size + wave rotors |
| 2011 | No more US model: Bigger silencer and a neutral switch for sound checks. Low compression head. |
| 2015 | New body work Smaller fork tubes from the four stroke. |
Championships
The YZ250 holds many championships:- 5 AMA National Motocross Titles.
- 9 AMA National Supercross Titles
- Most recently, Chad Reed rode the YZ250 to an AMA National Supercross title in 2004.
- 6-time AMA National Offroad Championships under the hands of Jason Raines.
- In 2014 Lewis Gregory rode the GL12 Racing YZ250 Yamaha to third in the newly formed EMX300 Championship. Winning the round at the Spanish GP on the way.