2022 Yamaha YZ250 Two-Stroke Motocross Bike Introduction

With the 2022 Yamaha YZ250 getting some changes like a straighter intake design, flatter rider profile, lightweight sprocket and chain, new Nissin brakes, Dunlop MX33 tires, and graphics, you wouldn’t think that would necessarily make bLU cRU’s two-stroke feel that much different on the track, right? However, let Kris Keefer give you some reasons why the updated YZ250 could be a less expensive purchasing option for the four-stroke lover. Yamaha’s R&D test rider Travis Preston also speaks with Keefer on what he felt while doing some pre-production testing on the quarter liter two-stroke. Sit back and relax to the sweet sound of burning premix and let the fumes get you amped to go ride in this Racer X Films two-stroke special.
Video/edit: Spencer Owens
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[@vintagetrikesandquads4012]

To me, a 2 stroke's power delivery is just more fun, especially when you are on the pipe. A 4 stroke has a broader power band and is easier to ride fast, but less fun for the same reason.

[@fourtynine17]

Ecactly

[@elcincero321]

Pretty well explained ❤

[@shanemoto97]

Keefer do a 250 shootout! Compare it to the Austrian machines!

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Since there is about a $3,000 price difference with the KTM/Husky being more expensive than the YZ, would sending the YZ to Pro Circuit for $3000 worth of work be OK with you before the test comparison? But, with the great suspension of the stock YZ's, I am sure you can get the YZ engine to match the Austrian bikes for under $500.00/800.00. But, there is very good reason to know the Austrian bikes are very hard to beat. It has happened to every bike brand who hired Roger DeCoster. Every bike and ride that man has touched, turned to gold. McGrath on the Suzuki was the only exception I think. But I think if he was not on that 93 Honda frame, (which he rode till the alum frame in 97), his winning days were over by the time he went to Suzuki.

[@bigboytony8485]

cannot wait to get my hands on this thing. most excited i’ve ever been for a bike.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

I hope you are over 5'11" tall. I guess none of these guys thinks a bike can be too tall today. But you will hardly ever see vid of them getting on a bike. Nobody under 5'10" wants to be filmed getting on these bikes,---because they look as stupid as a tall bike makes them look. That is why some of them want electric start for a 250 2-stroke too. If you can't touch your toes on the ground, you can't pull out the kick start lever with out starting to fall over. Now this 2022 bike has a thinner seat, (and taller than my 2019, that I shortened, niiiiiiiiccccce), so a rider may not be able to shorten the bike there. I took off 6.35% of suspension travel on mine, (.750" in the front, and a bit more in the rear, that I had to measure and calculate, to keep it balanced), and 1" off the seat. It is now just a tad lower than my last normal bike, a 97 KX250, and way more fun to ride. Stock,out of the box, it was the worst 250cc dirt bike I ever had. But I can make it my best, (including the engine). Stock--the bike was un-ride-able. Most people get used to it I guess. I don't have to, and a shorter bike cornering better is just basic physics. I promise anybody under 6' tall. If you lower your bike a bit---you will make faster lap times. You all look goofy balancing a bike in a flat corner as amateurs. I see the vids. I have never seen so many slow people in the corners in all of the 80's and 90's. Lower your bike. Yamaha went the wrong direction here.

[@bigboytony8485]

@@EarthSurferUSA yeah I’m not the tallest. 5’8 but my last bike was a 2013 yz450, fairly tall.

[@mattiazanetta335]

same, I had a lot of bikes in the past years, but this one, wow.... I sold my sxf and I'm waiting for this, I'm excited than ever 🤩

[@DonGH97]

Good review and a good dose of humor in it as well 😂👌🏻

[@andreasstefanou5898]

Yz250 Legend

[@lbarura4627]

Yall never disappoint

[@vonlitto]

That analogy was perfect 👌😅

[@marcusfalconieri4576]

thats the best I've seen you ride

[@user-qo1gk2kj3e]

2 stroke sound cant be beat

[@mattiazanetta335]

that analogy with the women is perfect... I was about to stop with motocross, one day saw on track this YZ, I sold my SXF and now I'm waiting for my new Yamaha... I'm more excited than ever to ride this beast, looks like I'm waiting my first day on track when I was 8 years old 😂 can't wait to put my ass on this beast! 🤩

[@Bruce.Wallace]

So how is the new bike ??

[@keiannschyler]

now that's a modern look 2 stroke.

[@bajadrifter]

I'm a huge fan of two-stokes and the YZ in particular! If only it had an electric start! ...but keep the carb and premix!

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Hahahaha. I just got a new bike a while back, (2019 YZ250 2-stroke) after not riding for 20 years, (97 KX250 my last bike), and I always wondered why kids want electric start on that trim 250cc 2-stroke machine? Then, after I struggled to get my 5'9" body on that tall as hell bike, I found I could not touch my toes on the ground, (and that was with too much spring sag.). So I get my balance enough to pull out the kick start lever, and I friggen almost fall over!!! Now I see why you want electric start. But the bike and your fun is a lot better with the bike lowered some. I went about .75" on the suspension and 1" off the seat, (looks like you can't do that for the 2022 model thin seat),--and now it is perfect. Cornering way better, and I will never think I need electric start again. :) Keep the carb. Get rid of the electronic "power jet". The bike also has a nifty electronic switch in the cases near the shift lever shaft. What that does is retard your ignition timing a bit when the bike is in neutral, to help pass a sound test. :) Yea baby, I am going to shorten my spark arrestor silencer too now.

[@KabashiYZ]

I just picked myself up a 2022yz250 monster edition I’m trynna brake it in correct with the 15:1 91 octane first tank from there should I be running a 30:1 yamalube 2r with 91 octane as a normal premix

[@anthonycaldi7056]

Great Video! This bike interest me a lot. How is the vibration while riding? It’s always compared to the KTM, Husky and Gas Gas with the counterbalanced motors. Obviously those bikes are more expensive, the Gas Gas not too much more, but how much of a difference in vibration is there really?

[@quadcityracing]

And no answers in 2 years.

[@cookracinginc.2783]

Is there any new info on the 23 YZ 250? Will it be electric start? Will it have fuel injection? When will it be out?

[@1dnortham]

When does the 125 test ride happen

[@jessetate3110]

I'd like to get another YZ 250😊

[@TjMills1972]

I have a question, If you were allowed to ride a 250 2s in the 250 class and there was a modern 250 (KTM, Husky, Gas Gas) would you choose the 2 or the 4 stroke?

[@sebasteinalbee3409]

250 2s would be in the 450 class

[@EarthSurferUSA]

@@sebasteinalbee3409 He was not thinking the FIM rules. He was thinking about being fair. Actually, to my amazement, the 250's both make about the same power today. But the EPA/government tells us what to make and ride today,---no matter how much it costs, or how much it hurts the sport. We can start our own series, and let them race each other. For sure we would get more amateur racers,---who would be able to afford a 2-stroke.

[@eric6rock]

@@sebasteinalbee3409 the MxGp has A EMX 250 class they allow both 250 2t and 250 4t to race together. The Recent EMX 250 won on a two stroke. Im sorry but the 250 can not compete against a 450 as obviously it has 200cc more than 250. 250 2ts belong in the 250 class as it was their class and those bikes should be righfully in. A different power input doesn't mean it can beat a 450. The American Scene of Motocross sucks MxGp has more 2 stroke classes.

[@carlatamanczyk3891]

Is the 22 different than the 21 in the 250 or 250X?

[@EarthSurferUSA]

They made a video. It is above. I believe the 250x has a different pipe, (for more lower and mid range power. This bike is actually weak in the lower rpm's), and some different gear ratio's in the tranny from the YZ's. This bike is even taller than the 21 (I have the 2019, same as the 21), which is just stupid, because the bike is too damn tall. I am turning my 2019 into a whooped out trail bike, and am modifying suspension (lower by .75") and motor, (my own head design, a V-force reed valve, and of course clean up the jetting). I think the bikes are set up poorly. I have never spent so much time and money making a bike I like. So tall, and front end biased, (like a low front end, or high rear end), it was the worst set up bike out of the box I ever had. But at least I paid less than 7 grand for it, and I know how to make it----perfect. :)

[@dickberry3910]

He actually rips

[@Honoer]

Let it in the 250 class and it would be awesome!

[@EarthSurferUSA]

It does not matter what we the consumer wants anymore. It is dictatorship rules now son. The EPA/government now has control of the sport. We make and ride what they want us to make and ride,---no matter how much it costs or how much it hurts the sport. That is what it is, and that is not freedom.

[@msoto951]

Kris Keefer is Roni Mac 💯

[@EarthSurferUSA]

2-stroke racing tips for you 4-stroke guys: Of course, hold the gas on as long as possible going into a corner. As you are braking hard for the corner, down shift with out the clutch also. That way you can hear what gear/rpm you are in as you click down several times while braking. Now, for these easy berm corners, make sure you don't scrub too much speed. Leave the tranny in one gear higher than you think you should, and now pull in the clutch, and pin the throttle. Feed the power with the clutch, (in a gear higher than you think you should be in), and try to pull out of the corner with out falling off the power curve. That will also force you to go into the corner faster too. And for the holeshot: If you don't mind buying tranny parts once in a while, shifting up while flying down the start straight with out the clutch is faster too, even if you let off the gas a bit for the shift. I let off the gas, (don't like changing tranny parts once in a while), and this YZ would probably shift with no clutch under full power, the tranny is sooooo smooth. This bike is a very refined 1982 YZ250, (which was faster than this bike), but it is too tall.

[@Oliver-jv5ww]

how hard would this be to ride as a first dirbike?

[@chadsummers7981]

I’m guessing you ride street based on pfp . Your first dirtbike should be a 250f or 125 2 smoke but… depending on what u ride street you may have the understanding on how power hits and you may shred a 250 just fine, you will never know unless you do a few test rides. The 150 orange bikes are killer bikes to if u plan on trail riding, but try the 250f if you find that slow then a 2 smoke may suit you, and you can always sell the 250f and get a bigger bike

[@Oliver-jv5ww]

@@chadsummers7981 lol i am only semi serious. im not sure what you mean by pfp but ive been riding a 600 for a while now. i do think a 125 is what id probably want to get first although id more likely get a dual sport instead since its so much more convenient to be street legal too. 250 2 strokes are badass though, id like to own a 500 even if they exist by the time i feel like id be able to survive riding one

[@EarthSurferUSA]

It would be a big mistake. I started out young, (back when a kid could afford his own), with small bikes that fit me and were not racing bikes. Then I moved up and up, eventually started racing. When you start out as a kid, (and bounce off the ground better than being older), you just grow into it as you learn. I really could not imagine getting a race bike for my first bike as an adult, and everybody I know who did---got pretty banged up. There is too much to learn. I would start off with a trail bike, 2 or 4 stroke. Something that does not have a lot of power, (under 25 hp), some pretty decent suspension, and something you can touch both feet tom the ground on. Then when you get your first MX bike---you will have it lowered because the damn things are too tall today. :(

[@joeyholthusen6495]

Tell Yamaha to do a YZ 490 anniversary edition with the updates! If they build it, we will buy it! Too much power is like having to pretty of a girl.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

What are you going to race it against?

[@holeshotinspectionllc2412]

I wondered what happened to Preston🤙

[@NEWiViAN]

same motor but sounds much different!

[@EarthSurferUSA]

No it doesn't.

[@NEWiViAN]

@@EarthSurferUSA dense comment. Sure it does 😂

[@johnn__watkins9905]

this got weird at the end

[@EarthSurferUSA]

I wanna see weegee ride it,---even on flat ground.

[@captain907]

Wow that track prep didn’t look so good.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

I think they should just pave the track for you guys today. I raced for 10 years before the 4-strokes came out,---and this is the most baby smooth track that any of us would ever have seen. They all are today. You guys can't even tell if your suspension is any good, because there are no bumps. I am telling ya, ever since John Wayne died,---we are becoming wussies. Just pave it. Go ahead. It doesn't matter anymore. The sport is no good today anyway. The EPA took it over.

[@captain907]

@@EarthSurferUSA what are you talking about lol. go ride Glen Helen. it’s gnarlier than ever

[@Shooter_Mcgavin93]

If it ain’t blow smoke it’s a joke

[@EarthSurferUSA]

If you ain't mixing gas, your girlfriend has no class. :)

[@imtheonevanhalen1557]

It is butt F%%K ugly.......zero definition in the seat area

[@Jacob-64]

C'mon....stop comparing this 2T with the four st ...I mean "this 250 2T has four stroke brakes" what kinda BS is that .This is so scripted it's unbearable

[@LRP-e1m]

Yamaha put the same brakes that are on their higher end four stroke line up onto the yz two stroke

[@EarthSurferUSA]

All the brakes are 1 finger brakes now. My 2019 YZ250 brakes are so damn strong, one finger is great for the front, and I think I actually want to put an air bubble in the rear brake line, so I can feel the damn thing before it locks up the rear wheel. MXA used to be a very precise magazine. When you read their shootouts in the 80's, you knew what you were getting when you bought it. I bet Jody keeps his office door closed and does not even want to talk with these kids.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Racer-x-(my wrong),--even worse.

[@russellhelms2835]

Now THAT is funny! Agreed

[@db1988]

Tired of the dam 2strokes making me sick while waiting on the line for a hare scramble to start I won't even go to the start untill last minute all dam smoke makes ya wanna puke

[@fullnoyz7670]

Reading this really makes me think that dirt bikes ain’t for you

[@EarthSurferUSA]

@@fullnoyz7670 Yea, that is what I said,---kinda. :)