Classic Bike Review: 1996 Yamaha YZ250

This is a look back at Yamaha's all-new YZ250 motocrosser for 1996. This was the first year that Yamaha went to the blue bodywork and a totlat redesign fro 1995. While this basic platform would turn out to be quite successful eventually, this first edition in 1996 was a but of a dud. Underpowered and poorly suspended, better days were ahead for Yamahas YZ250.
If you would like to read more, you can check out my accompanying Classic Steel article at PulpMX.com pulpmx.com/2018/03/05/classic...

[@biggiechin69]

Just picked one up today for $800. Should be a fun build.

[@VlogEpicness]

I loved the 1995 yz. Best looking bike of the 90s.

[@LBrawn]

😂😮

[@justinhenderson5710]

Just got my 22' this week. S0 excited 😊 🤗

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@ronaldtartaglia4459]

I love this channel ❤️

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Thank you!

[@tomvanheeswijk5560]

Tony What a cool Channel you have . Greets from the Netherlands

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Thank you

[@sambuvca22]

got a restored 1998. soup to nuts. my 15 year old is competitive on the track with it.. its crazy. very strong motor.

[@Justen1980]

Yamaha sent me a VHS for the 1996 YZs with Bob Hannah tellin me how good they were. (I was subscribed the the magazines at that time)

[@retroracer6660]

Can you do a Classic Bike Review on the 1992 Suzuki Rm 125 thanks these videos are very informative and helpful.

[@owenarsenault5955]

I had a 92 RM 125, great bike. Ugly seat.

[@yamaharaptor01able]

Man,this is all pretty disappointing news to me. Especially since i fully restored this exact bike back to 100% bone stock. I must not have much in the way of dirtbike experience,i don't have one darn complaint about the bike. It stands out like a shining star amidst a sea of kx's i'm currently hoarding. Thanks for the informative vid👍

[@TheMotocrossVault]

KX500Maniac My best friend had one brand new back in 1996 and it’s lack of power was pretty stark compared to my ‘96 CR250R but none of that really matters now. Any 25-year-old bike that is restored and in mint condition is awesome regardless of its performance when it was new. 👍🏻

[@marlattmotos]

Got a question you may be able to help with, my 96 yz250 I just bought was blown up, cylinder was pretty rough so I'm gonna resleeve it. If I buy a 69mm cylinder sleeve would I buy a 69mm piston kit? Or a 68.50mm piston kit?

[@supertedogpriken]

One of the best looking bike of all time. I love all 1996 bikes. It is in my mind the year when everyone of the brands got there shit togheter and every bike looked AMAZING.

[@darrellcoccagna2055]

Best YZ graphics yamaha ever had. 96 YZ and LBZ gear with chrome troy lee visor on a bell moto 6 helmet. U cant win if u dont look cool

[@deborahchesser7375]

That’s a sexy looking YZ my buddy got one to ride in the woods, it was too much.

[@eddean5090]

Should do the yz125 history because most people who ride dritbikes had one around at some stage if not their own they had a friend that had one.

[@jordancook3775]

Why is there not much info on the 97 yz 250. Is it pretty much the same as the 96?

[@ryans2118]

Like ur vids. Fun. Thanks for sharing

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Thanks for watching!

[@usastride4886]

these videos are interesting!

[@EkonRekon]

I've had that bike since 96'. Love it Wrench report stage 2 moded. Race me on anything you have

[@deborahchesser7375]

It felt slow to you ? I thought it was vicious, that shows how slow I was LOL

[@BrokenSprocket]

I had a 1995 YZ250 it was a great bike.

[@sevenmilewhite1407]

I love my 95

[@reesemontney4188]

I have a 96yz125 and I love it

[@morg0o159]

Was there much difference between the 96 and 97

[@taurienhill5355]

Where did you find those forms where they compared

[@TheMotocrossVault]

TaurienHill 53 September 1995 issue of MXA

[@freeridemoto7133]

1997 next!!!

[@danielc5205]

My brother owned and raced a '96 250 back in the day. Oddly enough the bike is still around in 2019. The current owner put a 360cc big bore kit in it's motor.

[@CarsAndMotorcycles]

Great video Tony! Can you please do a simular video of my favourite bike of all time the 1991 Suzuki RM 250.

[@brunostudley2191]

Virtual49 I’m restoring one, I’ve never ridden it in anger, what do you like about it?

[@fixitfrank1752]

Top show can you do a show on Suzuki lt500 4 wheelers cheers 👍

[@ShaunSavage-kl9pd]

Run a 94 cylinder on the 96. Ohlins fork shock

[@tyzievegemite4251]

A work mate of mine offered me his 96 yz250 for $1000 (aus). Needs some TLC. I’m thinking a possible project bike?. So doing some research. Thanks so much. I want a yz250 to park up next to my 09 yz450f

[@justonemmett1809]

Did you say the 1995 needed or didn't need race gas?

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Juston Emmett the 1995 YZ250 pinged on pump gas under heavy loads.

[@justonemmett1809]

@@TheMotocrossVault Awesome video! I have a 95 that I plan to restore. I replaced the carb (broken choke plunger) with a JD Keihin 38mm PWK Air Striker. No pinging but was thinking about running race gas anyway.

[@joedillon1806]

I was 14 when the 95's came out and always loved the look of bikes that had fenders that slanted up . This bike, the 93-95 RM's (had a 93 RM 125), the KX 80 and 100 all had this rear fender trait that I liked so much. These days, it looks like an extremely hard chassis to ride because the rear slants so high. I envision myself being kicked forward over every jump. lol

[@jamescarbonaro596]

I had a 1994 YZ 250, super smooth linear engine, user friendly. Miss that bike....

[@cassarj76]

Hi I’m trying to find out what was the stock gearing for the 95 250 please? Thanks

[@michaeltrower6792]

Great video can you do one on 96 cr250r thanks

[@TheMotocrossVault]

Michael Trower absolutely 👍🏻

[@deborahchesser7375]

When you open the vintage restoration shop let me know. Then a museum.

[@deborahchesser7375]

I had a 96’ it was pretty damn mean

[@tannerpuhl4233]

I would like to hear about the suzuki kawi collaboration on there first 450

[@TheMotocrossVault]

It was actually a 250 and I can do that for sure! Thanks for the suggestion

[@tannerpuhl4233]

My mistake thats why i found no info on it also you seem not to be to loyal to any inperticular brand wich is great to get info from unbiased source. I have only had hondas

[@hansmazur]

1997 CR250 PLEASE

[@MXRiderFiftyTwo]

Your Daughter Stole your Thunder

[@chriscardoza9714]

The 1994 yz 250 was far better bike made....

[@trebwalker3553]

Ich habe eine komplett restaurierte yz250 bj 1996

[@stevestiffler9120]

I spent some time on a 99 yz250. It was faster, pulled harder than my 01 and 03 Cr250's

[@tonypalmer7779]

I had a 98 yz 250 was great engine plenty of pull from bottom to topend

[@mikep996]

It's weird everyone talks about this bike being slow I don't think it's much different than my 1997 YZ250 I have a pro action pipe boyesen reeds flywheel weight 50 tooth sprocket.... but that's really about it and just the other day I raced my buddy on his 2019 KTM 250 and beat him by like 5 bike lengths three times in a row really makes no sense and I must weigh 60 lb more than him my bike weighs more than his he has to have close to 8 to 10 more horsepower than me and on top of it he is a better Rider than me we couldn't figure it out...

[@unclequack5445]

Akebono? more like ''Rube Goldberg'' Aaha ha haja…………...