2025 Yamaha YZ250FX First Ride - GNCC Race Test! - Cycle News

[@tmlpony]

Great info! been eyeing this bike alot,,just might have to pull the trigger coming from a ktm 250xcw for many years in my 50s too..

[@cannonsmith7429]

Great review. Very tempted to switch to this 250FX from my 250 two stroker

[@prestonthomas5399]

Awesome review! And awesome bike! I want one

[@cyclenews]

Thanks Preston!

[@Slotopro]

Very Curious… I am debating between one or these or a 350. I constantly hear about how good these Yamahas are but I’m having a hard time breaking away from that 350 powerplant. Is it worth going to the Yamaha?

[@motozz8258]

You will be amazed , right down to little things like Wheel bearing that last 10 times longer than those shocking ktm wheel bearings for example. Loose spokes you name it just far bettter quality . Weight range in the suspension no money needed to be spent for pretty quick racing or click it out for slower riders , amazing bikes. Stew Baylor showed on the 450 the dominance before the ktm buy the championships signed him back again.

[@jasonlahood6883]

I had 3 consecutive KTM 350 XC''s, then 2 KTM 300's. I got a 2023 YZ 250FX and instantly swore I'd never ride a KTM again. The power is so usable and tunable. Yes, if you kill momentum in a sandy corner, you will take longer to get back up to speed. But as you put hours on the 250FX, you realize you're not even close to tapping it out 95% of the time. You also learn to carry more momentum and corner speed as a result. I had so much power on my 350 and 300, that I never learned to ride better. The cable clutch is just plain easier to pull than the KTM hydraulic clutch. But the suspension, OMG. Granted, I had mine set up by Factory Connection. But it was 10x better even on the 1st ride. After the set up, I feel like the bike simply doesn't care what you run over. Just point and shoot. The only reason I ever look to see what is in the trail anymore, is just to conserve energy, not because I'm concerned about crashing. You hit one rock wrong on my KTM and you're taking a dive, and that over time makes you ride conservatively AKA slower. IF I ever go back to KTM, it will only be with a $3000 KYB conversion. There's just no going back. And yes, I ride all my buddy's KTM 350's still and they ride my YZ, we all agree, the suspension and balance of the bike is just so much better that is worth giving up some power to the 350. The suspension is holding you back way more than displacement ever will. I went form 40th place season overall to 21st in my race organization. Find a one and give it test ride!

[@Slotopro]

@@motozz8258 True! The KTM doesn’t seem to have the same reliability they did before. I am really crazy about maintaining my bikes and I still had several odd issues with my last 350FX

[@Slotopro]

@@jasonlahood6883 Thanks for the info! I rode a 25 YZ250F a few months ago on some two-track trails and I was really impressed. I ride a lot of desert so I’ve always liked having a little extra power but I’m sure a 250 is plenty for 99% if the time. I’d love to try the new 250FX now that I has the same updates as the moto version did last year. I haven’t had a bad experience on a blue bike yet!

[@stubabyfuora5280]

Did they fix the lousy starting? That is a long term Yamaha problem

[@Moto619films]

Since they updated the airbox do you think it's necessary to put the high flow filter kit in that everyone else does on these Yamahas

[@cyclenews]

As always , more air = more power.