The Good and the Bad 2021 Yamaha XT250

[@akustaka]

Coming from an experienced motorcycle rider for over 8 years, past motorcross racer, and avid enduro/trail rider with a 450X, I can give honest statements to your concerns with the bike in the order you list them, I give this input seeing as you say it's your first bike.. 1. Weight: It's a street legal bike, I guarentee you at least 15 pounds of that 293 pounds is in the exhaust alone, my street legal kit for my 450X alone was an added 5 due to all the wiring and blinker assemblies with relays, key switch, upgraded voltage rectifier, ect.. It's also got a steel frame, not an aluminum like a proper dirtbike, this keeps it more planted during highway/road use due to the low center of mass and helps keep you from seriously damaging the frame during a laydown since these are considered "beginner" bikes. 2. No factory skidplate: Primarily only premium high end bikes come with a skid plate worth anything, my 450X has a plastic one and it does the job, but I'm not holding my breath if I ever decided to try and jump a sharp narrow rock, it comes down to your skillset and understanding how to maneuver the bike to not hit obstacles. Having a skid plate is nice, but the undercarriage of the motor is more than adequate for log hopping, it's better to avoid the obstacles rather than brute force through them with the safety of a skidplate. 3. Gas cap leaking: ALL dirtbikes leak gas if you lay them down, if they didn't when jostling the bike around on rocky terrain you would pressurize the tank and it would blow out your petcock/cap seals anyway, making it leak MORE if you laid it down at that point, and drain all the gas in 10 minutes? Sheesh why you letting it lay down for so long. I understand you said you're lighter than the bike by over 2x but even still, grab the handlebars and drag the bike to an angle where you can lift it easier, it has a grab handle at the seat for this purpose as well. I also recommend you look up how to properly lift a bike, even a 150 pound girl can easily pick up a 400 pound Harley street glide on its side, it's about leverage and how you lift. Turn your back to the bike with your feet near the seat, squat, grab the part of the handlebar that's in the dirt if you can but upper portion works too, use grab handle at the back of the seat with the other hand, and deadlift it up. This maneuver gives you WAY more leverage when lifting a downed bike. Go lay your bike down in the grass outside your house and practice picking it up how I mentioned above. 4. Turn signal: I don't think I've ever rode a bike that made a noise when the signal was on, just pay attention to when you turn it on lol. 5. Mirror snapping: Most guys who ride enduros upgrade the mirrors first thing, especially if they are planning on taking them off road. It's not that the mirror that comes stock does not do the job, but they are usually made in tandem with the brake/clutch mount to save manufacturing cost on another mold, get an off road mirror that folds in when hit. Also most states only require one mirror on motorcycles, so you are still legal (depending on state) if you are worried about that. You also need to notice that the stock mirror overhangs the handlebar grip slightly, this is to help you see behind you when on the street, if you are unwilling to upgrade your mirrors then simply take them off when you go off roading, they usually just spin on/off. 6. Exhaust is quiet: This is not a bad thing, please don't think you NEED a loud exhaust, especially if you want to 'stealth' ride on private property. Something to keep in mind too especially if this is a commuter is that a loud exhaust gets old, QUICK, on daily rides.. I'd get an aftermarket exhaust for weight savings, cat delete, and better looks, but never PURELY for sound, that's a teenager thing. Also that little clip thing on the handlebar that rattles and makes noise is literally just a washer placed there during manufacturing to ensure the handlegrip is not pushed too far in and rips out the end of the grip on the bar. You can safely remove it if it bothers you. 7. Stock tires: Just get new tires if they bother you that much, also getting 'bucked' off it indicates your preload is not set correctly for your weight, or your have too much PSI in the tires making them deflect too harshly, this has little to do with them being stock or aftermarket. Also sand usually requires a specific tire to be effective in it, there is a reason you don't see 4-wheelers in socal with knobbies.. Mud too, any tire will struggle with mud unless they have a large contact patch, that's why fourwheelers and SxS vehicles do much better than dirtbikes in mud. 8. Power: Look up an Ivans Tune, the dude does a bunch of tunes for a bunch of models, he will ask you what you have done to the bike mod wise and will adjust your ECU based on it, make sure you do this tune AFTER you mod the exhaust and the airbox if you plan on doing that, or else you will have to send in your ECU a SECOND time to have him remod it for the new mods, you can easily get a good 2-5 HP bump from just a tune since every single vehicle comes from the factory de-tuned to help bass emissions. Also the wheelie thing is just a lack of skill, take it to a abandoned parking lot and practice, if you can't pop a wheelie with a clutch actuation in second then you just don't know how. Preload the front suspension and dump the clutch load while pulling back and sitting further back on the seat, I can wheelie a PW50 without a clutch and I'm a 220 pound guy, I promise you can do it on this with practice. 9. Gearing: Modify the gearing however you want, if you want more off road then put more teeth on the rear, if you want more road do the opposite. You really shouldn't be engine braking going down hill anyways, that is a bad habit and will get you into trouble if you go from a semi-loose surface to a hard surface with any amount of speed, it can lock the back tire or make it bounce on you since the engine has no give-point when engine braking. You should be clutching and manipulating the brake levers so YOU can manipulate the traction points of the wheels. 10. Pit-Pass: This sounds like an "extended warranty" thing dealers love to push onto people, these bikes are bullet proof and don't need much. The dealer took advantage of your young age and you most likely didn't actually read through what the service covered, just believed whatever the guy (getting paid commission) was telling you. That's why you later found out it didn't cover brake pads of damage you caused to the bike by riding it, even if the riding is considered to be what the bike was made for. Tip for ya, NEVER BUY THIS SHIT EVER ON ANYTHING, you said yourself you paid 750 for 2 oil changes, their a scam, live and learn plus never go back to that dealer for another vehicle again, post a review about being pressured into buying the service on google if you want to warn others. There is no way the sales person didn't know you would hardly use the service, he was purely trying to get commission since those kind of services they get the most kick back on in a sale.

[@ashtonmiles4208]

bro just did a better review in the comment section gah damn

[@fishtacoma]

Thanks for all the info, wow

[@korodski]

💯 🇺🇸

[@armadilllo]

harley street glide 400 lbs? I want one of those because mine weighs closer to 900 lbs. My Acerbis 5.3 gallon tank on my DR does not leak while laying on its side even with the vent tube

[@t3rmitee]

@@armadilllobc that’s a good aftermarket tank. Stock ones don’t really have fancy pressure releases

[@IdahoEagle77]

Brand new out the door for an XT250, from a dealer that isn’t a crook - $6,000. This is also one of the lightest bikes you can find in this class.

[@rogerbiss7915]

I’ve got nearly 5k miles on my xt. I put a skid plate and barkbusters immediately. Many people change the gearing, but I find it a reasonable compromise. The very low first gear allows me to tractor up almost anything. I don’t want to go over 60 so I don’t miss a 6th gear. Many people hate the trail wings, I really like them since they are great on the pavement and I don’t ride much mud. They wear like iron, I expect to get another couple of thousand miles out of mine. The lack of power I think is a good thing for a new rider since it limits the damage when you screw up. It also forces you to learn good technique to lift the front wheel. Ride a few of the bigger more powerful dual sports and you will appreciate the xt’s agility.

[@rcg7157]

I bought a 2023 xt250 and I weigh 230 and it handles great very happy with it.

[@Asherons]

Dude, I'm in Texas, roads are big speed limit is fast and places are far away. This xt250 is my first bike, and its just not doing it . Its too slow or something. Feels like crap when you hit 60. Whats your experience bc im about to return this thing lol.

[@rcg7157]

@asheron3224 I don't ride mine on the highways at all. Ive had it up to 78 mph but it's not a fast bike and I weight almost 230. But where I live in California it's perfect for me.

[@Asherons]

@@rcg7157 I should probably just keep it. I really should be thankful my new xt250 is my first bike.

[@RajReviewsDualSportPhotoGadget]

My 2021 XT250 also leaks fuel from the gas tank cap when the bike is on its side. During its 600 miles service, I asked the Yamaha dealership service center to look into it, and was told that that was normal, and not to worry about it. But I do worry about it. FYI - ‘Finding Neutral’ posted a video showing that the handlebars can be turned to the right and still be locked.

[@ElectricMilesLLC]

Ya it locks from either side

[@bultacowally]

Are you really that "not so educated"...(I could have used a lot more choice word there but I decided to be nice about it)... Gas tanks have to be vented so of course they will leak when you lay the bike over. If they are not vented your motorbike will fail to run after a few minutes. C'mon man use your head!!!

[@lf3skillz921]

No motorcycle I've ever owned had audible turn signals, pretty normal for gas to leak out on bikes (dirt bikes at least) when tipped over too. Don't trust the steering lock as any sort of deterrent, if someone knows anything about bikes a solid pull will break it loose. Glad to hear it hasn't caused you any troubles, going to look at one in a couple days.

[@ElectricMilesLLC]

Ya I'm going to mod mine and wire in a loud relay to make the audible click noise I like

[@bultacowally]

I have had a bazzillion motorcycles in my life most makes except Harley and the thought of turn signals making a noise when activated never even entered my mind once...like so what!! Then I just bought a Honda Ruckus scooter and the turn signals on that do the TIK TOK thing and it's pretty cool. But not anything that I really give 2 shits about.... Just pay attention to what you are doing when you ride.

[@seadoode]

Dude, it's a dual sports bike not built or sold as an enduro.

[@E_Clampus_Vitus]

Define “enduro”. 🍿

[@salesfoundations4406]

I had a Yamaha TW200 a couple years ago got it brand new after many years of not riding regret selling it because I talked myself into getting something more powerful blah blah blah and I regret it however I do love the new colors on newer ones. These dual sports are good for urban exploring even if you live in a massive city you'd be surprised when you get on Google maps and zoom out how many places you can find to explore

[@E_Clampus_Vitus]

I had a TW200 sold it a few years ago and regret it. Now, I’m looking at getting another bike and can’t find a better option. Off camber downhill dirt road is my driveway. I can’t do it on a heavy “adventure” bike. And I’m not interested in a plated dirt bike. The seat is too high which is worse for off camber turns. I don’t want excessive maintenance, and I don’t want a2X4 up my ass. So, I have no options available to me for another bike. It’s either TW or XT .

[@nephilymbass1]

It might sound odd. But you actually want the gas tank to leak a little bit when the bike is laid over, if the tank is air tight and you change elevation dramatically pressure will built in the tank and when you go to open it you’ll get sprayed in the face with gasoline much like an overheated radiator

[@souhailshamaissem7564]

Iove the xt250, I just sold my 2017 xt250 because I needed money otherwise I wouldn't have. I could ride it all day long at 110km on the highway and it's such a light weight bike. I was getting about 34km per litre which is quite good

[@phillipbatho3213]

This looks like a video I would have made when I was a teenager back in the early 90s and didn't know much yet. I wish you would have had someone with experience to help you with the dealer experience especially, but it's good to see you getting into motorcycles and hopefully you're learning more all the time.

[@ElectricMilesLLC]

The man that sold me the bike just wanted the commission. :(

[@justauser]

@@ElectricMilesLLC Why do you say that? Its a perfect begginer bike, he didint try to sell you something you didnt need

[@craneoDeFuego077]

​@@justauser the $750 "pit pass" lol

[@mohawksniper79]

It's mostly experience for the mirror and clutch and brake lever you should loosen the bolts just a bit so when you drop it they spin out of the way instead of breaking and then you just tap them back in place when you pick it up. 👊🏽🤠

[@SurvivaLust]

Don't seal your gas tank...it's designed to VENT to keep it from exploding.

[@strandapa2421]

This bike now 3 years plus, no problems road or not, I like Yamaha

[@GraemeCorbeau]

Thanks for making this video , it does help newbies work out a few basics You don't know what you don't know .

[@dannyknight5536]

my dad got one he loves it hes been riding along time hes 84

[@ElectricMilesLLC]

That's awesome

[@tonyluong2465]

i have model 2017 , blue color, i love it, i start out with this bike off road , im 5,10 , 195lbs , fit perfect , my feet flat on the ground , i just do normal off road , any heavier this bike might not have enough power

[@petepete3389]

I agree about the power. I had a 1995 XT350 that was only a little over 300 lbs and had MUCH more power. The downside was no electric start and was a bear to start when hot.

[@rogerbiss7915]

You need a different service department if they didn’t check the valve clearance at 600 miles. Although they may be ok you check them in case they need adjustment. If you run them too tight you’ll burn them and need expensive work. I did them myself more to know how to do it and they were in speck. Oil and filter change is going to cost about thirty dollars if you do it yourself unless you have some special source for oil and filter. Bash guards probably would have saved your brake lever and possibly your mirror.

[@rodneygarcia3548]

Some of your complaints are understandable because it is your first motorcycle, but you have to remember that motorcycles are not plug and play devices and come from the factory ready for different riding conditions, you have to modify them according to your needs.

[@pappaclutch3266]

The blinker issue is a training thing

[@charlespayton2808]

The thing about those service specials is that if the dealership thinks its a great idea, its definately not in your best interest. Dealerships love taking advantage of new riders. Its sick.

[@kaytme5915]

Remove the end of the muffler for the extra power you want. When you need the "spark arrestor" put it back into your muffler.

[@petepete3389]

Way back in 1980, my SR500 had self-canceling turn signals (timed out at 20 seconds). What happened?

[@rs660alec]

The first 40 seconds I knew this would be 😳😲

[@kaytme5915]

Key lock is tiny pinn. Almost any strong thief can force handlebars breaking the pin.

[@Mark-op7zt]

Your bike is really not what I would consider an enduro. You have a dual sport and maybe you are expecting too much from what a XT250 was designed to do. The XT250's offroad prowess should probably be limited to fire trails and dirt roads. If you want much more than that look at real enduro bikes. All the Japanese and European manufactures make them, and they cost quite a bit more for a reason. Some are not street legal.

[@alexsailaway1]

Agree, is a dual sport, WR250F is enduro.

[@ThroughDarknessComesLight]

Is this one street legal ?

[@TomorrowIsNow]

Search Serow250 to see what an XT250 is able to do.

[@blakerains2970]

@@ThroughDarknessComesLight yes !!!

[@mkshffr4936]

Back in the day that is what we called dual sports.

[@56Spookdog]

It sounds like you need to learn how to use your brakes for riding down hill and if you’re still have problems due to your weight you may need to slightly adjust the tire pressure and lessen the preload of the rear shock. The tire complaint is often made about the tires especially about sand while others have no problems except for the sand. There are plenty of videos of guys popping and riding wheelie that start in second gear. It’s truly unfortunate the way the mirror mount broke the way it did but I’d assume most are made same, some people remove the mirrors before off road riding or buy folding ones. I to wish they came with skid plates but Yamaha knows a lot of the XT250s will never see the dirt and I think a blinker reminder other than the dash reminder would be nice too (I use hand signals) but not having them helps keep cost down and seeing the skid plates that come stock on Japan bikes I think most people would replace them anyway. I’ve had 125s 175s and 650s in my opinion the XT is a good all around basic bike and that’s what it’s meant to be.

[@svt9480]

Very good video. Thanks for making it !

[@not1au]

Bought my 2021 XT used with 400 miles on it for $5000.00. I wouldn't buy a motorcycle at all if I had to go through a dealership. Bogus fee that add up over $1500.00 before tax, tile and license is unrealistic. You'll hear " dealerships don't make much on smaller bikes", " they have to pay someone the set up the bike", ect,ect,etc. All bs lies. Dealerships get bikes well below MSRP. The manufacturer list a suggested price ( MSRP) but the dealership piles it on. The bikes are shipped FULLY ASSEMBLED. There's a warehouse 2 miles from my house with fully assembled motorcycles and 4 wheelers. They only put in the fluids, and break out the KY for the buyer. If McDonald's charged the way dealers did you'd have to finance a Big Mac. If dealerships charged only MSRP they would still make a profit. My father bought a used PCX 150 from a dealership and was told " we done all the maintenance ". Oil black and still had the 5 year old stock air filter. I can see them not changing the air filter because it took me all of 5 minutes and 5 dollars.

[@bultacowally]

You are right and you are wrong...depends mainly on the dealer. I live in upstate NY and there is a dealer that sells multiple brands including Yamaha 5 miles from my house. They wanted almost $7200 OTD for a '22 Yami XT 250. I accused them of price gouging and left. I drove south 60 miles to another Yamaha only dealer and bought a '22 XT 250 for $200 off MSRP....$5800 OTD all registered and ready to ride home. That was with $400 sales tax and $300 freight plus the DMV charges...that was it. GREAT people there. Its worth shopping around for stuff.

[@jonathansheeder5153]

Bought my KLX still in the crate. From a dealer.

[@beausbargarage6213]

My man you don’t use the stop switch to shut off bike. Use the key Switch for emergency only Now ride on

[@drayvenwall5883]

About the tires definitely drop the psi too much air in them they're aired for street

[@aronPru2660]

That 700$ dealer price was juat a rip off. Well. You pay to learn too sometimes 😊.

[@salesfoundations4406]

NEW dual sport ALL DAY

[@hectorvara750]

Very nice video. Thank you. I have a two and six cylinder BMW m/c. Each does not have self canceling blinkers. I have made it a habit of canceling the signal after my turn. You can do the same. Habits can work wonders. I am not always perfect, but most often it is not a problem. Makes life simpler if you just develop this habit. All the best and safe riding.

[@hakualex]

One of the best investments you can get for your bike is a gps tracker. Especially these bikes that are lightweight

[@xavierfumat7567]

This was your first bike? Damm dude! This is such a sweet and docile bike to be anyone's first bike! Easy to learn clutch n throttle response. Thinking you should ride a Yamaha RD 400 and compare with our XT

[@Jimmysea503]

I test drove A 1977 Yamaha RD 400 back in the early 1980's. If I remember correctly, it was a two-stroke, street bike and went like a bat out of hell.

[@dirtroadjim5970]

Disconnect low beam wire . There’s your headlight off switch.

[@justauser]

You to turn the key off on pretty much every motorcycle ive ever seen tbh

[@philippinespaulregbruceukl7802]

It's a great Bike 🤗

[@Greg-ck9dx]

Excellent!

[@kaytme5915]

Use Epoxy fixing mirror problem. Grease a bolt, screw into the mirror mount. Place a ring or something around it for a *Form*. Put the Epoxy into the space & after it sets up remove bolt. Now you can install the mirror!

[@CHUNKYNUGGET666]

No one will ever know what that metal grip thing is, it’s a Yamaha mystery😂

[@Ben-ci1vz]

Really helpful video, thanks

[@markaponte7057]

Bro jb weld the mirror back on

[@stixx3969]

7 or 8 grand for a 250?

[@billymcgill8064]

It sounds to me like all your dislikes is about yourself not the bike.

[@ElectricMilesLLC]

Thanks for the feedback billy

[@kaytme5915]

Have fun

[@Toaster201]

happens on my xt with the fuel leak

[@gregorydavis1511]

110 lbs god

[@jedeckert8912]

LOL footpegs ain't ten pounds!

[@bobbymorgan7861]

3 pounds (footpegs,brackets and bolts)

[@stereolababy]

not turning off blinkers is on you not the bike

[@peterr2055]

I disagree everybody drives sometimes with their turn signals on, between sunlight and actually looking where you're going it happens, PS I like this vid.

[@jedeckert8912]

Agreed.

[@danielhristov6175]

You expect audible clicks from the blinkers like a car? Even my GoldWing doesn’t have that 😂 Put your helmet inside the car and you will see why bikes don’t have audible blinkers 😂😂😂

[@ElectricMilesLLC]

My old Yamaha had audible blinkers

[@peterr2055]

You can hear a loud buzzer up to 50 miles an hour with a helmet on

[@Jeancarloperezsequeira]

No son maĺas simplementes esta en las manos equivocadas

[@justauser]

Your wrong, adjusting the valves is important after the break in period and also expensive. It's not an easy job if you don't know what your doing. Also, an oil change is not just $10 of fluid and a washer. It's $40 of fluid + an oil filter + time, labor etc.

[@bultacowally]

Looks like you have crashed a couple fifty times

[@alcrooks9095]

Everything the young fella complained about was due to his own inexperience over riding motorcycles didn't take him long to beat the crap out of that bike a thousand miles broken lovers covered with dents. I think you would have been better off with a little Honda rebel😅😅😅

[@Shawn-nd6ew]

and no kick starter ? WTF

[@ElectricMilesLLC]

Right! If you put it in second and run going 8mph itl start up if you have a dead battery

[@Shawn-nd6ew]

@@ElectricMilesLLC I am convinced they removed all kick starters because some men were man splaining or kick splaining they wouldn't have it so now we are all forced into electric start button. Now we are all the same see?

[@higg1977]

Its not normal to regularly drop a bike ...

[@ElectricMilesLLC]

It is when you're a beginner

[@jedeckert8912]

@@ElectricMilesLLC No, it's not

[@bultacowally]

yeah sounds like the bike is too tall and heavy for you...maybe consider a Honda Grom ??? Or perhaps a different hobby???