Motocross
Yamaha YZ250F
The 250 four stroke that dominates club racing in Australia. Torquey for a 250, reliable, and the reverse engine makes it feel like a smaller bike than it is. Sold in Australia from 2001 to 2026, 26 model years.
About the Yamaha YZ250F
Yamaha turned the 250F class on its head in 2014 when the YZ250F got the reverse cylinder engine from its bigger brother. Where the other 250s screamed, the Yamaha pulled from lower down, and it has been the bike to beat in the Australian MX2 and clubman classes ever since. KYB SSS suspension, a frame that feels the same as the 450, and an engine that lasts.
It suits a first time motocross buyer, a junior stepping up from an 85 or 125, and any rider who wants to race without the arm pump of a 450. It gives away a little top end to the KTM 250 SX F and CRF250R, but it makes it back everywhere else, and the running costs are the lowest in the class.
What changed by year
- 2010 to 2013
- Conventional forward facing engine, carburettor until 2011 then fuel injection. Good bikes, but the 2014 change is big enough that most buyers start there.
- 2014 to 2018
- The reverse cylinder engine, fuel injection and new chassis. Kick start only. The bike that won everything at club level for years, and still a great value used buy.
- 2019 to 2023
- Electric start, the Power Tuner app and a revised engine with more top end. 2021 got a stronger clutch and mapping changes.
- 2024 onwards
- All new engine and chassis shared with the 2023 YZ450F: lighter, slimmer, with traction control through the app. The current bike.
Servicing a YZ250F
A 250F revs harder than a 450, so it is fussier about oil. Change it every 5 to 8 hours if you race, 10 at the outside, with a filter every second change. It takes just under a litre with a filter and most owners run a 10W 40 full synthetic. Keep an eye on the sight glass between changes because a hot 250F will drink a little.
Air filter every ride. Valves rarely move on these engines but check them at the interval in the table, and check them straight away if the bike gets hard to start when hot. Plan on a piston and rings somewhere around 40 to 60 hours for a race bike.
Engine hours between jobs: the schedule the Digital Garage tracks for this bike, based on the manual. Racers and hard riders go sooner, as above. Ride in sand or mud and halve the engine ones.
| Job | Every |
|---|---|
| Air filter | 3h |
| Engine oil & filter | 15h |
| Gearbox oil | 15h |
| Valve clearance | 45h |
| Coolant flush | 60h |
Parts that fit a YZ250F
JT Alloy Racelite 49T Sprocket - Blue$74.95 · members $63.71
Vee Rubber Super H/D 4mm Tube 100/90-19$39.95 · members $33.96
Twinair Powerflow Throttle Body Kit$449.95 · members $382.46
DRC Rim Lock Alloy/Rubber 2.15"$28.95 · members $24.61
Super HD 4mm 80/100-21 Tube$44.95 · members $38.21
JT Alloy Racelite 51T Sprocket - Blue$69.00 · members $58.65
JT Alloy Racelite 51T Sprocket - Black$79.95 · members $67.96
Tube 110/90-19 Super HD4mm$44.90 · members $38.16
SPP Alloy Fork Support Adj$34.95 · members $29.71
Maxima Cool-Aide Pre Mixed Note..$19.95 · members $16.96
Wheel Bearing Kit Front YZ/WR$56.99 · members $48.44
Cycra Pro Bar Pad$69.95 · members $59.46
Buying a used Yamaha YZ250F
The 2014 to 2018 bikes are the value buy but they are all getting on now, so the engine history matters more than the year. Ask when the piston was last done and whether there is a receipt. On the 2019 onwards bikes check that it starts on the button hot and cold, and pull the seat to look at the airbox. Check the rear linkage and swingarm bearings for play: they are the first thing to go on a bike that has been washed a lot and greased never.
The recent sold prices on the Marketplace page linked below show what a YZ250F of each year actually changes hands for.
Used Yamaha YZ250Fs for sale
6 listed on the MWMX Marketplace right now.
Yamaha YZ250F known issues
Oil consumption when ridden hard
Not a fault as such, but a 250F on the rev limiter all day uses oil. Check it every ride.
Clutch on the 2014 to 2020 bikes
The clutch is a wear item on a bike that gets slipped out of corners. Notchy engagement means the basket is grooved.
Starter and battery on 2019 onwards
Same as the 450: a battery left flat over winter will not come back. Keep it on a tender.
Yamaha YZ250F questions
- How often should I change the oil in a YZ250F?
- Every 5 to 8 engine hours if it is raced, up to 10 for trail or practice use, with a new filter every second change.
- Is a YZ250F a good beginner bike?
- For motocross, yes. It is the most forgiving of the 250 four strokes and the cheapest to keep running. For trail riding a WR250F or a trail bike suits better.
- What year did the YZ250F get electric start?
- 2019. The 2014 to 2018 bikes are kick start only.
- How many hours will a YZ250F engine last?
- Serviced properly, a piston and rings every 40 to 60 hours and it will go for years. The bottom end is very strong.