Being an avid MXA reader in the 80's & 90's I had a good picture of what bike was hot and what not. However, being away from the scene in the beginning of the century and not to mention, racing four strokes for about five years I had little knowledge about the two strokes. A couple of years ago I went back to my mixed fuel roots and I have been hooked on 2 strokes ever since. I have owned a KTM SX 250 and I now race a Yamaha YZ 250.
Next season I hope to have saved enough money for a new bike. Probably an 05' or 06'. What has been said about the smokers in the last years? Which bike has won the shootouts? I'm mostly interested in the suspension and handling depertment. I like em to turn tight & swift. Getting a lot of low end coming out of the turns. Whats been the verdict on the Yamaha?

Thanks

Magnus

Hello Sweden!

Over the last four years the Suz and Yam 250's have gone back and forth. I think they have picked the YZ250 the last two years and this year for sure.

They will no longer make the RM250 in 2009 as far as I have read.

hi magnus,

if you like to compare them like guns, the YZ250 is a magnum 44... all the others are mere 38 calibers :D :thumbsup:

DR'sarenotjunk said:

if i recall it right, it's something like this (from a consortium of different magazines):

2001 - CR250
2002 - YZ250
2003 - YZ250 (dirt rider mag and transworld MX)
2004 - YZ250 (dirt rider mag)
RM250 (transworld MX)
2005 - YZ250 in almost all magazines
KX250 (dirt rider mag)
2006 - YZ250, hands down in all US magazines
RM250 one time in a brit magazine, motoX UK, where it won
not because of the engine and suspension, where the YZ250 is
rated highest, but because of handling and ergos
2007 - YZ250 hands down in all magazines
2008 - YZ250 (motocross action mag), so far ;) :thumbsup:

the RM250 won the MXA shootout in 04, 05 and if i remember drew equal in 06 and 07. the rm was unchanged for 08 and came second.

Bruce372 said:

2003
YZ250 in TWMX (transworld motocross), DR (dirt rider) and MXA (motocross action)

2004
YZ250 in DR
RM250 in TWMX

2005
YZ250 in TWMX
KX250 in DR
RM250 in MXA

2006
YZ250 in TWMX, cycle news, racerX, DR, and MXA
RM250 in motoX UK

2007
YZ250 in TWMX and MXA

2008
YZ250 in MXA


in all of these years, the YZ250 always has had the best engine in the class. by 2006 it was reckoned as having the best forks and shocks in the market, and by 2008, it is the only production 2-stroke with an aluminum frame and 2-lbs lighter than the 2007 model :thumbsup: :thumbsup:


2006 DR article
http://www.dirtrider...art1/index.html


2007 MXA article
http://www.motocross...81F1433A4CA3994

The rm 250 was rated as high as the yz, especially in 2004 and 2005. Many years it even won the shootouts.
It would be difficult to chose a 250 based on shootouts.

Thanks a lot guys!:thumbsup:

I know you can not and should not choose your bike based on the shootouts. But it can give you some kind of hint though.

I will go blue mainly because of two reasons - I have a good dealer close to where I live. No other dealer keeps the amount of parts on the shelf that my Yamaha dealer does. And second and most important - my Yamahas have not broken down as much as my other bikes. I loved my KTM in some strange way, but I spent more time in my garage than on the track.

So I will go for Yamaha once again. The fact that the bike has won almost all 250 shootouts for the last 8 years does not hurt either.

Thanks again for the info.

/Magnus

I have never ridden a '05 or '06 RM 250, so take this with a grain of salt. I am a Novice level MXer - 5'10"-175lbs.

I have owned an '06 RMZ450 and currently own an '06YZ250.

The YZ suspension is much better than the RMZ. Big hit compliance was an big issue for me on the RMZ. If I over jumped an obstacle on the RMZ, my knees and ankles took a beating. I ended up paying for a respring and revalve on the RMZ. The YZ was perfect for me out of the box. I have over jumped it a few times now, braced myself for the worst and was pleasantly surpised to find that the YZ soaked the worst of the impacts up without bottoming or punishing me.

I will say that the RMZ turned with much less rider input but would get head shake on long straights. The YZ turns well but needs a little more effort.

I know I am comparing apples and organges and I AM ONLY STATING MY OPINIONS. Do as much research as you can.

Oh yeah, I believe MXA loved the '06 YZ, but I would try to find more riders to get opinions from. I don't put too much into mag reviews.

FYI, I have NO brand allegiances. I have owned a honda, 2 yamahas, 1 suzuki, 1 KTM and 1 kawasaki in the past. They all have had their pros and cons.

Good luck.