Can one clean and reuse the stock oil filter?
This may be a dumb ass question but its the first time back to bikes in about 8 years?

If you have an 01 or 02 you can clean and reuse the filter. It's a metal mesh. If you have an 03, it's paper and you have to replace it.
Chow

I know that you can re use them but I havent yet. I have a stack of old ones sitting in my garage. Whats works best? brake cleaner?

Brake cleaner to get the oil off, compressed air to get the little particulate metal pieces out.

So does anyone know why Yamaha switched from an 02 metal filter to an 03 paper filter?

And can the 02 filter safely be used (and re-used) in an 03?

Or should we spend $70 (OUCH) for a SCOTTS filter?

Rumor is the paper filter is to save weight. But that's kinda silly if you ask me. I have a Scott's in my '03 just for piece of mind. I ran the paper one for a few rides, cleaned it once, but it seemed to start to fray. The Scott's part number is the same for the '01-'03 250F so I think that means it's safe to use the '01-'02 stock filter in the '03.

nikki, where did you buy your Scotts filter?
Mail order, or one of your sponsors? And how much did you pay (if you don't mind me asking)?
Thanks,
Frank

Directly from Scotts - I think it was $70? I needed it in a hurry - I think I got it 3 days after ordering.

I've been looking into oil filters for my yz250f and I strongly suggest staying away from the Scotts stainless steel filter. If you are using this filter please take no offense to this but the particle size the Scotts filter will pass is insanely large. Amsoil paper filters will pass particles between 7 and 10 microns (.0003" - .0004" - this is small! less than 1/2 thousandth!) with great flow. Scotts boasts that their product filters to 35 microns (.0014" about a thousandth and 1/2). IMO, this is HUGE. I am trying to get info on the Yamaha paper filter and a Fram filter for comparison. From what I've learned so far, the Yam filter should be in the range of 10 - 20 microns or better but I need to confirm this.

I was psyched to get a Scotts filter since you never need another one but it just doesn't filter well enough for me... especially for the price.

Carb cleaner, contact cleaner, brake cleaner, or even soap and water cleans those oil filters. The running water helps flush the particles. I always spray it with WD-40 afterwards so I get any water off of it then blow it off with an air nozzle. I reuse my oil filters until they get bent, crushed or otherwise misshapen.