HIi guys i used to have a 04 yz 250 and i did not like it at all . I got a kx450f and i like it but i miss 2 strokes and sick of 4 strokes and maintaining them. So im thinking about getting a yz 250 or yz 125. So I was wondering if the 2007-2010 yz250s are alot different from the 04s? Like i said i used to have a 04 and did not like it at all. So i was wondering if the newer ones were better? And what year did they start improving? I know the 04 had the steel frame and the 06+ have aluminum frames. I think it was more then just that I did not like about the 04s. And also are the yz250s just in general like that and should i just get a 125 . Please just tell me what you guys think it will help alot. I appreciate it! Thanks alot!

There is little difference in engines of the yz250 from 04 to present. The major changes were 05 aluminum frame and 06 got sss suspension. I would go with an 06 or newer yz250 if you plan to ride trails , enduros, gp or big supercross tracks, but thats me i am 220 without gear. If you like tight mx tracks, though the 125 just might be the ticket. Unfortuanately you will go through more topends and clutches with the 125. Just my 2 cents , good luck.

You said you did not like the YZ250 at all, yet you're looking into buying another one? Also, it's hard to give advice when you didn't say what you didn't like about the YZ... Chances are if you didn't like the YZ then, you're not going to now... And you're definitely not going to like a 125. Just my two cents.

Not necessarily. I have a YZ250 and a YZ125 . I'm 5'9" 180 and I like the YZ 125 alot better than the YZ250 . I am twice as fast on the 125 ... running either gnarly, technical single track or more open gncc type trails . I can stay right on "A" riders with the 125 but i'm mid pack B on the 250 ... go figure .   This is my 3rd season riding , had a 450 , a 300 2T , a 200 2T and I like the YZ125 the best .

robba214, on 04 March 2012 - 05:21 PM, said:

Any 2005 and up YZ125 will just be around 189 lbs (86 kg) dry. The 2008 model or present, in particular, it will weigh about 2 kg lighter.

Re the YZ250, there is not much difference in the engine. Even up to now the YZ250 uses the same long-stroke configuration engine from the 1999 model. It had only undergone minor porting adjustment in 2003 and a carburetor needle change from N3EJ to N3EW in 2007.

But in terms of weight, there is a sizeable plus 11.5 lb difference up until 2009. Lemme enumerate what Motocross Action documented through the years:

1. The 2005 YZ250 is 7.5 lbs lighter than the 2004 YZ250 when it adapted the plug-and-play aluminum frame;

2. The 2006 YZ250 is over 1.0 lb lighter than the 2005 model due to the high-tech titanium rear shock that replaced the previous shock;

3. The 2008 YZ250 is 2.0 lbs lighter than the 2006 due to the changes in the front-end of the bike and it features also a 4-mm shorter SST forks; and

4. The 2009 YZ250 is almost 1.0 lb lighter than the 2008.

MXA even noted that the bone-stock YZ250 can still be made lighter easily by at least 5.0 lbs more perhaps by replacing some of the hard parts using the accouterments from its 4-stroke sibling. Like the YZ-F swingarm, it could be one of the tickets for such undertaking.

In stock-trim, the 2009 to 2010 YZ250 US-model (this one uses the smaller head cylinder, has higher compression ratio, a shorter pipe and was designed for US Supercross) makes around 46.8 hp and weighs 211.2 lbs dry (or 96 kg dry). Therefore, it provides a power-to-weight ratio of around 0.49 hp/kg-dry. Shaving 5.0 lbs more from it, it would give you a power-to-weight factor of 0.50 hp/kg-dry.

What does that tells you, perhaps, you might ask.... Both YZ250 figures are actually higher than the power-to-weight ratio of the 2012 450SX-F at 0.48 hp/kg-dry, and the 2012 350SX-F at 0.45 hp/kg-dry. Those 0.49 hp/kg-dry and 0.50 hp/kg-dry are actually in match with the 2012 RMZ450, CRF450, and KX450F. The 2012 250SX, on the other hand, produces 0.51 hp/kg-dry (50 hp and weighing 217 lbs dry), which is really high and it matches the 2012 YZ450F's power-to-weight ratio (55.0 hp and weighing 238 lbs dry)

There are a lot aluminum frame US-version YZ250's on sale for cheap at Craiglist, amounting from US$2,500 to US$5,000 from 2005 to 2010 model.... Check them out in these links:

2007
http://phoenix.craig...2873564740.html

2006
http://phoenix.craig...2879533325.html

2005
http://phoenix.craig...2871514708.html

2010
http://reno.craigsli...2816789857.html


Now with those cheap used bikes, you can afford to throw in there an Eric Gorr 295cc kit amounting only to US$660.00

GOODLUCK!

Edited by joshua_inigo, 08 March 2012 - 08:44 AM.

joshua_inigo, on 08 March 2012 - 08:40 AM, said:

I just had a minor head mod, squish and little higher compression... The YZ250 has so much torque it's sick, dont think you'd ever need a 300 kit on it...  and I had a ktm300