I’m looking for info on swapping my bike, ideally a leftover 22 or possibly 23 if the price is right. Can’t stretch to a 24.
Currently got a YZ 250f 2020. Done just under 70 hours and it’s been a bit of a nightmare. Stretching can chains, sucking dirt damaging valves, hard starting or just not starting at all.
I know a lot of people reading this will think I’m terrible at maintaining it, but I’ve had the twin air kit on from new, always change the filter with the bike on the side and vacuum the air box, change oil every 5-6 hours. Maybe I got a lemon / Friday afternoon bike I don’t know.
When it works, it’s awesome, it’s just been frustrating to own. I race off-road/ hare scrambles and occasionally race mx, and mx practice days. Not a rev to the limiter guy.
In contrast I have a TE250i 2019 and never had any problems, over 200 hours with just one piston change and basic maintenance, still runs like new. There are just certain situations I’d still like to have a 4 stroke for. Any help appreciated, thanks!
I know a kid with a 23 KTM 250 SXF and his valves already went out, so…… 🤷🏻♂️
I’ve had 5 yz250f’s 2019-up Gen. and currently have a 21&22. Zero problems out of any of them.
Every brand has the odd problem bike, or the 'Friday afternoon build' that seems like it was cobbled together quickly before the weekend 😂 I know most Yamaha's are probably perfectly fine, but I'd have a tough time buying the same bike again if I'd just had a load of problems with one.
Even though the Austrian stuff has its problems and every brand has the occasional lemon, even just going by the book time for replacing components suggests they 'should' be the most reliable.
Just for reference, kawi’s are the cheapest, Gasgas, Honda, Suzuki can all be had for around the same price, Ktm, husqvarna are a bit more.
The Shop
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
Maybe I just got a bad one then. I’m a big yamaha fan, had a 16 and no problems, and had a yz 426 that had over 13 years of abuse and never a single problem!
Kawis are always the cheapest even in the US. I have heard there are durability improvements in the 2023 engine so skip the '22 on that and go to '23 if you go that way. If you are tearing up Yamaha engines I would go Austrian. You do have to consider how much you inherently hate air forks though because if you hate the idea of an air fork you are going to wind up putting spring cartridges in it which is more money.
I got burned on a Honda, but they seem pretty reliable if you don't get one that was built on a Friday like I did. Suzuki has a reputation of having a bulletproof engine but no electric start, and it is slower than the rest. Plan a revalve/respring on either of these and maybe the Kawi. Yamaha and KTM suspension seem to be the best tuned out of the box unless you hate air forks.
I didn’t have any problems with the Yamaha, but never got more than 40 hours on one. Honda has been good to me, got 30 hours on it. Never had any luck with Kawis.
didn't you tip over and let yours run on its side for a while?
I have a 2023 Honda CRF250R with 39 hours of run time and it has been the most bulletproof bike I ever owned. I replaced the rear chain guide at 18 and 36 hours but other than that just your normal items…. Chain/sprocket set, tires, air filters and oil changes. It has been a great bike.
It was at an angle for a few seconds on a hill. I was still on it at the time so not a super extreme angle but maybe 45 degrees? If that did it then the pick up location sucks. I have since heard of ktms running without oil for a few minutes and not damaging the cams so a few seconds of low oil shouldn’t have caused the damage I saw unless the design is marginal to begin with.
I think Honda had the cam cap torqued wrong. I talked to a mechanic that has seen similar damage from improper torque or sequence on the cap on street/race bikes. That might explain why it damaged one cam a lot more than the other.
KX250.....once you fix the few small issues....they are actually hard to break. My household has 2) 2022 KX250's and 2) 2019-2022 KX450's and they've been great. I'M NOT A KAWI GUY. I prefer Honda but too much feedback through the bars lately....
The Yamaha is very fragile in my experience. Especially for competitive use and in every other instance when it’s not hardpack. The timing chain is a big issue as is the rod where small / big end issues occur. Also the clutch isn’t great and with this type of engine design problems with the gearbox are expected. I would buy a Honda or Suzuki if you want a Japanese bike as the Kawasaki has also it’s flaws but a bit better then the Yami. Austrian bikes are not perfect but they have the best and most reliable 250F engine available. Good luck and let us know what you decided to buy.
What year yz250f did you have these issues with?
It’s nothing new but my experience is current-gen 22 / 23s but I also understand the next gen 24 should have the same engine so I hope they atleast adress it in some degree. If you are in the market for a new bike stay away from the Yamaha.
I am a fan of Suzukis, I nearly bought one a couple of years ago but having an electric start in off-road racing is quite important to me, with dead engine starts and awkward situations where you might stall or drop it. I haven’t rode a kawi for years so was wondering about peoples opinions. I used to feel cramped on the Hondas but are the new ones more roomy? I’m 6’2”.
The husky’s shouldn’t feel too far removed from my TE I would have thought.
The new gen ktm/husky are more stable and have a stiffer chassis than the previous gen. The four strokes make a little more power than the previous versions.
2023 - The Austrian bikes seem to hold up well. Yamahas timing chain is good for about 20 hours. Kawis are fast but the local hot rods around this area get about 20 hours out of the motor before they let go. Hondas seem to hold up well.
Pit Row
Mine lost oil for a couple minutes. That was 35 hours ago. Cams look fine. Brothers 19 lost oil and coolant, separate times(some bad luck/work on our part). Head looks fine. Cam chain has been just fine. 70 hours or so. Not a single issue.
Dealer in Milwakee,Wi has new RMZ 250's for $5999.00
2023 Suzuki RM-Z250 | Southeast Sales Powersports
Do they ship to England? His location says GB.
Yamaha, Honda, ktm?
Haha yeah I think I may get stung on the shipping on that deal 😄 thanks anyway though.
The Gasgas is looking a good deal to me at the moment.
From what I've ridden, modded and beaten on in my day. All my Yamaha's have been bulletproof and so have my KX250F's. But I've been out of it for 7 years now...what do I know?
One thing you need to consider is the cost of rebuilding the bike. On my 2019 yz250f, it was $140 for a new oem piston, cam chain, head + cylinder gasket, and rings. I had 80 hours on the bike before I rebuilt it. I think a yz250f is the perfect bike for a guy who isn't on the limiter all day and keeps them stock. I never once had an issue with dirt in my air filter. I go quite a while before changing my filters because you are more likely to knock dirt into the airbox when you take the filter off, but when I do change them, I lay the bike on its side. A OEM 2022 KTM 250SXF piston kit is $350. If I rode 100+ hours a year the Yamaha seems like a no brainer.
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