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Timing chain also got better 2021. I would say 2021-> bike is great if you dont mod it too much.
I have 2022 now without any problems and its one of best bikes to ride from shop floor.
Only mods I have are stronger PC clutch springs and Get Ecu.
Seemed to be something weird going on with the front brakes binding or locking up also, I know two people who had it and heard of more. The only one I was involved with I just cracked the bleed nipple and it sorted it. Maybe just common that dealers are over filling the reservoir and not leaving room for expansion and not a bike/component issue at all?
All brands have and have had their problems, the recent KTM group 125's seem to be having a few crank failures, shit happens on mass-produced race-spec equipment, but brand loyalty often gets in the way of honest evaluation.
And it's weird that you mention the front brakes. I was at the track with my buddy last year and he knew a guy on a newer YZ450F that came over to us. He was saying how the front brake would randomly drag/bind. We looked at the caliper, the wheel etc. Everything seemed fine. I don't know what ended up happening, as I don't know him. But I thought it was super weird. I didn't know it was a thing.
This is coming from someone who loves Yamaha’s. I have a 22 yz450f and 23 yz125. And the current 250f Yamaha (I’ve rode a couple) is one of my favorite bikes to ride but I don’t trust them.
I'd like to give one a try long term, maybe in a couple years, and luckily I'm slow, casual and OCD enough I expect it'll behave for me, but the doubt would be in the back of my mind.
My dad is a die-hard Yamaha guy and as a result my first big bike was a YZ and even my sister's piano is Yamaha, so I'm not trying to shit-talk them or anything.
No one can make a perfect bike that never breaks, and sure, there will be weak spots, like the timing chain, but I would never rule out getting a Yamaha because of the reliability issues.
If you're careful, though, no dirt or water will get in there. Just have to do it right. And for the love of god, only change your filter when it needs it. Every time you pull it off, it's a risk. Do it right, pull it off, put a wash cover on, wash the bike and everything around the intake, let it dry, and then put a fresh filter on.
Pit Row
I do agree that some of the issues of these bikes is because dirt probably does get down into the engine.
I will say though (as others have mentioned), I did smoke 3rd and 4th gear though at about 60 hrs... had to replace.
That sucks about the trans though. Makes me cringe thinking about potentially dealing with that down the road.
I have 277 hours (no rebuilds) on my '19 WR250F by the way. Valves needed to be shimmed at around 220 hours, the transmission star stopper thing started giving me issues around 130 hours, and some electrical connection corrosion issues starting at 200 hours; otherwise it has just been frequent oil and filter changes for me. Looking to pick up a '23 250FX to replace it with now.
Can’t quote on the 22 but I just recently bought a 23 yz250f managed to put only 15 hours on it from new before it dropped the inlet valves causing it too destroy the cylinder head and crack the cylinder , needs a whole new top end , not sure if this is a common thing or I’m just incredibly unlucky , have heard from many people that the top ends or cranks like to go around the 40hour mark
Twin air powerflow kit is a MUST HAVE, never wash the bike with the filter in it. A wet filter will pass dirt through the oil, always use twin air wash cover. Change the timing chain every 40 hours, use rotella 15-40. This has helped my 2021 be 100% reliable for over 100 hours, bike has not even needed a valve adjustment to this day.
I've always said Yamaha reliability is the best in the business. I've only ever had 2 issues. '06 YZ250F threw the intake valves through the piston because Yamaha had a bad batch of valves on the earliest bikes off the production line, and of course I got one of the first ones at the dealership I worked at. Yamaha warranty paid for the engine to be fixed. Then the '08 YZ450F I had maybe 10 hrs on it at the time...just jumped a 105ft camelback jump. About 40ft after landing, going down the straight away after, the lower rod bearing gave out and tossed the crank through the bottom of the cases.. Found out later it was a problem of the newer '08 YZ450F's. Again I got one of the first ones to Minnesota... Fixed both bikes and never had an issue ever again with them.
Always been washed with a twin air box cover , had engine oil and filter every 3-4hours didn’t even make it too the 5th ride , I’ve heard good things about 22 and below but 23 and 24 seem to be having a lot of engine issues heard a lot of 23 going bang extremely early
Do you think it’s possible that I’ve just been incredibly unlucky and bought one of the few In said “bad batches” ?
Maybe...?
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