Yamaha have just announced updates to the YZ250F for 2024, focusing on more power and less weight,
alongside a retro-styled SP version, which is part of the 50th anniversary celebrations.
That starts with a completely redesigned aluminium bilateral beam frame – similar
to what we see on the YZ450F, with Yamaha promising just the right blend of strength
and flex for stability and cornering performance, as they seek to improve the YZ250F further.
We’re told that’ll offer more agility, more traction and a lighter overall feel,
for better rider confidence, with suspension tweaks also in the mix to reach this end.
That’s a set of fully adjustable KYB coil spring forks, with speed sensitive damping and new hand
adjustable knobs for tool-less compression adjustment. That’s matched to a KYB shock
with linkage, and there’s revised settings here for less pitch on corner entry and exit,
also calling back to that improved stability mentioned for the frame.
Obviously that’s a fully adjustable shock too, and we’re looking at 310 mm travel at the front
and 312 mm at the rear, which is a decent chunk of reason why that seat height is 970
mm or 38.2 inches. BYO foot stool, if you’re short, or get a mate to give you a leg up.
On the engine side of things, we’re talking the 250 cc four-stroke powerplant, running aggressive
cam profiles, high-spec piston and a forward positioned intake cylinder head layout. A more
efficient intake path is new for 2024, while the ECU is also revised, as is the camchain.
The benefits there being more mid to high-end power, and the chain boosts durability.
That’s still a double-overhead cam engine with four-valve head,
running a 77 by 53.6 mm bore by stroke and 13.8 to one compression ratio. The gearbox is
a five-speed with wet-clutch, and Mikuni fuel injection is run, with 44 mm throttlebody.
The optimised intake path draws from under the side covers and seat,
which goes hand in hand with a slimmer and more compact body, with radiator shrouds slimmer and
the airbox cover now lower and more narrow. The revised bodywork also carries across to
the tank, which is narrower and holds 6.1 litres, with the overall rider triangle
offering more leg-room thanks to greater space between the seat and footpegs,
which should boost comfort for most riders. Yamaha do promise that the trademark low to
mid-range torque is retained though too, so it’s more top, without sacrificing torque
with this change, although there’s no dyno or power figures to really
gauge what kind of change we’re seeing here. For the tech heads, we are seeing the Yamaha Power
Tuner app available, now in a more user friendly package, with simple tuning slide bars for the
engine mapping, traction control and launch control settings. The traction control system
is all-new, with three levels including off, and the launch control system can be adjusted in 500
rpm increments from 6000 through to 14000 rpm. Also on the tech front is a new bar-mounted map
switch, so you can switch between two preloaded engine maps on the run, with
a simple button press. Those maps are loaded via the Power Tuner App, and also configured there.
We’ll also see some tweaks to the wheels, which have revised profiles to shave down weight,
without losing durability, and run the three-cross-spoke design on the rear,
which Yamaha explain, offers better impact absorption and feel.
Dunlop Geomax MX33 tyres are standard fitment, and sizing is a 80 by 100, 21 inch front,
and 120 by 80 19 inch rear. Brakes are from Nissin and we’re
seeing a 270 mm front and 240 mm rear, and we’re still talking a cable operated clutch,
looking over to the other side of the ‘bars. To throw out some additional figures for the
tech heads and spec-sheet obsessed, the wheelbase measures in at 1476 mm,
with a 26.9 degree rake angle, and 119 mm trail. Ground clearance is 351 mm, and the 2024 YZ250F
weighs in at 105 kg wet, which I think is a kilo lighter than the outgoing 2023 model.
There’ll also be a SP or special edition anniversary version running retro graphics
in the iconic white and purple colour schemes, which is a little more eye catching than the
more down-stated standard blue colour scheme, but probably won’t be for everyone. I reckon
I’d go the blue personally… Anyway that’s a quick wrap up
of the changes we can expect on the 2024 Yamaha YZ250F, let me know what you think,
and whether you’d go the standard or SP, of where hoping for any additional features.
As always stay safe out there and thanks for watching.