Words: Caleb Tennant

With all the success Yamaha has had with its current generation motocross bikes, it’s interesting to see how much better the development team could make the 2025 model YZ250F, which has only minor – but still important – refinements for the new year. Our latest Tested article takes you through what’s actually improved in production trim.

Last year’s version had already achieved a lot both in racing and in media shootouts, with other brands also stepping up their game in the category. We had the chance to test the new model at a private ride day at Fox Raceway, and you can learn more about it in Detailed.

Right from the first few laps, the 2025 Yamaha YZ250F feels incredibly easy to get comfortable on. After taking a few laps to warm up, I was already pushing the limits. The biggest changes on the new bike are in the suspension settings, which makes the ride feel even more predictable. The overall chassis setup and balance are impressive.

Image: Kellen Brauer.

Yamaha has updated the fork settings, which helps the front-end stay stable during late braking. I found myself pushing my entry speed more and more, without ever feeling out of control or being near its limit. The more you push it, the greater it responds, while still being responsive at cruising speeds.

In the ruts, the bike is easy to trust, allowing me to control the front tyre confidently through corners. One standout feature is how smooth it feels when I needed to change lines or make last-minute adjustments. I could move the bike exactly where I wanted without feeling unsettled, which adds to your confidence.

The rear linkage and shock settings have also been improved, helping the bike track well out of corners and keeping the rear tyre planted. This provides greater traction, especially during corner exits and through rollers. Even as the track dried out, the bike’s stability remained impressive, allowing me to keep riding harder as the day wore on.

Yamaha has also redesigned the footpeg brackets, making them lighter and improving ergonomics. The new shape makes it easier to squeeze the bike with your feet, adding to the overall comfort and – again – proving to be a small change, but one that does improve the bike further.

Image: Kellen Brauer.

While Yamaha didn’t make any changes to the 2025 YZ250F engine, the bike already pulls strong power for a 250cc four-stroke and has all the adjustability you could ask for through the Yamaha Power Tuner app. Whether you’re looking to dial the power up or down, while having the opportunity to adjust its delivery, it’s all at the touch of a button once again.

The stock gearing ratio is excellent, with consistent power delivery across all gears. Another subtle, but effective, improvement was moving the throttle grip further from the housing, making the throttle feel smoother and reducing hand fatigue.

Overall, I felt extremely comfortable on the new 2025 Yamaha YZ250F. I kept pushing the bike more and more without ever reaching a point where I couldn’t trust it. The bike is incredibly easy to ride and the updates have only enhanced its comfort and performance.

With Yamaha already producing the leading stock bike in terms of power, these added improvements make the 2025 model even better than its predecessor. And considering this variant was only just released for the first time ahead of this year, those gains are highly valuable on track.

Specifications

Engine type: 250cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder, four-stroke
Bore/stroke: 77.0mm x 53.6mm
Transmission: Constant mesh five-speed
Starter: Electric
Clutch: Wet multi-plate
Traction control: Yes
Launch control: Yes
Front suspension: KYB speed-sensitive system inverted fork, 310mm travel
Rear suspension: KYB link suspension, 312mm travel
Front brake: Nissin caliper, 270mm front disc
Rear brake: Nissin caliper, 240mm rear disc
Tires: Dunlop Geomax 33
Weight: 231 pounds (wet)
Availability: Available now
Price: $14,249 RRP (Team Yamaha Blue), $14,349 (Monster Energy Edition)
Further information: www.yamaha-motor.com.au