Test Rider Opinions
From 08' to '09, the Yamaha YZ250F has received some major improvements. We rode the two years back to back to compare them and the '09 was hands down, an all around better bike. The '08 we rode didn't have a tired, worn out motor either. Yamaha had enough confidence in their new bike to throw a fresh top end in the '08. Even with the new top end the '09 was still faster, handled better and overall just a lot more fun to ride.
Although they didn't make a lot of changes to the motor, the new exhaust system added quite a bit more bottom while still keeping the mid to top end power. Now, I'm used to riding a 450, and at 180-185lbs, I'm not what you call an ideal Lights Class rider. So whenever I get on a 250F I'm usually disappointed with the lack of power, but not so with the new Yamaha. The new system gets to the power a lot quicker than the' 08 and on a 250 that's exactly what I was looking for. The bike was easy to keep in the meat of the power and never really let me down when I was stretching for the bigger jumps. Another nice touch was the completely new clutch. It was very responsive and actually... almost... I guess I would say crisp. I know crisp doesn't generally describe a clutch feel, but that's how it felt. There was no slop and no guessing where the release was. It was the same every turn, every lap and every time I rode the bike.
Probably the biggest and most enjoyable improvement on the Yamaha would have to be the new linkage and swingarm. This was the same change they made to the 450 and man, this has to be the best cornering blue bike I have ever felt. The '08 wanted to stand up and step out of the ruts if you weren't absolutely committed, but the '09 drops right into the ruts with little effort. Just lay it over and drag the handlebars. You know what, forget the handlebars. This thing was dragging the radiator shrouds. The Yamaha had me looking for the deepest ruts on the track to throw the bike into. It didn't matter if it was faster or slower, I always came out with an ear-to-ear grin on my face and screaming at the top of my lungs. And surprisingly, even with such great cornering, the bike was still very stable at high speeds. The suspension on the YZ worked great in all conditions and never gave me that unexpected "close your eyes pucker". The adjustability was also impressive. We were able to dial in the suspension from the fast, loamy, choppy tracks to the slower, hard packed, chattery tracks with just a few clicks.
The '09 YZ250F was a blast to ride. The improved power, handling and awesome brakes made you want to charge into turns and test the limits of yourself and the bike. Yamaha also added a new triple clamp that gives you plenty of adjustment for those ProTaper bars, which should let any rider get comfortable on the bike. I was definitely impressed with the new Yamaha and although this is the first '09 250F that I have ridden, this test made me want to load it up in my truck and take it home.
--Chris Barrett/ 25 years old/ 6'1"/ 180lbs/ Pro
 More sticky. Less icky. The...  More sticky. Less icky. The new seat cover stays cleaner, longer and grips better, too. |  What's better than a new bike...  What's better than a new bike with a new tire? How about a new hub with three identical bearings instead of two different ones!? Now, roll along...there's more to read. |  Unless you don't use your...  Unless you don't use your feet, you're going to scratch the side covers on your Yamaha YZ250F. |
Overall, the 2009 Yamaha YZ250F is a good bike and an improvement over the 2008, for sure.
Due to my size and weight, the bike handled just okay with stock suspension settings. However, once we began to soften it up, it handled great. It's very stable and I didn't once get headshake on the fast straights. At first I couldn't get comfortable turning the Yamaha but after plenty of clicker adjustments the suspension began to work in the corners for me. The suspension was too stiff for my weight at first and the bumps in the ruts were trying to pop my front tire out of the line. We dialed it in as much as possible with the stock springs (Editor's Note: Yamaha states that stock springs are intended for riders in the 155-180 lb range. Anyone outside that will need a new spring rate) and it worked a lot better.
I think this motor is better for a wide open track since I didn't feel like it had as much bottom as my Honda. From mid to top the motor pulled great. This bike is fast on the top end!
I'm still a little small on these big bikes but this one felt great to me on the ground and in the air. It didn't feel heavy at all. Also, it feels narrower than last year's model.
The only thing I didn't like about the bike was the bottom end power. I'd like more down low. Everything else was good and I can see it's a good pick for everyone from beginner to pro.
This bike has gotten a lot better in a year. I was never able to get comfortable on the 2008 YZF, but the 2009, after some fine tuning, was dialed in almost perfectly for me.
--Chris Plouffe/ 15 years old/ 5'5"/ 120 lbs/ Intermediate.
 Same goes for the black ignition...  Same goes for the black ignition cover. |  After watching Chris Barrett...  After watching Chris Barrett fill the radiator louvers with dirt, Chris Plouffe had to try. Why is everyone named Chris around here? |  Back-to-back testing with...  Back-to-back testing with Dirt Rider's 2008 YZ250F. These guys get zero credit for making sure bikes are pretty for photos. So, thanks. |