Yamaha YZ250 - Dirt Rider Magazine

Hey Corey," Senior Editor Karel Kramer asked, "would you like to race the WORCS at Washougal on Ty Davis' YZ250?" There wasn't a split second of indecision: "Hell yeah!"Everyone has their favorite tracks, and Washougal Motocross Park has always been one of mine. The Washougal complex is nestled deep in the Washington forest, just miles from the Oregon border. The track features huge elevation changes and a combination of tight, technical sections separated with high-speed climbs and heart-racing descents. The dirt is loamy in the morning and hardpacked in the afternoon, but it offers great traction-as long as it's not raining. And it never rains in Washington, right?If going to one of my favorite tracks wasn't enough, I would be be racing one of Ty Davis's full-blown race bikes. Not a copy-I was actually putting the initial ride on Davis's new race weapon while he'd be completing the final run on his old one! Having raced one of his bikes three years ago at the Glen Helen 24 Hour, I was pretty confident the YZ would be more than ready for the weekend of abuse.Let the Fun BeginAs Kramer and I arrived at the track for Friday's practice, I could see the new Zip-Ty Racing big rig at the entrance of the pits with a huge awning shading a slew of team bikes perfectly lined up. There were two number 2 bikes sitting next to each other, and I would be racing one of them.I was then greeted by former pro motocrosser Andy Jefferson, who rides for the team in the Over 40 division. Jefferson introduced me to everyone and showed me my bike for the weekend. It was sitting next to the bike Davis was racing, and next to it was Nathan Woods' series championship bike sporting a big "1" on the number plates. I was then welcomed by Ty and team manager Kenny Parry. We talked for a bit, and they reminded me my bike was brand-spanking-new and this would be its first outing. With that, Jefferson took the bike out for a few laps to run in the brakes and work out any bugs.In addition to Davis, Woods and Jefferson, the team hosts riders Jamie Lanza and Cooper Hall. Lanza and Hall are the youngsters on the team, and they created a friendly environment under the tent. Everyone had smiles on their faces while still being very serious about the weekend's racing.As I began gearing up for practice, the clouds opened up and it started raining. I knew this course could be a complete disaster if it rained too much. Fortunately, by the time I got on the track it had stopped. I rode about three laps and pulled in to make a few adjustments to the handlebar and the controls. Because I was riding Davis's race bike with his big yellow and blue number 2 I could ride the pro practice. To my surprise, I was able to run with a few of the WORCS regulars, which gave me a good boost in confidence for Saturday's race. The motocross track was rutted and rough; combined with the rain it grew super slippery in some spots. In practice we were limited to the motocross track only, so I was both nervous and excited as I noticed the trail portion of the course disappearing into the thick green forest.A Real Race Bike
I decided to ride the unclassified race to learn the course and get some quality time on the YZ250. After cruising a lap, I picked up the pace to get feel of what the Zip-Ty Racing YZ250 had to offer. The motor has a very linear power curve for a two-stroke. It has great bottom-end response that remains extremely mellow and easy to ride through tight rocky sections. Midrange power is smooth and very usable, and it's where I liked to ride the bike the most due to the slippery conditions. The roll-on power carried right into the midrange, so I didn't need to use the clutch as much as I usually do on a two-stroke. Top-end power hit a bit harder than a stock bike but was still a smooth transfer. Basically stock internally, Davis's YZ uses a V-Force reed valve to help out with the bottom-end and smooth out the power delivery. The Zip-Ty pipe and silencer also play a huge role in tempering the power. The Zip-Ty exhaust features a long silencer with a larger core. The bike had a great sound to it: quiet yet still mean. The jetting was spot-on and the engine never hesitated; nothing but usable, crisp, clean power. Leaving the motor somewhat stock works best for this style of racing; building a fire-breathing top-fuel motor will make the bike difficult in low-traction or technical sections and a handful in a two-hour race.The YZ's Kayaba suspension features Race Tech Gold Valves with Davis's personal valving specs. The fork uses the stock 0.44kg/mm spring with the valving altered to accommodate off-road conditions. Having confidence in your equipment really allows you to give it your all, and during the unclassified race I felt 100 percent in tune with the bike. The fork soaked up all the big braking bumps and swallowed bare roots that were beginning to surface on the trails. I really liked how it was soft in the beginning part of the stroke, then became increasingly progressive but not harsh. The fork used the whole stroke but I never seriously bottomed out.As with the fork, the shock also uses Race Tech internals with a stock spring. During practice on Friday, I went in a few clicks on the shock's compression to stiffen it up a bit after I felt it bottom a few times on some of the fast drop-offs on the motocross track. During the unclassified race the suspension felt well-balanced with the rear ride height at 107mm. Davis also runs a custom linkage that allows the rear of the bike to settle, and it was most noticeable in tight, rutted corners, enabling the bike to sit a tad lower for better handling.By the end of the unclassified race I was in love with the Zip-Ty Racing YZ250! The motor was perfect for the conditions, and the suspension made me feel faster than I am. I'm used to racing off-road on full-blown motocross bikes, so I appreciated the suspension more than any of the other modifications. I also loved the 18-inch rear wheel. I could hit anything and not have to worry about getting a flat. The only feature I didn't like was the 20-inch front wheel. It has been an age since I have ridden with one, and I have never been a fan. Davis has used one for years, but I didn't like the way it wanted to climb out of the deep Washington ruts. It took some time to develop a feel for it, and the front end just felt heavier at times.The Big Race: 250 A
I competed in a few WORCS races a couple of years ago and really enjoyed them. No waiting around for a three-lap, four-minute moto in the blinding sun as it rapidly descends behind the mountains. WORCS races are motocross and off-road all in one. They are long and you can ride several different classes if you're up for the punishment.Before the 250 A class ride, I was feeling extremely confident. I got a good gate pick and knew the start was important because of all the tight off-road sections. Once the green flag dropped I got a great jump to the first turn. I almost had the holeshot but was pushed wide by the guy who did. As we made our way around the first bit of the motocross track I was in fourth just behind the leaders.As I began to turn into the first off-road section I heard a bike panic-rev, then was impacted by a KTM. I have never been taken out so hard in my life. I was sent a good 40 feet into some shrubs that basically swallowed me. I needed a minute to regain my composure and make my way back to the trail. By then I was far back and in a lot of pain as I'd taken a good handlebar shot to the ribs. I raced hard for another 15 minutes but couldn't get my breath back. With sore ribs and breathing trouble, I decided to call it quits. I was bummed. I never like to just give up, but I was hurting bad. As for the bike, it did its job. It worked great on the motocross track and even better on the off-road sections. A big thanks to Ty Davis and the Zip-Ty Racing team for making me factory for a day!Zip-Ty Racing Accessories ListARC leversBlue-anodized, 20-in. front wheel with Excel rim and polished hubBridgestone 90/100-20 M59 front tire with medium/heavy tubeBlue-anodized, 18-in. rear wheel with Excel rim and polished hubBridgestone 110/100-18 M402 rear tire with medium/heavy tubeD.I.D Gold X-ring chainDirt Digits graphicsE-Line skid plateFastway footpegsK&N; air filterODI gripsPolisport hand guardsRenthal 14T countershaft sprocketRenthal 50T rear sprocketRenthal Twinwall barSDG seatScotts steering stabilizerSealSaver Thumb SaversTM Designworks chain guideTM Designworks case saverV-Force 3-reed blockZTR suspension mods with Race Tech ComponentsZTR oversize front rotorZTR upper triple clampZTR desert tank by IMSZTR stainless steel pipe and silencerZTR wheel spacersZTR front axle handleZTR radiator bracesZTR coolantZTR air screwZTR magnetic float-bowl drain plugZTR magnetic oil drain plugZTR adjustable rear suspension lowering linkZTR rear wheel spacersZTR shark finZTR shock spring nutsZTR rear shock mods with Race Tech componentsZTR chain-adjuster blocksZTR petcock knobZTR clutch-adjuster extenderZTR front axle nut