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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. There'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. 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. 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… Images/footage courtesy of Yamaha Motor Australia. Don't forget to subscribe and hit that notification bell!
