Ryan Nitzen | October 21, 2024
After a major update last year, the 2025 Yamaha YZ250F returns with small refinements, mostly to the suspension. A few other tweaks were made to make living with it a little more enjoyable.
As always, the 2025 Yamaha YZ250F likes to be ridden hard. After all, it’s a pure race bike.
Photos: Kit Palmer
Updates to the 2025 Yamaha YZ250F include revised front and rear suspension featuring an updated rear linkage, new shock and fork settings, a lighter spring rate for the rear shock, and delta-shaped piston shims in the fork. Yamaha said these changes were made to improve stability and traction and give the bike a more planted feel at the front end. A new handlebar switch box features a revamped ribbed design to help the rider avoid pressing the wrong button while wearing gloves. The mapping and engine kill buttons are also now recessed to reduce the chance of inadvertently bumping them. Additionally, the throttle tube now has greater spacing between the grip and housing assembly to eliminate what has become known as “Yamathumb,” aka blisters.
Furthermore, the footpeg bracket design is lighter and modified to give your ankles a better grip on the bike.
The already-proven engine is unchanged except for mapping, which has been revised.
Somehow, Yamaha found ways to improve the already stellar YZ250F. They might be subtle improvements but they’re improvements nonetheless. Photo: Ryan Nitzen
The 2025 Yamaha YZ250F returns with the same $8899 MSRP. The Monster Energy Edition version returns, as well. It’s the same motorcycle but with different (black) graphics. The special graphics will cost you a couple hundred dollars more at $9099.
We recently spent a day riding the ’25 YZ250F at Fox Raceway (Pala, California) and found the bike to be an improvement over the ’24 model despite the few and seemingly minor updates. All the tweaks Yamaha made to the bike were steps in the right direction, even if they were only baby steps.
The map and kill switches are easier to distinguish while wearing gloves. They are also recessed to reduce the chance of accidentally bumping them.
One of the few gripes we had with the ’24 model was its standard engine map. It just didn’t provide that “snap” off the bottom that the ’23 had—it had a momentary flat spot shortly after you twisted the throttle. We knew the ’24 YZ250F was capable of better. So, we made some adjustments via Yamaha’s updated Power Tuner app to it. Just like that, problem solved. We settled on Yamaha’s custom “Response” map, which is essentially the same map that now comes standard on the ’25 YZ. At least, it feels that way. Otherwise, the motor is the same as before: powerful, fast, and loud. In other words, we love it.
The ’24’s suspension was already very good, but, of course, good things can always be made better. Many felt the ’24 YZ250F wasn’t as balanced as it could’ve been, and the front end wasn’t as stable. It moved around a lot and felt nervous, mostly while setting up for turns over bumps at speed. Yamaha addressed these issues by changing the rear linkage ratio, going to a lighter spring, and making corresponding adjustments to the forks. Again, the mods worked. Rear hold-up is much improved, so overall, the ’25 YZ feels more planted than ever and hooks up better, just like Yamaha said it would. It’s not a dramatic improvement, but it is an improvement nonetheless. However, since we had the track to ourselves on this day, along with a few other media outlets, the Fox Raceway track didn’t roughen up, so the suspension wasn’t truly put to the test. That’ll have to wait, but we’re certain it will shine late afternoon on open practice days.
Suspension tweaks have given the Y250F a more balanced and planted feel on the track.
You do notice the updated footpegs. You’re not partially standing on the mounts anymore, which feels better and allows for a better grip with your boots on the bike. You will also notice the more flexible hand grip on the throttle side by the housing. The chance of Yamathumb should now be greatly reduced.
Unsurprisingly, Yamaha has made a few, yet careful, changes to the already outstanding YZ250F, all of which were for the better. When a bike is already as good as the Y250F, any change that’s actually for the better is a win in our book. CN
VIDEO | 2025 Yamaha YZ250F First Ride Review
2025 Yamaha YZ250F Specifications
| MSRP |
$8899 |
| Engine Type |
4-stroke, single |
| Valvetrain |
DOHC, 4-valve |
| Displacement |
250cc |
| Cooling System |
Liquid |
| Bore & Stroke |
77.0mm x 53.6mm |
| Fueling |
Fuel injected, 44mm Mikuni |
| Rider Aids |
Traction Control, Launch Control |
| Frame |
Aluminum |
| Front Suspension |
KYB SSS fork, fully adjustable |
| Rear Suspension |
KYB, single shock, fully adjustable |
| Brakes |
Disc |
| Wheels |
21-in. (front) / 19-in. (rear) |
| Seat Height |
38.2 in. |
| Wheelbase |
58.1 in. |
| Fuel Capacity |
1.6 gal. |
| Weight (wet, claimed) |
231 lbs. |
