'03 YZ 250F in the woods?

[JCV 220R]

Hi all,

I haven't ridden in a year or so. My last bike was a 2001 KTM 250exc (2 smoke). I am getting a new bike in the spring (whoooo hooooo!) and my plan has been to buy a new KTM 2 smoke. Well... I keep thinking about a 250cc thumper and I can't get it off my mind ;)

How is the YZ 250F in the woods? I'm thinking about the YZ as opposed to the WR because these new ones supposedly start so easily that I shouldn't need the Estart and I'd like to save the weight. Also, I've heard that the stock YZ tank is good for 40-50 miles and that's cool with me. I would buy the bike, send out the boingers to have them valved/sprung for woods work (I'd do this with the WR as well), add a skid plate and handguards and rip!

I like riding tight, gnarly woods and it's real rocky and rooty here in NH. Will I be happy with this bike?

Any input is really appreciated!

Thanks
Jay

 

[grunk250r]

I know exactly where you're coming from!! I had an 02'CRF450, but it was a bit much for me in the woods, so I traded for an 03'YZF250....I haven't ridden much woods with it yet (minnesota), but it should be AWESOME. 1st seems plenty low, and 5th is good for 75mph plus. Starting is NOT an issue any longer, and the bike feels impossibly light/flickable when riding it!!

 

[JCV 220R]

Thanks for the reply grunk!

Did you buy the YZ mainly for woods riding or do you plan to moto as well? I will only be woods riding, I just thought the YZ would save me some weight over the WR and I thought the YZ would also perform better in stock form than the WR.

This is a tough decision for me... I might still end up with a KTM 2 stroke but I am seriously thinking about the thumper right now.

 

[grunk250r]

i'll be doing a little moto track riding with mine....but I race enduro/h.s. and trailride whenever I get the chance. IMO the bike does NOT need a flywheel weight or gearing changes. Promoto-billet makes a trick spark arrestor endcap and a trick kickstand for the bike. If you don't need a working headlight for any of your enduros, then that's not an issue. Even the stock tank is not an issue....i've been told it'll go 40-50 miles on the stock 1.8 gallons!! Most of all, the bike is FUN, and I do mean FUN...to ride.

 

[JCV 220R]

hmmm, this bike is sounding better all the time ;)

grunk, how big of a guy are you? I'm 5'9" and 200 pounds - I'll be back to 180 come riding season ;) It seems a lot of big guys ride these little thumpers, I'm just wondering if it will haul me around OK.

thanks

 

[MXP1MP]

The bike should haul ya around no problem I have friends your size who ride'em and don't have any problems. I agree I don't think the bike will need a flywheel weight since its a 4 stroke it doesn't wheel spin wastefully like a 2 stroke it will hook up great! It will still spin of course but not as uncontrollably like a 2 stroke. I also don't think you'll need to change the gearing if anything if your ridding real tight sections you might want to add a few teeth. It doesn't start any harder than a 2 stroke even when its being a pain. I haven't test the stock gas tank range but seems that the average has been 40 miles. The bike doesn't eat up gas it gets great gas milage! If you give the bike a chance you'll love it the more I take it out the more I like it! Plus I love that fact that I can ride it lazy if I want or as aggressive as I want. I think the only issue you might have is the suspenion might be alittle stiff for alot of rocks/roots but it does work better the harder you slam stuff. I on the other hand not gonna touch the suspenion when I take it off road cause I do a quite a bit of track riding but I don't feel it will be that much of a disadvantage though. I'm glad I got this bike alot I'm definetly keeping this one for a long while even after my dad gets one of the new CRF250R's.

 

[the Eel]

I know someone who used to ride a YZ 250F ... he was about 6' 4" and ran around 240. The little thumper pulled him up almost any hill and he was fast as lightning on it. Shouldn't be a problem ...

 

[grunk250r]

JCV i'm 5'8" and a good 200lbs. with gear. I'm a slow A enduro rider who's tried ALOT of bikes over the years (i'm 42 and i've been riding since 11).
I don't have enough time on the suspension yet to make a decision on if it'll be ok for trail junk (roots/rocks/logs etc.), but i'm thinking it'll need a revalve. I hate to though, 'cause I know the suspension's GREAT on a moto track.

 

[the Eel]

Confucius say, "Is any A enduro rider truly slow ?" (:

 

[grunk250r]

yeah I guess "fast" and "slow" is a relative thing...all I know is this, my scores are usually about TRIPLE of the overall/overall rider's score. To ME that's slow, BUT I do get around fast enough to have LOTS of fun!!!

 

[SiCnTwIsTdYz]

why dont you get the 2003 wr250f its meant for woods more than the yz250f

 

[JCV 220R]

SiCnTwIsTdYz,

Because I don't want the E-start and the battery to deal with and I have no use for the lights or the bigger tank.

 

[Bandit9]

I am curious why everyone thinks that the e-start/battery thing requires maintenance? My 4-wheelers all have e-start and I have never had to do any maintenance. That is bogus. Ask KTM or DRZ guys and they will tell you the same. Pick another excuse to get the sexier bike. YZ sounds better than WR, thats why I am getting the YZ. LOL.

 

[JCV 220R]

Hey bandit,

read this:

I'm thinking about the YZ as opposed to the WR because these new ones supposedly start so easily that I shouldn't need the Estart and I'd like to save the weight. [/b]

where do you get the idea I don't want the e-start because of a maintenance issue? I don't want the weight - plain and simple. And BTW, batteries don't EVER need to be charged? Wow, bettery technology has really come a long way! Because if they do need to be charged once in awhile that would be maintenance.

Why did you reply to this post? You have helped in absolutely no way whatsoever... unless wasting bandwidth is what you were going for.

I will buy whatever bike I want for any reason I want and it's none of your business. I have been riding dirt bikes off and on for 23 years. I don't need an EXCUSE for anything.

Thanks to everyone else who replied to this thread.

bandit, you have issues dude, why the hell do you care what bike I buy?

L8r
Jay

 

[MXP1MP]

Don't worry about the starting issue's I only freak out sometimes after a fall and its been a pain cause in arenacross a fall or stall can take you from first to last in a heart beat if I was on the trail it wouldn't phase me not nearly as much and yes they do bump start easier now at like crawling speeds and I've also noticed that sometimes when its flooded give it alittle bit of gas and she'll start right up! This one still makes me wonder cause everyone keeps saying not to use the throttle on starting I've done this a few times now and it was the only thing that worked to get it lit again! Anyone got any idea's on this? Its been no more a pain then my yz 125 was and that bike has left me stranded on the side of the track trying to restart it, I do think a shorter kick start lever would help like the bbr one . The ebutton is for people who are too lazy, and I wouldn't want to deal with it. Its just another electrical part to diagnose if the bike won't start, more parts to worry about, more maintence in the end and just something else to wear out and replace $$$. They should rename it from ebutton to fatass button maybe less people would ride quads if they were kick or pull like the old 3 wheelers hehe :)

 

[Bazooka Joe]

Quote- "Fatass button"... LOL :)

Battery = maintenance.... Geez, I dunno. Every battery I've ever owned eventually took a dump. Some just take more years than others; my John Deere lawn tractor went 8 yrs, which was pretty good. FWIW, I know of one guy's DRZ which had a fried battery. Talk about SOL, beings there is no backup kicker on the DRZ.

&, in futher support of the YZF vs the WR, the new Cycle Guide prints that the WR have a dry weight of 230 vs 208 for the YZ.... Not an insignificant gain, IMO. How'd you feel if the wife or g-friend suddenly gained 22 lbs? :eek

 

[teton]

Though we dont have much woods riding here in the SoCal desert, I bought the YZ (01) sight unseen, unridden, hoping that it would make a great trail bike. I chose the YZ over the WR for several reasons, the first was knowing that there was going to be more weight, and in the past Yamaha had to tall of a high gearing that the smaller bikes had problems pulling those speeds to keep the bike in the powerband.
Turns out to have been a good move, mainly for the seat to tank fit, the YZ was great in the desert even with my somewhat over weight rear end. The motor was real fun as a trail bike, I would of wanted a fly wheel weight for me, but thats a small price to pay. Even it you get the WR you will have to have some suspension work, seems that every bike has that to do. I think that the small 4 banger will be fun in the woods with the right valving, and perhaps a pipe/muffler.

 

[Bandit9]

Mr. JCV, you need to relax. Get what ever you want, your opinion is the only one that matters. It just looked like you were shying away from the wr b/c of the e-start and I was saying I wouldn't let that stop me b/c I have never experienced any hassle or aggrevation with e-start bikes. Just kind of sick of seeing people claim how much e-start is pain in the rear, when I don't think it is. Nor do I ever hear of anyone complaining about it, once they experience it. Nothing personal. I start my bikes, quads, lawnmowers, etc.. and let them run a few minutes during the week if I haven't used them in a few weeks. That method has worked for years and I have never had to replace a battery. Had to recharge a few due to key being left on, but really when compared to the convinence of it, it is worth it. This is just my opinion on my experience. Considering the way you responded to me, I hope your new bike is the hardest starting POS lemon there ever was! Don't worry I will never respond or read anything with your name in it.

 

[beyerj]

I have 02 YZ-250F that I use for both woods and track. I also have a TTR 250 for slower tight trail riding and slow hill climbing, since the YZ requires a high RPM idle. On longer rides thru lots of tight sections, my YZ header pipe is cherry red. Maybe a heavier flywheel can bring the idle RPM down from the recommended 1800 RPM by Yamaha. Anyone else know how to get a YZ to idle lower? Another thing to note is the rear rim width. Since the rim is wider on my TTR, I run a very wide knobby that seems better on rutted, root infested and muddy trails. For more open areas, I love the power (& weight)of the YZ and the suspension is obviously better than that of a TTR.

I hope to grow the YZ into a dual use bike too or else I will have to pick up a WR-450 someday to upgrade my TTR. No matter what, the YZ-250F is a still keeper. (FYI - I am 5'11" - 180 lbs )

 

[JCV 220R]

Bandit9,

I know you're not reading this (boo-hoo) but I'll write it anyway:

Have your head examined! You still seem to be under the impression that I don't want an E-start because of some sort of hassle or maintenance issue! I clearly said it was the weight.

If you'd like, I can try to break things down into simpler terms so you can understand it. Let me know if you change your mind and decide to read my post... then I can help you with the "reading" thing.

Please don't respond to my posts if you don't have anything useful to add or anything polite to say. I was being polite when I said I didn't want the E-start because I wanted to save the weight. I didn't want to offend anyone but saying what I really think about E-starts on dirt bikes.. and I still don't.

 

[jwh_wv]

I would say the YZ would be fine in the woods, because its so light and fast revving. If riding a lot of tight trails i think a little lower gearing would be needed. If you dont need lights & every ounce of weight saved counts go for the YZ.

Personally, I ordered a WR250f for woods riding. I needed lights mainly and the wide ratio tranny was appealing to me. If it doesnt come in by mid January i will be getting a YZ.

It all comes down to personal preference.

 

[chopair]

When a wise man argues with a fool, it is difficult for the observer to tell who is the wise man and who is the fool...

It's a credit to you both how much passion you have for the subject matter, however you guys might try to appreciate that insted of wishing ill will on each other. Neither of you will gain from it!

Merry Christmas!!

 

[Smit-Dog]

Well said chopair!

.
Remember guys, it's only dirt bikes we're talking here, not gun control or abortion rights. It's a friggin battery!

Let's spread some holiday cheer instead of bashing each other. We're all on the same team here. I have no problem keeping the debate lively - makes for an interesting read, but this kind of stuff is just dragging us down in the muck.

FWIW, I'd get the YZ 250F. I ride tight woods with a guy who has one, and he's the fastest of the bunch.

 

[harescambler]

Hey J, I'm sorry I can't give much input. I currently ride a wr400. I haven't rode in a while myself but plan on starting up real soon. I've been wanting to get off the big bikes and thinking about a yz or wr250 myself. Anyway I can't speak about the 250 4strokes,but I went from 2 stroke to the wr400 and love it. Its just the extra lbs. I don't like. The bike feels gaughty in tight stuff even with the "smooth power" 4 strokes offer. Sounds from what you described that weight is more a concern and like you said, the valving etc. will be needed with either bike. I feel your pain cause I have the same delima. A bonus however is that what you save with the price difference would put the yz woods ready and 15-20lbs less. I think you'll like the 4stroke either way.
Good Luck!

 

[JCV 220R]

Thanks for the replies! FWIW, I don't know if I'm the wiseman or the fool but bandit and I worked things out already ;)

harescrambler, I had considered the larger 4 stroke but weight was my real concern. I just put a deposit on my new YZ250f so I'll let you know how it rips once I get it... whooooo hoooooo! If everything I've heard is true, you should be happy coming off the 400 and getting a 250.... a lot of folks at thumpertalk have done just that.