On the 12-13th of October I participated in Yamaha Canada's Annual Media Ride Day. I wrote an article that sums up my experience and it can be found on the following link, and below:
What do you do when you get a call from Direct Motocross asking you to spin laps on brand new 2024 YZ’s at Sand Del Lee for the Yamaha Motor Canada media ride day? You do what any self-respecting motocross rider would do: drop everything and make it happen!
I was fortunate enough to get an email from Billy here at Direct Motocross on Tuesday morning, the 10th of October, asking if I would be interested in testing the new 2024 Yamahas. Having emigrated to Canada just a year ago with only a few bags, I jumped at the opportunity and before I knew it I was in an Uber to Sand Del Lee motocross track that Thursday. Leatt Canada kindly provided a complete set of gear for the test (in record-breaking time), and I was ready to see what the fuss was about regarding the new 2024 YZ250F. Also, be sure to read my upcoming review on Leatt’s 2023 gear. I was blown away by how good it is.
Arriving at the track to see Kevin Tyler moving dirt around at Sand Del Lee, with the MX101 team truck and bikes underneath their tent and setup, was a sight to behold. We were greeted with great weather, and although the dirt was soft and wet, the conditions were perfect. Justin Balkos, the Yamaha Canada Marketing Coordinator, started proceedings with an excellent presentation on the new models, laser-focused on the new YZ250F. Chris Cooper (Dealer Support Coordinator) was there to ensure the bikes were always ready to ride and assist with technical queries.
A little bit about me before we get into it. I raced professionally in South Africa for 17 years, between 2000 and 2017. I raced in Europe and did a few races in the States, but I was mainly based out of SA. I was fortunate enough to win a few titles (Editor’s note: He’s being modest. He won 12 titles!) there and had a great career, unfortunately, ending in a nasty crash resulting in two broken ankles, with one of them requiring three surgeries. Since my last race in 2017, I have ridden a handful of times, my last being just over a year ago in Miami with some friends. Having raced for Yamaha South Africa between 2011 and 2014, I remember the machines very well, and I was curious to see how much had changed since then. I was pleasantly surprised.
The media were given carte blanche on the bikes for two days, so we had the opportunity to test the complete 2024 range. I also rode the 2024 YZ450F, an absolute beast on the track. Being brand new and not ridden it, it felt pretty stiff, suspension-wise. The soft, heavy dirt did not affect the power, though; it just exploded out of the turns, making clearing the jumps a walk in the park. I also rode the YZ250 two-stroke, which was a blast. I knew I had to pace myself through the two days, so I never spent too much time on these machines.
2024 YZ250F.
The obvious star of the show was the all-new 2024 YZ250F. Those who follow the sport know how strong these bikes are, with significant success in the US and worldwide. It has been the most dominant 250F since 2014, winning shootouts for just as long. These bikes rip. For 2024, the YZ250F received an all-new chassis, the exact one its bigger brother, the 450, received in 2023. The new chassis resulted in a narrower feel and what the techs at Yamaha refer to as a “streamlined cockpit area.” The bike is lighter, faster and slimmer. Yamaha brought a 2023 YZ250F to the track for comparison, and one could quickly feel the differences when riding the 2023 and 2024 back-to-back.
A few things have changed on the 2024 YZ250F, so let’s get into it…
General:
Riders have two options when purchasing the 2024 YZ250F: the blue everyone has come to recognize and the old-school, 50th-anniversary replica with white plastics and retro decals. Both bikes look amazing, so good luck choosing! The retro look has a nostalgic feel for those who have been around the sport for a while, and they look incredible in real life. As mentioned, the 250 has the new chassis, so seeing it in the flesh with the updated plastics and frame is a real treat.
Taking the bike off the stand and sitting on it is comfortable from the outset. Granted, the bikes were brand new. Everything from the throttle to the clutch (still cable) felt light and responsive. You immediately feel how slim the bike is before even taking it out onto the track.
Engine – slightly stronger mid and over-rev
Yamaha took what was already a race-winning, proven motor and simply improved it. Although the motor never received a drastic makeover, as the 450F did for 2023, it received a few changes that resulted in significant gains on the track. The biggest changes came in the form of a wider timing chain, with sprocket width, damper and tensioners to follow suit. This was done to improve strength and durability. Surprisingly, this wasn’t noticeable on the track, but bear in mind both days at Sand Del Lee were wet and deep. Power robbers in this quarter-litre class. Despite this wider, heavier timing chain, I couldn’t feel a difference in low-end power compared to the 2023 model.
Yamaha put a huge amount of effort into optimizing airflow, which comes in the form of a completely overhauled intake system. Airflow has been optimized compared to the previous model, drawing in air from the radiator shrouds, fuel tank, and seat areas. The air filter is entirely new for 2024, with a 56% bigger surface area. Finally, the air boot capacity on the clean side has been increased a further 30%. Amazingly, this has all resulted in a 15mm lower position, which is clearly noticeable on the track.
On top of these changes, Yamaha made the relevant adjustments to the ECU. They optimized Fuel Injection and Ignition settings for the new changes made to the intake and cam chain. Finally, they simplified the wire harness and made the ECU more compact, reducing weight further.
When comparing it to the 2023, you can feel the bike has a stronger mid-range and over-rev. The bike revs to the moon, and it feels like there is no cap to it. In the soft, wet conditions we had, the more you attacked and revved the bike, the better it felt, highlighting the changes and goals the technicians were aiming for in 2024.
Yamaha clearly knew what they were doing, and in stock trim, this bike hauls the mail. I can only imagine what a few aftermarket parts combined with more hours of setup would do to this machine.
New Chassis – resulting in agile cornering and connected traction
As mentioned, the most significant change to the 2024 model was the completely new chassis inherited from the 2023 YZ450F. The frame is all-new for 2024, complete with a lighter subframe and new positioning for the battery tray. This simplified layout enables more accessible wiring and shaves significant overall weight from the motorcycle.
The suspension received some updates as well. The internals of the forks and shock have been adapted to match the new frame and engine character. The fork comes with tool-less compression clickers, which are great for on-the-fly adjusting. The fork guards are new for 2024, a more wrap-around style than this year’s model.
Other minor refinements, such as slightly increased rear wheel axel diameter, add to the planted feel on the track. For 2024, the Yamaha engineers were able to shave 2.5lbs (1.14kg) from last year’s model, which can be attributed to the laundry list of changes to the wiring harness, chassis, airbox, footpeg brackets, fuel pump and so on…
This all comes together on the track to give the rider a more connected feel. You immediately feel at one with the bike. Because of the narrower rider cockpit, the rider can get more on top of the bike, which felt amazing through the turns. The bike feels stable on entry to and throughout the entire turn. I felt I could lay the bike down confidently without it wanting to climb up or out of ruts. On acceleration, the bike squats well and feels planted.
Slimmer, Smoother Body
With the new chassis comes the complete new bodywork. The bike is significantly narrower than the 2023. Yamaha reduced the radiator shrouds’ maximum width by around 50mm and the knee grip area width by around 6mm. These may seem insignificant, but it is a night-and-day difference and can be noticed, especially when comparing the 2023 to the 2024. You feel more in tune with the bike, can move around and shift your weight much easier. The way the shrouds have been designed with the seat helps in making the bike feel a lot smoother and sleeker.
They have increased the seat-to-footpeg distance by 10mm in what they refer to as the rider triangle. Adjustments to the seat, footpegs and bar positioning have ensured that rider comfort was at the forefront of this new design. On the track, it’s easy to attack sections and feel comfortable doing so. These changes have resulted in a lower centre of gravity for enhanced machine balance, control and rider comfort.
The YZ250F receives the same plastics as its bigger brother, and in my subjective opinion, I am a big fan. The bike has a sleek yet aggressive look to it. The standard graphics are factory-looking (on the blue edition), and the retro look of the 50th Anniversary screams nostalgia. Both bikes are beautiful in the flesh, so pick your poison. The MX101 Yamaha team had some of their factory bikes under the tent, so to see them kitted out with bright decals was a nice comparison. The bike looks great in the nude and with decals on.
New Power Tuner
The 2024 can be further dialled with Yamaha’s new Power Tuner. This can be downloaded from your app store of choice for free and arms you with a wealth of information and tools to dial in your new bike. It comes with a new, easy-to-use interface where you can adjust engine tuning, play with traction control, take lap times and monitor in real time. Here, you can view RPM, speed and throttle position. What one can do in this app that was unavailable a few short years ago, is unreal.
We only had two days on the bikes, so I never had the chance to play around with the power tuner. However, this would be a vital tool in a serious rider or racer’s toolbox. The lap timer function would have been abused in my racing days, if I had it!
Final Thoughts
Having not ridden in a while and on a new track, it would be expected to be a bit on the cautious side when hitting the track again. Surprisingly enough, I wasn’t nervous at all. The YZ250F inspires confidence. The conditions were tricky and soft, which meant the more you attacked, the better the bike handled. Everything from my comfort on it to the power and the suspension (even in stock trim) made the ride incredibly enjoyable. The bike wasn’t twitchy, and I enjoyed that planted feel.
My favourite bike before this test was the 2013 YZ250F I had back in South Africa. With the modifications we made to it, combined with aftermarket parts, it was a bike that I truly felt my best on. After two days on the 2024 YZ250F, I can honestly say that it has changed to this new model taking the honours. Feeling so confident on the bike from the outset in its stock trim speaks to how just good it is.
The final thing I have to say is… How soon can I get one?
A massive thank you to everyone for making this happen:
Billy Rainford – Direct Motocross
Justin Balkos – Yamaha Motor Canada Marketing Coordinator
Chris Cooper – Yamaha Motor Canada Dealer Support Coordinator
Greg Poisson – Initial introduction
Zoe Verbauwhede – Leatt Canada
Benjamin Blouin – Kimpex
Kevin Tyler – Sand Del Lee Motocross/MX101
Richard van der Westhuizen
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