Words by Aaron ‘Simmo’ Clifton
Good view from up here.My dirtbike-riding days are largely over. Not that they were ever a big part of my life anyway. Dirt was what I rode when I had to. I was either on my way to somewhere I had to be, running from the cops, or lost. So, I rode whatever dirt there was astride whatever I happened to be riding at the time. And while I am perfectly happy to sail along nice dirt tracks on comfy adventure-like bikes, singe-track enduro shit and motocross are not now and never have been my happy place.
I thus have unseemly amount of respect for blokes, like Aaron, who race motocross and for whom riding dirtbikes is insane fun. Rest assured, that while I can jump a motocross biker as high and as far as the best of them, I cannot land the basatrds. That there is the main problem. I am at peace with this. So when I am invited to a dirt-bike launch, I send Aaron. That way, everyone wins – Boris
The delightful box of blue chocolates.“Do you want to go ride the new YZ250F?” Borrie asked.
“Are you giving me a choice?” I asked. “You normally just tell me what to do, then walk away as if I have already agreed. You OK?”
“Don’t pretend you care,” he answered. “Do you wish to go to the press launch of this thing, or not?”
This is how dirt is conquered.Of course I wanted to go. My underpants were wet with the thought of it. I nodded.
“Good,” Borrie said. “I’ll tell Geezer you’re coming. Do not shame me. Test the bike properly. None of that TikTok bullshit. You’re just not hot enough for that.”
Which is how I found myself at the world-debut, full-strength, with international motocross champions on site to make us all look like shit, Australian press launch of the new YZ250F.
At first glance the 2027 bike didn’t look much different to the 2026 model. Great, I thought. Surely it has to be more than just new stickers. Yamaha has La La Turner (multi-time champion in the Women’s Motocross Championship) here. Mr Motocross himself, Stephen Gall is here. Jed Beaton (Australian MX1 motocross champion) was on hand, as well as Aaron Tanti (runner up in MX1). And I could see Hayden Draper (Aussie MX3 champ).
These bastards aren’t here because new stickers.
Be good if that thing Geez is holding sprayed offal instead of light.And of course, they weren’t. While the 2027 YZF250 looks like the 2026 model, there are major differences. The press release said: New engine, new frame, new rear brake, updated gear box, and updated suspension.
My underpants got wetter.
Not only were the changes made to this bike about better performance, but they also spoke of increased durability – and we all want that in motocross. Things like widening the gears in the gear box, increasing the engagement dogs on the gears, relocating the timing chain tensioner to stop chain whip. Even adding two teeth to the cam sprockets and one tooth to the crank sprocket – that’s all about both durability. And performance.
A tried and true construction that has won world championships.If you want to know all about the tech stuff, because Borrie certainly doesn’t and just wants to see pictures of me flying and not shaming him, you can find it HERE.
By any objective measure, the 2027 YZ250F is much-improved machine over its predecessor.
The previous model made good power, but not in the most usable place in the power curve. The 2027 model is slightly better off the bottom, but a lot better in the mid-range, and right through to the top.
Rather improved over the previous stoppers.The long uphills at Queensland Moto Park were the perfect place to test the new donk. It had no trouble lifting the front wheel out of corners and carrying it aloft as I pushed my weight forward and clicked through the gearbox.
I’d like to say I did this going past an influenza recording its content, but none of them were hot enough for me to bother.
The real test for a Yamaha, as far as I was concerned, was low-speed cornering, which is where I thought the Yamaha needed to improve. I thought this because I have raced last year’s 250s and 450s.
Borrie felt there was not enough roost.The improvement here was instantly evident. On a nicely prepared track the bike felt like it had come a long way with the new frame and some tweaks to the stock suspension.
I spun multiple laps and pushed until I could no longer breathe properly. Borrie wants me to go until I faint, so I told him I did.
The new bike was impressive. The stoppers are nice and strong, and the bike feels light, free, yet planted to the ground. My underpants were now a swamp of happiness.
Not MotoGP-level complicated.When I got back to the pits I handed the bike over to Stephen Gall, I wanted his opinion on something. He’s a beaut bloke, so he didn’t call security.
I explained to him that when I pushed the bike hard, I felt the front want to slightly drift wide on the exit of corners, and I had to consciously push my weight forward to stop this.
“When you get back tell me what you think of the forks,” I said to him.
It’s sticky even before you get excited.“I’m not a very good test rider,” Gally grinned. “I usually just adapt”.
And that’s why he was Mr Motocross.
Anyway, Stephan Gall got back after his ride and said: “I made a real effort to keep my head forward over the ’bars. It just handled a little better when I concentrated on that”.
I agreed with him [No shit – Boris], and the conclusion we both reached was this was not a problem to be remedied, but rather something that could be improved with a valving change in the forks. No biggy.
I fuelled up, tightened the chain, and headed back out. The track was now nicely run in. I felt I could push like a bastard, and I did just that for as many laps as possible.
What did I discover?
I brought no shame to Borrie due to the altitude.How much I really liked this motorcycle. It’s light, fast, and easy to manoeuvre around the track. Pick a line you want and go there. It’s much more refined than the previous model, and it works as a whole package. The new hydraulic clutch is a treat to use, particularly in corners; it’s a nice positive engagement, yet smooth and seamless.
I spun as many laps as I could until my hands started to blister, and I could no longer take on adequate oxygen required for life [Says you – Boris].
This is the last time this will ever be this clean.As the day came to a close I packed up my gear bag, and put on dry underpants.
It’s obvious 250cc MX bikes have come far, and the 2027 YZ250F is still at the top of the tree. It’s made notable progress over the last model, and I really do like it.
Hooray! Failed to crash again!If you’ve been looking for a bike that bridges the gap between 250-450 but didn’t want to get one of the Euro 350s, the 2027 YZ250F may well have bridged that gap for you.
Consider it tested and my underpants ruined.
