yamaha 250

[Steve L]

Hi just wondering when did Yamaha stop making 250 trials bikes and what model was it and how much do they normally sell for, thanks Steve.

[motostar99]

Hi Steve,

Not sure if this is the latest they made them, someone may be able to correct me but found this link that might help.

http://www.bikepics.com/yamaha/ty250/

I've seen them going for anywhere between $1000 to $2500 depending on the condition.

Hope that's of some help...

Nic

[David Lahey]

Yamaha still make 250cc trials bikes based on the Scorpa SY250 but are only currently produced for Japanese works riders. There are pictures of one in the latest "Trial" magazine of the bike that had just won the Japanese trials championships.
The TY250 you are probably thinking of is the last trials bike that Yamaha sold to the public and is the TY250Z, which was produced from 1993 to 1995. This model has become a bit of a collectors item as they are extremely rare. Stefan Merriman rode the TY250Z with great success in Australian trials before he became a multi time world enduro champion.
Below are photos of two TY250Z in Australia. One has been very well preserved (ie not ridden), and the other photo is of the one I had a few years ago which was imported second hand from Japan in 1999 and has been ridden quite a bit in both countries.
The different TY250Z models had different colour schemes and some very minor mechanical differences. Yamaha developed the bike in-house at great expense and the retail price was very high compared with other trials bikes of the time. Despite the extremely high standard of engineering design and reliability, very few were sold new in Australia.
I suspect that the poor sales takeup of the TY250Z is the main reason that Yamaha has not attempted to develop an in-house trials bike design since then.
The motor found in the current Scorpa SY250 has been developed from the TY250Z motor, losing none of its legendary Yamaha reliability in the process.
Is that the TY250 model you were thinking of??

[Steve L]

thanks David and motostar99, yes it is the one you sent pictures of, how do they compare to other bikes. I currently have a Sherco 290 2000 model and am thinking of selling it and getting something like the ty250z. I ride with my mate who has a ty350, but I find it to heavy and hard to ride compared to the Sherco. We mainly ride in the bush along forestry trails and usually manage to find a bit of steep stuff as well, thanks Steve.

[Steve L]

Hi David, a bit of a long shot here but do you know anything about the tyz for sale on this site, it is a 94 model and is currently living on the Sunshine coast, regards Steve

[motostar99]

Hi Steve,

I imagine that what you'll find is the tyz will be right in the middle of the ty350 and the sherco. I used to ride a Beta Synt, which was made around the same time as the tyz and while I havent been on a tyz, i reckon they might be similar as far as weight and the feel of the bike goes. I think you'll find it won't be as light and responsive as the sherco, but will definitely be a step up from the ty350. I guess the best thing to do would be try and give one a test ride.

Nic

[David Lahey]

The TY350 and the TY250Z are very similar in weight on the scales, both being in the 80-85kg range, which is also about the same as a TY175. The TY350 and TY250Z both have relatively high footpegs compared with a modern bike like your Sherco, which is the other reason the TY350 you rode feels so different to the Sherco (apart from the 15kg in weight difference).
The TY250Z motor leaves the TY350 for dead in performance.
The TY350 is easier to ride in very tight sections as it is quite a bit shorter in the wheelbase, and has much more steering lock (side to side) than the TY250Z.
Even though the TY250Z has a disc front brake, they are nowhere near as good to use as what is fitted to modern bikes (four pot caliper front brakes).
I think that you would be quite disappointed if you thought that the TY250Z would be anywhere near as nice to ride as your Sherco in trials sections. If you only ever use a bike for trail riding (including hill climbs), the Yamaha would be very nice. In fact the TY250Z is a hill climb weapon and has a very wide range set of gearbox ratios (a high top speed).

PS I don't know anything about that particular TY250Z except that it is not the one I had.

[Steve L]

thanks for all the info Nic and David, I am surprised that the tyz is as heavy as the 350 being nearly 10 years newer, and that the 350 is better in the tight stuff, my Sherco is heaps better than the ty350 in the slow tight stuff. I do like the riding style of my Sherco so maybe I should keep it and maybe gear it up a little for the more open tracks. How much difference would it make by dropping the rear down from a 42 to a 40. I would have changed the front sprocket to a 10 instead of the standard 11 but they don't make them. I never use 1st gear and after takeoff only really use from 3rd up. One of the reasons I was thinking of changing was the lack of spares, I have been waiting 11 weeks for an ignition system to come over from Spain and am told it will be still at least another week, I have almost forgotten what it is like to ride now, thanks again Steve. ps do you think going to a 40 is low enough as I can also get a 39 or 38, as I mentioned I never use 1st and very rarely use 2nd.

[PA]

I ride what I believe is Stefan Merriman's TY250Z complete with sidecar.