MXA TEAM TESTED: PRO CIRCUIT YZ250 PIPE & SILENCER

 

WHAT IS IT? The Yamaha YZ250 powerplant has been virtually unchanged for almost a decade. This gave Pro Circuit’s Mitch Payton more than enough time to tune his YZ250 pipe and silencer to perfection.

WHAT’S IT COST? $249.95 (pipe), $329.95 (carbon fiber silencer), $139.95 (aluminum silencer).

CONTACT? www.procircuit.com or (951) 738-8050.

WHAT STANDS OUT? Here’s a list of things that stand out with the Pro Circuit pipe and silencer.

(1) Installation. All the OEM YZ250 hardware is transferred over to the Pro Circuit pipe and silencer. Before installing the pipe, make sure to take the O-ring out of the OEM pipe and insert it into the Pro Circuit pipe. The pipe bolted on without any issues.

(2) Stock trim. The Yamaha YZ250 is one of the most loved bikes in MXA’s arsenal. It won our 250cc two-stroke shootout in 2016, but the powerplant has been relatively unchanged for almost a decade. Yamaha has thrown virtually all of its R&D budget into thumpers. We can’t say that was a bad idea, but the two-stroke market is hot again, and the benign neglect that Yamaha has shown its two-strokes is showing. KTM and Husqvarna have been updating their smokers on a yearly basis (and have all-new bikes for 2016).

(3) Performance. Pro Circuit’s Yamaha YZ250 exhaust system can be described in one word: explosive. This pipe makes an incredible difference all the way through the powerband, but it is a shock to the system. The initial hit was too strong for some of our test riders on dry tracks. They felt that the sharp burst of power made it difficult to control the rear end in hard-packed corners; however, on sand tracks, everyone loved the pipe, as it had more than enough power to keep the YZ250 in the powerband. Our testers also felt that they used the clutch much less than with the OEM pipe due to the increase in power.

(4) Silencer. We tested with Pro Circuit’s high-dollar carbon fiber silencer. Why? Because it looked cool. That proves how shallow we are. And, the fact that it costs $190 more than Pro Circuit’s regular R-304 silencer proves that money is no object to the MXA test crew. If it is to you, the aluminum R-304 has the exact samd dimensions and performance (and last longer to boot).

(5) Tuning. We didn’t touch the jetting on our 2015 Yamaha YZ250. It ran like a champ on premium pump gas. We might go richer in cold weather, sand or with more mods than just a pipe.

WHAT’S THE SQUAWK? Three complaints. First, the carbon fiber silencer is a luxury. If you are looking for longevity, go with the $190-cheaper aluminum one. Second, if you don’t own stock in ScotchBrite, you might want to consider Pro Circuit’s chrome-finish Platinum pipe. It is the same spec but doesn’t require manual labor to keep it looking new. Finally, this pipe is best in the hands of two-stroke riders with serious skills. It hits hard and pulls even harder.