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MXA BUYER’S GUIDE: 2024 MINICYCLE BUYER’S GUIDE

If you are looking to launch your young one into the motocross world, move him up to a bigger bike or just looking for some backyard fun—look no further

MXA RETRO TEST: WE RIDE BBR’S YAMAHA TT-R150L

This works-like BBR play bike is a perfect example of the ideas, craftsmanship and work ethic that powered the minicycle world eight years ago

TWO-STROKE TUESDAY: FIRST YEAR OF THE ALUMINUM YZ250 FRAME

Yamaha spent millions of dollars on the development of the most advanced two-stroke motocross bike in motocross history at the exact moment when two-stroke sales hit the dumpster

MXA VIDEO: 2024 YAMAHA YZ125 TWO-STROKE TESTED

One of the most popular 125cc two-strokes is still around after 50 years, although serious development on this particular model started in 2005—that is 19 years with of expericene

TEN YEARS AGO TODAY! 2014 MXA 250 SHOOTOUT: CRF VS. KX-F VS. SXF VS. RM-Z VS. YZ-F

The MXA wrecking crew tested, documented, inspected, theorized and calculated every conceivable facet of the 250 four-stroke class for 2014. Your future bike now!

2024 YAMAHA YZ125X VS. YZ250X: WHICH OFF-ROAD YZ-X TWO-STROKE IS BEST FOR YOU?

Yamaha offers two four-stroke cross-country models & two two-stroke models. MXA breaks down the differences between the 2024 YZ250X and YZ125X

HOW THE 1955 YAMAHA YA-1 RED DRAGONFLY MADE YAMAHA WHAT IT IS TODAY

Yamaha was originally called Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha, which translated is “Japan Musical Instrument Manufacturing Company.” It wasn’t until the summer of 1955, that the Yamaha Motor Company was spun off from Nippon Gakki.

2024 MXA 450 FOUR-STROKE SHOOTOUT: SUZUKI, HONDA, GASGAS,KAWASAKI, HUSQVARNA, KTM & YAMAHA

Even though it is fun to fly to some far-away track to test a bike, it isn’t much of a test. MXA prefers to test bikes on the “dirt dyno.” What is the dirt dyno? It is the tracks that we have done a thousand laps on.

2024 MXA 250 FOUR-STROKE SHOOTOUT: THE WRITTEN WORD ON HOW ALL SEVEN BIKES RANK

We tested each bike in its stock form, and put 20 hours on each bike to, try to make them ultimately comparable to each other and to keep things equal we installed the same tires on each bike

MXA VIDEO: 2024 YAMAHA YZ250 TWO-STROKE TEST

Our tune has changed… Thank you, Yamaha

MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF THE 2024 YAMAHA YZ450F

If you own a 2023 Yamaha YZ450F, then you already own a 2024 YZ450F—except with more hours on it than the new one on the showroom floor.

FLASHBACK! INNERMOST SECRETS OF JOSH MOSIMAN’S PALA NATIONAL YZ450F

Taking testing to the nth degree—inside MXA’s Yamaha YZ450F as set-up for the 2023 Pala 450 National

YAMAHA DT-1: THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO MOTOCROSS

The wild and wacky story of how Yamaha got into the dirt bike business and the cast of characters that made it a success

2024 MXA 250 FOUR-STROKE SHOOTOUT VIDEO

You may not like our opinion, but you have to respect it. We ride, race, and test all seven of the 2024 250cc four-strokes to give you the pros and cons of each new bike

MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF THE 2024 YAMAHA YZ250F

For a few years now; the YZ250 Yamaha has falling behind KTM, Husqvarna, GasGas and Kawasaki on horsepower numbers, but the YZ250 makes up the difference if you stay in the meat of the powerband.

TWO-STROKE TUESDAY: 2004 HONDA CR250 VERSUS YAMAHA YZ250

No offense to Kawasaki, Suzuki and KTM, but their combined motocross bike sales didn’t equal one-half of the numbers put up by Yamaha and Honda in 2004

Ride Engineering Yamaha YZ250 two-stroke

MXA VIDEO: WE TEST RIDE ENGINEERING’S PROJECT YAMAHA YZ250 TWO-STROKE

This Yamaha YZ250 two-stroke was purpose-built to be crisp, clean, light and fun. It has Ride Engineering triple clamps, linkage and brakes, Twisted Development engine and carb mods, Enzo suspension and more

2023 MOTOCROSS ACTION’S 450 SHOOTOUT VIDEO

This is the one you should read! We compare the CRF450, YZ450F, 450SXF, KX450, FC450, RM-Z450, and MC450F against each other in the most highly anticipated video of the year

IN THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR! THE WRECKING CREW’S FAVORITE YAMAHA TWO-STROKE PROJECT BIKES

There is no time limit on the love between a man and his first two-stroke—and when a two-stroke has been in production since 1974, like the YZ125/YZ250, it has a devoted congregation hoping to pay homage to the past with their own Yamaha project bikes

MXA VIDEO: WE TEST THE 2024 HUSQVARNA FC250

It’s surprising to learn how many people don’t know that Husqvarna’s motocross bikes sit a full inch lower than KTM or GasGas

MXA VIDEO: WE TEST THE 2024 YAMAHA YZ450F

The Yamaha YZ450F won our Shootout last year, but it’s not perfect. Josh Mosiman and Dennis Stapleton talk pros and cons of the 50th anniversary YZ450F in this video

MXA RETRO TEST: WE RIDE STEFAN EVERTS’ 2003 WORKS YAMAHA YZ-Fs

Not just one of Stefan Everts Championship bikes, but both of them at the same track on the same day

MXA VIDEO: WE TEST THE 2024 YAMAHA YZ250F

We finally got our hands on the all-new YZ250F and we compared it back to back with our 2023 YZ250F

TEN YEARS AGO TODAY: COMPLETE TEST OF THE 2013 YAMAHA YZ450F

Yamaha has to convince you that their backwards engine idea is good and until they do they are paying the “Penalty of Taking the Lead”

WE RIDE A HOT-ROD YAMAHA YZ250 TWO-STROKE

The Yamaha YZ250 two-stroke is a timeless testament to, “if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it.”

MXA RETRO TEST: TIM FERRY’S “UNFACTORY” 2000 YAMAHA YZ250 TWO-STROKE

Tim Ferry and Jeremy McGrath may have been on the same Mazda/Chaparral Yamaha team, but they didn’t get the same bike

MXA VIDEO: WE TEST PRO CIRCUIT’S 2023 YAMAHA YZ125 TWO-STROKE

This 2023 Yamaha YZ125 is the new version of Pro Circuit’s “Race Spec” engine and suspension for this bike, and we were the lucky ones who were able to sling a leg over it

BUILDING A YAMAHA YZ85 BIG WHEEL FOR A GROWING KID

We all know how fast kids grow, and no one wants to be buying new bikes to keep up with growth spurts—which is why a SuperMini with its larger wheels is a good buy

1992 YAMAHA WR500: HOW THE “AIR HAMMER” BECAME THE “MAYTAG”

Some times a stop gap measure is the only measure that can work when you start too late

2023 JUNIOR CYCLE SHOOTOUT: YAMAHA YZ65 VERSUS HUSQVARNA TC65

One look at the Yamaha YZ65 and Husqvarna TC65 two-strokes made our big-bike test riders wish they had bikes as good as these when they were kids

WE RIDE PRO CIRCUIT’S 2023 YAMAHA YZ125 RACE BIKE

MXA has traditionally carbon-dated the start of the YZ125 era to 2006 because that’s when the class-leading Kayaba SSS forks were installed.

MXA RETRO TEST: WE RIDE TIM FERRY’S THREE-SPEED 2002 YAMAHA YZ426

The three-speed tranny was not just for Supercross, Yamaha said they also ran the three-speed outdoors, but with a smaller rear sprocket.

INSIDE ELI TOMAC’S STAR RACING YAMAHA YZ450F

MXA’s Travis Fant gets up close and personal with Eli Tomac’s race bike, the day before he got hurt

WISECO’S BEAUTIFUL YAMAHA YZ250 TWO-STROKE PROJECT BUILD

A clean looking, well-prep, 2023 YZ250 two-stroke, that doesn’t have any crazy mods, just stuff that can be set-up to be better than what comes stock.

2023 MXA 125 TWO-STROKE SHOOTOUT: HUSQVARNA TC, GASGAS MC, YAMAHA YZ & KTM SX GO TO WAR

Take your pick! Two are fuel injected and two are carbureted—and one is by far the best in the 2023 125 class. Everything you need to know

2023 MXA 450 FOUR-STROKE SHOOTOUT: GASGAS VS. HONDA VS. HUSQVARNA VS. KAWASAKI VS. KTM VS. SUZUKI VS. YAMAHA

Everything you need to know about the 450 class of 2023 is right here. After you read MXA’s 450 shootout, you’ll know everything you need to know about the best bikes in the 450 class

MXA RETRO TEST: WE RIDE COOPER WEBB’S 2015 STAR YAMAHA YZ250F

Yamaha YZ250F owners should rejoice, because while Webb’s bike is graced with a handful of unobtainable parts, the vast majority of parts that make Cooper’s steed run are readily available

WE RIDE A CUSTOM-BUILT SSE YAMAHA YZ450E ELECTRIC BIKE

When your voltage goes up, the complexity goes up. A higher-voltage bike requires extra battery management and extra sensors on all the battery cells; all of which adds extra weight and takes up space. When the voltage is high and the amperage is low, your system has a disparity of complexity. The SSE YZ450E is running 100 volts and can go up to 450 amps.

MXA’S 2023 250 FOUR-STROKE SHOOTOUT: THE FINAL WORD ON THE 2023 CROP

GasGas MC250 vs. Honda CRF250 vs. Kawasaki KX250 vs. Husqvarna FC250 vs. KTM 250SXF vs. Yamaha YZ250f vs. Suzuki RM-Z250

TEST UPDATE: 2023 YAMAHA YZ125 TWO-STROKE

Being trustworthy, timeless & true to its purpose make the 2023 Yamaha YZ125 the Boy Scout of the 125 class.

2024 MOTOCROSS ACTION 450 SHOOTOUT VIDEO

It’s finally here! We lined up the all-new Kawasaki KX450 and GasGas MC450F models against the rest of the 450 class in a head-to-head comparison

MXA VIDEO: WE TEST THE 2023 YAMAHA YZ250 TWO-STROKE

The Yamaha YZ250 is tried-true-and-blue. We appreciate the Kayaba SSS forks, smooth engine, and recently updated bodywork

INSIDE THE PRO’S BIKES: JEREMY MARTIN’S CLUBMX YAMAHA YZ250F

ClubMX mechanic Cameron Callaghan tells you everything they do to J-Mart’s FXR/Muc-Off Yamaha YZ250F

MOTOCROSS ACTION’S 2023 TWO-STROKE BUYER’S GUIDE

Thinking about switching to a smoker? The market for two-strokes is flush with race bikes built for riders as young as 4 years old all the way up to senior citizens

MXA RETRO TEST: WE RIDE JASON LAWRENCE’S 2008 YAMAHA OF TROY YZ250F

Jason Lawrence isn’t your typical motocross rider (in any sense of the word). He has a very neutral riding position and tends to weight the back end of the bike more than the front.

MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF THE 2023 YAMAHA YZ250 TWO-STROKE

If Yamaha wanted to engage in a horsepower war with the Austrian bike, they would have no choice but to pursue KTM’s stronger pull from idle to the middle, but going all-out to match the KTM 250SX would be a mistake

MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF THE 2023 YAMAHA YZ450F

Yamaha’s willingness to address the human element and eliminate the grievous flaws of the previous models is what sets the 2023 YZ450F apart from its 12 predecessors

MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF THE 2023 YAMAHA YZ250F

The YZ250F suspension is balanced and the setup is foolproof, making the YZ250F one of the easier bikes feel comfortable on after you get used to the ergos.

MXA RETRO TEST: JEREMY McGRATH’S 1998 CHAPARRAL YAMAHA YZ250

To avoid any confusion, it should be noted that while Jeremy McGrath rode for Team Chaparral, his bike was from Team Yamaha. Whatever Kevin Windham, John Dowd and Doug Henry had, Jeremy got.

MXA RETRO TEST: WE RIDE GRANT LANGSTON’S NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP YAMAHA YZ450F

Unlike most factory riders, Grant Langston does not buy into the “works forks” syndrome. Grant felt they were too stiff—not too firm in motion, but too stiff for the YZ450F chassis. Grant ran the stock 48mm forks becaise they fed more flex into the front end to help the YZ450F turn.