MXA BUYER’S GUIDE TO THE WIDE WORLD OF 2024 FOUR-STROKES

With the 2025 models just peeking over the horizon, it’s a good chance to catch up on the bikes that are still on the showroom floors—the 2024 250, 350 & 450 four-strokes

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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.

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

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

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 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.

BUDGET BIKE SHOOTOUT: 2023 SUZUKI RM-Z250 FOUR-STROKE “VERSUS” YAMAHA YZ125 TWO-STROKE

You may not think they are comparable, but the AMA rulebook says they are. Which one is better?

IN THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR! THE WRECKING CREW’S FAVORITE 2022 RACE BIKES

Even though they know the best bike when they ride it, that doesn’t mean that they choose the winner when it’s time to race

BEHIND THE BLUE CURTAIN: INSIDE JODY’S PERSONAL YZ250 TWO-STROKE BUILD

What one man did to his old smoker. Why would an MXA test rider want a 2014 Yamaha YZ250 when he could just race MXA’s 2023 YZ250?

WE RIDE DAVID O’CONNOR’S VET MXDN 2002 YAMAHA YZ250

David O’Connor is everyone’s favorite Irishman; however, “everyone” is a relative term. We actually mean everyone in the American motocross community

MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF THE 2022 YAMAHA YZ250

The 2022 Yamaha YZ250 got a much-needed facelift, but the lack of engine upgrades or weight savings means that the new YZ250 didn’t close the power gap on the 2022 KTM 250SX

THE “MUST-READ” MOTOCROSS ACTION 2022 125 TWO-STROKE SHOOTOUT

When Yamaha introduced a brand-new YZ125 for 2022, it was imperative that we schedule the 125s for a rematch. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get a 2022 TM 125MX because of COVID-related issues in Holland

MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF THE 2022 YAMAHA YZ250F

For 2022, Yamaha focused its attention on the rear wheel and some modest updates to valving in the suspension department.

WE RIDE GARRETT MARCHBANKS’ CLUBMX YAMAHA YZ250F

Garrett’s ClubMX YZ250F was 9 pounds lighter than the stock 2022 YZ250F, which means it hit the scales at 218 pounds.

“ALMOST FACTORY POWER”: WE RIDE GARRETT MARCHBANKS’ CLUBMX YZ250F

The Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha team gave us practically every detail about Garrett’s bike. This is a privateer YZ250F that keeps up with the factory bikes

2022 MXA 250 FOUR-STROKE SHOOTOUT: THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE…TO GO FASTER

This year’s MXA 250 four-stroke shootout includes seven race machines. MXA lived with these seven 250cc four-stroke bikes for months—racing them, working on them and deciphering each ones hidden code

MXA RETRO TEST: WE RIDE CHAD REED’S 2002 YAMAHA OF TROY YZ250F

How Chad Reed got to America in the first place—and the moves he made to insure that he became a moto icon

THE REAL DEAL! 2022 MOTOCROSS ACTION 250 SHOOTOUT VIDEO

What are the best and worst aspects of the seven 250 motocross machines on the market? We dive into that and rank them from first to seventh here

MXA RETRO TEST: WE RIDE JOHN DOWD’S 1998 MOTOCROSS DES NATIONS YZ250

And, while we were there to ride John Dowd’s MXDN YZ250, we decided to ride Doug Henry’s YZ400 team bike also

MXA VIDEO: WE TEST THE 2022 YAMAHA YZ250 TWO-STROKE

Finally, after remaining basically the same since 2006, the YZ250 has gained some significant upgrades. It’s not “All-new,” but it feels pretty new!

MXA RETRO TEST: WE RIDE CARMICHAEL’S, HENRY’S & DOWD’S 1998 MX DES NATIONS BIKES

We lined up tests on the three 1998 Motocross des Nations works bikes. It was a great test—even though the fairy tale didn’t have a happy ending

ON THE RECORD: COMPLETE TEST OF THE 2000 YAMAHA YZ250

The 2000 Yamaha YZ250 was a seamless blend of usability

MXA VIDEO: WE TEST THE 2022 YAMAHA YZ250F

We breakdown the details on the successful Yamaha YZ250F and include a new map

MXA VIDEO: WE TEST A TWISTED BUILT YAMAHA YZ270F BIG-BORE

We cried a little bit when riding this bike for two reasons. (1) The reverberation noise was insanely loud due to the hopped-up engine and vented airbox cover (2) The power profile brought us tears of joy

ON THE RECORD: MXA’S 2004 250 TWO-STROKE MOTOCROSS SHOOTOUT

We flashback to when all the Japanese manufactures made two-stroke dirt bikes. This is the complete 2004 RM250 vs. YZ250 vs. CR250 vs. KX250 vs. KTM brawl

MXA RACE TEST: 2021 YAMAHA YZ250FX CROSS-COUNTRY

We’re thrilled that Yamaha updated the YZ250FX cross-country bike with better components and more thought than the original FXs. This is a big step up

FIRST LOOK! 2022 YAMAHA YZ250 TWO-STROKE GETS A LONG AWAITED UPDATE

The YZ250 two-stroke receives an enhanced lightweight braking system, updated suspension settings, improved ergonomic design and modern YZ styling

FIRST LOOK! 2022 YAMAHA YZ450F & YAMAHA YZ250F

The new Yamaha’s are here!

ON THE RECORD: COMPLETE TEST OF THE 2001 YAMAHA YZ250

Yamaha was the first motorcycle manufacturer to figure out that it’s not how much power you make, but how you make it.

MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF THE 2021 YAMAHA YZ250 TWO-STROKE

The best thing about the YZ250 is that Yamaha keeps making it. Yamaha’s last Japanese two-stroke competitor said, “Sayonara” 12 years ago

THE 2021 MXA 250 FOUR-STROKE SHOOTOUT: ALL SEVEN BIKES IN ONE TEST

Breaking down the fastest 250 four-strokes — everything you need know, most of it applicable to your actual riding

WE BUILD A TWISTED DEVELOPMENT/ CYLINDER WORKS YZ270F

On the first test rides of our full-blown, full-race, full-size, Yamaha YZ270F, the MXA test riders were impressed, but we aren’t going to lie; we cried a little bit for two reasons

THE REAL DEAL! 2021 MOTOCROSS ACTION 250 SHOOTOUT VIDEO

It’s finally here! We rank all seven 2021 250 models from seventh to first and share our opinion on the best bargain bike, best entry level bike, best working class bike and bike of the year

MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF THE 2021 YAMAHA YZ250F

For 2021, Yamaha passed down the YZ450F chassis to the smaller YZ250F and reworked the engine for more top end

ON THE RECORD: 2004 HONDA CR250 VERSUS YAMAHA YZ250

Time has a way of blurring the rear-view vision of motocross fans. What’s better a 2004 Honda or 2004 Yamaha? We not surprised that you don’t know the correct answer

MXA FIRST RIDE VIDEO: 2021 YAMAHA YZ250F

The 2021 Yamaha YZ250F looks the same, but it has over 30 new part numbers for 2021

MXA RACE TEST: THE REAL TEST OF 2020 YAMAHA YZ250X CROSS-COUNTRY

One caveat: if you buy a YZ250X and port the cylinder, mill the head and add an aftermarket pipe, you might as well have bought a YZ250 and saved the money

FIRST LOOK! 2021 YAMAHA WR450F & WR250F

Yamaha Enduro models for the 2021 year… the ones with the headlights

MXA FIRST RIDE VIDEO: 2021 YAMAHA YZ250 TWO-STROKE

Yamaha is back with their YZ250 two-stroke. No, it hasn’t changed. Yes, we’re still testing it