48 thoughts on “2012 Yamaha YZ 125 & 250”

1. I hope thay start to change the bike to make it better not just leave it the same.

2. I’m sure glad Yamaha and KTM is still Providing their 125 and 250. These Bikes are too legendary to get rid of!

3. Some updates would really be nice. Especially if they want people to lay down the extra cash over the KTM. I guess they need to sell something and make a lot of money to fund the overly expensive 4 stroke race teams.

4. i have had my 2010 yz250 for over a year and a half and its great but if i decide sometime in the next couple of years to get a new bike i have to say yamaha isnt going to be my first choice if the twostroke r&d keeps going this way. can u say ktm! had a 144sx before and almost got a 250sx instead of the yz.hopefully the make some changes or ill be orange again

5. Thee machine that made Yamaha billions of dollars and placed them in their current position in the world, is now just a token attempt to appease the faithful. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad they are still being made, but there is no effort to update, race, support or any R&D money going into them, what’s the point. The point is to be able to say, they tried and no one bought any, so the consensus is to quit making them, it’s pathetic and they should be ashamed of their vague, feeble efforts.

   True smoker fans are going to the Euro’s, KTM not withstanding, as they are almost as f***ed up as Yamaha, but TM, Gas Gas, Maico, Gilera and Aprilia are making good smokers that need to be seriousely considered way before anyone looks at the Japanese blue bike. What would it hurt for Yamaha to race a few? Nothing, except for the 4 stroke agenda that is being shoved down everyone’s throat, whether we like it or not.

   One has only to look at the latest science, motorcycle and technology mags to see that the next big thing will be the electric bikes. Once the Japs have mainstreamed and mass produced these new electric wizz-bangers, their next push will be to convince the “followers” that THE 4 stroke is now the real evil and the Honda-GE electro-lux, 2 phase, 3 wave, blastwacker ERS 3000 is the choice for all hip riders and racers. Then, maybe when the “followers” are spending $5600.00 for a new coil winding unit for their 1 year old $13,000.00 race bike, just maybe, they’ll scream “how did this happen, how did we get here?” As us strokers just laugh and ride off in a little puff of blue smoke, smiling all the way into the sunset…

6. If you are a true smoker fan Ren, where is YOUR Euro 2 stroke? You ride an 04 Suzuki…. according to your twisted rhetoric, you arent a true 2 stroke fan…. wait, you have t shirts…. so, the guys really shouldnt buy these because of some conspiracy nut rantings??? You should buy a new Euro 2 stroke or stop your pathetic nonsense.

7. Hey Nom, first off, why do you always start something, always? My guess is you are lacking in either intelligence, which I know is the case and secondly, you are lacking elsewhere in the manhood ( or lack of manhood ) region. You are an absolute IDIOT. Thirdly, I never said I had an 04 Suzuki, because I DO NOT for the 1,000th time. More proof of what an idiot you are.

   Don’t you find it strange that every time you rant, many readers comment on how stupid and confrontational YOU are. I just state facts, you start arguments. Go comb your mullet before you go to work at K-Mart and leave intelligent conversations to the big boys.

8. KTM! always changed just not minor stuff and BNG!. y 2004 KTM 125SX will still any other 125 out there…the YZ has not changed engine wise since like 1998….got slower….and i like yamaha..but im not japanese..being ex war vet…i go USA..worked for Harley..well..it is what it is…but for Buell and own a Erik Buell model…1125CR! and usually euro bikes..being part german austrian from my father….KTM changes the bikes…big time..how can you say they dont!…sometimes they dont need to being a small company..getting bigger by name and distribution….hey the japanese/american now chinese way..! I love Maico’s but now they are a British sort of german…..brand?…Husky..the 150CR..i almost bought one..but went 2012 KTM250SX.or an 11. Hey its the way of the world…back to 2 smokes…like the good ole days…now getting a 500…probably CR500…or a KX 500 ..my 98 KX500 was stolen…! Just my 2 cents,..hey my cous had a 1979 Bultaco 125 pursang cause he could not get that screamin hard to find even in NY state….125 MX Maico!..now that was rare..like the Hodaka super combat wombat a good bike…orange and blue..remember..and those ossa phantoms….

9. I think you ride a keyboard Ren…. you show signs of lunacy and never answer my points, so you must be the idiot…. what Euro bike are you buying Herr Chancellor of the TSM Brownshirts? So, the Yamaha guys shouldnt be happy because you say they arent reL 2t fans? Sell some more stupod t-shirts psycho and get a life… I bet you dont ride and your rhetoric is boring, perfect for your minions. You are a sad person with no life, other than this conspiracy non-sense you spew all the time. Kinda funny, but very sad that you have nothing but nonsense…. good luck on your sales and I will eagerly await the same rehashed nonsense you type out…

10. Intelligence and you are from Arkansas? No wonder you keep repeating yourself… fool. Your stammerings are far from intelligent and quite predictable from a dollar store shift manager…. I wonder if the library knows of your revolutionary rantings? Certainly if you so smart, you would have more than the same crap you type out every single time,….. I give you credit, it must keep the attention of your minions. Viva la Ren!!!!!!!

11. Await my response? Listen Nom, I don’t know if you are aware of this, but this is a discussion forum for readers input regarding the specific article and to stay on topic. No sir, I won’t get drawn into an argument with you, you are waaaayyy to smart for me. So either stay on topic and by all means, input your thoughts on the discussion or take your “little mans complex” elsewhere. No one wants to hear your inciteful rhetoric if it’s not about the topic.

    If you continue, I will ask Charles to block your comments, so stay on topic or go elsewhere!

12. You guys need to shut it and go ride:)

13. Wow…whole lotta love in this room. Personally, I’m out of purchasing anything for economic and family reasons for the short-term. When I can/do buy, it will be from a company that advances two-strokes, not just tolerates the market segment.

    I’ll become a true fanatic of the first company willing to step up and fight Honda through really supporting a two-stroke, pro-level race team in the AMA outdoors and supercross just to stick it in the eye of the bashers…my hope for that lies with Husky since they now have BMW capitalization. In fact, I’d even buy a BMW for the street if I saw them backing Husqvarna for a push in direct-inject two strokes for off-road.

    I have the same take on Yamaha’s move as Ren. It is a nudge principle. They’ve made up their minds at the level above the engineers that two-strokes are done. If sales go down for the existing models then they have proof that smokers are done. If sales go the other way, then they have “proof” that the diesels need to be “improved.” Until there is a philosophical/political transition at a level above the designers, the two-stroke has no significant future at Yamaha…therefore they will not get my money in the off-road segment when I can spend.

    For those who understandably choose Yamaha over a competitor, whether due to availability, dealer support network, pricing…whatever…I’m glad that, at the very least, a two-stoke is being purchased as a statement as well as for a better riding/ownership experience.

    As for the “Nom-vs-Ren” thing I just saw…one put out an opinion and another chose to attack rather than just placing their own opinion about their own beliefs and activities. Guess which one I’d be likely to respect posts by at initial glance?

14. Hi from Australia. Over here everyone has fallen for the whole four stroke propaganda(due largely in part to hardly being affected by the global financial crisis). However the tide is slowly turning as many riders i know are tired of the down time and expense of repairing and maintaining there four strokes, particularly as more riders are slowly converting to the faster, superior, cheaper to maintain 2 strokes. So if you are purchasing a Yamaha, Ktm, TM etc regardless of the brand any two stroke purchase is a victory for 2 STROKES.

15. ^^^^
    This time last year my wife and i went to a motocross park for the weekend. Other than us there was maybe one or 2 other 2 strokes.

    We went the weekend just gone and the ration of 2 strokes to 4 strokes wasnt 50:50 but it was getting close. i was videoing my wife ride and there was always a two stroke to be heard in the back ground. it really is starting to catch back on here in oz.

    i also took my mates 450f for a spin. i will say again how glad i am i bought a 2 stroke. i did 3 laps and that was enough for me

16. +1 Ren
    -1 nom nom

17. I don’t understand why anyone would want to buy a new Yamaha 2-stroke. They used to be cheaper than KTM’s so they had a selling point. But KTM’s 250SX is CHEAPER than a YZ250 and it is 5-10 years newer tech. It has seen so much more improvement it is the logical choice.
    And any true smoker would support the brand that supports(at least somewhat) and updates their 2-strokes.

    Although if I had the money I would buy a TM for motocross and a Gas Gas gas for off-road. Those are true supporters of 2-strokes.

18. @2strokerevolution, thanks for your input and honesty/support. Do you guys have a web-site to visit and or an address for my office to send you a couple of shirts?

19. i guess it comes down to what people know as far as buying yamaha over ktm etc. yamaha have been around a long time and have developed a good product. over the years i have heard a few things from ktm owners and also seen them at the track that would make me wary of them. these are the motocross bikes, not enduro bikes and it is mostly things like reliability issues but i am sure that has come a long way recently. also my mate who is a mechanic rebuilt a ktm sx for a friend and vowed he would never touch another ktm, just different to jap bikes but it messed with his head

    the other thing is suspension, yamaha is known to have suspension that is brilliant straight out of the box where as ktm seems to struggle getting a good setup which generally costs money from the buyer to get sorted. the ktm has it in areas like engine but it is pretty easy to get more power out of a yz, maybe easier than getting a ktm to handle like a yz. i think if ktm ditch their wp suspension and went with showa/kayaba they would be much better off

    on top of that throw on the aftermarket support and dealer network and i can see why people buy yamaha.

    i myself am in the market to possibly upgrade soon as the rm is needing replacing and think i will go wiht the ktm but the yamaha did get considered

20. Hey guys at the end of the day we are all on the same side, we all love 2 strokes. I agree with chump the yamaha is well out dated but thew dealer support,parts and reliability are second to none. It burns me up that yamaha feels its ok the disrespect us flog us out dated tech on 2011-2012 prices. I am also starting to hear reports of unhappy KTM owners. I dont understand how over there a KTM is cheaper than the yamaha, that is disgraceful, here a YZ is a fair bit cheaper than a ktm, that along with all the above makes it not such a clear cut choice.
    Suzuki still have a handfull of Rms here but they are 2008 models and it is cheaper to buy a run out deal on a 2010 YZ. The euro bikes out here, TMs etc are a good 1000 also dearer than a KTM, the average punter wont look at them.

    This is a fantastic website, we are all very fortunate to have it and to be able to express our opinions. It would be very boring if we all thaught the same way,in saying that I/hope we have no time for personnel abuse keep posting your opinions Ren I enjoy reading them as I sure allot of others aswell. I am not riding at the moment but I will again one day, my 4 year old does and he will be brought up on 2 strokes.He is going to ride and learn to ride real bikes, not tractors.
    Cheers all

21. Oh and has everyone read the article on the Motorcross action website about the kit you can purchase in Europe to make the YZ look modern. It certainly makes the bike look very nice but at a huge extra cost. Why cant yamaha atleast do this.
    http://motocrossactionmag.com/Main/News/YAMAHA-TWOSTROKE-MOTOCROSS-KIT-TURN-YOUR-YZ125250-7982.aspx

22. I’m from Brazil and here is currently only 4 strokes, but has several followers of the 2 strokes with me and my friends. The real motocross is 2 stroke, 4 stroke for those who do not ride a bike and paid dearly for it.

23. Aussie2T you say that the TM is 1000 bucks dearer.
    Add the extras you get standard with a TM on to the price of a Yamaha and tell me which is cheaper.
    It all depends what you want in a bike.

24. I have never heard about reliability problems with KTM. Handling is something that you just have to get used to. It is different, not worse. Once you spend a little time on them you get used to it and they are amazing. I have also only heard great things about the closed cartridge forks since they started using them.

    What did the mechanic say about the KTM? I have owned/worked on a YZ125 and 380SX and the 380SX was actually simpler. Although they did have a stupid design for the piston pin clip for the 380 that wasn’t on their other bikes.

25. KTM has just about as much aftermarket support and dealer network as Yamaha.

    People switch from Jap to KTM all the time. But i never heard of people going the other way.

26. It’s really a good thing that both of these mfgr’s make smokers, as well as the others. It’s just disappointing that with a little effort and money they could propel themselves to star status and bring back millions of smoker fans by doing something in the U.S. in regards to racing at the highest level.

    Every smoker sold is a small victory for us in the battle, but factory efforts would be huge towards the war. Plus it would give hope to those who’ve almost given up.

27. I sometimes think that Yamaha may feel somewhat guilty after bringing out the YZM-400 model that the AMA bent the rules to allow Yamaha to race what I like to call “the beginning of the end MX bike”! Although history has a strange way of repeating itself & I believe that the 2-stroke motocross bikes are & will slowly but surely return to the MX tracks in America & all over the rest of the motocross world!
    Just as Langbo23 from Australia stated the tide is slowly turning as many riders are tired of down time and the expense of repairing & maintaining their 4-strokes.Now more & more riders/racers are realizing what most of the people on this site have known since about 2000 or 2001 and that is what these companies are up to! The 2-strokes are way more superior than the 4-strokes & because of that the big 4 or 5 if you want to include KTM could’nt make the “BIG Money” on the the 2-strokes anymore because they’re so much cheaper to rebuild,have far less moving parts”which makes them much lighter”,and everybody just plain loves riding the 2-stroke much more than the 4-stroke & for the ones out there that grew up riding both at one time or another like myself we know how much more fun riding a 2-stroke is!
    The absolute best thing us 2-stroke fans can do to keep the companies building as well as updating our beloved 2-strokes is when it’s time for you to purchase a new ride DO NOT let the dealership talk you into a 4-stroke! Buy the 2-stroke & write/type letters to all of the companies until your hands are as sore as they would be if you just got done racing a old school KX-500 or a Maico 700 for 3 hours!Trust me eventually the companies will have no choice but to give in to the demands of the people or shut down! I would also like to suggest something I’ve been doing for a fairly long time & that is DO NOT purchase anything made by Honda because they are truly an enemy of the 2-stroke! I also would NOT buy anything off of Yamaha(besides their YZ-125 & 250 2t)Kawasaki unless it’s a 2-stroke,Suzuki unless it’s a 2-stroke or KTM unless it’s a 2-stroke!What I’m asking you to do is just don’t buy from the companies that do not support the 2-stroke MX bikes and that means anything! No powerwashers from Honda no generators or boat motors from Yamaha no vehicles from Suzuki because trust me it’s NOT a 2-stroke & no Honda vehicles either! Trust me there are other as well as better brands of generators,powerwashers,cars,trucks to buy if you need to!
    We need to cut these 4-stroke building motorcycle companies off at their jugulars!If everyone on this site will do these things & have their friends & friends of friends do this we can and will bring our smokers back to the tracks that they belong on & don’t forget the other brands that are 2-stroke friendly,GasGas,TM,Husqvarna,Maico(I know their pricey!and hard to find!)Aprilia & KTM! I know that like Maicos KTM’s are either loved or hated I happen to love both of those brands but if you do not there are plenty of other European brands I listed & I know there is even more brands of 2-strokes available that are not listed but again just support the brands that support what we love to race and/or ride and you know what that is!

28. My mate wasn’t saying the ktms were terrible to work on rather just different. when you have done the same task on a jap bike for so long and then have to change it for a different type of bike it just feels weird.

    as for the freestyle guy, he more does demonstration rides at events. the jumps he is doing would be 80 feet max when he is working. don’t really need 250 2T power and he said in the air the 250f is just more responsive especially for whips and that.

29. @tmkiwi, I wasnt bagging tms at all. My point was tms are a 100 dearer than a ktm that makes them 2-3 thou dearer than the yamaha. I am a fan of tm but if I was going to buy a new bike can I justify the extra lute. I personally have never seen a tm at a motorcross event I have been to so they are very thin on the ground. Better quality or not reliabilty, dealer network and walk off the showroom floor price sses yzs moving very well.

30. These days Im finding it cheaper to go to the dark side by buying a dirt cheap second hand japanese 2T and then supporting the local perfomance industry in the way of cosmetic, suspension and chassis modifications and proper new-skool performance tuning.

    At the end of the day I have a bike which is both slightly cheaper and faster than what any of the manufacturers can produce.

    PS: None of the manufacturers with the exception of TM havnt done anything for the two stroke cause in the past few years… there have been no ground braking developments in performance technology. its all just new sticker kits, suspension changes and slight tweeks here and there.
    the last big update was 6 speed KTMs

31. I support KTM and going for a 2012 250sx. Yes they raise their 4-strokes higher but they are the only MAJOR company that supports and believe in 2-strokes as well as 4-strokes. They sell shiploads of 2-strokes and buying from them I think will support the 2-stroke more, because KTM is a big player. TM, Maico and Husky are to perifer to make a big impact.

    Are Aprilia making a 2-stroke MX? Never heard of it…

32. Let me be honest. USA is the world’s largest dirtbike market, but how many of you actually ride KTM, TM or Gas-Gas? KTM is the most popular bike in South Africa for Enduro and MX. I am a South African living in Dubai, and KTM again is the most ridden bike over here.

    So if American riders started buying these bikes, manufacturers would put more money and development into the 2 strokes. Yes, support may be less than the big Jap manufacturers, but surely if you start supporting them, they will increase dealer and part support. And poeople complainign that its different to a Jap bike. Yes, they are, cos they are now actually superior bikes.

    It all starts here. Put your money where your mouth is.

33. KTM is the 2nd largest seller of offroad motorcycles in North America and I wouldn’t be surprised if their 2T sales exceed Suzuki’s total offroad sales so I think it is safe to say that riders are speaking with their wallets.The strange thing is that the Japanese manufacturers don’t seem to be listening.

34. @Darien Harris, you seem passionate but ill informed about American motocross. The way the rules are set up here, in pro MX/SX a 2 stroke has so many disadvantages built-in by the ruling system, the AMA, that no one races them because of it. If the rules were fair ( or even FAIRER ) we wouldn’t be having this discussion.

    As it is, the big-5 take advantage of the rules ( most were put in place by the big-4, KTM was not part of the setup of the rules, but they do take advantage of it, by the way, this information I got from an ex-AMA official ) and it is too much to race a 2 stroke.

35. The entire Factory FMF/KTM Team will be riding two-strokes for the remaining AMA National Enduro rounds. – KTM News Release 7/12/11

    You can read the full story at: http://blogs.dirtrider.com/6768771/news/factory-fmf-ktm-team-makes-the-switch-to-two-strokes/index.html

36. Sounds like KTM has just taken another step in the right direction.

37. @Ren Schmidt,what exactly do you mean when you ended with “and it is too much to race a 2 stroke”? You can’t possibly be saying that it’s too much money to race a 2 stroke can you???

38. @Jeff, no sir, that is not what I meant. I was referring to the disadvantages the 2 stroke has to overcome to race at the highest level of AMA competition. In the beginning there was an almost half displacement rule the stroker had to overcome, when the 2 stroke continued to excel, they implemented a weight penalty the stroker had to carry, then a fuel penalty and on and on.

    I realize that at the amateur level, the racing is closer, but people buy what races on TV and 4 strokes dominate because of the rules. BTW, the big-4 are so into the 4 stroke agenda, that they will not allow anything to compromise their billion dollar windfall ( top end parts ) and this is the sole reason the 150/300 petition NEVER made it to the voters. Sorry about the confusion.

39. @Ren,Sorry I misunderstood what you meant at first but I now understand exactly what your saying & I do agree with you 100%,especially your most recent post about the big-4 agenda & the fact that they will not allow anything to compromise their billion dollar windfall.Thankyou for clarifying that for me Ren.

40. @Ren….. after some thinking/introspection, arrggghhhh…. I think you are ok and right , seriously. I don’t always agree with ya, but it’s tough to disagree with you passion and points, etc. I still think we should buy a new Euro 2 stroke to keep them alive, clearly Yamaha is suspect with a 2012 model that is 6 years old… good stuff man and I apologise. No need to be foolish when we really are on the same team. Cheers.

41. These are great bikes but Yamaha is price gouging at this point in time. They are basically warmed over 5 year old bikes for 7 grand. I’ll buy a KTM 2-banger when I sell my 01′CR 250.

42. The last write up I read on a 2011 KTM250sx vs. YZ250 ….The Yamaha was CLEARLY not even close. The YZ was CLEARLY OLD AND AGED. In every area it got romped. BIG TIME!!!

    Why buy a Yamaha….Let them go broke with the junk that they sell.
    Honda Motorcycle in my city, a Major city is CLEARLY in trouble. Multiple stores have closed or reduced the floor space significantly.
    Suzuki also has bikes packed to the rafters here in warehouses.

    Let em rot in the warehouses.

    I choose Euro 2 stroke, they all appear to be making $$$$ from 2 strokes.

43. I think the 2 stroke Yamaha YZ still amazing despite the evolution could be greater.
    Here in Brazil there are few 2004> but where they go with passioneted riders most people seens to unbelieve how fast they are. This weekend I won a cross country agaisnt the 250F,s – and also several 450F´s.
    I have noticed many riders seens to be very impressen – almost “embarrased” – when they realize what a 2006 YZ 125 is capable to do.
    I really don´t understand the prejudiceUnfortunatelly many never tried one due the “4t wave”, but I believe the tide is starting to change and I feel many could ride one if they “were given a chance”, maybe if some day it will look cool and modern to ride a 2 stroke.
    Maybe the DI can be the way it will happen.
    BRRAAAAAPP

44. Interesting conversation I found a little late in the game.
    One thing I don’t see being mentioned that I feel is a huge factor in the slow death of the 2 stroke is the fact that the AMA no longer offers classes to race them. If they would bring back a 2-stroke class I really think people would go back to them. I prefer the Japanese bikes for a few reasons,easy to maintain and rebuild myself and more cost effective than the 4-stroke or KTM 2-stroke!

45. screw yamaha and their caveman bikes. i just got me a brand new 2012 KTM 250SX

46. WOW KTM change there plastics every couple of years and its a better bike? Type in “KTM 250sx Common Problems”. Dont change what aint broke, and you can buy a kit to change your yz 250 plastics to that of the new model 4 strokes , its $1500 from memory

47. I just bought a brand new Yamaha 250. It is the nicest bike I’ve ever owned and I’ve owned every kind of bike but a Suzuki. I hated my KTM they break down all the time and they are expensive as hell to fix! Yamaha all the way baby!!

48. Yamaha 250YZ should be introduce in the philippines also since these type of motor are very convenient in our road condition.In addition to this, more bikers resorted to buy imported motorcycles even without papers.If YAMAHA250Z will be introduce, i presume this will sell like hot cake. More power to yamaha