1986 Yamaha YZ250 Classic Motocross Review 

I grew up riding most of those 80s/90s race bike's so your video's really bring me back to those days. I love your channel and can't believe it isn't bigger.

Oh wow I remember racing again them back in the day. That was my 6th year in MX racing. Miss them days. Where did time go????? Thanks for sharing your videos they bring back so many good members of my youth.

A 85 Yamaha YZ 250 motor in an 85 Suzuki RM frame with Floater suspension would has been something to behold

Haha! I loved your description of the "Yama-hop" and nearly going over the bars.....anyone who didn't experience it has never lived(and nearly died).LOL!

Back in 1985 I owned a 1985 YZ 250 and you're right about the power band nothing out at the time could touch it, as for the yama hop that got me good time when it pitched me over the bars braking my collarbone also bending the rear portion of the frame both causing me to stop riding for two months !

I have never rode an 86 but I loved my 88.

Excellent work. Loves the mid 80s, my favorite era.

Another great vidd Tony...as always..I have a 1985 YZ 80 that's getting a full resto.. I had a 86 yz 80 and sold it.i wish I'd kept it for my yammie collection..I'm not selling this 85 yz80. That's 4 sure..lol... there getting to hard to find... Keep the viddz coming Tony

I had that bike. Rode a lot and raced it for 2 years. I broke a Eric Gore ported cylinder on it and went to a 97 cylinder. My modern 2019 YZ250, (lowered a bit), has similar power characteristics, soft to the mid range then goes pretty good, (the 1986 was faster actually IMO). The Yamaha suspension today is so much better than the mid-late 80's. Leaps and bounds.

I have two. A 1987 and a 1989 both are awesome bikes.

I'm restoring an 83 yz 250k and when I first got it I didn't really know why anyone would want it but I have really grown to like it and every time I look at it I like it more and I know I am gonna have a hard time letting it go and seeing it in brand new condition it makes me remember when I was a little kid and I wanted one my size and how enamored I was at first sight with yzs somewhere in my late teens 20s and 30s I forgot how cool the older bikes were and got distracted by the new bikes until the 4 strokes overran the field I got a 94 wr several years ago and got back into the older bikes and mostly yamahas I just wish they would have kept the yellow and black schemes

Great Vid....I am on a 1989Yz250wr. Again Yamaha updated YZ250 . Flat slide carb, first yr inverted forks. My bike has ext 4th an 5th. The wr has a heavier fly whl but I use a standard. I like the faster rpm curve. The inverted forks are stable but still bit harsh. Procircuit pipe I have is great, no longer made. The longer wheelbase is stable. It's longer than the CR by 2 inches. Weight transfer is natural. You shift weight without thinking. I ride with 20 other guys. Everybody loves my bike. It as fast as new bikes. 2022 te300 I can beat. A review of my bike would be awesome 🥰🥰🥰

How about a retrospective on the Honda FourTrax 250r? Im going to keep asking.🙂

Another great episode ......these were the years I was to small for the big bikes loved watching the big kids on these 86 models And yes the stinger rear fender on the kx was wild

Another masterpiece Tony Thanks again. I'm glad you're feeling better!

Tony great content again brings back good memories would love to see the yz125n 1985 was my first proper motocross bike.

My first bike was/still is 1987 yz250 th my birth yet also which I still have but own a 18 yz too but I would love to hear your break down of the first bike I owned after watching this one. I love watching your vids when I can’t ride 🫡

I think it was a great looking bike. The motor was the strongest in its class. Thanks Tony!

Hey man, I love watching your videos. I'm really wanting to see a video on the evolution of the RM125. I'm a big fan of my 2002, and I'm curious to see how it progressed to get there.

Wish you would do a YZ history review.

What hurt Yamaha was the change of color from blue they should’ve kept it yellow yellow, looked good on it

The Marlboro-Shell-Yamaha team in Brazil used these bikes and man did they rev and were beautiful! Kenny Keylon rode for them along with a bunch of other brazilian riders while Rodney Smith rode Cagivas in the 125 championship and KTMs in the 250. By the middle of the season Rodney's mechanic adapted the rear disc brake from one of the practice bikes to the Cagiva and even the factory team was amazed! 1986 was a great year down here Smith was as famous as Pele (the king of soccer here in Brazil) and Ayrton Senna.

Awesome

The 88 was yzm look. Just wander if it's basically same bike as 86 87 frame chasie with new plastic seat tank junction.. yz250.. great videos.

Yz had modern looks for that year, but need Honda gizmos to back it up...

So I’ve got a couple questions about an 86 I picked up. Some things seem odd to me and it has me wondering if it was a factory works bike. - Ohlins rear shock - Braided stainless front brake hose - An 80’s Mikuni TM 38mm flat side carburetor - cylinder has some really nice port work done. What’s your thoughts?

1:31 Set you handle bars up like that. Everybody is using the freestyle set up of high bars, (for trick clearance), for racing/riding for no rational reasons. Hey, I tried it for 2 summers, the ape hangers. I brought them back down to more like 1:31, and instantly gained more control of the front end for any corner sans a berm. Easier to keep the elbows up too,---which would be a huge problem for the pros today, if the tracks were bumpy. In the 80's and 90's we knew how to get on the gas and not let our elbow drop to our side. Proper handlebars and lever set up is key. We have entered an age of irrationality,---and quite frankly, it scares me that we can't figure stuff out.

I remember Yamaha was the first to come out with a single back shock it was called the monoshock does anybody remember that??

...just saw this on FB...

Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t that Rick Melon’s bike of choice?🤔

Hey Tony. Do you know the 1988 yz 250 used same as frame of a 1987 1986 model. The swing arm looks same too, just rear disc brake.. Looks like they just change all plastic , mounts even look the same. Looks like 88 tank and seat would fit on a 87 86 older model.. ???

i remember this bike as well as all the 86's and it definitely wasn't faster or quicker than the cr, the cr beat the others as if it had an extra 50cc's.

What I learned to let the blue grow on me

love your channel but you gotta stop saying the rear fender number plates are evil. they are not, you are wrong, they are beautiful !

like

They never been yellow since 1884 now it is 2024 soon to be 25 and I have not seen a yellow one since 84

What if Yamaha went pink?