I've had my YZ250X for about 4 years now. I've done close on 90 hours on it. When I picked it up it was pretty hard to ride. I wasn't used to the 2 stroke hit, it stalled pretty easily, it beat up your forearms. I've made a few changes over the years that have really made it a piece of cake to ride now and improved the fuel range too. 1. Steahly flywheel weight. This helped the lugability down low and didn't have any noticeable difference anywhere else. 2. Two stroke performance head. I put a low compression head to help with the low down power. This probably made the most difference combined with the recommended carb tuning. 3. ATF type F in the gearbox. I tried a heap of different gearbox oils and in the end I've settled on this. The gear change is super smooth now and no change to the clutch operation. plus its cheap. 4. Scotts damper. I got this kit cheap off a friend. I lifted the bars a little to make it more comfortable for my 6'2 frame. I run it on its lowest setting and its great for higher speed stuff also. 5. Steg Pegz. This was probably the biggest difference to my comfort level riding. It lets me keep a relaxed hand on the bars while gripping the frame tightly. I'm sure you can make a set up if you didn't want to pay for them. 6. I run high quality synthetic two stroke oil. I've dropped back from the 40:1 to 50:1 and it feels smoother. I did a top end at 85 hours, the piston looked great and the cylinder still had its factory cross hatching. I've ran as lean as 60:1 if i'm only doing single tracks. No issues so far. 7. 15L fuel tank. I run the IMS tank, its no wider than the stock tank, allows you to use the factory tank plastics and being clear allows you to see the fuel level. With it, I'll get 150Km range until empty. You can also fit the factory fuel tap for reserve function. Ive ridden a beta 300, the KTM TPI250s and a few other modern two strokes. I wasn't a huge fan of their super linear power delivery but loved how easy they were to ride, the self mixing two stroke and the ability to road register here in Australia. I'm glad Yamaha has kept the YZ so simple though, if I wanted a complicated bike with all the modern technology I'd buy a Beta430 with EFI, traction control etc. Enjoy your rides, they're all fun in the end.
I have always run Type F ATF in 2-stroke transmissions. It’s very slippery, gears and bearings last forever, and, in 50 years, I have never had to replace a clutch.
I’ve had two Beta 300’s and I’ve never had my bike running “hot” in southern Utah in 100 degrees never affected my bike. I’ve never ran Rotella… I run 10-40 and change the oil every 8 to 12 hours.
Same. Run 10-40 and even in 100* california desert heat with lugging hill climbs and no fan kit, never had my beta 300 race boil over or even begin to smell hot.
@ dude at 100 degrees, that is my cutoff. I don’t ride past that. But like you said. It’s gets really really hot here in southern Utah. Usually a degree or two cooler than Vegas.. my beta has never over heated. Such a great bike. The manual specifies 10-40 to be used in the gear box
@@utahdesertrider1806 I almost drown once jumping in the california aqueduct in full gear trying to avoid heat stroke... bike was holding up fine but I was dying!
@ I’m very familiar with the aquaducts. I grew up in N-Cal on the Delta near Brentwood Ca. Have you Ridden southern Utah? It’s amazing. My channel have videos. I’m no Cody Webb but it’s amazing riding. You should come ride.
I started riding on a yz250x, spent a lot of money trying to make it what the beta is from factory. The yz will wear you out in the woods just trying to tame the power where the beta is just sooooo smooth and linear.
I too feel kinda unsure after changing beta air filters, whereas my yz I never worry about the filter. It’s a no brainer done deal when the yz filter is installed you know it’s perfect. The beta air filter install does not inspire confidence to me that it’s perfectly sealed 😬. Far as the yz making you fatigue more I feel it’s because of the aluminum frame. Aluminum is a lot stiffer and vibratory imo.
That is interesting to hear. I have a hard time deciphering the differences between the frames. I also have a hard time telling why it fatigues me more. Maybe that's it🤔
@@BlacksheepEngineering just my personal experience with running Lectron pro carb and a smart carb. The smart carb was way easier to dial in and customer service was way better. The Lectron I never really got it right and the guys over there were incapable of helping me out in my opinion.
IDK if Id call it junk, but it does seem like the Yamaha focuses more on well thought out parts that last through many maintenance cycles, and the beta engineering seems more focused on the riding experience (which is amazing) then they are about the maintenance experience (which is pretty rough)
Weird because I've done way more repairs on both of my YZ250s before their maintenance intervals including top ends and seals compared to never having had a premature part failure on my Beta.
I've had my YZ250X for about 4 years now. I've done close on 90 hours on it. When I picked it up it was pretty hard to ride. I wasn't used to the 2 stroke hit, it stalled pretty easily, it beat up your forearms. I've made a few changes over the years that have really made it a piece of cake to ride now and improved the fuel range too.
1. Steahly flywheel weight. This helped the lugability down low and didn't have any noticeable difference anywhere else.
2. Two stroke performance head. I put a low compression head to help with the low down power. This probably made the most difference combined with the recommended carb tuning.
3. ATF type F in the gearbox. I tried a heap of different gearbox oils and in the end I've settled on this. The gear change is super smooth now and no change to the clutch operation. plus its cheap.
4. Scotts damper. I got this kit cheap off a friend. I lifted the bars a little to make it more comfortable for my 6'2 frame. I run it on its lowest setting and its great for higher speed stuff also.
5. Steg Pegz. This was probably the biggest difference to my comfort level riding. It lets me keep a relaxed hand on the bars while gripping the frame tightly. I'm sure you can make a set up if you didn't want to pay for them.
6. I run high quality synthetic two stroke oil. I've dropped back from the 40:1 to 50:1 and it feels smoother. I did a top end at 85 hours, the piston looked great and the cylinder still had its factory cross hatching. I've ran as lean as 60:1 if i'm only doing single tracks. No issues so far.
7. 15L fuel tank. I run the IMS tank, its no wider than the stock tank, allows you to use the factory tank plastics and being clear allows you to see the fuel level. With it, I'll get 150Km range until empty. You can also fit the factory fuel tap for reserve function.
Ive ridden a beta 300, the KTM TPI250s and a few other modern two strokes. I wasn't a huge fan of their super linear power delivery but loved how easy they were to ride, the self mixing two stroke and the ability to road register here in Australia.
I'm glad Yamaha has kept the YZ so simple though, if I wanted a complicated bike with all the modern technology I'd buy a Beta430 with EFI, traction control etc.
Enjoy your rides, they're all fun in the end.
I have always run Type F ATF in 2-stroke transmissions. It’s very slippery, gears and bearings last forever, and, in 50 years, I have never had to replace a clutch.
About the gap in the midrange, have you ever seen the hitlis power valve kit?
I'm not familiar with that kit, but the Apex head did help a lot compared to stock.
I’ve had two Beta 300’s and I’ve never had my bike running “hot” in southern Utah in 100 degrees never affected my bike. I’ve never ran Rotella… I run 10-40 and change the oil every 8 to 12 hours.
Same. Run 10-40 and even in 100* california desert heat with lugging hill climbs and no fan kit, never had my beta 300 race boil over or even begin to smell hot.
@ dude at 100 degrees, that is my cutoff. I don’t ride past that. But like you said. It’s gets really really hot here in southern Utah. Usually a degree or two cooler than Vegas.. my beta has never over heated. Such a great bike. The manual specifies 10-40 to be used in the gear box
@ I think I just repeated myself. Sorry lol
@@utahdesertrider1806 I almost drown once jumping in the california aqueduct in full gear trying to avoid heat stroke... bike was holding up fine but I was dying!
@ I’m very familiar with the aquaducts. I grew up in N-Cal on the Delta near Brentwood Ca. Have you Ridden southern Utah? It’s amazing. My channel have videos. I’m no Cody Webb but it’s amazing riding. You should come ride.
I started riding on a yz250x, spent a lot of money trying to make it what the beta is from factory. The yz will wear you out in the woods just trying to tame the power where the beta is just sooooo smooth and linear.
@AdamCoffey828 well said. The 250x can be very good in it's own right, but it's not worth trying to turn it into the Beta.
What mods you did?
Have a 450fx and 125x in my stable. Would love to add the 250x. Yam quality and simplicity rules here in Africa.
I too feel kinda unsure after changing beta air filters, whereas my yz I never worry about the filter. It’s a no brainer done deal when the yz filter is installed you know it’s perfect. The beta air filter install does not inspire confidence to me that it’s perfectly sealed 😬. Far as the yz making you fatigue more I feel it’s because of the aluminum frame. Aluminum is a lot stiffer and vibratory imo.
That is interesting to hear. I have a hard time deciphering the differences between the frames. I also have a hard time telling why it fatigues me more. Maybe that's it🤔
My YZ250X with the Lectron carb gets much better fuel mileage than the stock carb.
Two totally different bikes. Hard to compare em. Great job though.
@rayvee482 thanks! I agree they're very different but both are in the same category of singletrack/enduro riding and I enjoyed both of them for that.
Beat and not babied - same as me (ask any bike I’ve owned)
That Beta looks like a good bike…………..for a GIRL!
I’m a man and beat most other men on my Beta 300 RE. I’ve never seen a girl ride one. The girls version is the X trainer.
@@rayvee482well add a girl to your list cause that’s literally my bike 😂
@@Moto-MommyMX Rad….!! Glad I misunderstood that. You must rip…!! Good on ya sis. 💪🏼🏁
Smart carb
Is that what you're running? I've only ran lectrons or stock so I'd be interested to try one out.
@@BlacksheepEngineering just my personal experience with running Lectron pro carb and a smart carb. The smart carb was way easier to dial in and customer service was way better. The Lectron I never really got it right and the guys over there were incapable of helping me out in my opinion.
@ngrimm0 thanks for the tip. I'll try them next time.
Smart carb guys are really cool to work with electron not so good with my experience
I'll give you my two cents the biggest drawback to the beta is its Italian junk and the Yamaha is Japanese quality
IDK if Id call it junk, but it does seem like the Yamaha focuses more on well thought out parts that last through many maintenance cycles, and the beta engineering seems more focused on the riding experience (which is amazing) then they are about the maintenance experience (which is pretty rough)
Weird because I've done way more repairs on both of my YZ250s before their maintenance intervals including top ends and seals compared to never having had a premature part failure on my Beta.