It's been a while since we've seen the tuning fork mark, a pure sports motorcycle that is typical of YAMAHA!
In the 1980s, YAMAHA had earned a reputation for its aggressive sports handling with its 2-stroke 250 RZ250, but while Honda's CBX250RS and GB250 had won over a wide range of users with their casual and traditional style, the company was considering developing a similar 4-stroke 250 single.
Then, the SRX250, which appeared in 1984, appealed in the catalogue as stylish and casual, and rather than the so-called YAMAHA sports character that focuses on riding, it seemed to be a model targeted at a wide range of people from beginners onwards.
However, the fuel tank had a tuning fork mark, which had not been seen for a long time.
What that meant became clear when we started riding on a winding road with a series of corners.
Presuming aggressive riding, the machine prioritized stability by slightly under-turning the front wheel, typical of YAMAHA, and then banked deeply with that margin to enjoy the thrill of cornering.
It's true that the motorcycle had a small 16-inch front wheel and a quick, wide tread in the style of a replica, making it appealing to street racers, but the overall gentle form and graphics gave it a casual image, so not many riders noticed its potential.
The engine is based on the off-road model XT250T. Although it is a single-cylinder DOHC 4-valve engine, it is characterized by the installation of twin carburetors, with 2 different types of carburetors installed on each of the 2 intake ports of the 4-valve engine, called YIDS, which open and close a venturi using a diaphragm with intake pressure, and open and close the piston directly with the throttle grip. The engine is designed to allow rough operation at low rpm, while firmly delivering the necessary mixture at high rpm.
With the exhaust system effect of a large-capacity exhaust chamber that brings together two exhaust pipes under the engine, it boasted 32 PS/10,000 rpm, the strongest 250 single at the time.
The frame is also a complete double-loop cradle made of high-tensile steel pipes. It is a full-fledged specification that combines reliable stability and flexibility, such as torsional rigidity in the vertical direction, just like a racing machine.
In fact, during the development stage, the development team spent a lot of time considering just how far they wanted to go in making it a pure sports motorcycle.
This is because the difficulties of exploring a serious direction, such as setting the frame level to make full use of the 32PS, which is on a different level to the full 45PS power of a 2-stroke, become apparent.
This offers a glimpse into a world where the riding style requires even the delicate techniques of controlling a racing machine.
The handling that was perfected through this process was easy to use with minimal worry about breakdowns, and stimulates a thrilling sense - a high level that is irresistible to street racers.
However, on the surface, the image of this pure sports motorcycle was suppressed in advertising and other areas, making it look rather softer than its rival 250 singles.
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Original Source [ RIDE HI ]
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