Yamaha Serow 250 Review
I will introduce "Owner Review Summary", a collection of reviews based on the voices of owners who have actually ridden various motorcycles from the Webike Community's My Bike.
In this article, I will bring you the real voices of the owner about the Serow 250!
This is what the Serow 250 is!
Since the launch of the Serow 225 in 1985 with its "Mountain Trail" concept, the Serow 250 was launched in 2005 with a 250cc engine and an all-new body with a series of improvements. Then, in 2008, the fuel supply system was changed from carburetor to injection, while still complying with environmental regulations, and production was finally discontinued in July 2020.
Unfortunately, the opportunity to buy a new Serow 250 has already been limited to the inventory in stores, but there are still plenty of used motorcycles available, as the model has been in production for a long time, and you can still find motorcycles in good condition.
I've collected some of the "good and bad" comments from senior owners who might be able to help you with your purchase of a Serow 250.
The most common feedback from Serow 250 owners is that it's lightweight and easy to handle, probably due to its compact chassis for a 250cc off-road motorcycle and the low seat with good foot grounding.
A large number of novice and female owners seems to reflect that voice. In addition to off-road riding, which is considered to be one of its strengths, many people also pointed out its all-around ability to be used in any situation, including town riding, commuting, and touring.
From an engine standpoint, the motorcycle's tenacious and gentle power characteristics and good fuel economy are highly regarded. On the other hand, for highway cruising and other situations, people complain that they need more power and that the vibration is tiring. This seems to be a reputation that has an inverse relationship with any motorcycle, where the pros can be the cons as well.
A number of owners mentioned that one of the other complaints they noticed was that the steel exhaust pipes were prone to rust. That's a problem for owners who care about looking good. Furthermore, this also has an inverse relationship with the advantages, but it seems that taller owners may have "too much foot grounding" and the riding position may be too hard for them. You'll want to make sure that you can get the right position for your physique before you buy.
Many owners enjoy touring along forest roads and camping by taking advantage of the characteristics of the Serow 250. It's a fun way to go "one step further" off-road, not just on paved roads, and it's a motorcycle that tickles your heart for adventure.
A quick summary of the Serow 250
Advantage
- Lightweight and easy to handle
- Seat height is low for an off-road vehicle
- Good fuel efficiency of around 40km/l
- Gentle engine characteristics that stick even at low rpm
- Toughness that is hard to break even if you fall down.
- Gentle for beginners, but fun even for experts
- A lot of custom parts
- All-around usefulness for everything
Disadvantage
- It's hard to drive at high speed and has a lot of vibration
- I need more power.
- You'll want a 6th gear.
- Seats that hurt your buttocks when you sit for long periods of time
- It's hard to get into a good riding position because the foot grounding are too strong
- The exhaust pipe rusts easily.
- It is heavier than the Serow 225 (especially when driving off-road)
Foot grounding
About 50% of riders between 166-170 cm tall said the Serow 250's footing was "heel lifted".
Serow 250 owner comment
By: Go to Harrow
Purpose of purchase, use, comparative models | I've always been interested in off-roading and after comparing the CRF250L to the Serow, I chose the Final Edition Touring Serow because I couldn't afford it anymore. |
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Strengths/Satisfactory | It's easy to get into unpaved side roads and rough forest roads. It feels good to ride slow, and the urge to fly is gone. You can easily take apart the entire exterior of the motorcycle so you can customize it yourself. |
Weaknesses and complaints | I had to think a bit about storing the wires even when I installed the USB because the space under the seat and behind the shroud is crammed with wires. Probably the same for all off-road motorcycles, though. I get a pain in the buttocks rather quickly, maybe this is also common in off-road motorcycles. |
Advice to prospective buyers. | It's a masterpiece that has been aged for so many years that I don't need to talk about it. Apparently, production ends at the end of June, so buy it while you can! |
By: Rossi
Purpose of purchase, use, comparative models | The reason for this is because I felt that the Super Cub 110 I used to use for commuting would get agitated by cars on major roads and I felt that it lacked power. But I didn't want to ride a sportbike now (I've been riding a lot) and commuted to work. When I was looking for a 250cc motorcycle that I could use for city riding and touring, I found out that Serow was going to be discontinued and bought it immediately. |
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Strengths/Satisfactory | It's not as good as a Cub, but it gets good mileage. I drove 48,7km per liter on a touring trip the other day. I'm happy enough with my commute to work, because it's about 35km. |
Weaknesses and complaints |
I bought the Yamaha factory optional touring seat because the stock seat hurt my butt, but it still hurts after an hour or so. Moreover, when it rains, water seeps through the seams of the seat, and the next day when I ride, even my pants get wet. Nowadays, halogen headlights are hopelessly dark at night, so LED is a must. The front brakes don't work well. Can this be improved by changing the brake pads? |
Advice to prospective buyers. | This is a good motorcycle that can do everything from commuting, city riding, touring (and forest roads for those of you who do), etc. on one motorcycle. I changed the tires to IRC GP-210 as I use it mainly for on-road use. The ride is comfortable, and it doesn't lock up when braking. I've ridden 46 motorcycles from 50cc to 1300cc and I can say that my SR400 is very similar to the one I used to ride. |
By: Freedom
Purpose of purchase, use, comparative models | This is my first off-road motorcycle. A real beginner procures it for mountain play. It's now dedicated to the mountain. I like it so much that I want another one for touring. |
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Strengths/Satisfactory |
Excellent driveability and good footing. (Currently, the high lift, touring seat, high block tires, etc. make it stand on its toes. it's not good for the mountains, so the seat is back to normal. Good stickiness at low speeds. It's pretty tough. It will get scratched if it crashes, but it seems to be OK unless it travels into a rock wall at high speed. It's not so bad with stock tires. (A bit hard though) Thanks to the FI, restarting from engine shutdown is smooth. Good fuel economy and a large tank capacity makes it safe for the mountains. It's reasonably priced, and it's made locally, so it's even better. Even a beginner can enjoy it. (It is super important) |
Weaknesses and complaints |
The stock exhaust system is very heavy. The position of the exhaust system is also high, so it seems unbalanced. It's a whole lot heavier than I'd like to say that (laughs), but in comparison. The color rim is also beautiful and good at first, but when you're playing in the mountains, it gets scratched up immediately. It is noticeable. The painted iron chin exhaust pipe, looks like it will rust soon. The footing is good, but I think the seat is a bit low. I mean, I personally felt the position was cramped. I ride with good adjustments in the handlebars, footpeg, seat, links and tires. |
Advice to prospective buyers. | It's one of the few off-road motorcycles you can buy new, Japanese produced, and roadworthy. This is a motorcycle that you can ride without hesitation, and it doesn't matter what road you're on. It's too nice. I'm a beginner, but this is a very reliable partner for me when I ride in the mountains. |
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