I'm not really arguing either. It's just that Yamaha somehow made the bike really heavy. I owned an XT225 and it was a decent bike. But even at 240 pounds the XT225 was a little porky for a girlfriends-daughter-wife's bike. I have two daughters and a wife, so I know about this. A 280 pound bike will be a lot worse. 

And look, I stereotyped the typical retired guy, you know, a galute. The kind that drives around with a bike on the back of the RV and it's for putting from the KOA to the beer store and back. Some beefy 220 pound man that only rides it on a smooth road isn't going to care if the bike weighs 240 pounds or 280.

Mojav;

If you read that article you would know why the bike xt 250 weighs what it does.  The frame is steel not aluminum.  Steel flexes many time less than aluminum.  Before you beat the bike to death go ride one, but change the tires first.  the tires are terrible

"If you read that article you would know why the bike xt 250 weighs what it does.  The frame is steel not aluminum.  Steel flexes many time less than aluminum.  Before you beat the bike to death go ride one, but change the tires first.  the tires are terrible"

Well, come now. I did read the review. And I know the differences between steel and aluminum. Besides, the frame material is a completely moot point as only dedicated dirt racebikes have aluminum frames. The XT225 has a steel frame, as so does every other bike in it's class. Why is the XT225 40 pound lighter??? And I read this review just so I DON'T have to ride the XT250. Another BTW. My DRZ400S dualsport weighed just ten pound more and it has a steel frame.

I think Yamaha just made the cheapest, highest profit margin, bike they could conceive out of their parts bin. I'm sure it's a decent bike in terms of quality and basic functions but it's not an advance in basic dualsports.

Just to state my point of view. I'm experienced, I have owned many street legal "enduro" bikes over the last 35 years. Kaw 175, 76 Yamaha 250, 75 Yamaha 175, Yamaha 185, Hodaka 125, Ossa SDT, XT500, XL200R, DRZ400S, TW200, XT225, DR650, and three CT90's (trail 90) scattered through there in time. And I've owned many real dirtbikes. And living out here in the Mojave I've ridden many other bikes owned by people I've know. So I've seen a good cross section of what's been made. I'm not a bike snob - owning a TW200 (and digging it) shows that. As does my fondness for the lowly CT90.

When I heard Yamaha was dropping the XT225 and coming out with the XT250 I naturally thought the 250 would improve on the 225. Like maybe it was the 6 speed 225 bumped in displacement - one or two more horsepower and little more "grunt". Maybe somewhat better suspension. Maybe a few other improvements that would appeal to someone like me that wants a small simple decent performing street legal "enduro". I hate ripping on the XT250 but I have no choice.  

Kevin is right in how the bikes are weighed.  When I was testing bikes for a mag or even my own personal bikes I would go to a fruit packing house to have the bike weighed with 3/4 tank of fuel & me not on it.

Also when it comes to a small bike to even a small dual purpose bike last thing you need is a tach.  The Brit to German, to Spanish to to Czech, to even Jpn dirt bikes did not have tachs, especially a bike, that might be used seriously in dirt comp.  And NO they were not with alloy frames.  Lot of funny comments about said two bikes that are not powerful or fast nor are they bikes you will see continually twisting in the air as the riders hit some small bumps, that is to say if they want to keep them for DUAL purpose.  As for a speedo that was not even used in comp though on the fork leg of an Observed Trials bike.  Check with some that rode 50 to 90cc Jpn bikes back in early 60s.  I am sure some of them are around & probably stil could be riding.  Once chap is for while he rides a HD along with a Yamaha 350cc dual purpose he also chased around trying to find a Honda Passport, he thought he had seen, that was his first bike & sure enough it WAS plus in showroom condition.